University City Continues to Grow with Planned 3.0 University Place Complex
The Pep Boys Site at 41st and Market, 2.0 University Place in background | Google Street View
Philadelphia’s new boom – in population, jobs, housing, restaurants, retailers, and office space – is well documented. But if you thought Center City was the only one of Philly’s hot areas leading the way, here’s a reminder: University City is putting in its fair share of work too.
It’s next development gearing up for a launch? 3.0 University Place, a proposed LEED Platinum-certified office complex planned for the corner of 41st and Market, formerly the site of a Pep Boys. According to PlanPhilly, a bill proposing to rezone the property for high-density commercial mixed-use designation was introduced to City Council last week. It’d also touch on surrounding sites:
The bill also rezones a number of blocks surrounding the 3.0 University Place site, affecting the area bounded by 40th, 44th, Ludlow, and Powelton Ave.
In fact, 3.0 University Place is part of a larger plan by University Place Associates (UPA) to build a “Platinum Corridor” in West Philadelphia.
UPA completed 2.0 University Place at 30 North 41st Street in 2013, and the forthcoming LEED-certified buildings that would cluster on Preston and 42nd Streets along Market – to be named 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 University Place respectively – would feature green spaces, lighting, benches, and more. Representatives from UPA could not be reached for comment. See renderings here and here.
University Place Associates claims the currently planned building has “already achieved pre-certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s newest LEED Rating System called version 4,” a system said to be more strict than previous versions. Below you’ll find a list of some of the features the 3.0 University Place office complex is set to have:
• Storm water management
• Wind and solar-generated energy
• Efficient heating and cooling systems
• Rooftop garden
• Strategically placed shading devices
• Preferred parking spaces for hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV)
• Secure bicycle parking
Previously, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported the city’s greatest hike in office constructions was helmed by University City. By December 2014, the area was in the midst of adding “6.9 million sq. ft. of new office, research, residential, academic and medical facilities in addition to nearly 2.2 acres of public space,” according to the 2014/2015 State of University City report by the University City District.
The buzzing district yielded news last week of uCitySquare, a forthcoming “live, work, play” innovation hub slated to emerge out of a massive neighborhood transformation by the University City Science Center. Now, BizPhilly says University City dwarfs Center City when it comes to growth of well-paying jobs.
