PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[LMich]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Nah hold on jussa minute ere... I'm sick'n tard a yinz callin us names n'at

Genius.

[photoLith]

Just got into picksburgh tonight and now am living here, for the moment with the Rock that glows.

[BrianTH]

More people defying the "dead after 5" meme (which hasn't been true in the Cultural District for quite a while):

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...rant-planned-downtown-pittsburgh-676184/

It sounds like they plan extensive renovations of the building, which could be a nice addition to that stretch of Penn.

The new eatery, to be called Sienna Mercato, which is Italian for "marketplace," will feature two floors of dining, plus a rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the U.S. Steel Tower and other prominent Grant Street buildings. Stairs will transport diners between floors, while a new elevator will whisk them from street level to the roof. "This isn't going to be a simple project. It's pretty elaborate. It's going to be unique enough that there won't be anything like it Downtown," Mr. Nicholas said.

Existing conditions:

http://goo.gl/maps/6zhGn

[glowrock]

That new restaurant will be a great addition to an already-excellent stretch of Penn Ave.. I was wondering what was going to become of the former piano store, and I'm glad it will be fully occupied by something that is sure to keep activity levels high through evenings and weekends!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[gallacus]

Wow, that restaurant looks like it will be an amazing addition to the Cultural District.

That layout (multiple stories with rooftop deck) reminds me of the similar proposed restaurant across the street from the Consol Energy Center in the old uniform shop. Anyone have any updated information on the status of that?

[Brentsters]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

More people defying the "dead after 5" meme (which hasn't been true in the Cultural District for quite a while):

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...rant-planned-downtown-pittsburgh-676184/

It sounds like they plan extensive renovations of the building, which could be a nice addition to that stretch of Penn.



Existing conditions:

http://goo.gl/maps/6zhGn

It appears its neighbor down the block will be getting the renovation treatment also. On the agenda for next month's Historic Review Commission is the proposed renovation of 960 Penn Ave into a restaurant. The applicant is the owner of Local and Diesel.

http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/schedule34/agenda-34-344.pdf

Also announced this month:

Mt. Washington restaurant Redbeard's will open a new location Downtown in time for baseball season.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...ing-to-sixth-street.html?iana=ind_retail

Meat & Potatoes owners will open a second location Downtown.

http://www.popcitymedia.com/devnews/butcherrye021313.aspx

[Topher51]

Here is a view of the T-bridge across the Mon and the UPMC and Mellon Towers from the future 4th floor end unit of the Whiskey Barrel Flats.

The cross piece will come out, so this will end up being a great view of the city.



Here is a photo of the interior timber beams, columns and braces that will remain.



The owner is attempting to purchase the air rights above the adjacent building to the west. If they can do that, the the balconies on the 3rd and 4th floors will be moved to that side and have this view.



Once we recieved revised architectural renderings, I will give you all a preview.

[Steel City Scotty]

Well, this plan would certainly call for a lot of interesting development in the city. Although, it's obviously a long shot and has been met with a LOT of doubts, concerns and overall cynicism in the "Comments" section underneath the article.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...ed-to-consider-the-olympic-dream-676215/

Pittsburgh invited to consider playing host to 2024 Olympics
February 21, 2013 12:14 am
By Ed Blazina / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Here's what it would take for Pittsburgh to be the host of the 2024 Summer Olympics: thinking big and building bigger.

And $3 billion.

Consider goal one accomplished. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and other community leaders say they won't reject out of hand a letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee gauging the region's interest in hosting the Summer Games.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...-the-olympic-dream-676215/#ixzz2LY78ANYJ

[Private Dick]

Cool, Topher. Thanks

[Evergrey]

Nice photos, Topher... and we all appreciate the Downtown restaurant development updates, Brentsters!

The 3-story restaurant space at the former piano store sounds like it will be awesome.

[Private Dick]

Posted in City Discussions...

http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/that-tree-on-the-corner-may-be-worth-more-than-your-house

Glad to know this is happening in Pittsburgh. The city definitely needs way more street trees.

The undeveloped steep hillsides are obviously green and leafy, but city neighborhoods are too often largely bald when it comes to tree cover.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Topher51

Once we recieved revised architectural renderings, I will give you all a preview.

Great pics and I'll look forward to the renderings.

That view with the train bridge is really great--a perfect "rust belt chic" snapshot of many eras of Pittsburgh.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

Well, this plan would certainly call for a lot of interesting development in the city. Although, it's obviously a long shot and has been met with a LOT of doubts, concerns and overall cynicism in the "Comments" section underneath the article.

We shouldn't do it. We really couldn't handle it, and even assuming the feds paid for most of the cost, we'd end up with a bunch of overbuilt, underdesigned, unnecessary stuff occupying prime land.

[bruchaus]

As far as the NIMBY conversation goes there are a lot of reason to oppose a development, as others have stated. Here is an example happening "in my backyard" in Brooklyn that I oppose:



Right now the area is occupied by industrial lots. The development will add 4,000 residential units, mostly unaffordable for 75-80% of the folks who live in the city. The developers claim they want to create a new community in Greenpoint. However the city won't be adding any schools to the area. Greenpoint currently has some of the better public schools in the city. Greenpoint also has a huge Polish community that has been in the area for years. Tons of Polish interest stores, bakeries, etc. What do you think will happen when the yuppies move in? Real estate prices will rise and the schools will be overrun with little Cullens, Wyatts, and Floras while the long-standing families will be priced out.

Not only is this bad for the already established community, the buildings make the neighborhood look like some shit hole Miami neighborhood.

Here, I will consider myself a NIMBY. It isn't really affecting my life, I live in Williamsburg, a neighborhood bemoaned by millions as an example of gentrification by hipsters. I moved in 5 years ago but I can see how this Greenpoint landing project will suck ass for a whole bunch of people I consider neighbors. (Greenpoint is next to Williamsburg if you aren't familiar with Brooklyn).

[BrianTH]

Adding residential highrises like that in our most productive and efficient cities is crucial to our future economic development and reducing our future environmental impact. And if it was easier to build new housing units in cities like NYC, housing in those cities would be priced at less of a premium over construction costs. In other words, it is that kind of NIMBYism--and I agree it deserve the name in this case--that explains a lot of why "The Rent Is Too Damn High."

[Capsule F]

Folks, tell me what the Heinz acquisition means for the jobs in P-burgh. God I hate when PA companies are acquired.

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by Capsule F

Folks, tell me what the Heinz acquisition means for the jobs in P-burgh. God I hate when PA companies are acquired.

It was a part of the contract that the headquarters would remain in Pittsburgh.

[bruchaus]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Adding residential highrises like that in our most productive and efficient cities is crucial to our future economic development and reducing our future environmental impact. And if it was easier to build new housing units in cities like NYC, housing in those cities would be priced at less of a premium over construction costs. In other words, it is that kind of NIMBYism--and I agree it deserve the name in this case--that explains a lot of why "The Rent Is Too Damn High."

This makes me want to barf.

You are very wrong. Housing units are being built everywhere in NYC, Bloomberg has seen to it that every industrial neighborhood is rezoned to residential. They continue to build residential highrises like this everywhere in New York City but rent continues to rise. Rent is too damn high because landlords here are greedy pieces of crap. They raise your rent then when you try to negotiate they say, "Find somewhere else that is equal in the neighborhood and cheaper, I dare you." The new construction only causes prices to rise. New York real estate does not function on a supply and demand curve. If you want affordable living you have to live way out on the fringes of Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Bronx is a dump unless you are in Riverdale and Staten Island is basically like living in New Jersey. The rent isn't too damn high because of NIMBYism. There are regulations about height in the city, but it hasn't stopped many neighborhoods from succumbing to monstrous development that brings in wealthy folks and drives out people who've been in the neighborhood for years. I understand neighborhoods change in time, but the city government here has made it policy to stomp all over the "working class" and poor. Bloomberg is a goddamn egomaniacal bastard. He is the Czar of NYC.

Bloomberg wants to shove all the "poor" people into 300 sq foot apartments and have us pay $2000/month so he and his rich buddies can live in 12,500sq/ft townhouses. Welcome to Bloomberg's New York.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303567704577517282415574256.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

Am I bitter? Yes. Am I drunk? Yes. Does that change the reality of trying to afford middle class lifestyle in a city where the rich make it nearly impossible to do so? No.

Not all development is good.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

We shouldn't do it. We really couldn't handle it, and even assuming the feds paid for most of the cost, we'd end up with a bunch of overbuilt, underdesigned, unnecessary stuff occupying prime land.

You do have a point, but when Atlanta hosted the Olympics in 1996, did they build all new sports venues for the games? I don't recall they ever did.

That is one thing I never understood. Why do host cities build all new infrastructure that will be used only once? We saw this in China four years ago when they built the "bird's nest," and again with, well whatever they built in London last year.

Personally, I thought Pittsburgh would be a better host for the Winter Games at some point. You have a hockey arena and other locations that I think could be used for indoor Winter Games, and you have skiing/snowboarding not too far away.

Regarding the proposed Italian restaurant on Penn Avenue, I'd like to see something done with that facade. That, to me, looks rather dull, especially for something Italian themed. Maybe something more along the lines of the four buildings to the left of it?

[East Edge]

Whiskey Barrel Flats look very promising! Looking forward to the updates. It would be nice to see that area of the Southside become more polished. Its great that its so close to the riverfront trails as well.