Ryan Blatstein continues his father’s Bart Blatstein legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship by emphasizing bold ideas and commitment to community development – traits which he has internalized and is working towards developing further.
Larry Freedman, Zoning Chair for Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, recalls an evening when Blatstein made a public pitch for a $600 million redevelopment of Philadelphia Inquirer building with just one casual swipe of an index finger on blackboard.
Blatstein rarely engaged with residents over issues like noise, parking and garages in a straightforward fashion. Instead, he became beloved among law enforcement personnel, earning honorary police officer status himself. His admiration of those wearing blue continues today.
Bart Blatstein and His Son Ryan
Last year, Bart Blatstein and his son Ryan traveled to Israel in order to participate in the war against Hamas – however sadly Ryan passed away while volunteering his services in this conflict.
It can be hard to tell whether a real estate developer is serious when discussing his plans for North Broad Street. He certainly appears formidable, yet may there be another side?
Ryan Blatstein’s Influence on Career Path
Ryan Blatstein wears his father’s oversized glasses, a khaki polo shirt and his own set of silver-haired cufflinks while socializing on his roofdeck with friends and business associates. At six feet tall and slim with an articulate voice that ranges from baritone drollness to the intimidating stare of an Italian mobster villain he exudes an impressive air.
As soon as our conversation turns to Philadelphia politics and developer’s planned casino in Northern Liberties, he becomes reluctant to discuss it further but insists it adheres to New Urbanist principles and will fit seamlessly within its surroundings. Furthermore, he claims his project can be built without creating controversy like what befell his father during his turbulent career and is firm in his decision not to use his wealth for political favors.
Atlantic City Water Park Development
Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein has invested in various properties throughout Atlantic City. His latest endeavor, the Island Waterpark, will provide year-round indoor entertainment with water slides, pools, restaurants, shops and lounge areas.
This new attraction is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend 2023 and will be located next to Blatstein’s non-gambling resort, Showboat Hotel. Also located within this property are Matrxx Fitness and Lucky Snakes arcade.
The Island Waterpark will feature a 6,500-square-foot lazy river, 11 waterslides, swim-up bars and other attractions, all funded through state tax incentives of 20 years. To help finance its development further, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has designated it an entertainment retail district where annual rebates of up to $2.5 million may be received over its lifetime.
Bart Blatstein’s Son, Ryan, Carrys on His Father’s Legacy
Ryan Blatstein is a man of many contradictions. He carefully controls information flow while remaining discreet about both his personal and professional lives.
He’s an outspoken supporter of Atlantic City police department and regularly volunteers alongside his father to assist Israeli citizens – yet refuses to discuss his past failures publicly.
Links to Ryan Blatstein’s Social Media Accounts
Ryan Blantzstein is widely known for being Philadelphia’s hardest working individual. With a keen business sense and strong sense of responsibility to his community, he acquires properties no one else wanted and turns them around profitably. Additionally, Blantzstein supports various charitable organizations and projects.
As his father, Bart Blatstein is, Bart Jr. is similarly guarded and wary of public scrutiny. However, their differences are being played out on one of Philadelphia’s major stages; that being his plan for North Broad Street development near City Hall that would include hotel, apartments, retail shops and a casino — according to his New Urbanist principles he insists that this project meets.
Local News Coverage
Nearly 10 years ago, local residents in Northern Liberties worried that when Bart Blatstein purchased an abandoned brewery a few blocks from Center City they feared he would build an unsightly big-box shopping mall there. Instead, he created the Piazza Navona – an European-style public square which has since become its identity and one of Philadelphia’s most successful additions in decades.
On this warm evening, when Larry Freedman, chairman of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association and Blatstein strolled onto Arrow Pools’ deck to discuss Blatstein’s latest project, both men seemed magnanimous; their longstanding squabbles seemed to have subsided somewhat.
Ryan Blatstein and his father own over 30 acres in Northern Liberties and are working to turn it into a neighborhood complete with hotels, entertainment spaces and retail shops.
Impact on Local Community and Development Vision
Bart and Ryan Blatstein have made an indelible mark on Philadelphia, particularly through real estate development. Through their innovative, sustainable, and community engagement approaches to development projects, Ryan continues his father’s legacy while forging his own path.
Tower Investments’ renovation of Northern Liberties with an Italian-inspired public square ala Rome’s Piazza Navona raised concerns among some residents that it would become an “amusement park,” according to Larry Freedman, Zoning Chair for their community association.
Blatstein’s strategy has proven fruitful, raising property values and making the once rundown neighborhood one of Philadelphia’s most desirable residential locations. Now with his plans for revamping Showboat Atlantic City and creating a rooftop village in Philadelphia’s center city, he stands to make an even greater impactful statement about his vision for Philadelphia’s center city.
Exclusive Insights and Reflections
Bart Blatstein was an innovative real estate developer, owner of Showboat Atlantic City, and committed philanthropist who left an extraordinary legacy through his bold ideas, risk-taking business strategy, and community development focus he instilled into his son Ryan Blatstein. Ryan now uses these values in his real estate development practice by incorporating sustainability, smart technologies and engagement with local charities into real estate development projects. Below journalist Laura Goldman recounts conversations she held with both father and son regarding shared values, volunteering opportunities together, future plans – (photo credit Laura Goldman). (Photo by Laura Goldman). (Photo credit Laura Goldman).
Remembering Ryan Blatstein’s Significant Contribut
Ryan Blatstein, son of an accomplished developer, continues his father’s legacy with pioneering real estate and entertainment projects. His father instilled values like integrity, perseverance and commitment to philanthropy into him that have guided his success as an individual and as part of an organization.
Recently, “Boulevard Ry” has made his mark as an architect of neighborhood transformations in Northern Liberties and Center City of Philadelphia. Now he’s taking on his most ambitious project yet: an expansive three-block development in one of Philadelphia’s main streets that will include hotels, entertainment complexes, retail shops and restaurants.
He’s teasering the world with promises of an unparalleled water park and his iconic rooftop deck parties that have become hallmarks of fun in Atlantic City – yet carefully controlling how stories about him emerge.
