PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[themaguffin]

what the hell is going on?

Jesus people.

There's a lot of great things to discuss and debate and agree and disagree about.

[Steel City Scotty]

I agree with themaguffin. It's Friday night. Some of us have the great fortune of living in or around one of the greatest cities in the world, and those who don't have either been there in the past or plan to arrive in the future. Life is good.

And, if that still doesn't cheer you up, here's a picture that I just saw on Facebook...

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Olympic skiing could not be held in the Pittsburgh region.

And... Olympics in Pittsburgh... talk about a logistical nightmare.

We covered the logistics side -- altho as PittPEnn hinted at, it would be a great way to get a rail link to the airport finally built...

Regarding the other part, why not? There are numerous skiing ranges within about a 90 minute drive. Is that the issue, that the mountains are too far? Granted the Adirondacks are quite a bit higher, but the Laurel Highlands are between 2,500 and 3,000 feet. I guess those aren't tall enough...

[bruchaus]

Austin, I understand your confusion about my perspective, specifically the hipster-yuppie thing. I am not bemoaning the loss of a hipster community. I believe that I've mentioned multiple times that I worry about the Polish community in Greenpoint being decimated. There are real historical examples of development having negative effects on communities-look at what happened to the Hill District when the Civic Arena was built. I've read your posts and we've engaged before, and I know you are too intelligent to not take some of what I say seriously. In this case I'm not even standing athwart some development in Pittsburgh. It has nothing to do with you, only to serve as an example of why NIMBYism is not always a terrible thing. I think most people would agree with this, if not, well then I admit I am wrong.

On a side note, I have never once posted on this forum about how my new adoptive city is better than Pittsburgh. I may have made obvious statements, like public transportation is better in NYC than Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh is my hometown. I was born and raised there and lived there for 24 years and plan to return, much to your chagrin. I love the city and consider it home, so I don't appreciate you thinking you are the St. Peter of the city gates.

All of that said, I have no hard feelings toward anyone here and appreciate all the great work being done in the city and on this forum to explicate the developments. There are a ton of valuable things being posted here daily and I really do try to add something to the board with every post. You may not agree with me, but with something as democratic as a message board, where every voice is heard, I believe it is important to have some dissent.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

[glowrock]

And now for something a little different: Does anyone know if there's ever been a plan to illuminate the Cathedral of Learning at night? Holy crap, the view up Forbes Ave. would be unbelievably amazing at night with the Cathedral lit up tastefully!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Steel City Scotty]

For the second week in a row, a long-standing, family-owned Italian restaurant is closing in the city.

First, it was Minutello's in Shadyside.

Walkabout: Losing Minutello's feels like departure of favored relative
Sunday is last day for Italian restaurant that's lasted half a century in Pittsburgh's East End
February 12, 2013 12:20 am
By Diana Nelson Jones / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In these days of fast casual, there's still a place for the 5,000-square-foot, full-service restaurant, but after dinner next Sunday, 226 Shady Ave. won't be one of them.

Lou Minutello is ending the long chapter that began in 1960, when his father Lou and uncle Al opened Minutello's Meadow Grill in Larimer. The brothers moved to Shadyside a few years later and prospered enough to open two more restaurants, in Mt. Lebanon and Ross, and a fast-food place in Murrysville. The younger Lou was washing dishes and busing tables by age 12.

Over the years, the suburban restaurants closed while the flagship plugged along with regulars who took their grown children and grandchildren there. For decades, the Italian restaurant -- where the most expensive entree is still under $20 -- swirled with weddings, homecomings and bar mitzvah parties.

It was a long run "and it could have continued to pay the bills," Mr. Minutello said. "But I wanted something more."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...f-favored-relative-674991/#ixzz2LjuJMEeD

Now, Downtown's Tabellini restaurant is closing its doors.

Tambellini restaurant Downtown says arrivederci!
February 23, 2013 12:18 am
By Melissa McCart / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After 63 years of operation, Tambellini Seventh Street Ristorante Downtown will close at the end of tonight's dinner service.

For decades, the name Tambellini has been synonymous with Italian food in Pittsburgh.

This closing marks the demise of the restaurant founded by Mary Tambellini Pellegrini, her sister, Frances Tambellini D'Amico, and her uncle, Frank Tambellini, in 1950.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...n-says-arrivederci-676575/#ixzz2LjtviHfM

As someone who only makes it to Pittsburgh about 5-6 times a year, I've never eaten at either of these restaurants, but judging from the "Comments" sections beneath each article, they both had a pretty loyal following.

[Private Dick]

Quality at both of the above had been going downhill. Unfortunately, that's pretty common among "old-school" Italian restaurants everywhere, as the family businesses pass down the generations. Had good meals at Minutello's years ago... never thought Tambellini was anything special, as far as classic red sauce Italian restaurants go.

[Evergrey]

Who cares? Both restaurants suck.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Quality at both of the above had been going downhill. Unfortunately, that's pretty common among "old-school" Italian restaurants everywhere, as the family businesses pass down the generations. Had good meals at Minutello's years ago... never thought Tambellini was anything special, as far as classic red sauce Italian restaurants go.

Not just in Pittsburgh either. Philadelphia had Le Bec Finn over the years, and it went downhill. They did away with their dress code and the restaurant eventually closed its doors shortly after. I've never had the opportunity to experience this French fine-dining eatery; it was waaay out of my price range! I think it is either supposed to reopen or it already has done so. Still, I don't think it is/will be the same as before...

Having said that, I've been to Tambilini's on 7th Avenue; I was there when I turned 20. Given that it's been a Pittsburgh staple for several decades, it is sad to see it go. My family threw my wife a bridal shower at the Brookline location across from Bausman St. back in August 2010 (it might have been called something else at the time).

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Who cares? Both restaurants suck.

You wouldn't know that by the gushing praise that they post got in the comment sections of those articles. Pittsburgh has this weird love of bad food that I've never understood. I was in that Tambellini's last year or the year before since we needed dinner in a hurry before a dance performance and everywhere else was busy. We were a little amazed at how shoddy the place was. It seemed like they hadn't changed a thing in decades and and by this time only half remembered how to actually run a restaurant. The food was edible but only just and the waitress was very nice and the prices were as high as an actually good restaurant.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by GeneW

You wouldn't know that by the gushing praise that they post got in the comment sections of those articles. Pittsburgh has this weird love of bad food that I've never understood. I was in that Tambellini's last year or the year before since we needed dinner in a hurry before a dance performance and everywhere else was busy. We were a little amazed at how shoddy the place was. It seemed like they hadn't changed a thing in decades and and by this time only half remembered how to actually run a restaurant. The food was edible but only just and the waitress was very nice and the prices were as high as an actually good restaurant.

Yeah, I've been to plenty of places around here that everyone seems to gush over yet quite frankly are pretty terrible. And yes, by far the worst type of offending restaurant is the old-school Italian style. I swear if the original owners of many of these restaurants knew how terrible their food has become they'd send their own relatives to the grave with them for disgracing their name!

Pittsburghers are generally a very, very loyal and sentimental group. Not a damn thing wrong with that, mind you, but I'd say that a lot of establishments capitalize on that fact and never update their menus or decor.

Personally, I'm just glad to know that new restaurants are coming in shortly to take the place of these two. I'd hate to see vacant sites in their wake.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[themaguffin]

Old school Italian restaurants aren't supposed to be trendy or have ever changing menus.

Would someone say that about a local classic Chinese or Mexican restaurant?

But I agree, after generations, it's hard to maintain quality and there could be multiple reasons why restaurants like these close.

I would say that the loyal following and like of mediocre food is far from unique to Pittsburgh.

For a long time, top grossing restaurants in places like Atlanta are places like the Cheesecake Factory and it's crap.

[bruchaus]

My favorite Italian restaurants in the city are La Tavola and Zarras. Lombardozzi's is still running strong as far as I know, and that place seems right out of Goodfellas. I've only eaten there a few times so I can't speak to the quality. I ate lunch there and it seemed to be decent.

[Evergrey]

http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3033192-74/downtown-avenue-fifth#axzz2Lpal1I3Q

Downtown Pittsburgh undergoes retail, residential rebirth



By Sam Spatter

Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated 14 hours ago

When Brooks Brothers renewed its lease for five years at 600 Smithfield St., Downtown, it was a sign that the Golden Triangle will retain a retail image.

Downtown's retail industry is benefiting from an increased residential population, including university and technical school students.

In recent years developers have established apartments and condominiums to lure residents to Downtown and restore after-hours activity there.

The 2010 U.S. Census found an estimated 7,796 people living Downtown, a 21.3 percent increase over the 2000 Census. Many newcomers own condominiums, built during the past 10 years, while others have moved into apartments, many of them developed out of former office buildings, such as 201 Stanwix Street or the 60-unit Century Building on Seventh Avenue.

Although there were 2,079 rental apartments counted as of the second quarter of 2012, hundreds of apartment units have been added since then. Most of them are in former office buildings, such as the 158 units in 201 Stanwix St., the former Verizon Building.

PMC Properties of Philadelphia, which owns 201 Stanwix, is slowly adding more rental units in former office buildings scheduled to come on line either this year or 2014.

...

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by themaguffin

Old school Italian restaurants aren't supposed to be trendy or have ever changing menus.

Would someone say that about a local classic Chinese or Mexican restaurant?

But I agree, after generations, it's hard to maintain quality and there could be multiple reasons why restaurants like these close.

I would say that the loyal following and like of mediocre food is far from unique to Pittsburgh.

For a long time, top grossing restaurants in places like Atlanta are places like the Cheesecake Factory and it's crap.

The difference is that Cheesecake Factory really ISN'T crap. It's not perfect by any means, but the food is generally pretty good quality and tasty, the service is generally quite good, and the decor (while it may be ostentatious!), really is pretty nice. You can't compare it with these old-time restaurants that have been going downhill for likely decades.

Aaron (Glowrock)

edit: Just read that Trib article. I'd love to see a Ross and/or a TJ Maxx downtown. Even though their certainly not "first rate" retailers, they certainly would add additional options for people living in and near downtown, not to mention they'd take up substantial retail space in the area. Neither chain is against locating in relatively small floorplates and going multi-story, either. Always a plus in a dense urban area!

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by themaguffin

Old school Italian restaurants aren't supposed to be trendy or have ever changing menus.

But I agree, after generations, it's hard to maintain quality and there could be multiple reasons why restaurants like these close.

I would say that the loyal following and like of mediocre food is far from unique to Pittsburgh.

Yeah, not just common to Pittsburgh... true everywhere... particularly so for "old-school" Italian restaurants it seems. Nostalgia definitely plays a big part. When those restaurants were started, it was a truly family enterprise... husband, wife, uncles, aunts, children, etc. Usually, the husband managed the bar and business side of things (maybe with a brother who usually would eventually open his own place), while the wife and her sisters ran the kitchen and dining areas, cooking and managing the wait staff.

They all completely dedicated their lives to the restaurant because they were in essence dedicating their lives to their family. When you dined there, you were basically a guest in their "house" (which many times was literal because family members often lived upstairs). It was an old world mindset that weakened down the generations. The kids and grandkids just weren't as interested in or dedicated to staying in the family restaurant business as their options increased with the family's income.

I think you could probably go to any city in the northeast and midwest, and the former favorite Italian red sauce joint story is exactly the same. People still go to the restaurants long after the original owners have died and the quality has decreased while prices have disproportionately increased... out of nostalgia I think, hoping it will get back to where it once was... and then it finally closes.

I'm just glad that new restaurants continue to open up in Downtown Pittsburgh.

[Found5dollar]

the walnut development in east liberty is now raising steel on the back portion of the development. it is already a few stories high.

[Steel City Scotty]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

the walnut development in east liberty is now raising steel on the back portion of the development. it is already a few stories high.

I assume you're referring to Bakery Square 2.0?

Does this mean that the demolition of the former Reizenstein school is complete? And construction is underway on the spot where it used to stand?

Or are walls going up on a different part of the property? While the demolition continues nearby?

[BrianTH]

I believe that is a reference to the parking garage behind the Highland and Wallace Buildings. Not the most inherently exciting element of East Liberty development, but it helps make both the Highland/Wallace and Transit Center projects possible, and in general it will be nice to see all the surface parking in East Liberty gradually shifted into structures.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

Does this mean that the demolition of the former Reizenstein school is complete? And construction is underway on the spot where it used to stand?

No