The Metropolitan Opera House

**NickFromGtown** · 10-16-2012, 06:45 AM

Well, this would certainly be a game-changer for North Broad.

North Broad developer joins Metropolitan Opera House restoration project

**Titus** · 10-16-2012, 09:36 AM

I am not holding my breath on that one.

**mixiboi** · 10-16-2012, 09:40 AM

Between this and the makeover North Broad is going to get in that area..things are moving quick to become something great...

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...e-project.html

**Gladys** · 10-16-2012, 10:13 AM

Oh i hope this really happens! It would be so cool to do a Rogers and Hammerstein festival there!

**carloss** · 10-16-2012, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by NickFromGtown

Well, this would certainly be a game-changer for North Broad.

North Broad developer joins Metropolitan Opera House restoration project

While restoration would be awesome, this reads like another puff piece on Blumenfeld in his bid to become the knight in shining armor of North Broad. I'm impressed by his track record, but I really think he needs to give us some more concrete details on the DL first, otherwise he might be stretching himself too thin here. Hope I'm wrong, though.

**MNG1324** · 10-16-2012, 11:33 AM

The fact that we are talking about this section of the city is exciting but i think this is wayyyyyy off in the distance. With the Forest only being used for Jersey Boys 6 weeks a year and the Boyd not being redone is there really demand for another thester of that size.

**John Goodman** · 10-16-2012, 11:38 AM

Blumenfeld is a hero!!!

**Gladys** · 10-16-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by MNG1324

The fact that we are talking about this section of the city is exciting but i think this is wayyyyyy off in the distance. With the Forest only being used for Jersey Boys 6 weeks a year and the Boyd not being redone is there really demand for another thester of that size.

If it is versatile like the Academy, and there is ample safe parking, yes.

**thoth** · 10-16-2012, 11:50 AM

I hope he does good work, but I never trust a guy from Gladwyne.

**mixiboi** · 10-16-2012, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by carloss

While restoration would be awesome, this reads like another puff piece on Blumenfeld in his bid to become the knight in shining armor of North Broad. I'm impressed by his track record, but I really think he needs to give us some more concrete details on the DL first, otherwise he might be stretching himself too thin here. Hope I'm wrong, though.

They said the same about Bart and NoLibs, and that turn out well..

**carloss** · 10-16-2012, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

They said the same about Bart and NoLibs, and that turn out well..

Turned out well enough if you don't count the fire at Front and Girard, the mediocre Piazza apartments, the soon-to-be-demolished Ortlieb's brewery, etc.

**lemko** · 10-17-2012, 08:36 AM

I would love to see the old Met restored as well as the Uptown Theatre, but it seems like a real long shot.

**Moonraker** · 10-17-2012, 09:39 AM

I expect both will see rehab, in my lifetime, just to make a prediction.

Similar thought for the old Astor Theater, Franklin & Girard, noted in one of Professor Cosby's skits featuring Fat Albert.
coming back from the Astor Theater, after the horror movie, and beneath the 9th St (Reading) Bridge.

**mixiboi** · 10-17-2012, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by carloss

Turned out well enough if you don't count the fire at Front and Girard, the mediocre Piazza apartments, the soon-to-be-demolished Ortlieb's brewery, etc.

**** happens, Eh the Piazza isn't about living, and he didn't own Ortlieb....

**Fecteau03** · 10-17-2012, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by lemko

I would love to see the old Met restored as well as the Uptown Theatre, but it seems like a real long shot.

The Uptown is being restored bit by bit by a non-profit. They're finishing up phase 1 of renovations now. It'll still be awhile yet, but they seem to have attracted some interest and are still holding regular classes there.

**NickFromGtown** · 10-17-2012, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by carloss

Turned out well enough if you don't count the fire at Front and Girard, the mediocre Piazza apartments, the soon-to-be-demolished Ortlieb's brewery, etc.

This is at best an unreasonable opinion. Nothern Liberties has totally turned around and is seeing development that few could have imagined. Bart Blatstein can't do everything. And to call the Piazza mediocre is ridiculous. That whole development is a gamechanger for a neighborhood that already had its game changed. If you don't like the way things were done, people love to spend other people's money. Perhaps the Piazza was designed and constructed within the parameters of financial reality. And as for Ortlieb's Brewery, why didn't you take your money and rehab that?

Sorry for the rant, but complaining about what's happened in Northern Liberties because it wasn't done 100% perfectly is a very ungrateful opinion.

**thoth** · 10-17-2012, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by carloss

Turned out well enough if you don't count the fire at Front and Girard, the mediocre Piazza apartments, the soon-to-be-demolished Ortlieb's brewery, etc.

Yes, that would just leave the enormous, multi-million dollar investments made in that neighborhood by Tower.

**carloss** · 10-17-2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by NickFromGtown

This is at best an unreasonable opinion. Nothern Liberties has totally turned around and is seeing development that few could have imagined. Bart Blatstein can't do everything. And to call the Piazza mediocre is ridiculous. That whole development is a gamechanger for a neighborhood that already had its game changed. If you don't like the way things were done, people love to spend other people's money. Perhaps the Piazza was designed and constructed within the parameters of financial reality. And as for Ortlieb's Brewery, why didn't you take your money and rehab that?

Sorry for the rant, but complaining about what's happened in Northern Liberties because it wasn't done 100% perfectly is a very ungrateful opinion.

I was referring to the quality of the apartments themselves, not the design of the Piazza. I've heard numerous reports of shoddy construction material and paper-thin walls -- I can't confirm first-hand, maybe it's just from angry tenants who can't stand the weekend crowd, but there's a slight possibility that the units from a livelihood standpoint could have been better.

Of course what's in the neighborhood now is highly preferable to what was there 30 years ago. But just because I don't have millions doesn't mean I can't criticize a developer for neglect. Maybe Ortlieb's isn't Blatstein's fault, but since when is he so economically strained that he can't redevelop or at least secure a blighted warehouse before it burns down?

**carloss** · 10-17-2012, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

Yes, that would just leave the enormous, multi-million dollar investments made in that neighborhood by Tower.

The point wasn't that N. Libs blows because he didn't finish the job, it was that he had the resources to finish it but appeared to leap over to North Broad before doing so. I cited Ortlieb's and the Front & Girard property as examples of properties that had the potential to be redeveloped. Whatever the case, the comparison with Blumenfeld is off the mark because at least Blumenfeld has a track record for restoration, whereas Blatstein in N. Libs (excepting one or two mills) has emphasized new construction over preservation.