At the Divine Lorraine on North Broad, the two iconic lights atop the apartment building have been shining since November, and residents have been moving into their new homes in the historic building since January 1. Now, all that’s really left for the $44 million restoration project is the return of its grand lobby.

Source: At the Divine Lorraine, the grand lobby’s return awaits – Curbed Philly

Thanks to our warm winter months, Philly’s own version of the High Line is almost ready.

The first part of the Rail Park will be complete in January 2018, said Sarah McEneaney, president of Friends of the Rail Park. Originally, this phase was slated to be completed in late 2018; the date was then moved up to spring 2018. Now it’s looking like we’ll be able to walk around on the refurbished tracks of the old Reading Viaduct in a few months.

“Because of the mild winter we are on schedule and maybe a little ahead,” McEneaney said. “They work late some days when the weather is perfect.”

Source: Surprise! Phase One of the Rail Park, Philly’s High Line, will open soon

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Bruno Mars, and Heineken have teamed up for the Cities Project, a crowd-sourced fundraising initiative that aims to help improve 10 cities around the country. Folks who contribute at least $150 to one of the city projects will automatically receive two tickets to a Bruno Mars concert in the city of their choosing this summer.

Source: Abandoned diner car to become Rail Park’s welcome center – Curbed Philly

That the viaduct rail park is actually becoming a thing is, well, dumb luck. In 2015, when developers Aaron Cohen and Craig Grossman set their sights on a block just north of Chinatown, they liked what the elevated rail tracks lent to the area; they were authentic and gritty in the best possible way. Now the first phase of the park is under way, and that’s a huge bonus for their audacious plans.

Source: Is “Spring Arts” the Next Midtown Village? – Philadelphia Magazine

It only takes a long walk along the four-mile stretch of North Broad, between City Hall and Germantown Avenue, to know that something’s up. There is, of course, the Divine Lorraine Hotel covered in scaffolding, its bright red, neon lights now shining after 40 years. There’s constant construction throughout Temple’s campus. And then there’s a whole lot of talk of this old building or that abandoned warehouse’s future.

Source: Mapping North Broad’s development boom

Developer Daniel Greenberg of North Broad Living Management confirmed to Curbed Philly that the adaptive reuse plans for the historic E. Hart Stable are moving forward and will bring 41 apartments and 5,000 square feet of ground retail to 631 N. Broad Street.

Source: Apartments, retail planned for historic stable on North Broad – Curbed Philly

For the past 11 years, the Better Philadelphia Challenge has asked university students around the world to address real-world urban design issues in the city. This year, with the first phase of construction well underway, the competition fittingly focused on the abandoned City Branch rail tunnel under Pennsylvania Avenue, asking students to pitch their ideas to transform the space into a recreational and cultural amenity for Philly.

Source: See the winning Rail Park Tunnel designs for the Better Philadelphia Challenge – Curbed Philly

Municipal meetings that feature poetry readings are rare, even at the Philadelphia Art Commission. But on Wednesday morning, at an unveiling of the percent…

Source: PlanPhilly | Utility pole public art for Rail Park gets conceptual approval

This week we shared various updates on 26 high-rises that are currently under construction or undergoing massive renovations throughout Philly. But one skyscraper was noticeably missing from the list: The Eastern Tower Community Center.

Source: Eastern Tower Community Center still waits to break ground – Curbed Philly