10 replies to this topic

[BillMagee]

Interesting article in the Philadelphia Business Journal concerning the redevelopment of Philadelphia 30th Street Station. The PBJ is behind a hard paywall, so here are the highlights:

 

• Cost rises from $400 million to $550 million, and completion is now expected in 2027 (was 2025).
• Retail area (south station concourses) to be closed for reconstruction in January 2024. Existing vendors (Jersey Mike's, etc.) will temporarily use kiosks in the main concourse. Retail area to reopen in March 2025.
• In April 2025, work will begin to replace the ticket and baggage area, add seating to the north waiting room, and the renovation of the Metropolitan Lounge. Work to be completed in October 2027.

The article can be found HERE. 

 

A couple of renderings (from Amtrak):

 

 

Main concourse

 

Retail area

 

Metropolitan Lounge

 

Ticket and baggage area

 

North waiting room

[KevinKorell]

There wasn't much left of the food area, save for the combined Wendy's/Jersey Mikes and a bakery.   The other stores and stands did not survive the pandemic. 

[BillMagee]

This is the current directory.  Vibrant moved into the former Saxbys location.

 

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[KevinKorell]

In its heyday, the food court area had a selection between KFC, Subway, Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell, Ben & Jerry's, Au Bon Pain, Saladworks, Nathan's, Old Nelson Food Company, Milkhouse, and other brand name places.    Further back, before Jersey Mike's & Wendy's took their space, there was a McDonald's.  Philly Pretzel Factory replaced Auntie Anne's.   There were also some buffet type places where you could take anything you wanted and pay by the weight of the full container.   That they have to list the post office and an ATM machine as food court outlets tells us how relatively empty the place is now.   

 

But that may be the trend, because even in Washington, DC the lower level food court in Union Station has been unable to return to the activity it had before many places closed due to the pandemic.  They are reflective of the larger problem of maintaining any indoor shopping area these days.

[jacorbett70]

They had an "open house" that day, Thursday, and I stopped by. It was charts showing pictures, general descriptions and time frames, and a survey card to fill out. They gave out pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory as well as water. I find the potential reopening of the underground passageway to the Market Frankford Line interesting. It closed after safety and sanitary (stench) concerns. There is a question of who would be in charge of safety and maintenance; Amtrak is pointing to SEPTA as it is a SEPTA service. The bar that covered over this passageway is now closed.

[KevinKorell]

My guess is that the passageway would revert right to what it was before, with the same safety and sanitary concerns.

[CNJRoss]

BillyPenn at WHYY, Philadelphia, PA 11/17/23

 

30th Street Station’s $550 million redesign: New food hall, new escalators, new outdoor plaza

 

Amtrak confirmed the flippy board is returning, but it’ll be nonfunctional and silent.

 

A rendering of the South Concourse retail area at 30th Street Station (Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia)

 

Amtrak is preparing to shut down parts of 30th Street Station as it moves ahead with a $550 million renovation that will bring a new outdoor plaza along Market Street, revamp the station’s restaurants and stores, and modernize systems throughout the monumental rail terminal.

 

Among other changes, the federal agency says it plans to put the station’s former split-flap departures board in a “prominent location” on the passenger concourse. 

 

The iconic 1970s-era Solari board was replaced five years ago by an ADA-compliant electronic sign, drawing protests from travelers who missed its classic clacking sound and called for its return. Its new position will be “non-functional” in a museum-type display, per Amtrak spokesperson Beth Toll, and it will remain uncharacteristically silent. The date of the installation has not been announced.

 

 

Continue here.  

[KevinKorell]

Philly Voice, 1/19/24:

 

 

 

    Yearslong renovations begin at 30th Street Station, shuttering food court    

 

 

 

A large-scale renovation project at 30th Street Station has officially begun, temporarily closing the transportation hub's south concourse and Market Street plaza while construction gets underway.

 

Story here.

 

I've been there, and yes it has begun.  The entire south side of the station has been walled off from the main hall, and all businesses are gone.   Do not arrive there expecting to eat, short of snack food from the newsstand or Dunkin. No more post office either, as it had been a convenient place for me to drop my outgoing mail in my travels.

[KevinKorell]

Amtrak press release

[CNJRoss]

Penn Live, 1/19/24

 

Philly Amtrak Station begins ‘large-scale restoration’ project: report

 

These renovations include an upgrade to the 30th Street Station's infrastructure. (image provided by Amtrak)

 

Philadelphia’s 30th Street Amtrak Station has officially kicked off a renovation project.

 

Amtrak officials launched this restorative affair together with federal, state, and local representatives this week at the location, signaling the start of what a press release deemed “A new era of passenger rail.”

 

According to the press release as sent out by Amtrak itself, this makeover of William H. Gray III is the first of several phases of a plan born of a partnership between Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel University, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and, of course, Amtrak.

 

Continue here.