PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 167

BrianTH · #**3321** Posted **Mar 17, 2013, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PghSH22

Does anyone know if these population gains and younger demographic shifts are specific to the "city", or the "region" in general? If these are for the Southwest PA region as a whole, what does the city picture look like? Just curious because I am partial to "city life" and would love to see the city limits see the majority of these increases.

Reliable subcounty data can be hard to find. and some argue that all or most of the City's younger population gain is attributable to students anyway. But personally, I think it is a good bet that Allegheny County in general, and the core area in particular, is getting a disproportionate share of the younger population increase, and in ways that go beyond just students.

Jonboy1983 · #**3322** Posted **Mar 17, 2013, 8:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Reliable subcounty data can be hard to find. and some argue that all or most of the City's younger population gain is attributable to students anyway. But personally, I think it is a good bet that Allegheny County in general, and the core area in particular, is getting a disproportionate share of the younger population increase, and in ways that go beyond just students.

Weren't there recent PG and/or Trib articles that indicated a mass influx of young professionals, particularly in the tech/healthcare/education fields? I know Pittsburgh is a hot bed for Asian immigrants, especially from India, of whom some 90% have a college-level degree or higher.

pyrohy · #**3323** Posted **Mar 17, 2013, 9:30 PM**

Neat PG article about 'private bars' now in the South Side Slopes. After reading the article I need to join the Upper Pius Men's Club!

PG post:
Pittsburgh builder crafts custom bars for South Side homes
Welcome to the 'Upper Pius Men's Club'

Btw here is a view from the place:

Source: https://twitter.com/slopesassoc/statuses/217421600784531459

Austinlee · #**3324** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 2:19 AM**

^No girls allowed??

Austinlee · #**3325** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

I was really happy to read the report from Pittsburgh Today...but then got a little sad reading this article about the construction of the "elegant, convenient and commodious market house" in Allegheny City, which was later demolished to make way for Allegheny Center.

Quote:

Eyewitness 1863: As war rages, Allegheny City builds for the future
March 17, 2013 12:22 am
By Len Barcousky / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Even while the continued existence of a "United States" remained in doubt during the dark years of the Civil War, political leaders and business people in Allegheny City, now Pittsburgh's North Side, were planning for the future.

In the spring of 1863, a new public market was ready to open on Diamond Square at Federal and Ohio streets.

"As a whole we think our neighbors across the river have quite eclipsed us in the matter of providing for the public convenience an elegant, convenient and commodious market house, which must needs produce a very handsome addition to the city revenues," a report in The Daily Pittsburgh Gazette said on March 9. "We rejoice with them in the successful completion of a work of such magnificence in the midst of these war times."

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...lds-for-the-future-679680/#ixzz2NpMqO46s

Topher51 · #**3326** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 4:48 PM**

You guys had a disccusion about the Hazelwood redevelopment a few weeks back, but I had not been to that part of town until Friday, so I didn't have anything to contribute. After seeing it for myself, I can't help but imagine how great that could be. While not well connected to downtown or Oakland, it can't be more than a 10 minute drive. From what I read over the weekend, most of the old industrial site has already been remediated so area is basically a blank canvas.

There are already several newer office buildings along 2nd Ave a few blocks away from Hazelwood. I wonder if US Steel has considered locating their new offices at the old industrial site?

This is probably nothing you all haven't seen before, but I found what looks to be a CMU student project for this area. I like a lot of what I see.

http://www.cmu.edu/rci/images/haz-recs-executive-summary-web.pdf

Captain Crash · #**3327** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 5:04 PM**

Bill Peduto has brought back his proposed rail link between Lawrenceville and Hazelwood as part of his mayoral campaign. The information is a still sparse, but there's some details here and he wants it to be directly tied directly with the proposed AVRR commuter rail line.

Quote:

The development that has occurred in Oakland and the surrounding neighborhoods over the past several decades has brought about a new economy in Pittsburgh. The innovation and invention that takes place in our universities, hospitals, and tech sector businesses has redefined Pittsburgh and will continue to create jobs and opportunity well into the future. However, we need ways to expand our new economy across the city. One way that I have been advocating for since I began on Council is a trolley connecting Lawrenceville, Shadyside, Oakland, and Hazelwood. In 2008, I introduced legislation to Council that funded a study of a possible Pittsburgh Rail Connection between these neighborhoods. The study determined that the railway could carry thousands of people a day from river to river.

1. Reactivating Existing Infrastructure

Similar projects all across the country are transforming communities by making use of existing rail assets. In New Jersey, commuters can ride from Camden to Trenton on a line shared with a freight train. In Albuquerque, commuters take trains into the capital of Santa Fe. In Pittsburgh, this railway could connect some of our region’s most vibrant job centers with the employees they need.

The 2008 study showed that, by repurposing existing infrastructure, we could create a world-class rail line for under $100 million. With plans already in the works for a rail line connecting our northern suburbs with downtown, the opportunity to create a spur running river to river through the city’s East End has never been better.

2. Capitalizing on Transit

Pittsburgh’s River-to-River Rail would capitalize on existing development nodes and create new ones in neighborhoods that have seen chronic disinvestment for decades. The proposed rail stops – at the historic Iron City Brewery in Lawrenceville, at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, at Carnegie Mellon University’s campus, and finally at the former LTV Steel site in Hazelwood – offer access to some of the most exciting existing and future developments in the city. The stop in Hazelwood would finally offer a viable transit option for residents of the neighborhood and would easily connect them with good jobs at our city’s hospitals, universities, and technology centers.

With a combination of federal and state grants, foundation support, and private investment we can build an affordable, modern new transit system that connects people with jobs and spurs millions of dollars of new investment in Pittsburgh.

http://www.billpeduto.com/2013/03/18/65-river-to-river-rail-connecting-people-to-jobs/

themaguffin · #**3328** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 7:32 PM**

I don't know if this has been touched on, but the metro continues to grow, though unfortunately several of the counties still are seeing annual drops in populations...

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Evergrey · #**3329** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

I don't know if this has been touched on, but the metro continues to grow, though unfortunately several of the counties still are seeing annual drops in populations...

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Still... all counties in the MSA other than Westmoreland and Armstrong experienced net in-migration year-over-year. It's always going to be a struggle to post overall population growth with the "natural decline" gripping the region.

Also... the Census Bureau revised upward Pittsburgh MSA's 2011 estimate.

Jonboy1983 · #**3330** Posted **Mar 18, 2013, 8:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topher51

You guys had a disccusion about the Hazelwood redevelopment a few weeks back, but I had not been to that part of town until Friday, so I didn't have anything to contribute. After seeing it for myself, I can't help but imagine how great that could be. While not well connected to downtown or Oakland, it can't be more than a 10 minute drive. From what I read over the weekend, most of the old industrial site has already been remediated so area is basically a blank canvas.

There are already several newer office buildings along 2nd Ave a few blocks away from Hazelwood. I wonder if US Steel has considered locating their new offices at the old industrial site?

This is probably nothing you all haven't seen before, but I found what looks to be a CMU student project for this area. I like a lot of what I see.

http://www.cmu.edu/rci/images/haz-recs-executive-summary-web.pdf

That's an interesting project. I guess they're banking on extending the existing LRT system out to Oakland and then branching into two lines, serving Hazelwood and up to Lawrenceville...

glowrock · #**3331** Posted **Mar 19, 2013, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Still... all counties in the MSA other than Westmoreland and Armstrong experienced net in-migration year-over-year. It's always going to be a struggle to post overall population growth with the "natural decline" gripping the region.

Also... the Census Bureau revised upward Pittsburgh MSA's 2011 estimate.

Without a doubt, Evergrey. The natural decline in the Pittsburgh area is a difficult thing to overcome. Perhaps finally in 10-20 years this will simply be a vestige of the past, but I'm afraid, especially until at least the 2020 census, the ill-effects of our older-than-average population is going to continue to haunt the region in terms of population numbers.

On a different note, it was heartening to read the article in today's Post Gazette regarding a new tenant for the Garden Theater block. It seems that redevelopment/renovation is going to begin in earnest in the very near future!

Aaron (Glowrock)

Jonboy1983 · #**3332** Posted **Mar 19, 2013, 2:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

Without a doubt, Evergrey. The natural decline in the Pittsburgh area is a difficult thing to overcome. Perhaps finally in 10-20 years this will simply be a vestige of the past, but I'm afraid, especially until at least the 2020 census, the ill-effects of our older-than-average population is going to continue to haunt the region in terms of population numbers.

On a different note, it was heartening to read the article in today's Post Gazette regarding a new tenant for the Garden Theater block. It seems that redevelopment/renovation is going to begin in earnest in the very near future!

Aaron (Glowrock)

That project for the Garden Theater should do wonders for that part of the North Shore in terms of sparking some revitalization.

I also think it will be a little while before the struggling counties will start growing again. Still, it's good to see the region overall growing again! It will be a matter of time before Westmoreland et al will follow suit.

Anyone have information on how Colteryahn Dairy could revitalize Carrick? I saw a link for an article in either the PG or the Trib and now I can't find it anymore.

Evergrey · #**3333** Posted **Mar 19, 2013, 5:06 PM**

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/a...-pittsburgh-downtown-partnership-679960/

Quote:

60 projects outlined by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
March 19, 2013 11:55 am

Several major developments in the Golden Triangle will get started or completed this year -- part of a group of 60 projects in the pipeline totaling an estimated $2.2 billion in investment, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Among the developments to get started this year is the Gardens at Market Square, a $95 million hotel, office and retail project to be built on Forbes Avenue near Market Square. Lucas Piatt, president and chief operating officer of Millcraft Investments, the developer, told those gathered for the PDP's annual meeting this morning that Millcraft plans to break ground on the project in June.

The Gardens will feature 125,000 square feet of office space, 20,000 square feet of retail, a 335-car parking garage, and a 197-room Hilton Garden Inn. Burgatory, a hamburger haven, and Jackson's Social Bar and Restaurant already have signed on as tenants, Mr. Piatt said.

While the Gardens is getting started, PNC Financial Services Group hopes to complete the conversion of the former Lord & Taylor department store on Smithfield Street into a call center in November.

Gary Saulson, PNC executive vice president and director of corporate real estate, said the call center will be home to 850 employees, providing a shot in the arm to a section of Smithfield Street near the former Saks department store, which also is being redeveloped.

...

more...

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2013/03/19/ongoing-growth-touted-for-downtown.html

Quote:

Ongoing growth touted for downtown

...

Piatt discussed his company’s two new projects to come:

The mixed-use Gardens project near Market Square, which he said will include a new Jacksons Social Bar & Grill, patterned after his company’s established restaurant in Southpointe.

A new development to replace the empty Saks Fifth Avenue store that will include apartments and parking.

...

Travis Williams, chief operating officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins, expects the team’s redevelopment of the empty 28 acres where the Civic Arena once stood to begin to show real signs of progress. It will receive $15 million in state grant funding to start establishing new infrastructure at the property.

He said the team is working to have a master plan approved with the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, which owns the property, by the third quarter of this year, with the initial build out of a new street grid to begin next spring, and new vertical development to come in 2015.

Williams described a plan that remains mostly unchanged to include 1,100 residential units, mostly rental, 600,000 square feet of office space and 200,000 square feet of mostly neighborhood-serving retail and entertainment.

...

Evergrey · #**3334** Posted **Mar 19, 2013, 5:17 PM**

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...ax-package-for-hazelwood-project-679964/

Quote:

Pittsburgh City Council OKs major tax package for Hazelwood project
Deal will provide tax benefits for $900 million development

March 19, 2013 12:58 pm

By Moriah Balingit / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh City Council today approved the largest tax increment financing deal in the city's history, an arrangement that would provide upwards of $90 million in tax benefits for a proposed $900 million residential and commercial development in Hazelwood.

The proposal would allow a portion of the tax dollars paid on the property to be earmarked for roads, utilities, parks and other public improvements on the riverfront land, the former site of the LTV coke works.

It would lay the foundation for a proposed mixed-use development at the site, the last of the city's brownfields, that would feature more than 2 million square feet of office and research and development space and as many as 1,200 units of housing, either townhouses, condos or apartments.

The site is owned by a consortium of foundations called Almono, which is made up of the Heinz Endowments, the Benedum Foundation, Strategic Regional Development Inc., which is affiliated with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and the Regional Industrial Development Corp.

Evergrey · #**3335** Posted **Mar 19, 2013, 5:29 PM**

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...elays-hearing-on-oakland-project-679966/

Quote:

Pittsburgh Planning Commission delays hearing on Oakland project

March 19, 2013 1:12 pm

By Diana Nelson Jones / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The developer of an office and hotel complex that's to be part of the Oakland Portal Project today was granted a postponement of a scheduled hearing before the city Planning Commission.

The hearing has been tentatively rescheduled for 2 p.m. April 2 in the first floor conference room at 200 Ross St.

LW Molnar Associates expects to develop land between Forbes and Fifth Avenues just south of Robinson Street into three high-rise office buildings with a hotel. The buildings as proposed include one at 13 stories and two at eight stories.

AaronPGH · #**3336** Posted **Mar 19, 2013, 8:23 PM**

Cranes incoming!

daviderik · #**3337** Posted **Mar 20, 2013, 1:00 AM**

It's good they are moving on with Hazelwood site. Need it for the olympic village.

(just in case)

Jonboy1983 · #**3338** Posted **Mar 20, 2013, 1:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by daviderik

It's good they are moving on with Hazelwood site. Need it for the olympic village.

(just in case)

Hey, that would be a rather poetic site for such a village -- from industrial site during the region's "steel capital" heyday to a burgeoning global city hosting the Olympics.

In all seriousness tho, yeah...

Captain Crash · #**3339** Posted **Mar 20, 2013, 2:32 PM**

Quote:

Announcing Pittsburgh DataWorks: Establishing the region as a big hub for Big Data
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

A new consortium of companies in Pittsburgh are joining forces to establish the region as a major hub for "big data" with the official launch of Pittsburgh DataWorks this week.

In stealth mode since last fall, DataWorks surfaced two weeks ago at the MIT Forum held at IBM in Squirrel Hill. IBM initiated the idea and is joined by five founding members: Carnegie Mellon University, Google, Management Science Associates, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Medical Center.

A long list of private companies and economic development organizations are on board as well.

Pittsburgh companies and universities are already working and established in this space, explains Bob Monroe, associate professor at the Tepper School of Business at CMU and member of the DataWorks advisory board.

This is the logical next step, bringing everyone together and unifying the effort to establish southwestern Pennsylvania as a leading region for this industry. By 2014, big data will gain an $81 billion foothold in the market and create 1.9 million jobs in the U.S.

“The opportunities are huge,” says Monroe. "As a region, we have many of the assets that will help us to become a capital for big data.”

DataWorks will share space in the business incubator Rev Oakland. In addition to promoting the region as a leading destination for big data education, the initiative will develop research, entrepreneurial and regional economic development opportunities.

The coming out party will be held Thursday, March 21, at the University Club on Pitt’s campus from 6 to 8 p.m.

http://www.popcitymedia.com/innovationnews/dataworks032013.aspx

Captain Crash · #**3340** Posted **Mar 20, 2013, 2:37 PM**

Quote:

New restaurant and office space to fill East Liberty development gaps
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

...

Dolan's company, Alphabet City Co., plans to build a 20,000-square-foot retail and office structure at the corner of Penn Avenue and Penn Circle East, across from Target. Plans also call for a 5,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant featuring outdoor seating.

Once a lead tenant is identified, construction is expected to be complete within 15 months. Oxford Realty Services is handling leasing and marketing for the project. Three existing buildings, including the current location of Yen's Gourmet Chinese Restaurant, would be razed.

...

Alphabet City Co.'s second project in East Liberty is renovating existing warehouse structures near the future Ace Hotel. At 5915 and 5921 Baum Boulevard, the refaced buildings will be converted for retail and restaurant uses. Dolan's goal is to have these structures available by the end of this year, around the opening of the Ace Hotel.

http://www.popcitymedia.com/devnews/abcco032013.aspx