PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown I

[DBR96A]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

We've discussed Metro Pittsburgh's embarrassing presidential voting trends ad nauseum on two seperate occassions already. Whether that represents some mysterious "progressive quotient" is up for debate.

An interesting map nonetheless, Wiz... and really demonstrates how out of touch with the rest of America Metro Pittsburgh was during the 2008 election... but at least Obama loves us despite our mediocre support

Or maybe it's a reflection of all the blue-collar jobs the region lost, combined with the fact that the region was heavily Democrat 25 years ago. Christ, one of Walter Mondale's few bastions of support in 1984 was southwestern Pennsylvania. You can only get less liberal from there.

Also, I hate to break the news, but there are lots of people -- both liberal and conservative -- who feel alienated by the political "leaders" this country has had since 2000. Many conservatives I've talked with thought that George W. Bush was a phony all along, and many moderates and independents I've talked with are beginning to believe that they made a mistake voting for Barack Obama.

We have an old-fashioned leadership crisis in this country, and it doesn't matter which side of the aisle you're on. (For that reason, expect a lot of Congressional incumbents to get ruined in 2010, regardless of their affiliation.)

[Suffice]

Thank you, Wiz

[hyperion1110]

Originally Posted by pj3000

^ Let's not take it back 150 years to what party did what. Both parties are far different now, obviously. Lincoln's Republicanism of the 1850s and 1860s is a far, far cry from what today's Republican party has unfortunately come to represent... namely decidedly non-progressive policies towards social issues, nor towards technological innovation. Today's Republican party has been completely hijacked by, and has come to be identified by, conservative viewpoints only... far from progressive.

I do not find it sad at all that "progressive policies and social dynamism" have come to be associated solely with the Democratic party.

I do find it sad that the Republican party has seemingly completely severed ties with any of that same progressive/socially-dynamic ideology.

LOL...actually, if you want a "progressive" Dick Cheney is your man! He supports gay marriage! (j/k)

In all seriousness, there are crazies on both sides. I mean, Nancy Pelosi is so far out of touch with reality that I think she is a robot sometimes. And most Republicans are no better. What's more, the two parties have gotten so used to just saying the opposite of what the other says that they should just join forces into the Purple Party, and take two diametrically opposed positions on every issue. It would work about as well as the current system.

American people to the Purple Party: "Do you support health care reform?"
Purple Party: "YesNo"
Americans: "Do you support gay marriage?"
Purples: "YesNo"

Sometimes, when they want to changes things up a bit, they can answer, "NoYes."

Sometimes I think I'm the only person that sees politicians for what they are. I know I'm not, but it just seems like corrupt and inept politicians are the white elephant in the room. Everyone knows they are corrupt, inept, self-indulgent, and completely detached from the realities of America...and yet, come election day, otherwise intelligent and thoughtful people walk in and hit that Vote All Democrat or Vote All Republican button. What good does that do us?! I say ban all political parties, and let officials be elected on merit, not association.

Color me an idealist, but I believe in a pluralistic America. But instead of having a union independent minds that cooperate and compete to promote the excellence of America, both as individuals and in the collective, we have an old, tired marriage of two political ideologies that long ago lost the desire for compromise, yet remain wedded because they know nothing else.

Progress is made through a diversity of ideas, not the domination of one ideology over another.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by hyperion1110

American people to the Purple Party: "Do you support health care reform?"
Purple Party: "YesNo"
Americans: "Do you support gay marriage?"
Purples: "YesNo"

Sometimes, when they want to changes things up a bit, they can answer, "NoYes."

It's so true!

[Wheelingman04]

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

So I was looking at population figures for the past 8 years for the heck of it. Of all of the metros that trended blue, Pittsburgh lost the highest number of people. Pittsburgh lost the second most people in that time period, nearly 80,000. (Katrina devastated New Orleans also trended red).

http://recenter.tamu.edu/data/popm00/pcbsa38300.html

Combine that with an already old population (old people tend to stay put and vote more conservatively), and the fact that most of those 80,000 that left were likely higher educated/ younger progressive minded folks, and you have a perfect set up for a metro to trend red against the grain of the overall national trend.



There is good news in the near future, however, concerning population trends in Pittsburgh. If you look closely at the data in the site above, you can see that Pittsburgh has not had that much of a problem with domestic out-migration compared to other cities.

Percentage wise, Pittsburgh is not only losing less of its population to domestic migration than the rest of the rust belt, but to all of the large coastal cities save the northwest. The catch is that they are making up for it with some combination of births and/or international immigration.

This is why the past 3 years of data are making me very optimistic. There is a clear sign that births have bottomed out several years ago and are on an upswing again. Likewise the death-rate has appeared to have topped out and has begun to lower to normal levels as well.

Also, and probably the biggest plus of all, the net domestic migration has begun a noticeable trend towards the positive side. If this trend holds true for this year, then the pop. data for the region could show a net positive increase in domestic migration for the first time since 1971 (unless you count that small aberration in 1992). And this is all before the massive publicity of the city in 2009 began to make its rounds... G20, netroots, 2 sports championships, most livable again...ect ect.

So all I am saying is get excited people, because we could potentially see some amazing changes happen to the city in the next several years. I just hope that the recent trends aren't entirely recession related... but I don't even think that will matter at this point. The momentum has started, and as long as there are enough jobs here the people will come... they aren't all leaving the expensive and crowded coastal cities for no reason of course.


Just my 2 cents.

Very well said!!

[dugdogmaster]

http://kdka.com/green/Green.Pittsburgh.Park.2.1193172.html


Video of the new PNC Triangle Park and the PNC Living Wall!!!!!!! It's funny how they're going to manicure the lawn of the park. And the wall is bad-ass, but not as big as I thought it would be.

[JakeLiefer]

Some news on 3PNC Plaza: The well respected 21st Street Coffee in the Strip will be opening up their 3rd location in 3PNC. Blog post from Luke, owner, here: http://21streetcoffee.com/2009/09/18/number-three/

[Tombstoner]

This could be a nice addition to the downtown scene, but I hope they stay open later than their other stores which close at 5pm. Downtown residents really need a place to go hang out in the evening.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by Tombstoner

This could be a nice addition to the downtown scene, but I hope they stay open later than their other stores which close at 5pm. Downtown residents really need a place to go hang out in the evening.

Being in a VERY large mixed use I can see them staying open well into the evening.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by JakeLiefer

Some news on 3PNC Plaza: The well respected 21st Street Coffee in the Strip will be opening up their 3rd location in 3PNC. Blog post from Luke, owner, here: http://21streetcoffee.com/2009/09/18/number-three/

where is their 2nd location?

btw, I tried to find Beaver Falls Coffee & Tea when I was in Beaver Falls recently... but I failed

in other news... the redevelopment of Federal St. in the Mexican War Streets area is looking very nice... I didn't know they were going to turn that street into a boulevard... and S&A's rowhouses are looking great

[JakeLiefer]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

where is their 2nd location?

btw, I tried to find Beaver Falls Coffee & Tea when I was in Beaver Falls recently... but I failed

in other news... the redevelopment of Federal St. in the Mexican War Streets area is looking very nice... I didn't know they were going to turn that street into a boulevard... and S&A's rowhouses are looking great

The 2nd location is in the Frick Building downtown.

BFCAT is up in the College Hill neighborhood of Beaver Falls, across from Geneva College. Pizza Joes & Sub Palace are next door. We're in a repurposed old home that is set back from the sidewalk. You'll see a sign out front. Hope to see you sometime!

I didn't know it was going to be a boulevard. Any photos or drawings of what it looks like?

[GeneW]

There's a drawing of the Federal Hill Project in this PDF from the URA's website. I was just over on Federal Street yesterday to go to the new library and things are looking up on the street; the new Crazy Mocha on the corner of North and Federal looks like it's going to open pretty soon and the townhouses look like they're done on the one side of the street and in progress on the other. Now if they could just figure out what to do with the Garden Theater.

[Evergrey]

this Italian article on Pittsburgh has some very interesting photography

and my favorite line... "The typical dish of the city is a sandwich with french fries." lol

http://www.corriere.it/esteri/09_settemb...660620-9e2a-11de-8f8c-00144f02aabc.shtml

[DBR96A]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

this Italian article on Pittsburgh has some very interesting photography

and my favorite line... "The typical dish of the city is a sandwich with french fries." lol

http://www.corriere.it/esteri/09_settemb...660620-9e2a-11de-8f8c-00144f02aabc.shtml

In the photo slideshow, they refer to Grant Street as "Grand Street." It certainly is the grandest street in downtown.

[hyperion1110]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

this Italian article on Pittsburgh has some very interesting photography

and my favorite line... "The typical dish of the city is a sandwich with french fries." lol

http://www.corriere.it/esteri/09_settemb...660620-9e2a-11de-8f8c-00144f02aabc.shtml

LOL...outstanding find, Evergrey. My favorite photo has to be the guy sleeping on the bench on Liberty Ave. It's like they went out of there way to find the most unflattering images of the city...then again, they're Italian. And I'm not hating on Italians, either...they're my people!

I wonder if the title of the article, "Pittsburgh, City of the Future," is meant to be ironical? At any rate, good stuff!

[qwho]

Originally Posted by DBR96A

In the photo slideshow, they refer to Grant Street as "Grand Street." It certainly is the grandest street in downtown.

here is the page translated by google.

http://www.translate.google.com/translat...02aabc.shtml&sl=it&tl=en&history_state0=

[themaguffin]

-

[qwho]

Also I hadn't seen this posted yet, but there is an interactive map for the G20 of road closings and entry points for pedestrians into the restricted zones, things like that at this link:

http://www.g20safety.org/map.htm


Road Closures:


1. Fort Duquesne Boulevard /10th Street Bypass ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
2. Fort Duquesne Blvd/10th St Bypass Ramp from Fort Pitt Bridge
3. Liberty Avenue Ramp from Fort Pitt Bridge
4. Downtown Ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
5. Stanwix Street Ramp from 376 Underpass
6. Grant Street Exit from 376 East
7. Grant Street Exit from 376 West
8. Boulevard of the Allies Ramp from Liberty Bridge
9. Second Avenue and Municipal Court Drive
10. Second Ave and Try Street
11. Second Avenue and B Way
12. First Avenue and Ross Street
13. Second Ave and Ross Street
14. Court Place and Ross Street
15. Third Avenue and Ross Street
16. Fourth Avenue and Ross Street
17. Forbes Avenue and Ross Street
18. Fifth Avenue and Ross Street
19. Sixth Ave and Ross Street
20. Bigelow Boulevard at Seventh Avenue
21. Seventh Avenue ramp from Mellon Arena
22. 15th Street and Smallman Street
23. 15th Street and Penn Avenue
24. 16th Street and Liberty Avenue
25. Smithfield Street Bridge and Carson Street
26. Federal Street and Isabella Street
27. Sandusky Street and Isabella Street

[mackb]

Ugh... I'm not a big fan of that italian article. There weren't all that many positive things said... no mention of green buildings or anything. And, hyperion, I have to agree that it looks like they went out of their way to find the worst pictures of Pburgh. That beautiful church outside of Coffey Way... they took a picture of the one side of the church that isn't beautifully restored (btw, does anyone know why the other side of that church wasn't cleaned like the rest of it was?)... Looking back at that pic... is that a dated photo? That plaza (a Mellon one with the steel or aluminum tubing as art) is probably the worst plaza to feature... dying trees, mad pigeons, a fountain that usually doesn't run and, if you're there at the right time, someone offering you a blunt to smoke). It's outside the Omni, one of the most upscale hotels in town, and they have that crap plaza sitting out front of it... a shame. Then the person with the Pirate hat walking across the bridge... I would hang my head down too if I had that hat on. Wow, I don't think our city is amazing, but it sure isn't well represented by those pics featured in the article.

[Wiz Khalifa]

And the madness has begun:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09264/999585-53.stm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09264/999586-482.stm


This is going to be a very interesting week, to say the least.