PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 141

Captain Crash · #**2801** Posted **Feb 7, 2013, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

Private Dick, thanks for providing all of that information to back why Pitt-Cleveland should be pursued. You articulated all of that better than I ever could have. And I have to agree with the statement that it's really not an either-or scenario here. PIT-Cleveland is just more realistic.

For kicks, I am mapping out a HSR alignment using Google Earth. I'm having parts of the existing PRR line in tact (with some upgrades, of course), but there are places where I think a whole new alignment is necessary, particularly between Johnstown and Harrisburg. I have a new alignment looping down through Bedford, paralleling the PA Turnpike for a little bit, and using the abandoned PA Turnpike through the Sideling Hill Tunnel. I have the remaining part of the segment following the ridges and valleys all the way to the Susquehanna River, just south of the Rockville Bridge. It would still be pricey, but probably not quite as pricey. For the record, I have only one new tunnel bored here, just east of Johnstown. The other tunnel is already existing as the abandoned Sideling Hill Tunnel. Of course, that's up to the PTC. Don't they still own that...?

The abandoned section of Turnpike was sold off yeas ago. Currently it is owned by a non-profit organization which has upgraded it to a paved bike trail, including the tunnels. It's known now as the Pike to Bike, a play on the Rails to Trails monikers.

East Edge · #**2802** Posted **Feb 7, 2013, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private Dick

This would be awesome

ZipPitt plans to run zip line from Mount Washington to North Shore

http://www.popcitymedia.com/devnews/zipp...il_Address%7D&utm_campaign=Ones+to+watch

Adam Young is one step closer to flying from Mount Washington to the North Shore. The Carnegie resident is proposing a zip line that would sail from near the Duquesne Incline to the Carnegie Science Center.

ZipPitt, as the project is called, was awarded a $1,000 Awesome Pittsburgh grant last week. The organization has also helped Young with strategizing and advising on how to make this dream of flight a reality.

“We think it will be pretty amazing taking in the view from that perspective,” Young says. “I think it would be great for the residents and people visiting Pittsburgh to immerse themselves into the essence of the cityscape.”

The half-mile proposed zip line would cross the Ohio River at 50 mph and with a 400 foot vertical drop. Young will use the grant funds to bring a national zip line company to Pittsburgh to conduct a feasability study.

Young says the project has verbal arrangements with property owners at the proposed take-off and landing sites. A landing platform would be constructed at the North Shore location with enough height to prevent interference with river traffic.

ZipPitt still needs approvals and permits from the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Young says currently the only urban zip line in the United States is in Las Vegas, where for five blocks riders sail between buildings in that city’s downtown skyline.

ZipPitt would cost customers approximately $30 to ride. Young believes it would of interest to city visitors, particularly those riding bikes or renting kayaks near other North Shore attractions, as well as city residents.

Awesome Pittsburgh, which awarded its most recent grant to ZipPitt, is a local chapter of the Awesome Foundation, whose goal it is to forward the “interest of Awesomeness” with $1,000 micro grants.

Awesome?? I really cant get over when i hear people talking positively about this idea. Especially on this forum where everyone is so enamored with architecture, skylines etc.

You know that "Money Shot" of Pittsburgh's skyline from the West End Bridge with the drama of the Ohio leading up to the fountain at the Point with our one of a kind skyline exploding up behind Point State Park?? Now imagine every photographer who is going to have to photo shop some ugly cable coming down at a diagonal from Mount Washington to the North Shore like some nasty utility wire that business districts spend millions of dollars to eliminate and bury underground to showcase storefronts, street trees etc.

Albeit it would be kind of fun but not at the expense of destroying the view for an adventurous minority. Isnt there some other hillside this can launch from? Does it have to go right here? I wonder what River Life who is working towards an off the hook revitalization of the West End Bridge to create a truly AWESOME observation experience of this "money shot" view which could be obstructed. http://www.riverlifepgh.org/riverfront-projects/future/west-end-pedestrian-bridge/

Heres an idea...Use fishing line so you cant see it

Captain Crash · #**2803** Posted **Feb 7, 2013, 11:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by East Edge

Awesome?? I really cant get over when i hear people talking positively about this idea. Especially on this forum where everyone is so enamored with architecture, skylines etc.

You know that "Money Shot" of Pittsburgh's skyline from the West End Bridge with the drama of the Ohio leading up to the fountain at the Point with our one of a kind skyline exploding up behind Point State Park?? Now imagine every photographer who is going to have to photo shop some ugly cable coming down at a diagonal from Mount Washington to the North Shore like some nasty utility wire that business districts spend millions of dollars to eliminate and bury underground to showcase storefronts, street trees etc.

Albeit it would be kind of fun but not at the expense of destroying the view for an adventurous minority. Isnt there some other hillside this can launch from? Does it have to go right here? I wonder what River Life who is working towards an off the hook revitalization of the West End Bridge to create a truly AWESOME observation experience of this "money shot" view which could be obstructed. http://www.riverlifepgh.org/riverfront-projects/future/west-end-pedestrian-bridge/

Heres an idea...Use fishing line so you cant see it

I worked for several years testing and operating zip lines and can assure you you're overestimating how visible those cables are at a distance. On one 700 foot zip line on a completely clear hill we couldn't even see the cable on the other end, despite being able to see its moorings. When doing work on them off hours we would have to throw sheets on the lines so we could tell where they were from a distance. At night they're basically invisible.

The only real blockage to the view will be the people when they zip down, and even if they operate at a constant pace, the down time in between to reset everything is substantial.

Regardless, I think this will be a huge hit... for a time. I think zip lines are a bit trendy right now but are going to lose their popularity in the next few years (which incidentally is one of the reasons I got out of that business.) That makes me wonder what will happen to it afterwards. It may never recoup the investment.

BrianTH · #**2804** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 12:46 AM**

If you are wondering who can afford all those new apartments . . .

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...st-in-2012-but-still-lags-nation-673742/

Jonboy1983 · #**2805** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 1:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Crash

The abandoned section of Turnpike was sold off yeas ago. Currently it is owned by a non-profit organization which has upgraded it to a paved bike trail, including the tunnels. It's known now as the Pike to Bike, a play on the Rails to Trails monikers.

Well, so much for that idea... They could bore another tunnel right next to that, but again, that would be prohibitively expensive. At the same time, acquiring the existing tunnel from a bike trail operator would also be prohibitively expensive -- not to mention highly unpopular...

I do like the idea of having an urban zip line running from Mt. Washington to the North Shore. How large are those cables? I'm thinking they're not that large and therefore would probably not be all that noticeable to someone trying to view the skyline from the West End Bridge.

By the way, is there any news on that proposed pedestrian bridge element?

Austinlee · #**2806** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 4:16 AM**

Zip lines are similar to the new light rail under-river tunnels: They are both boring.

BrianTH · #**2807** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 5:10 AM**

$1B is a big number, although I wonder how much of that is actually guaranteed:

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/3428518-74/airport-county-deal#axzz2KHT5EAsD

Other questions include how much of the $500M in infrastructure investment would be beneficial to entities besides Consol, and whether the County can find a way around the FAA rule that currently requires proceeds from gas extraction to be used by the airport.

glowrock · #**2808** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 12:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

$1B is a big number, although I wonder how much of that is actually guaranteed:

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/3428518-74/airport-county-deal#axzz2KHT5EAsD

Other questions include how much of the $500M in infrastructure investment would be beneficial to entities besides Consol, and whether the County can find a way around the FAA rule that currently requires proceeds from gas extraction to be used by the airport.

One big potential benefit of this contract is that a good portion of the debt the airport currently is paying off could be repaid much sooner, leading to a fairly substantial reduction in landing fees, which could well bring in additional flights in and out of the city.

Regardless, it's a very good thing for Pittsburgh and the airport.

Aaron (Glowrock)

BrianTH · #**2809** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 2:01 PM**

Reducing landing fees couldn't hurt, although I don't think it will necessarily have a huge impact (the main reason the airport doesn't have more service is lack of demand, plus a bit of predatory pricing).

Generally, I am glad to see this article mentioning the possibility of the state redirecting the gambling funds from the airport to the County. Given the current FAA rule, that may be the only way for the County to get a significant cut of this deal, and it seems to me it would be overkill to invest $1B entirely in the airport and surroundings (even discounting the general utility of much of what Consol plans to do):

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...e-500m-airport-gas-drilling-deal-673873/

BrianTH · #**2810** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 2:14 PM**

The South Highland Avenue Bridge in Shadyside/East Liberty is scheduled to close in March for reconstruction, with a reopening planned for November:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...erty-to-close-for-reconstruction-673898/

This is actually part of the overall East Liberty Transit Center project that got federal funding a while back:

http://eltransitcentertod.com/

It is supposed to allow better access to a new street and bike/ped trail heading east into the Transit Center site:

http://youtu.be/UF64FM-_Fhg

With all the things going on in East Liberty and nearby it is tough to keep track, but I tend to think this sort of "gateway" project can be hugely transformative of general impressions of an area, and I think that will be particularly true if they do in fact add a few decent-sized buildings (which is not officially part of the project, but is part of the plan):

http://youtu.be/EoYy-ZbwWbE

glowrock · #**2811** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Reducing landing fees couldn't hurt, although I don't think it will necessarily have a huge impact (the main reason the airport doesn't have more service is lack of demand, plus a bit of predatory pricing).

Generally, I am glad to see this article mentioning the possibility of the state redirecting the gambling funds from the airport to the County. Given the current FAA rule, that may be the only way for the County to get a significant cut of this deal, and it seems to me it would be overkill to invest $1B entirely in the airport and surroundings (even discounting the general utility of much of what Consol plans to do):

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...e-500m-airport-gas-drilling-deal-673873/

I agree that with the FAA rules governing airport property, the only way for the county to get something out of this is likely to redirect gambling funds back to the county from the airport. Obviously the county would like to see some of this money in addition to whatever goes on at the airport itself.

As for the Highland Bridge project, things will definitely be a hell of a mess for the next 6-8 months between Shadyside and East Liberty, no doubt about it!

Aaron (Glowrock)

BrianTH · #**2812** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

I agree that with the FAA rules governing airport property, the only way for the county to get something out of this is likely to redirect gambling funds back to the county from the airport. Obviously the county would like to see some of this money in addition to whatever goes on at the airport itself.

Fortunately 20 years is a long time, and I wouldn't necessarily expect that FAA rule to stay the same for all those years. It is a matter of statutory interpretation, and it is close enough that the FAA originally went the other way before reversing itself. Even if the FAA doesn't change back, Congress could step in and clarify or modify the statute to the benefit of Allegheny County. And that might actually happen because there are a number of different airport locations where this is an issue, with a wide variety of representation in Congress (in fact I believe there was already a statutory change with respect to general aviation airports on this issue).

Edit: new statute, part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012:

http://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_comp...dia/CGL2012_01AppAPL112_95Section813.pdf

Quote:

As for the Highland Bridge project, things will definitely be a hell of a mess for the next 6-8 months between Shadyside and East Liberty, no doubt about it!

Not ideal, but fortunately the alternative paths aren't too bad. And I think it is going to be more than worth it in the long run.

Brentsters · #**2813** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 3:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

With all the things going on in East Liberty and nearby it is tough to keep track, but I tend to think this sort of "gateway" project can be hugely transformative of general impressions of an area, and I think that will be particularly true if they do in fact add a few decent-sized buildings (which is not officially part of the project, but is part of the plan):

http://youtu.be/EoYy-ZbwWbE

I agree, and once the bridge and the Highland-Wallance apartments are complete, that intersection is going to have a totally different look and feel than it did even in 2005.

Also, it looks like the design is meant to complement the new pedestrian bridge nearby with lighting features that give it more than just a utilitarian feel. Apparently historic interpretations of the Pennsylvania Main Line will be included.

http://www.pfaffmann.com/HighlandBridgeSheet.pdf

BrianTH · #**2814** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 4:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brentsters

Also, it looks like the design is meant to complement the new pedestrian bridge nearby with lighting features that give it more than just a utilitarian feel. Apparently historic interpretations of the Pennsylvania Main Line will be included.

Looks pretty good. The requirement to have suicide barriers is a bit of a burden, but this and the other new bridge are really doing what they can to work that constraint into the design.

BrianTH · #**2815** Posted **Feb 8, 2013, 5:04 PM**

By the way, another project well in progress is the EECM Community House at Penn Circle E and Penn Circle N. They have a lot of the framing up, and to me it looks pretty cool. Construction website (and I know a lot more has been done since November):

http://eecm.org/about-eecm/capital-campaign/community-house-construction

Rendering:

Again this is one of those (many) strategic locations in East Liberty where having something new is really changing the feel of the whole area.

BrianTH · #**2816** Posted **Feb 11, 2013, 2:07 PM**

A few interesting interior pics of Schenley in this article about its deteriorated condition:

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/3436338-74/schenley-building-asbestos#axzz2KbD3HT6L

Private Dick · #**2817** Posted **Feb 11, 2013, 3:31 PM**

^ School buildings certainly do take a beating over the years... and unfortunately, problems are rarely addressed when they should be, given ever-present school district budget constraints. Definitely glad something productive is going to be done with Schenley and that it won't continue to deteriorate over the years and meet its end by the wrecking ball.

Also, I was in Pittsburgh this past weekend and drove around for the first time in a while... great to see all the projects large and small going up. Exciting time it will be over the next few years (that sounds very Yoda-ish). I really like that pedestrian/bike bridge over the tracks in Shadyside/East Liberty... and my girlfriend LOVED it... we crossed it at night while a train ran underneath... very whimsical with the light globes. Little project, but big effect... as far as both design and connection of the neighborhood goes.

I've never been to Berlin, but that Highland/Penn/Centre intersection is starting to give me a very Berlin-ish vibe, with the mix of the old and new, with the looming gothic Cathedral rising up at the center of the neighborhood.

Steel City Scotty · #**2818** Posted **Feb 11, 2013, 4:26 PM**

Hello, everyone. I just wanted to take an opportunity to introduce myself. I've spent the past few weeks going back through all 140+ pages of this forum to read about the exciting projects in Pittsburgh, and now that I'm caught up, I decided to create an account and join in on the conversation.

A little bit about me...I live in South Central Pennsylvania, just above the Mason-Dixon Line, about 40 minutes west of Gettysburg. I'm a former television news reporter, currently working as a Public Relations Specialist at the Franklin County Visitors Bureau. Recently, I was hired to become my hometown's Main Street Manager and Director of Economic Development, a position I will start in April.

I've never lived anywhere other than the town where I was born and raised, but my wife is from Pittsburgh, and her family still lives in the city. Thus, I've visited many times over the course of the past eight years, and I have developed quite a passion for the area. My wife is surprised by how much I've learned about her hometown, including my fluency in "Pittsburghese" and my recent memorization of all 89 (or 90) neighborhoods.

I got to explore the city a good bit while interning at FOX Sports Net (now Root Sports) during the summer of 2006. Unfortunately, this was when the company was still in the building reminiscent of an abandoned ghost town in Allegheny Center, prior to moving to the North Shore. That was a great experience, but I'm sure nothing can compare to making Pittsburgh my permanent residence. My wife and I hope to make that move at some point in the future.

For now, I look forward to learning more about the city as I write messages on these boards and get to know each of you. After reading through so many previous posts, I feel like I already understand some of your personalities, haha.

Evergrey · #**2819** Posted **Feb 11, 2013, 4:37 PM**

Welcome aboard, Steel City Scotty! I love Franklin County. Our own CubicleRebel posted his photos of Chambersburg last year.

http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203175

Steel City Scotty · #**2820** Posted **Feb 11, 2013, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Welcome aboard, Steel City Scotty! I love Franklin County. Our own CubicleRebel posted his photos of Chambersburg last year.

http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203175

Wow! Thanks for sharing that link with me, Evergrey. CubicleRebel got some great shots of Chambersburg.

I actually work in the building next to the courthouse on the square, which he featured in a few photos.

Part of my job as a P.R. Specialist is using images to capture the essence of the area, making it inviting for people to come visit Franklin County. I'd say that mission was accomplished through these photographs.