The sad new Hilton at Arch Street and Twelfth

[eldondre]

I think people lose sight that everything doesn't have to be a work of art.

sadly, the only work of art is getting the $8 million bucks for this thing..but i don't think people get the same appreciation admiring the political adroitness of the developer.

[raider.adam]

sadly, the only work of art is getting the $8 million bucks for this thing..but i don't think people get the same appreciation admiring the political adroitness of the developer.

Yes, the tax handout is brutally annoying. I have said it before, if you still need to hand over money to build a hotel next to the convention center, then it is hard to argue that the convention center is a success.

[hammersklavier]

That's another one that I like. Maybe we experience the Hyatt differently. Do you mostly see it from Columbus Ave? If so, I might agree with you.

I mostly see it going south on 95, and it looks great, a modern deco-ish tower in the city center. The design also makes good use of its river location.

That Hyatt definitely looks nicer the further away from Columbus Boulevard you are. It gets an "A" in neo-Deco tower design, but an "F" in urbanism along the Columbus Bvld. side.

I think what Phillyurban8's really thinking of is the altogether hideous (Days Inn? Comfort Inn? I forget anymore) hotel between Penns Landing and Race St. That one definitely fizzles on all sides.

[kidphilly]

So as a functional infill what exactly is wrong with this design?

Seriously this good for the area

[eldondre]

So as a functional infill what exactly is wrong with this design?

Seriously this good for the area

it's ugly.
why do we need to give some jerkoff $8 million bucks to build an ugly building in a prime location?

[kidphilly]

it's ugly.
why do we need to give some jerkoff $8 million bucks to build an ugly building in a prime location?

well on the incentive, not sure design is a requirement. Tax generation and rooms close to the Conv Center/CC are the need/use.

There are many worse buildings in the city and many better

[supersupper]

it's ugly.
why do we need to give some jerkoff $8 million bucks to build an ugly building in a prime location?

Thats your opinion. I'm sure those Skyscrapers guys love it, if simply because its over 4 stories.

[raider.adam]

why do we need to give some jerkoff $8 million bucks to build a building in a prime location?

More accurate.

well on the incentive, not sure design is a requirement. Tax generation and rooms close to the Conv Center/CC are the need/use.

That's the problem. If there is a need for rooms, shouldn't need to cough up $8 million to build a hotel. That is the more important discussion than what the facade is. Why do we need to pay $8 million to build a hotel next to the $700+ million convention center expansion?

[Phillyurban8]

That Hyatt definitely looks nicer the further away from Columbus Boulevard you are. It gets an "A" in neo-Deco tower design, but an "F" in urbanism along the Columbus Bvld. side.

I think what Phillyurban8's really thinking of is the altogether hideous (Days Inn? Comfort Inn? I forget anymore) hotel between Penns Landing and Race St. That one definitely fizzles on all sides.

I love that kooky little Comfort Inn! They just need to repaint it green and blue again so one can see the waves (I think they are). I don't like the mud clods -- Dockside and the Hyatt. When I think of "Deco" I think of the Chrysler building, not some dumpy, stumpy beige block with Deco-esque styrofoam painted panels.

And the Hilton isn't infill per se. It occupies a corner lot and I think should have been a bit more "designed."

[Titus]

I love that kooky little Comfort Inn! They just need to repaint it green and blue again so one can see the waves (I think they are). I don't like the mud clods -- Dockside and the Hyatt. When I think of "Deco" I think of the Chrysler building, not some dumpy, stumpy beige block with Deco-esque styrofoam painted panels.

And the Hilton isn't infill per se. It occupies a corner lot and I think should have been a bit more "designed."

I heard the "waves" were painted out after complaints from residents of Elfreth's Alley on the other side of 95.

[mixiboi]

LMAO.. sounds about right...

[Phillyurban8]

I heard the "waves" were painted out after complaints from residents of Elfreth's Alley on the other side of 95.

"Faded out" from neglect is more like it. However, I was mistaken. The facade is being painted two tones of a yellowy beige. Oh, yay, another beige building on the waterfront.

[Titus]

They were definitely painted out for whatever reason as it happened over night years back.

[DCnPhilly]

I just saw the snap on yellow panels going up. It reminds me of one of those Fisher Price things I had as a kid. That building is entirely modular. Oh well, I guess its better than a parking lot.

[Cro Burnham]

I do think there should be minimum design standards for center city buildings receiving large public subsidies. The number one standard should be: no exterior insulated finishing system (i.e., EIFS, or "Dryvit"), the concrete sprayed styrofoam panel system of the Hyatt at Penn's Landing, the Hilton Garden in, the Hampton Inn, and then this new cube of aerated sh|t. Ironically, all of them received large public subsidies (as did Zuritsky's slightly less hideous parking garage next door). My guess is also that the latter three at least are among the more profitable hotels downtown largely because of how relatively cheap they were to build.

Actually, I think the buildings with EIFS should be banned from Center City, period. Imagine a city like London or Paris permitting buildings with this crap in their historic cores. I've never seen an EIFS building in Paris. If anyone can show me a large prominent EIFS structure in downtown Boston or SF, I'll be surprised. The decision makers in those places seem to have a sophistication, pride, and vision that ours lack almost totally. Greenberger is probably the one refreshing exception to this general unfortunate state of affairs.

[BarryG]

This is the Doubletree in downtown Boston:



Dunno if that is EIFS but it looks like pretty typical Hilton crap to me.

[ArcticSplash]

This is the Doubletree in downtown Boston:



Dunno if that is EIFS but it looks like pretty typical Hilton crap to me.

Oh lord I remember staying at that place. I set off the smoke alarms.

[Lakey]

Marriott Courtyard Fisherman's Wharf



The photo doesn't quite do justice to the full ugliness of the building, but it's got an EIFS exterior. There's a concrete exterior Comfort Inn a few blocks away that's far more butt ugly. Mid-priced hotels don't come with good architecture.

[hammersklavier]

Thats your opinion. I'm sure those Skyscrapers guys love it, if simply because its over 4 stories.

[aro1419]

I second this. Pay up.