Morning Headlines: Is Comcast Planning More Buildings Next to Comcast Center?

Philadelphia Speaks is now in full-on speculation mode about whether or not Comcast will be building in order to create new space for the increasing number of Comcast employees (thousands were just hired). A “reliable source” is quoted as saying this:

I called my contact with Liberty Property Trust and as usual he could not tell me much but what he could tell me was there are four towers planned. ACC lot will have two towers, one “significantly taller than Comcast” on the side of the lot closest to 18th. The side of the lot closer to 19th will have a shorter tower. On the Northwest Corner of 19th and Arch will be a third tower, at least 22 floors. A fourth tower is being planned for an unspecified location. Lastly, a glass studio will be built at the corner 18th and JFK.

He also said that not only is Comcast moving NBC jobs to town, but Comcast is in need of more space. He also said there are at least 8 firms in town with several hundred employees and expanding who need more space and there is not enough space currently to accommodate them.

Some kind of announcement is supposed to take place tomorrow (Tuesday), according to rumor.

This notion–Comcast building new towers here–makes much more sense than the first rumor that was floating around and has always been the subject of discussion: the notion that Comcast would move CBS’ headquarters to Philadelphia. That, says John Demming, spokesman at Comcast, is not going to happen. Demming spoke with the Business Journal’s Natalie Kostelni:

“We just bought 30 Rock…the floors that NBC occupies,” he said, noting that the company also bought the real estate that housed CNBC in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and moved NBC Sports to Stamford, Conn.

“We are not moving NBC’s headquarters from New York to Philadelphia,” he said.

Thread: What does NBCs 5000 new jobs mean for CC [Philadelphia Speaks]
Why all the rumors about Comcast, NBC and its real estate? [PBJ]
NBCU Is Moving in town? The writing is on the wall. [PHiladephia Speaks]

And there’s more…

• Wynn’s proposed casino site may sit above historic artifacts [PBJ]
• Lawmakers, community hope to bring Broad and Olney back to old glory[Daily News]
• Plans For New Apartment Complex, Gym Causes Fishtown Feud [CBS 3]
• Coming: Review Of Proposals For Development Of Kensington Banks [HC]