They're just about finished with the Comcast building and according to my husband, they're about to start work on what will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

 

I believe that your husband is not correct on this point.  The building being "proposed" right now would be slightly shorter than the Sears Tower and a good bit short of both the Chicago Spire (which will hold that title) and the Freedom Tower.  The Philly proposal actually looks like one of the proposals for the Freedom Tower that was not accepted.

 

Philly is an interesting town because for a long time there was a law on the books that prohibited any building from exceeding the eyes of William Penn (nice shot MTS).  That restriction was not repealed until the mid-late 1980's.  It actually led to density far BEFORE the skyscrapers started going up - a strategy I am all for here in CLE. 

 

I would def. have not been opposed to any Cleveland law that had capped height at the Terminal Tower.  Not that I don't love the Key Center, I just think that it swallows the Terminal Tower.... 200 PS also is guilty of doing the same on inbound east shoreway. 

 

I remember when all those skyscrapers were shooting up in the 1990's, my grandmother (who is a lifetime Philly resident) was always complaining how they looked like giant salt shakers.

It was not a law, but a "gentleman's agreement".

They're just about finished with the Comcast building and according to my husband, they're about to start work on what will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

 

I believe that your husband is not correct on this point.  The building being "proposed" right now would be slightly shorter than the Sears Tower and a good bit short of both the Chicago Spire (which will hold that title) and the Freedom Tower.  The Philly proposal actually looks like one of the proposals for the Freedom Tower that was not accepted.

 

Philly is an interesting town because for a long time there was a law on the books that prohibited any building from exceeding the eyes of William Penn (nice shot MTS).  That restriction was not repealed until the mid-late 1980's.  It actually led to density far BEFORE the skyscrapers started going up - a strategy I am all for here in CLE. 

 

I would def. have not been opposed to any Cleveland law that had capped height at the Terminal Tower.  Not that I don't love the Key Center, I just think that it swallows the Terminal Tower.... 200 PS also is guilty of doing the same on inbound east shoreway. 

 

I remember when all those skyscrapers were shooting up in the 1990's, my grandmother (who is a lifetime Philly resident) was always complaining how they looked like giant salt shakers.

According to http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080317_Plan_for_high-rise_would_put_Philly_on_worlds_skyscraper_map.html

 

It's a conflicting article saying that it would be the tallest at 1500 ft, but then mentions a 2000ft building being constructed in Chicago.

 

And yes, that's true and supposedly, the curse of William Penn is that ever since buildings were allowed to be higher, no Philly team has won a championship. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_Billy_Penn)

A couple hundred of the 1500 ft for the proposed tower is just the spire.  The roof of the Sears Tower is higher and the peak of its spire is more than 1500 ft.  Check the stats out at http://skyscraperpage.com/. 

 

BTW, I hate the design.

Just going by what's being reported around here.. And yeah.. I'm not too fond of the design either. I dont really like the Amtrak building or the Comcast building either.

MTS, I'll hunt down stats and get back to you; urban RE's one of my hobbies... Realtors and investors (and Wall Street) have all said that Philly, while it has had some sag, has not been hit like other places. Part of it is that, while Cleveland has yet to break through the stereotypes and doubt in outiders mind, Philly has in many ways. Plus, the population mass of the Northeast corridor is so close by -- an hour train ride to New York -- many New Yorkers, brushed off by Manhattan's crazy market, have moved to Philly, burbs and city, but esp Center City.   And, as alluded to, Philly has/is a part of a gigantic transit network, regional, local, several levels of trains and buses (and rail stations are in or very near most neighborhoods), there's always comeback potential...

 

... in some ways Philly's just a bigger, older Cleveland: lots of potential, arts, etc, but stays down on itself... but Philly's quietly playing its best hand while Cleveland is, well, progressing but oh so slowly.

 

People from NNJ have moved to Philly as Philly tries to market itself as the "six boro"

 

I od agree that Philly does remind me of Cleveland. I've often said that. Broad Street Reminds me of Euclid and East Ninth reminds me of Market street.

 

I can't say that market Street reminds me of E 9th at all.  Market is lined with retail and flanked with City Hall.  Heck, there's even a K'Mart on market street.  E 9th is mostly office/financial.  Granted, there are offices along market, I view it much more retail oriented than 9th.

MTS, I'll hunt down stats and get back to you; urban RE's one of my hobbies... Realtors and investors (and Wall Street) have all said that Philly, while it has had some sag, has not been hit like other places.  Part of it is that, while Cleveland has yet to break through the stereotypes and doubt in outiders mind, Philly has in many ways.  Plus, the population mass of the Northeast corridor is so close by -- an hour train ride to New York -- many New Yorkers, brushed off by Manhattan's crazy market, have moved to Philly, burbs and city, but esp Center City.   And, as alluded to, Philly has/is a part of a gigantic transit network, regional, local, several levels of trains and buses (and rail stations are in or very near most neighborhoods), there's always comeback potential...

 

... in some ways Philly's just a bigger, older Cleveland: lots of potential, arts, etc, but stays down on itself... but Philly's quietly playing its best hand while Cleveland is, well, progressing but oh so slowly.

 

People from NNJ have moved to Philly as Philly tries to market itself as the "six boro"

 

I od agree that Philly does remind me of Cleveland.  I've often said that.  Broad Street Reminds me of Euclid and East Ninth reminds me of Market street.

 

I can't say that market Street reminds me of E 9th at all.  Market is lined with retail and flanked with City Hall.  Heck, there's even a K'Mart on market street.  E 9th is mostly office/financial.  Granted, there are offices along market, I view it much more retail oriented than 9th.

 

Remember there are TWO sides to Market street.  City Hall splits both market and Broad streets. 

MTS, I'll hunt down stats and get back to you; urban RE's one of my hobbies... Realtors and investors (and Wall Street) have all said that Philly, while it has had some sag, has not been hit like other places.  Part of it is that, while Cleveland has yet to break through the stereotypes and doubt in outiders mind, Philly has in many ways.  Plus, the population mass of the Northeast corridor is so close by -- an hour train ride to New York -- many New Yorkers, brushed off by Manhattan's crazy market, have moved to Philly, burbs and city, but esp Center City.  And, as alluded to, Philly has/is a part of a gigantic transit network, regional, local, several levels of trains and buses (and rail stations are in or very near most neighborhoods), there's always comeback potential...

 

... in some ways Philly's just a bigger, older Cleveland: lots of potential, arts, etc, but stays down on itself... but Philly's quietly playing its best hand while Cleveland is, well, progressing but oh so slowly.

 

People from NNJ have moved to Philly as Philly tries to market itself as the "six boro"

 

I od agree that Philly does remind me of Cleveland.  I've often said that.  Broad Street Reminds me of Euclid and East Ninth reminds me of Market street.

 

I can't say that market Street reminds me of E 9th at all.  Market is lined with retail and flanked with City Hall.  Heck, there's even a K'Mart on market street.  E 9th is mostly office/financial.  Granted, there are offices along market, I view it much more retail oriented than 9th.

 

Remember there are TWO sides to Market street.  City Hall splits both market and Broad streets. 

 

Exactly, the side from the river to City hall is mostly merchant areas and well there's also the Convention center at 11th Street, but if you travel the circle around City hall and continue travelling down Market street you hit the financial/law firm areas.

I get MTS’ drift, Market Street West (of City Hall) does echo Cleve’s E. 9th.  Both are post-WWII downtown districts; Philly’s had been underdeveloped until the demolition of the “Chinese Wall” – an old masonry RR viaduct connect to the old Broad Street Terminal before it was torn down in the 1950s…

 

Our Heights certainly echo Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill, even down to SEPTA’s commuter rail and our Shaker Rapid (despite differing technologies).