Drexel expanding with Plasma Institute ...

[raider.adam]

which is good, but in NJ, which sucks.

Plasma center marks Drexel's latest move into New Jersey | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/13/2010

[mixiboi]

Yeah, but in a sense what is good for Camden is good for us.

The institute was crowded out of its space at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia, according to its director, Alexander Fridman. But it also was attracted to working in the same building as the Applied Communications and Information Networking (ACIN) program, a business incubator Drexel started in Camden several years ago to develop technologies and products for military use.

"Most of our research is very much practical, applied sciences, the same as ACIN," Fridman said. "We have a lot of stuff to share."

The Plasma Institute is working on 30 projects, most in conjunction with large companies, to develop technology in areas such as clean energy and environmental control, Fridman said.

Though plasma is best known for the picture quality it provides TVs, Fridman said the most exciting field of plasma research was medicine. He hopes to build relationships with Camden's Cooper University Hospital, just a few blocks away, he said.

"My feeling is that Camden is very much a fast-developing area," he said. "This is a place we can do more."

When the International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry comes to town next year, Fridman says, he plans to show off the city to "world leaders in plasma science."

Camden has pinned its revitalization on expansion of its higher-education and medical facilities. But critics of the approach say such entities do not hire Camden residents, who tend to lack the necessary education and skills. Fridman says he plans to hire Camden residents as secretaries and lab technicians.

They are apart of our overall Metropolitan city, and we gotta remember that the whole region is our body and we are the heart.


They need us as much as we need them.

[raider.adam]

Yeah, but in a sense what is good for Camden is good for us.

They are apart of our overall Metropolitan city, and we gotta remember that the whole region is our body and we are the heart.

They need us as much as we need them.

Nah. I would rather have the taxes go here than to NJ.

[billy ross]

Nah. I would rather have the taxes go here than to NJ.

Philly will still get the wage taxes, since most of the workers will probably still live in Philly. Developing the Delaware riverfront on both sides as a pleasant destination is a good for the region.

Is New York City helped or hurt by Hoboken's success? Camden is our Hoboken (or maybe Jersey City), and the present condition of Camden is indicative of Philly's short coatttails. Cleaning up the mess over there (in Camden) is similarly indicative of Philly's reviving strength. I am pleased. It's better than Drexel's campus in California.

[raider.adam]

Philly will still get the wage taxes, since most of the workers will probably still live in Philly. Developing the Delaware riverfront on both sides as a pleasant destination is a good for the region.

Is New York City helped or hurt by Hoboken's success? Camden is our Hoboken (or maybe Jersey City), and the present condition of Camden is indicative of Philly's short coatttails. Cleaning up the mess over there (in Camden) is similarly indicative of Philly's reviving strength. I am pleased. It's better than Drexel's campus in California.

When we get to be NY, I'll agree.

Yes it is good Drexel is growing. Yes it is better than being in California. No it is not better than it beig in Philadelphia. Not really too much to argue with there.

Also, the wage tax issue is a complete guess on your part.

[Insoluble]

Sure I would have preferred this to be in Philly, but Camden is the next best thing. Yes, It would have been better had this generated more tax money to support the wonderful and efficient initiatives of the Pennsylvania government and the city of Philadelphia . But I think generating more centrally located jobs in the region (thereby putting more people to work) is more important than the tax revenue this will generate. Some of those jobs will still go to Philadelphia residents.

[phillyaggie]

meanwhile, another fledgling company seems to have found enough space without a problem in West Philly to expand operations.

Integral Molecular adding to University City Science Center space | Philadelphia Business Journal

Integral Molecular Inc. has signed a new 10-year lease with the University City Science Center.

The Philadelphia biotechnology company will maintain its headquarters in the city by expanding its operations at the Science Center’s Port business incubator to 10,000 square feet of custom-designed lab and office space.


Read more: Integral Molecular adding to University City Science Center space | Philadelphia Business Journal

[billy ross]

meanwhile, another fledgling company seems to have found enough space without a problem in West Philly to expand operations.

Integral Molecular adding to University City Science Center space | Philadelphia Business Journal

Integral Molecular Inc. has signed a new 10-year lease with the University City Science Center.

The Philadelphia biotechnology company will maintain its headquarters in the city by expanding its operations at the Science Center’s Port business incubator to 10,000 square feet of custom-designed lab and office space.


Read more: Integral Molecular adding to University City Science Center space | Philadelphia Business Journal

I had always thought that the U City Science Center was a dud. However, they seem to have recently come into their own, and I hear nothing but great news now. Go figure.

[phillyaggie]

They have plans for expanding which include brand new mid rises on Market Street. You'd probably only expand if you're doing well.

Their lack of major expansion until now (having been in existence since 1960s?) probably says something about the city's business climate. As soon as startups and incubating companies grow large enough, they leave the UCSC (and the city) in order to escape red tape and taxation. Not to mention that suburbs were (continue to be?) preferred homes for CEOs and probably was easier to recruit scientists and engineers to...the folks who have families with little kids, the folks that value good education, public safety, and the like. UCSC can be a much larger presence in the business life of this city even now... hopefully they are starting to capture some of that potential.

[billy ross]

They have plans for expanding which include brand new mid rises on Market Street. You'd probably only expand if you're doing well.

Their lack of major expansion until now (having been in existence since 1960s?) probably says something about the city's business climate. As soon as startups and incubating companies grow large enough, they leave the UCSC (and the city) in order to escape red tape and taxation. Not to mention that suburbs were (continue to be?) preferred homes for CEOs and probably was easier to recruit scientists and engineers to...the folks who have families with little kids, the folks that value good education, public safety, and the like. UCSC can be a much larger presence in the business life of this city even now... hopefully they are starting to capture some of that potential.

You would expect a percentage of firms to graduate from UCSC and go out to the burbs. In years gone past it seemed that 100% of them went out to Malvern or Great Valley. Now it seems that a sizeable chunk, maybe even the majority judging from the press releases, are expanding within UCSC's expansion. It just seems to me that University City overall, beyond the Science Center, has really come into its own these past few years, and that the Science Center is a part of that, but only a part of that. It seems to be a holistic kind of improvement to what is going on in that part of the region. While the taxes have become somewhat less onerous, I don't think it was by an amount which would explain the coalescing of strength in University City, although I certainly hope that all of that recent strength in University City will allow the city to be able to afford to rationalize its tax structure in a way which fosters the growing strength of University City. I think it's more that University City is becoming a node in the way that Cambridge has been a node for a while now. The rents in Cambridge are insane, but companies pay them because they want to be there, because they want to be around what is around there. I'm guessing that the rents in University City are a fraction of what they are in Cambridge, almost definitely by enough to wipe out the tax wedge (Massachussetts has a 5.3% income tax, which isn't all that much cheaper than Philly's 6.99% rate, which is dropping). Thus to the extent that University City has some of the energy that Cambridge has, the node power, University City will thrive to greater or lesser degrees. The fact that University City is thriving vis-a-vis its recent past tells me that University City is finally developing that energy. This is a snowball-type of thing, so once the ball starts rolling it should pick up momentum, and I believe that that is happening before our eyes. Time will tell, but I predict a Cira II as soon as the lending markets heal - it'll be one of the first projects financed.

[Hospitalitygirl]

They have plans for expanding which include brand new mid rises on Market Street. You'd probably only expand if you're doing well.

Their lack of major expansion until now (having been in existence since 1960s?) probably says something about the city's business climate. As soon as startups and incubating companies grow large enough, they leave the UCSC (and the city) in order to escape red tape and taxation. Not to mention that suburbs were (continue to be?) preferred homes for CEOs and probably was easier to recruit scientists and engineers to...the folks who have families with little kids, the folks that value good education, public safety, and the like. UCSC can be a much larger presence in the business life of this city even now... hopefully they are starting to capture some of that potential.

Aggie--it isn't always the taxes that drives them away, but rather a lack of space as they start to grow. They need more space. It is just that simple sometimes.

[desolate]

The Science Center i an incubator.

It' where like a professor and some researchers work up a project and ramp up production.

Once they've figured that out and a buines plan or investors, they relocate to an actual production facility.

They only move for those reasons not taxes. There's enough "tax break" areas in the city like the Navy Yard.

Now if I had a company would I rather have it in a crime free good school district area or some bombed out industrial area in North Philly.

[raider.adam]

The Science Center i an incubator.

It' where like a professor and some researchers work up a project and ramp up production.

Once they've figured that out and a buines plan or investors, they relocate to an actual production facility.

They only move for those reasons not taxes. There's enough "tax break" areas in the city like the Navy Yard.

Now if I had a company would I rather have it in a crime free good school district area or some bombed out industrial area in North Philly.

I wouldn't discount the business environment as a factor because there is a reason no one is building production space in Philly for the incubators to jump to. So yes, a main reason they leave the City is because they need more space, whcih is elsewhere. The question then is, why is no such space available in the limits?

I can't remember where I read it, but some people have been saying the fact that the startups leave as soon as they have a money making product is a problem.

Yes, I agree, as I said earlier, it is good that they are creating jobs in the region, but we really need jobs in the City. The more jobs we have here the more reasons for people to move in and pay wage and property taxes and shop and entertain.

I mean, it isn't like we don't have the acerage in the city for production facilities. If someone thought they could make money, I am sure the Tastykake site in Nicetown has a good foot print. Or the variety of dilapidated warehouses. Or brownfield land.

I just want Philly to be where the region works, plays, creates and grows.

[billy ross]

I wouldn't discount the business environment as a factor because there is a reason no one is building production space in Philly for the incubators to jump to. So yes, a main reason they leave the City is because they need more space, whcih is elsewhere. The question then is, why is no such space available in the limits?

I can't remember where I read it, but some people have been saying the fact that the startups leave as soon as they have a money making product is a problem.

Yes, I agree, as I said earlier, it is good that they are creating jobs in the region, but we really need jobs in the City. The more jobs we have here the more reasons for people to move in and pay wage and property taxes and shop and entertain.

I mean, it isn't like we don't have the acerage in the city for production facilities. If someone thought they could make money, I am sure the Tastykake site in Nicetown has a good foot print. Or the variety of dilapidated warehouses. Or brownfield land.

I just want Philly to be where the region works, plays, creates and grows.

Most of these scientific things work best in low-rise situations, since who wants to be below or above a lab? However, the Navy Yard has that kind of footprint available, and it is my understanding that there are startup life science operations going into certain locations there. We also have that kind of layout available in the industrial parks of the Northeast, and it is no surprise that Teva Pharmaceuticals (which is anything but a startup) is going in there.