Casino on North Broad. The Provence

[hammersklavier]

My own position on the matter, as I have already elucidated on Skyscraper Page: I'm ambivalent about the casino, but I think there are ways to do this complex with better urbanism.

I specifically have reservations on that frankly-ugly rooftop French village (which reminds me of that equally-ugly Blumenfeld Lofts 600 proposal), the skybridge across 15th, the location of the parking, the proliferation of blank walls, and the sacrifice of three prime building lots on the 1500 block of Vine for prettier-than-it-is-now-but-guaranteed-to-be-disused green space. I am also leery of the fact that they are not proposing active use in the Inky's old printing house, a beautiful old industrial structure that would be an instant destination*. The closest analogue to that space, potential-wise, is Poznan's Old Brewery (widely considered one of the most exciting retail environments in all of Europe).

My suggestions are thus:
1. "Rooftop retail" might sound cute, but in practice is much to gimmicky. Use the retail to link Broad and the casino together...through the Inky printing house, whose horizontal orientation and post-industrial vibe guarantees unique and perhaps even destination retail space.
2. Use the rooftop for entertainment venues. A band shell, concert venues, a restaurant or two with a view, would be far better suited to its strengths than retail.
3. On that note, get rid of that "rooftop French village". It's ugly. A green roof would be much nicer, and would work with the band shell I suggested.
4. Have casino-support functions (eateries, etc., perhaps even a high-roller room) front, or at least be visible to the street as well as the casino. If the casino is supposed to be primarily located on the second floor, have the support functions clustered in easy-access venues concentrated on the first floor.
5. CCP is right on the west side of this complex. Add retail along 16th catering to students there (as well as casino and complex staff).

Remember, when done poorly, casino complexes suck life from the street and the city. Atlantic City is proof positive of that. My proposals (more like coachings) are meant to achieve a balance between casino and city, and better take advantage of the site's strengths.
__________
* The most recent info I have on the matter indicates Blatstein is intending to (a) repurpose the Glaxo garage, (b) add a new parking structure on the main casino structure, and (c) convert the Inky's printing house for parking. The latter would, of course, destroy the space's considerable potential.

[kidphilly]

My own position on the matter, as I have already elucidated on Skyscraper Page: I'm ambivalent about the casino, but I think there are ways to do this complex with better urbanism.

I specifically have reservations on that frankly-ugly rooftop French village (which reminds me of that equally-ugly Blumenfeld Lofts 600 proposal), the skybridge across 15th, the location of the parking, the proliferation of blank walls, and the sacrifice of three prime building lots on the 1500 block of Vine for prettier-than-it-is-now-but-guaranteed-to-be-disused green space. I am also leery of the fact that they are not proposing active use in the Inky's old printing house, a beautiful old industrial structure that would be an instant destination*. The closest analogue to that space, potential-wise, is Poznan's Old Brewery (widely considered one of the most exciting retail environments in all of Europe).

My suggestions are thus:
1. "Rooftop retail" might sound cute, but in practice is much to gimmicky. Use the retail to link Broad and the casino together...through the Inky printing house, whose horizontal orientation and post-industrial vibe guarantees unique and perhaps even destination retail space.
2. Use the rooftop for entertainment venues. A band shell, concert venues, a restaurant or two with a view, would be far better suited to its strengths than retail.
3. On that note, get rid of that "rooftop French village". It's ugly. A green roof would be much nicer, and would work with the band shell I suggested.
4. Have casino-support functions (eateries, etc., perhaps even a high-roller room) front, or at least be visible to the street as well as the casino. If the casino is supposed to be primarily located on the second floor, have the support functions clustered in easy-access venues concentrated on the first floor.
5. CCP is right on the west side of this complex. Add retail along 16th catering to students there (as well as casino and complex staff).

Remember, when done poorly, casino complexes suck life from the street and the city. Atlantic City is proof positive of that. My proposals (more like coachings) are meant to achieve a balance between casino and city, and better take advantage of the site's strengths.
__________
* The most recent info I have on the matter indicates Blatstein is intending to (a) repurpose the Glaxo garage, (b) add a new parking structure on the main casino structure, and (c) convert the Inky's printing house for parking. The latter would, of course, destroy the space's considerable potential.

On the 16th street portion. Retail would be nice and probably would not take up significant garage space. But would there be foot traffic to support?

Like what a 7-11? etc. Without more residential (which may be coming) I dont see the volume required especially as some other locales may already these services covered

I love street fronting retail, but there has to be demand

As crazy as this sounds - maybe something better would be a buildout ability for another Hotel atop the Western 16th portion with street level frontage allocated in the design. If this actually came to fruition it may be another potential hotel space


I could also see Callowhill in front as another vistor stop for bus tours

[Malloy]

We have been giving realtors a free ride on this site fora while. Things are going to change. For a small fee they can tap into one of the largest Philly specific online audiences. Sandy, we need to talk soon

Confidential to Gladys and Jayfar: I'm not a Realtor®, but I work for one, and I too have a blog to promote, for both my boss' interest and my own: while I'm a hired gun and know that puts some fences up around what I can say on that blog, I remain a journalist foremost and at heart and would like to advance my career still. I promote that blog with every post I make here now, but I was part of this community before I took on that task. If I've written something on the blog that I think would make a good discussion-starter and see that no one has started a discussion on it, I'll start one with a link to the blog post, but I will look for discussions already started before doing that. I was at Blatstein's press-conference-cum-shindig and did write a post on it yesterday, the first of several I plan to write about this project and its ramifications.

[lucidinnature]

We have been giving realtors a free ride on this site fora while. Things are going to change. For a small fee they can tap into one of the largest Philly specific online audiences. Sandy, we need to talk soon

It's called a banner ad, and anyone can buy one. Otherwise, it gets a bit idiotic when realtor'bloggers'(aka hacks) use a thread on here as an idea for a story, create a blog entry, then put a link on here as if they invented the story for self promotion(IE somersteam idiocy)

[Tartan69]

this arrangement and the ramps to Vine Street Expressway will basically cut off anything North of this. You are creating an obstacle that's similiar to the way the Convention Center functions to the Eraserhood.

The expressway already cuts things off pretty badly. Adding density will help fix that, not compound it.

[thesomersteam]

The buzz was evident the night of the unveiling with a lot of key political figures in attendance. It certainly does seem that this site might be the leader right now (like it or not). With Council President Clarke's speech declaring "Jobs Jobs Jobs", you know which way City Council is leaning in regards to a 2nd casino or not in Philly. In addition to "jobs jobs jobs" of course the City is cash strapped and is desperate to raise revenues.

~ CS

[lucidinnature]

The buzz was evident the night of the unveiling with a lot of key political figures in attendance. It certainly does seem that this site might be the leader right now (like it or not). With Council President Clarke's speech declaring "Jobs Jobs Jobs", you know which way City Council is leaning in regards to a 2nd casino or not in Philly. In addition to "jobs jobs jobs" of course the City is cash strapped and is desperate to raise revenues.

~ CS

Relying on casinos for a job forecast is about as much of a joke as your blog.

[eldondre]

Changing Skyline: Blatstein's casino plan looks like a winner for Philadelphia

mostly right, I have been to casinos where you don't have to walk through the casino itself. I can't say they actually ruined the neighborhood in which they exist.

[mixiboi]

The biggest hurdle will be the return of CasiNo with their new tag team partner, Chinatown....

[bootsywannabe]

This casino, and the PA casino industry in general, embody crony capitalism like nothing else. This is a 100% politically connected industry, brought to us by our politicians. Great, they get a monopoly to run a gambling business in a certain area. This is going to prop up our high tax high regulation City somehow? Like the convention center did? Hey as long as we're setting up casinos, let's set up brothels too, because that's a big part of the business. Where' the brothel going to go in the diagram? Next to the mall?

BS BS BS and more BS

We need lower tax rates for everybody, just like they have in the Navy Yard. We don't need to hand out monopolies in order to develop North Broad St. Politicians like things like casinos because casino operators have to go through them. That's also why Politicians like high taxes and high regulation - because you have to kiss their pinky ring in order to get the special break so you can actually make a go of your business in the high tax climate, usually by getting a tax break or special exemption, like say a casino license.

We can do a lot better than this. this is just more dog food from our political class, so they can feather their own nests. yum yum eat it up yummy

[hammersklavier]

I was prepared to blast the Inga article until I realized that, while it was offering a (frankly rather weak) apology for the casino by itself, she, like I, critiqued the rooftop shopping as much too kitschy. Fortunately, she mentioned the complex having street-level restaurants; unfortunately, what little urban design criticism she had was too easy to level and not really substantive.

I feel that--since I focused on the urban design of the issue--my own critique is much more substantial and a much better starting point to coach this proposal into something that is not some ugly Vegas pastiche. I'm also trying to figure out how to refine it into something more digestible for Hidden City.

[mixiboi]

Remember, when done poorly, casino complexes suck life from the street and the city. Atlantic City is proof positive of that.

Yeah, but the Walk is showing that isn't true...

[eldondre]

Yeah, but the Walk is showing that isn't true...

The walk isn't a casino

[mixiboi]

The walk isn't a casino

Yeah, which goes again that the casinos are sucking life away from the streets...he'll it not called the walk anymore and is four blocks of retail stores and restaurants NOT inside a casino

[eldondre]

Yeah, which goes again that the casinos are sucking life away from the streets...he'll it not called the walk anymore and is four blocks of retail stores and restaurants NOT inside a casino

you didn't read what he wrote. the walk doesn't prove thay poorly designed casinos aren't keeping people from walking around. What's worse is they cut off the city from the beach. The walk is a casino subsidized retail development from the crazy..perhaps its only success. Hoes the aces train or the minor league ballpark? One could argue it supports hammers point...since its not a poorly designed casino even if its funded by one