PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Buzz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

By the way, the Produce Terminal has long reminded me of the Cloth Hall in Krakow, although obviously that is on a bit bigger scale and far more ornate. Same idea, though--you'd have that Produce Terminal/Fruit Auction/Indoor Market anchoring one side of the proposed square:

That building is sick! Does it have an outdoor market/piazza as well? I was gonna say that the weather might discourage an outdoor market during the winter months, but if Krakow has one, I don't see why we here in Pittsburgh couldn't support one too.
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Not to reopen old discussions (I missed a few days of posts ), but the case for a hotel in Mt. Washington (i.e. One Grandview) can be made if you consider the location's benefit to guests in a few lucrative aspects of the hospitality industry. I'm not an official authority, but I've worked for a Pittsburgh hotel long enough to notice certain trends in the market here. Given the beautiful views, decent proximity to downtown/station square, I think a hotel can do well up there...

It would need to be high-end (think Fairmont caliber) and have some sort of deal with Station Square and the Mon Incline (parking/information kiosk) to really benefit from it's location. I concede it would have access issues, but I know of hotels WAY harder to find/access. The large ballrooms would be ideal for banquets and wedding receptions. With a view of downtown from Mt. Washington, people would pay top dollar. Fairmont doesn't do well because of it's downtown location (necessarily), it does well because it's luxurious and that sets it apart. Or more accurately, it gives customers more of what they want in Pittsburgh. With the former Hilton(Now Wyndham), the Renaissance, and Omni William Penn all being older properties, guests are looking for something that sets a place apart from the others when holding an event or a reception.

I kinda focused on the reception/banquet side of the hotel industry there...Switching to the benefits to businesspeople: A location like Mt. Washington makes One Grandview convenient to offices in Station Square, Southside Works, and downtown. Imagine you're a businessperson trying to build your company. Think about the benefits you might get through booking a room for a potential business client at One Grandview... Or meeting an investor considering a partnership with your firm in One Grandview's boardroom... Or putting up a potential new executive in the suite on the top of One Grandview... It's got a ready-made wow factor in the view of downtown and high-end amenities/finishes.
Money can be made there.

Say what you will about the project's chances with this developer and in this economy (I'm cautiously optimistic, but that's my default anyway) but this project is a money-making idea and someone should do it.

[PGHFan]

I agree with Buzz Pittsburgh. The Mt. Washington hotel should be positioned as a destination facility that would be spectacular for events and special occasions. Hotels are obviously about more than just sleeping and having a regional or national destination on on Mt. Washington makes sense to me. We will see if the banks and hotel managers are interested.

Brain TH- your photos and plans make so much sense. Its a perfect area for a plaza that could accommodate outdoor activities and alfresco dining. Now if only they could get rid of some of those overhead wires in Pittsburgh.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Buzz Pittsburgh

That building is sick! Does it have an outdoor market/piazza as well? I was gonna say that the weather might discourage an outdoor market during the winter months, but if Krakow has one, I don't see why we here in Pittsburgh couldn't support one too.

As an aside, Verona, being in northern Italy, actually gets somewhat chilly in the winter with lots of days in the 30s.

Anyway, the Main Square in Krakow does have a lot of outdoor dining, and people sell art and trinkets from carts and such, but I am not sure how many semi-permanent outdoor market stalls it has, if any (it has been a while since I was there):



In any event, even if such a piazza-extension of the Pittsburgh Public Market was seasonal, if the piazza itself was nicely done it could be a year-round space.

[mattejb]

If successful, an ice rink would add some charm in the winter and welcome a hot cider and mulled wine stand.

Also, if they arnt going to put a street car down 21st then just dig it up and make a canal. Bring the river to the market. /rant

[Buzz Pittsburgh]

I really think that the outdoor market/piazza idea would accent the existing attraction of the Strip District.

The Ice Rink idea would be cool, but I'd be afraid of an over-saturation of outdoor rinks in Pittsburgh...with the southside works rink and PPG's rink to compete with it.

[Jonboy1983]

Man, why couldn't I have come up with the piazza idea?!!

Maybe I could help you mold your vision, BrianTH?

I also concur with Buzz Pittsburgh and his argument for One Grandview, and that somebody should pursue it as a destination and as a high-end lodging/banquet/business facility. I think Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons would be a good fit there.

Ritz-Carlton on the Mount...
Four Seasons Grandview over Pittsburgh...

Something pertaining to that part of the Burgh.

[Evergrey]

Any updates on Lot 24?

[Found5dollar]

Looks like that hostel thing is finally happening.


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...el-will-reside-on-the-south-side-646804/

[chiaroscuro]

Always great ideas on this forum. I'm curious if anyone here has ever attempted to propose ideas to those who make the decisions on new development. If so , how far did you get?

Has anyone sought employment with an organization that actually has influence in such decisions?

[daviderik]

What is that building to the far right?

[Jonboy1983]

If you're talking about that high-rise building off in the distance there, I believe that is Four Gateway Center.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

If you're talking about that high-rise building off in the distance there, I believe that is Four Gateway Center.

Yep. It can actually look pretty cool in an abstract way from certain angles:


Four Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by hanneorla, on Flickr

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

If you're talking about that high-rise building off in the distance there, I believe that is Four Gateway Center.

I like that building. I think it's under rated and very modern. I wish It was more visible. Yes I like that angle.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by daviderik

I like that building. I think it's under rated and very modern. I wish It was more visible. Yes I like that angle.

You are in good company--Franklin Toker, noted Pittsburgh architecture guru, likes it too:

http://www.upress.pitt.edu/htmlSourceFiles/pressReleases/TokerEPressKit.pdf

When building resumed in Equitable Plaza, across Liberty Avenue, from 1955 to 1968, the landscape architects used a more informal site plan. However, the continuous perimeter podium they created makes this half of Gateway Center more difficult to enter from the adjoining streets. The Verizon Building and the Pennsylvania State Office Building on the plaza are conventional office slabs, but the bold shape of Four Gateway, with its long glass tower and extruded stainless-steel service wing, is a fine expression of midcentury modernism.

I actually kinda like the Verizon Building, but in any event I agree Four Gateway is particularly distinctive.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by daviderik

I like that building. I think it's under rated and very modern. I wish It was more visible. Yes I like that angle.

Yeah i've liked it ever since I accidentally took a good picture of it and while reviewing my photos I was like "that's a pretty nice building that you don't really ever think about."

[Austinlee]

One of the problems is that it is surrounded by like 3-4 of downtown's UGLIEST buildings. The Post-Gazette HQ - UGH!, the weird top heavy thing right behind it and the steelworkers building too which may be unique but it's still ugly. I would've thrown Westinghouse in there too but i've grown to appreciate that one. It's actually not bad when you look at the details, but it's just a big dark mass from most angles.

[BrianTH]

On the plus side, the new Gateway Subway Station works well with Four Gateway, and in my view actually helps bridge the gap between Four Gateway and One/Two/Three.

I think its biggest problem is just being overshadowed by PPG, and there is not much you can do about that. On the other hand, I agree the most recent renovation of the McCann's Building (aka the Kossman Building, aka Town Place, aka 100 Forbes) is really not helping.

Here is what the McCann's Building used to look like, by the way:



Four Gateway is where the Wabash Terminal used to be:



Note the P-G Building also used to be decent-looking, in a similar style to the McCann's Building:



Anyway, a decent re-renovation of the McCann's Building might help frame Four Gateway a bit better.

[Evergrey]

That Downtown Economy Market looks pretty sweet.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

That Downtown Economy Market looks pretty sweet.

Well, it's no Moe's Southwest but whatever....



And I am always sad to see the Wabash Terminal pics... ggrrr, that would be a crown in Pgh's thorn if still alive.

[Austinlee]

Poor "Diamond Bank" building, used to have a nice bookend effect with Mr Wabash Terminal but now, alas she is single and lonely.




Photo credit: Mark Pomocki
Source: http://radiochumps.com/power-to-the-pgh-artist-mark-pomocki/