Philly Chit Chat

What 676 Bridges Look Like Now, Parkway Developments, and New Business

I hope you’re having a great day. Recently I found myself at the formerly known as the Top of The Tower, now known as Sky Philadelphia. Sky Philadelphia has a popular weekend brunch, and on the 51st floor is the popular beer garden run by Brauhaus Schmitz called SkyGarten.

I noticed there were dozen or so stories of interest from this view, in and around the Parkway area

These three blocks of residential sum up the growth of Franklintown.
1900 Hamilton Street, the low rises with gray roofs facing us were built in the 90s,
then in the early 00s the Tivoli Condos were built I always felt sorry for Hamilton Court losing their view. Then in this decade The Granary Apartments were built, blocking their view of the City.
What 676 looked like before the replacement bridge project. Many of the openings are now capped as you will see.

Look how amazing the Vine Street Expressway looks now that the overpasses have been completed, or are
finishing up construction.

In front of the old family court house and the Library you can see the matching ovals which is the new Aviator Park, they’ll be new benches
as beautiful landscaped gardens. I bet the annual Book Festival will be that much better with these new parks. It’ll be interesting to see what
they’re going to do with the newly capped area (on left) across from the Franklin Institute. Maybe another green space.
Here’s one of the last bridges being replaced the 22nd street bridge, next to Park Town.

Here’s what the NFL Draft stage looked like last Monday. They’ve progressed much further in this are with
staging since then.

Another favorite mural bites the dust.

This one was on the side of the former Children’s Crisis Treatment Center at 17th and Callowhill.

Which has now been torn down to build a micro brewery and residential mix used according to OCF Realty
“According to public record, the City owns the property. But clearly a developer has purchased the property from the City. And wouldn’t you know it, at a PAID meeting about a year and a half ago, the City agreed that it would sell the property to Orens Brothers. At that meeting, the developers indicated that they had an LOI from Callowhill Craft Brewing for a microbrewery and possible restaurant, which would be a cool addition to the neighborhood.” (OCF)

The gray building in the center, is the new Dalian on the Parkway apartment building, the new Whole Foods is located on the first floor
as well as a CVS and a bank. The views from the apartment building are amazing, but for some reason they’ve been slow to move rentals. Personally I think they could have had more roof top access where the pool is located. Unfortunately the space is being used for a “green roof” which is nice, but you’re not allowed to walk on it.

In the foreground is the former Whole Foods building, which is now going to be a Target. I sure hope they are going to bring better quality merchandise than what they’re selling in Center City. Well at least they’ll have produce and other groceries for a reasonable price. You might still have to go to AC Moore for photo frames, which oddly the Target’s in Center City don’t carry.
Target, request is for an exception to allow a larger signage than  allowed. The zoning limitation allows for 16 square feet of free-standing signage; the request is  for an exception of up to 40 square feet. Though larger than allowed by zoning, the footprint of  the proposed signage is very similar to the existing sign by Whole Foods. The signage theme is  the signature and somewhat iconic red Target logo with illumination of the logo.

The Mormon Campus is nearly done. And it so gorgeous, what a really remarkable addition to Philadelphia.
The highrise on the right is The Alexander, a residential 32-story, 490,000 square-feet apartment building where Mormon’s and non-church members can live
as long as they abide by the rules of good living dictated by the Mormon faith of no drinking, no smoking, no cursing, or consumption of caffeine.
There’s also a 12,000 retail section on the first floor of the apartment building. Retail has to abide to all the same rules, except I hear if a restaurant takes a space, the eatery can have a liquor license, no coffee though. The mall, like the one they have in Salt Lake City, was developed by a partner developer is not affiliated with the Church, so some venues will be open Sundays and serve alcohol. It’s an interesting way they go around the rules of the church.

The residential tower was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects in New York City, supported by BLT Architects in Philadelphia, the PRI spokesman said, and “inspired by Philadelphia’s strong tradition of brick-and-masonry Georgian and Federal architecture.”

All this development couldn’t have happened without the contributions of the Rendell, Street, Nutter and Kenny administrations.
We have become that first class 24/7 City that Paul Levy has talked about for the last two decades. Thanks.

Scenes From The Philadelphia’s 86th Easter Promenade on South Street

City Fitness issued a challenge to all Philadelphians with their new #MyCityMoves competition. MyCityMoves is a fitness competition designed to build fitter, healthier cities.  Last year – in the first challenge of it’s kind, anywhere – we they over 300 Philadelphians burning over 3.25 million calories and awarded Gary Lamsback, Jen Zoga, and Ray Davis – normal Philadelphia citizens – $10,000 for their effort. Let’s see who won this year. (CityFitness)

Closing Ceremony for City Fitness’ #MyCityMoves campaign took place at One Liberty Observation Deck. Perched 57 floors above the buzzing streets, One Liberty Observation Deck is the highest publicly-accessible vantage point of the always sunny city. Interactive touchscreen technology bring the city’s neighborhoods and historical attractions to your fingertips while audio and video media envelope you in the best of Philadelphia music, sports, and culture. The deck, which comfortably accommodates 275 people at any given time, is available for private events too. To schedule your tour of the space, email events@phillyfromthetop.com and learn more about the event options.

Food was provided by Snap Kitchen and Core Water as people mingle around the Observation Deck space.

Natalie 💋 Egenolf, Afternoons with Mike Missanelli Sports Update Anchor on 97.5, guest and Anita Oh, fashion blogger.

Rich Levering , Core Hydration and Sara Schvenemann

Ken Davis and Isaac Hebron, ‎Assistant Principal at Mastery Charter Schools

Ali Gorman, 6ABC and Tom Wingert, Marketing Director – ‎City Fitness

Food was provided by Snap Kitchen

Anne Meredith and Joseph Wingert

Vince Vioozi and Katheine Bonnin

DJ Hollywood and friends

Winner Lauren Rossi with the most MEPS Earned – 13314
She was awarded The Answer Award and $1,000
Oh and a stealth body

Anya Curtis – 13095 MEPS

Ibraheim Campbell – The Real Philly Award

Ursula Styles was honored with most creative and use of Social Media during the campaign.

She definitely wins best Style of the night as well.

Then there was a raffle drawing for a grand prize of $5,000

All participants who reached a certain number of MEPS were eligible.
For complete rules and additional info check out
https://cityfitnessphilly.com/mycitymoves-terms-conditions/

$2,000 was also donated to the charity Urban Roots

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I just received this press release. Looks like Vea Fitness is have a month long workout challenge as well.

Vea Fitness Teams Up with Snap Kitchen and CORE Hydration for Month-Long Workout Challenge

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 10, 2017)  — Vea Fitness, the Philadelphia-based fitness-tracking app that rewards users for working out with monetary incentives, announces its month-long workout challenge in partnership with Snap Kitchen, CORE Hydration, and certified personal trainer Joe Pepe, beginning on April 13 and ending on May 13. Vea Fitness app users can complete the “Eat Clean, Train Mean” challenge by using the app to track a workout for at least 30 minutes, twice per week. The challenge can be completed as many times as the user pleases – the more completions, the more entries the user gets into the prize lottery. Prizes include $100 gift cards to Snap Kitchen, a CORE Hydration yoga kit and backpack by Prana, valued at $299, several workout gear packages and free healthy organic drinks from CORE.

Those interested in the challenge can download the workout-tracking app in the App Store or Google Play, open the “Eat Clean, Train Mean” Workout Challenge,” and use either Vea Fitness’ GPS tracking (run, walk, bike or hike) or Gym Check-In feature to work out for at least 30 minutes. Each time the challenge is completed, the user’s name is entered into a lottery, where Vea Fitness will randomly select 3 grand prize winners, and several other small prize winners.

“We’re taking the ‘summer bodies are built in the winter’ adage to a whole new level with the ‘Eat Clean, Train Mean’ challenge,” said Jonathan Maxim, Founder and CEO of Vea Fitness. “Studies show that the best way to motivate someone to workout is through proper incentives – rewards and social accountability. With this gym-focused challenge, we’re motivating users to push themselves a step further and truly adopt a lasting healthy lifestyle.”

While those participating in the challenge simply have to workout for 30 minutes and track their time using the app, optional 30-minute fitness plans with quick and simple gym workouts, recommended by Philadelphia-based personal trainer Joe Pepe, are available in the app as a guide throughout the challenge.