File # 23: Aint No Love in This Park

So I was in Love Park Sunday night, when a fight broke out between a group of wild animals-- I mean teenagers from North Philly. One kid had a knife and another one hurled a cigarette butt holder at him. I eventually left for my own safety.

But it got me thinking. Love Park is in line sight to City Hall. How does Nutter not notice how filthy it is? Between the Skateboarders, the homeless and the Be-Be's kids who trash that park and the murder that happened a month ago, when is someone gonna clean this park up and enforce it?

Do I have to wait for a white tourist to get slain on the Love Fountain and a pre-packaged angry Michael Nutter speech before the park gets cleaned up and the rules get enforced? This crap wouldn't fly with the rich people at Rittenhouse, so why should it pass here?

File #8: A Screen Made to Amaze

The other day I had the opportunity to check out the 27 by 87-foot LCD Video Screen installed in the lobby of the Comcast Center. The video below does not do it justice. You have to see it in person, preferably at night to capture the experience. Seriously, it's worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO6ty5RfnrA

The content delivery system and overall conceptual design was done by David Niles, of Niles Creative Group, based in New York.

More info from Youtuber stephanparidaen:

The LED-system consists of a Barco NX-4 LED product, a Barco DX-700 imag processing system and Barco Matrixpro image switching solution. The architectural mechanical integration (flush with wood-pannels, front access, etc) was designed by "Innovative Designs" an in-house Barco-group yet independent creatively active, led by Frederic Opsomer active in architectural, themepark and Concerts.

Glad to see Comcast's high cable fees go to something not too shabby.

File #6: Smackdown in the ZBA, Part 1

In an ongoing story, Lawyers from Information Technology firm Unisys met with the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment to make their case to hang their logo in bright red letters onto Two Liberty Place yesterday.

Taking over 2 hours, Lawyers from Unisys made their argument about the benefits of having thier logo displayed on the skyscraper.

The ZBA has scheduled a meeting for the opposition to make their case against the sign in September. Notable opponents include: The Center City Residents Association, Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB), Two Liberty Place residents Tom Knox and Richie Sambora and the archeitect of the building Helmut Jahn.

Butthurt Unisys is threatening to walk out of the deal if it falls through.

Yeah, like we wanted you in the first place.

For a first hand look on how a Skyscraper not designed for a sign looks like with one added on, check out the US Steel Tower in Pittsburgh and see how lovely that turned out.

File #5: A Sacrifice for Progress?

The Race Street Firehouse, built in 1925 and the last building slated for demolition for the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center met its unfortunate end over the last couple of days.

Several pieces of art from the building, mainly stone gargoyles will be preserved.

While I'm usually for rebuilding and redevelopment, seeing a whole square block of very historical architecture, offices and homes being torn down, largely for an expansion of a tourist trap kinda sucks.