Philly to add 1000 new jobs, announcement tomorrow

[Malloy]

campaign announcement, nothing to see here

Yep. I like this "* The Pennsylvania Convention Center’s $780 million expansion, which created 11,505 direct and indirect jobs and will open in 2011."

Lotta jobs there heh

[Bleeper]

including an announcement expected Wednesday that Urban Outfitters Inc. will add 1,000 jobs at the Navy Yard over the next three years.........The company currently employs about 1,500 people at the Navy Yard, said David Ziel,

With the sad state of affairs along Market East and the neglected Delaware Waterfront why was Urban Outfitters encouraged to move down to the obscurity of the Navy Yard?

That is just unbelievable. You have to keep that energy in Center City. You need to use those jobs to help improve and reinvest in Center City.

Fu@* the Navy Yard.

Market East is 40 years behind the times and you are cattling 1,500 UO jobs and an additional 1,000 UO jobs down to the suburbanesque obscurity of the Navy Yard?


Its bad enough the energy of downtown gets poached on by the suburbs, now its getting attacked by itself.

[Malloy]

Um, if I had the choice, I would have done the same thing. The new UO HQ is incredible, and people around the nation talk about it. Go check it out...and you will understand. Plus, they 'got it for cheap'

including an announcement expected Wednesday that Urban Outfitters Inc. will add 1,000 jobs at the Navy Yard over the next three years.........The company currently employs about 1,500 people at the Navy Yard, said David Ziel,

With the sad state of affairs along Market East and the neglected Delaware Waterfront why was Urban Outfitters encouraged to move down to the obscurity of the Navy Yard?

That is just unbelievable. You have to keep that energy in Center City. You need to use those jobs to help improve and reinvest in Center City.

Fu@* the Navy Yard.

Market East is 40 years behind the times and you are cattling 1,500 UO jobs and an additional 1,000 UO jobs down to the suburbanesque obscurity of the Navy Yard?


Its bad enough the energy of downtown gets poached on by the suburbs, now its getting attacked by itself.

[Bleeper]

Um, if I had the choice, I would have done the same thing. The new UO HQ is incredible, and people around the nation talk about it. Go check it out...and you will understand. Plus, they 'got it for cheap'

And no one other than the people who work there knows the place even exists.

Mayor Bloomberg would have a brain hemmorhage if Estee Lauder said they were moving 2500 jobs from Midtown to Staten Island.

Letting potentially 2500 jobs walk away from Center City just cant happen. In Chicago Urban Outfitters would be expanding in a 60 story office tower lending to the dynamic nature of that downtown.

Those 2500 Urban Outfitter employees need to be downtown contributing to the vibrancy of Center City.

[billy ross]

And no one other than the people who work there knows the place even exists.

Mayor Bloomberg would have a brain hemmorhage if Estee Lauder said they were moving 2500 jobs from Midtown to Staten Island.

Letting potentially 2500 jobs walk away from Center City just cant happen. In Chicago Urban Outfitters would be expanding in a 60 story office tower lending to the dynamic nature of that downtown.

Those 2500 Urban Outfitter employees need to be downtown contributing to the vibrancy of Center City.

Philly's downtown is much more dynamic in my experience than Chicago's. Chicago's downtown strikes me as a sterile place for suburbanites to go to.

I too have made a pilgrimage to UO's HQ's, and I concur that it is amazing space. I wouldn't call it suburban in the least bit - Conshohocken is completely banal in comparison, forget about Blue Bell or Horsham. The plan is to extend the subway into the Navy Yard, and stuff like this makes that plan more likely. This of course would benefit every place along the subway, not the least being Center City. I am very pleased with what is happening at the Navy Yard - I can't think of any development outside of Northern Liberties which is being done so well. Certainly not the Garden State Racetrack redevelopment or anything out in the counties (maybe Phoenixville is in the same vein).

Fundamentally downtown Philly is doing so incredibly well right now that it would be hard to ask for it to do better. What Philly really needs right now is a combination of jobs (hopefully good, but we'll take anything at this point) anywhere in the city and better QOL on the edges of the city, since the center is exploding so amazingly well. Looked from that viewpoint the Navy Yard redevelopment is exactly what the doctor ordered. Jobs plus turning brownfields into highly desirable real estate. If only we could do that in the Lower Northeast and the crappy neighborhoods south and west of the Lower NE.

[BarryG]

It seems like UO wanted a campus rather than a skyscraper. If that is the case, we should be happy to have them in city limits because a CBD may not have been a fit. Anyone know the story?

[puzzles]

And no one other than the people who work there knows the place even exists.

Mayor Bloomberg would have a brain hemmorhage if Estee Lauder said they were moving 2500 jobs from Midtown to Staten Island.

I'm not sure how accurate that comparison is but Urban Outfitters already had a presence at the Navy Yard. They seem to have been growing organically over the years, so this move is just another step in their growth. Why would they pick-up and move an already established base to Center City where they'll face higher property values and also, be less-able (in terms of cost) to construct the type of green buildings to which they're accustomed.

Philadelphia is not Manhattan, in the sense that you NEED to be in midtown (or downtown) to make a name for yourself. A company that is HQ'd in Manhattan will be held in higher-esteem than one located in Seacacus or Staten Island (as you said). In Philly, I don't believe it matters much (yet - although I wish it did) where a firm is located in terms of marketability. As a matter of fact, in some cases, it may work to the firms advantage to be located outside of the city, say along the RT 202 corridor, to increase a firms presence.

As much as I'd like to see Urban located downtown, their decision seems (unfortunately) quite rational.

[billy ross]

I'm not sure how accurate that comparison is but Urban Outfitters already had a presence at the Navy Yard. They seem to have been growing organically over the years, so this move is just another step in their growth. Why would they pick-up and move an already established base to Center City where they'll face higher property values and also, be less-able (in terms of cost) to construct the type of green buildings to which they're accustomed.

Philadelphia is not Manhattan, in the sense that you NEED to be in midtown (or downtown) to make a name for yourself. A company that is HQ'd in Manhattan will be held in higher-esteem than one located in Seacacus or Staten Island (as you said). In Philly, I don't believe it matters much (yet - although I wish it did) where a firm is located in terms of marketability. As a matter of fact, in some cases, it may work to the firms advantage to be located outside of the city, say along the RT 202 corridor, to increase a firms presence.

As much as I'd like to see Urban located downtown, their decision seems (unfortunately) quite rational.

Philly's brand is strong enough that the office where my friend works, in Kennet Square, is his firm's "Philadelphia" office. It happens to be their HQ's too, but they have offices all over, mostly not in the city of their purported location. I don't think that nationally Conshohocken or Blue Bell would be considered to be a stronger brand than Philadelphia as an address. As a matter of fact, I regularly send checks to fictitious addresses in Philly (for instance, Philadelphia, PA 19175) which I know are going to companies in the burbs. I don't know whether it is post office driven, or if they think that Philadelphia is more memorable than Willow Grove.

[eldondre]

Philly's downtown is much more dynamic in my experience than Chicago's. Chicago's downtown strikes me as a sterile place for suburbanites to go to.

not sure about this except yes, there are a lot more jobs in downtown chicago. fwiw-our downtown is also a place for suburbanites to go. I imagine you mean to say downtown chicago is less populated, that's also true. OTOH, downtown chicago is much more dynamic on a weekday. bleeper is right to the extent that it doesn't make sense to incentivize people to leave the cbd for the navy yard...and why isn't market east home to a KOZ? if UO genuinely wanted to be there and not just for the tax incentives, that's a decisions they are free to make.

Fundamentally downtown Philly is doing so incredibly well right now that it would be hard to ask for it to do better. What Philly really needs right now is a combination of jobs (hopefully good, but we'll take anything at this point) anywhere in the city and better QOL on the edges of the city, since the center is exploding so amazingly well. Looked from that viewpoint the Navy Yard redevelopment is exactly what the doctor ordered. Jobs plus turning brownfields into highly desirable real estate. If only we could do that in the Lower Northeast and the crappy neighborhoods south and west of the Lower NE.

can't really agree with this at all. it's not exploding amazingly well, decades later after the fall of the chinese wall, there are still vacant lots. the main problem is a lack of jobs. it would be ridiculous to paper over that.

Philly's brand is strong enough that the office where my friend works, in Kennet Square, is his firm's "Philadelphia" office. It happens to be their HQ's too, but they have offices all over, mostly not in the city of their purported location. I don't think that nationally Conshohocken or Blue Bell would be considered to be a stronger brand than Philadelphia as an address. As a matter of fact, I regularly send checks to fictitious addresses (for instance, Philadelphia, PA 19175) which I know are going to companies in the burbs. I don't know whether it is post office driven, or if they think that Philadelphia is more memorable than Willow Grove.

which further drives home the point that philly is an attractive region but the city lags incredibly at job creation because of its tax structure. the western subrubs have their own distribution facility in devon.

[Malloy]

It seems like UO wanted a campus rather than a skyscraper. If that is the case, we should be happy to have them in city limits because a CBD may not have been a fit. Anyone know the story?

Its not exacrtly uncommon. Amazon left a skyscraper in favor of a campus outside the downrtown core. Its also pretty awesome.

[eldondre]

glaxo downsizing presence, moving to tax free navy yard
Glaxo picks Navy Yard site for $81M Liberty building | PhillyDeals | 02/08/2011

[MTEMPLE]

glaxo downsizing presence, moving to tax free navy yard
Glaxo picks Navy Yard site for $81M Liberty building | PhillyDeals | 02/08/2011

That's 1300 people that won't be supporting restaurants, coffee shops, etc, etc in the city core anymore.

[BarryG]

That's 1300 people that won't be supporting restaurants, coffee shops, etc, etc in the city core anymore.

And probably more people driving to work, adding to traffic.

[phillyaggie]

that also means less in real estate tax collections for the city since the whole of Navy Yard is in the Keystone Opportunity/Investment Zone.

On the plus side:

Glaxo didn't just up and leave Philly or the metro for some place like the RTP, NC.

More jobs in Navy Yard likely means more push for the BSL extension. But that can be a double-edged sword as we're finding out with more jobs moving out of CBD and into the Yard.

On the minus side:

Say bye-bye to ACC, most likely.

Cut in city's revenue steam.

If GSK is emptying some of their building, who is going to backfill it? Will it sit empty? Another dead zone.


The only way to fix these problems is to hasten the equilibrium... build out the Navy YArd to the point where there is no more capacity there, while also cut business taxes in the rest of the city so there is less of an incentive to hide out in Cira or the Yard or some place similar... capitalize on CBD's strengths by densifying around it more. In other words: spur demand growth.

[eldondre]

that also means less in real estate tax collections for the city since the whole of Navy Yard is in the Keystone Opportunity/Investment Zone.

and perhaps equally importantly, less in BPT. there are a number of GSK workers residing in spring garden. rather than walk, they'll likely drive since you have to catch a shuttle bus down there. a long time ago they built an 8 story office building that could be upgraded to 16 stories (where they are now). now they're moving out of the cbd (mere blocks form suburban station) and building a four story building. it wouldn't really matter if companies were moving in I guess...but they aren't. we seem to be escaping the nationwide trend of increased employment in cbd's

[Jerry19127]

Let's see how Mayor Nutless puts the positive spin on this. He'll most likely put the Obama spin on it. Philadelphia was able to save 1000 jobs today . Guaranteed to get him another term.

[phillyaggie]

it wouldn't really matter if companies were moving in I guess...but they aren't. we seem to be escaping the nationwide trend of increased employment in cbd's

no kidding. just Dallas, in the past 5 years, has added Comeria Bank, AT&T, 7/Eleven, and a few other corporate HQs and business service firms (law, accounting, advertizing) to its CBD. Then again, they actually offer incentives for companies to be in the downtown, not move away from it in the Bizzaro World.

[eldondre]

no kidding. just Dallas, in the past 5 years, has added Comeria Bank, AT&T, 7/Eleven, and a few other corporate HQs and business service firms (law, accounting, advertizing) to its CBD. Then again, they actually offer incentives for companies to be in the downtown, not move away from it in the Bizzaro World.

or across the state where Mellon was bought out by BNY but total employment at the branh grew. or google hiring 500 new employees. I like to use them as a point because they have the same state taxes. of course, I read it's more widespread than that...most cbd's have done relatively well over the past few years. I don't think this can be blamed on mayor nutless but he's done less than I woudl have liked to change it.

[Jay from Philly]

no kidding. just Dallas, in the past 5 years, has added Comeria Bank, AT&T, 7/Eleven, and a few other corporate HQs and business service firms (law, accounting, advertizing) to its CBD. Then again, they actually offer incentives for companies to be in the downtown, not move away from it in the Bizzaro World.

Our politicians are more concerned with appeasing Y'O'K'weefah and J'Kwon with welfare checks and Section 8 Housing than they are in encouraging big corporations or small business to open here. The most pro-business they get are big gov't projects for Jersey-dwelling union goons.

[billy ross]

and perhaps equally importantly, less in BPT. there are a number of GSK workers residing in spring garden. rather than walk, they'll likely drive since you have to catch a shuttle bus down there. a long time ago they built an 8 story office building that could be upgraded to 16 stories (where they are now). now they're moving out of the cbd (mere blocks form suburban station) and building a four story building. it wouldn't really matter if companies were moving in I guess...but they aren't. we seem to be escaping the nationwide trend of increased employment in cbd's

It is my understanding that CBD's are losing share nationwide, not just in Phila... Greenwich, White Plains, 128, Hoffman Estates, Arlington, etc.