Developer unveils $100M plan for Spectrum land
A plan to bring life to the vast asphalt desert at Philadelphia's sports complex took another step forward today when a Baltimore developer released drawings for a $100 million entertainment center connecting the Wachovia Center to Citizens Bank Park.
Developer unveils $100M plan for Spectrum land
Inga Saffron, Inquirer Architecture Critic
A plan to bring life to the vast asphalt desert at Philadelphia’s sports complex took another step forward today when a Baltimore developer released drawings for a $100 million entertainment center connecting the Wachovia Center to Citizens Bank Park.
The glitzy architectural renderings, which were presented to the city Planning Commission, showed a two-block-long, diagonal street running between the two sports venues, across the land now occupied by the Spectrum. Modeled on such destinations as Boston’s Quincy Market and Baltimore’s Power Point Live, the street would be lined with restaurants, bars and shops.
The project would replace the Spectrum, which is scheduled to be demolished early next year. It is being developed jointly by Comcast-Spectacor and the Cordish Company, the developer behind much of the nightlife at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
correction to article: Power Plant Live is the venue in Baltimore— rajesingh- this is dumb, cant wait for it to fail all over snyders face— PHILLYINNE
- I wonder who will be the first person shot in the parking? This things will make the Phillies much less family friendly, especially the weekend night games. Bang Bang there's another open seat on the bus.— LGbalsac
- Do they really expect people to start heading down to the stadium area when no teams are playing? Get real, this will die a slow and painful death.— catnameddomino
- I think it will be great. This will create jobs and improve the social element at the sports complex. All you complainers can stay home.— rascal b. schuylkillian
I agree - this place will be great. lots of things for everyone. It's about time we capitalize more with that space down there.
Comment removed.- Let's get started and get people to WORK!!— MJMcDevitt
- 8$ beers, overpriced junk, and lousy fast food? ... I’ll be in the parking lot with a cooler, a sandwich from Tony Luke’s, and my radio— Fed_up_with_bs
- I am jealous. I am a Phillies fan that grew up in the area and I now live in Atlanta. It is really nice to see how far that area has come. This is a wonderful venue and it will thrive. There are so, so many travelers that stay at the airport (including me when I come for business( and there hasn't been much within close proximity of the airport....this is a good opportunity for the business travelers and also the post game parties. Fans there should be grateful and look at how bad other cities are!— ROBPHI
- about time ... now 45,000 people will have something to do after a game other than sitting in traffic ... the cubs have wrigglyville, the red sox have yawkey way and the yankees have river street ... soon philly will have "philly live" ... oh well, its just a name ... great idea, but a dumb name— johnnyMo
- Less parking and more people, brilliant.— steakhead
- It will only happen if the suckers , that is , the taxpayers pick up most of the tab , like they did for the stadiums .— publius sempronius tuditanus
- Let's live up to our reputation as the best tailgaters in the country and tailgate the construction of this project!— DrexelDragonFan
- Comment removed.
Inga Saffron came to architecture criticism after five years as a foreign correspondent in Russia and Yugoslavia, where she covered two wars and was a witness to the destruction of two great cities, Sarajevo and Grozny. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Read previous entries on her Skyline Online blog. Reach Inga at isaffron@phillynews.com.
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