Articles by Vitali Ogorodnikov

W/Element Hotel from City Hall. Photo by Thomas Koloski

W Hotel Opens to Visitors, Marking the Completion of the W/Element Hotel at 1141 Chestnut Street in Center City

7:30 am on August 31, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

The most dramatic skyscraper to join the Philadelphia skyline over the course of the past two years is the dual-branded W/Element Hotel, which stands at 1141 Chestnut Street in Center City, a block south of City Hall. Designed by Cope-Linder Architects and developed by Chestlen Development, the 617-foot-tall, 52-story structure combines a 460-room Element Hotel and a 295-room W Hotel. The building has stood largely finished for the past few months, as the Element Hotel opened in May and its dynamic nighttime illumination finishing its testing rounds. As of last week, we may officially declare the building as complete, as the W Hotel opened its doors on August 23rd.

4309 Westminster Avenue. Looking northwest. Credit: Google Maps

Permits Issued for Renovation and Vertical Extension at 4309 Westminster Avenue in Belmont, West Philadelphia

7:00 am on August 31, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Permits have been issued for the renovation and a single-story vertical extension for a three-story rowhouse at 4309 Westminster Avenue in Belmont, West Philadelphia. The building, situated on the north side of the block between North 43rd Street and Belmont Avenue, is part of a block-long ensemble of prewar rowhouses. The project will cover 3,080 square feet of existing interior space and add 767 square feet of new construction, and will feature three residential units as well as an accessible green roof. Permits list Horace Andrews as the owner, Christopher Menna as the design professional, and Terox Electric & Construction Corp. as the contractor. Construction costs are listed at $50,000.

The view from The Laurel Rittenhouse looking west toward Center City West and University City. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Center City West Lands at the 21st Place on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:30 am on August 29, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Yesterday, Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown, which looks at the most frequently mentioned article categories over the course of the past year, looked at Market East, which scored 35 category mentions. Today we visit a Market Street-anchored neighborhood on the opposite side of Center City, where Center City West noted 36 category mentions and as such arrived at number 21 in the countdown rankings. The forlorn neighborhood, a domain of block-spanning parking lots, garages, and otherwise underutilized properties, is the remaining development frontier of Center City, and is finally witnessing a major development surge, albeit one on a smaller scale than it deserves. Today we look at a few of the projects transforming its rather inhospitable streetscape into Philadelphia’s newest neighborhood.

Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion from South Philadelphia. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Market East Takes the 22nd Place on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:00 am on August 28, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

The 22nd place on Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown, which looks at the most frequently mentioned article categories over the course of the past year, goes to Market East. This Center City neighborhood, situated east of City Hall along Market Street, has seen rapid development over the past few years. The category owes its relatively high place on our ranking due to our consistent coverage of certain developments, notably East Market Phase 3, as well as analysis of architectural landmarks such as the PSFS Building.

33 North 22nd Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz / PMC Property Group via the Civic Design Review

Architecture Firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz Comes In at Number 23 on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:30 am on August 27, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown, which looks at the most frequently mentioned article categories over the course of the past year, finds architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz at number 23 out of the more than 1,800 analyzed categories, with a total of 34 tags amassed during the period. The company, which is (spoiler alert) the only architecture firm to feature in the entire Countdown, owes its high ranking to both a large number of significant ongoing developments and our prolific coverage of such.

One Liberty Place and the W/Element Hotel lit up from New Jersey. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Last Year’s December Development Countdown Ranks at Number 24 on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:30 am on August 26, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

We apologize for the somewhat confusing headline. Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown tracks the most frequently mentioned article categories over the course of the past year. Last year’s December Development Countdown, which looked at the 31 tallest buildings under construction or proposed in the city, racked up 31 category listings during its month-long run, earning it the 24th place on the ongoing countdown. Today we look at the top three entries from the December Countdown, all located in Center City, and check in on the progress they have made so far in 2021.

4401 Ridge Avenue. Credit: Oombra Architects.

Northwest Philadelphia Ranks at Number 25 on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:30 am on August 25, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown, which looks at the most frequently mentioned article categories over the course of the past year, finds Northwest Philadelphia as the 25th among the 31 ranked entries. The district, better known for its small-town charm rather than for being a construction boomtown, has assumed its relatively high rank due to its large area, when compared to other neighborhoods that we have covered in the countdown so far, as well as a proliferation of apartment development taking place among major thoroughfares and near transit hubs. Today we look at a selection of the most notable buildings that are bringing density and visual variety to the district.

Rendering of Innovator Village via Philly Living Team.

Graduate Hospital Takes the 26th Place on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:30 am on August 24, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

The 26th place on Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown, which tallies the 31 most frequently listed article categories over the course of the past year, goes to Graduate Hospital, a neighborhood located in South Philadelphia that aggregated 30 category mentions during the period. The charming, pedestrian-friendly district continues to expand its real estate offerings largely via new low- and mid-rise residential construction. Many of the new buildings target an upmarket clientele and thus feature elaborate, high-end architectural design.

Norris Square Park. Credit: The Cultural Landscpe Foundation

Norris Square Ranks at Number 27 on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown

7:00 am on August 23, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

The 27th place in Philadelphia YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown, which aggregates the 31 most frequently listed article categories over the course of the past year, goes to Norris Square. The North Philadelphia neighborhood featured in at least 29 articles during the period. Unlike most neighborhoods that have been featured in the Countdown so far, such as Washington Square West, Francisville, Rittenhouse Square, and Brewerytown, Norris Square does not boast many headline-making marquee projects with flashy renderings. Instead, the district earned its rank through our coverage of its numerous smaller-scale, low- and mid-rise residential proposals, which is the kind of low-key development that comprises much of the city’s ongoing revival. Today we look at some of the most outstanding projects on the drawing boards within the district.

The view from Arthaus looking north toward Washington Square West. Photo by Thomas Koloski

The Number 28 Spot on Philly YIMBY’s First Anniversary Countdown Goes to Washington Square West

8:00 am on August 22, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Philadelphia YIMBY’s ongoing countdown, which looks at the 31 most frequently listed article categories over the course of the past year in honor of our first anniversary, finds Washington Square West in the 28th place, with at least 29 publications mentioning the neighborhood in its tags. Much like Rittenhouse Square, which we recently covered in the countdown, this Center City neighborhood is already well-established and densely built out. As such, instead of a pronounced development boom, it owes its high ranking to our consistent coverage of a handful of notable developments, particularly Arthaus at 311 South Broad Street. Although we have also covered several minor projects in the area, today we are taking a look at some of the most dramatic developments that will alter the local skyline.

Pages: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250251252253254255256257258259260261262263264265266267268269270271272273274275276277278279280281282283284285286287288289290291292293294295296297298299300301302303304305306307

Fetching more...

Articles by Vitali Ogorodnikov

What’s happening in your backyard?