Article - University of Pennsylvania expanding east of the Schuylkill

[Gladys]

University of Pennsylvania expanding east of the Schuylkill

[tsarstruck]

Interesting that it seems like it'll have public streets and spaces. This could be seriously transformative for Forgotten Bottom.

[seand]

The best thing about this is that the underused land at the old Dow facility will be used in real research will keep Philadelphia a center for technical innovation. Its building for science, which means jobs and knowledge-power for the city and the region. Its a tad optimistic that because professors and grad students will be doing research on side of Grays Ferry that they will suddenly all choose to fix up row houses behind the FedEx facility. Jobs and high tech investment is good enough news itself.

[tsarstruck]

Seand, agreed that this is primarily great for the city's job base and economic engine. But I'd bet that this could also spur that section to take off a bit. Especially considering how connected it will be, especially by bike, to Penn, the hospitals, and nature.

Things that I think will further it's development

* The newly opened Crescent path
* The plans for a protected bike path on the Grays Ferry Bridge
* The plans to utilize the swing bridge to connect to the proposed path on the western side of the Schullykill
* Forgotten Bottom's reputation as a stable working class neighborhood
* Despite the above, there are a fair number of available empty lots, which make quick relatively cheap development conceivable
* A good number of C2 zoned properties
* The Big Bus parking lot, which is right on the river.


Honestly, with the amount of development Penn is talking about, with those conditions, I'd be surprised if it didn't see some serious movement (it's not going to be the next Passyunk or anything, but still). Maybe not professors, but a lot of other people will work here as well. I'm a big believer in the neighborhood bar being a driver in these, and that'd be my major question mark: I'm not sure there's quite enough housing stock to support something like that. Does anybody know if Tony D's is open? What the heck goes down in Club 121?

Also, I've heard a rumor that a well-known South Philly developer is snatching properties up. So there's that.

[Kool Earl]

Tony D's building was knocked down after damage incurred during a wind storm. Club 121 was listed for sale for a long time but I havent seen where it was sold and I havent seen it listing on websites