PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 169

Austinlee · #**3361** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 1:44 AM**

Night Pittsburgh from space, cloudy- Astronaut pic.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/03/2...of-pittsburgh-from-space/#at_pco=cfd-1.0

photoLith · #**3362** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 1:54 AM**

^
🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 sweet!

Restoration has begun on these buildings in the Mexican War Streets. They torn down the back half of the building on the right, not quite sure why. Maybe for parking? I just hope all these buildings in this photo are renovated and restored.

New row homes on Federal St.

Some old guy just torn down some Victorian homes on Vista Street and this is the view from where the houses once stood. He says he plans on building new homes there, but Im sure they will be horrible looking. He was also telling me how he is systematically buying up all the houses on the lower part of Vista St and is going to tear them down. I wanted to punch him in the nuts, but oh well.

These are most of the buildings he owns and if he has it his way they will mostly all be gone soon. Hopefully he was full of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 and or is going to die soon before he can tear them down.

Austinlee · #**3363** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 2:06 AM**

^Wow dude, killer angle.

EDIT: Dammit the VISTA ST view is killer. lol

Urbana · #**3364** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 2:23 AM**

Great shots Photolith. You and your photography are welcome in Pittsburgh!

BrianTH · #**3365** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 6:36 AM**

Those Alpha projects are a nice addition to the mix and will help further transform the feel as you are entering the core of East Liberty, and I really like the overall scale of Alpha I, but I am still bummed they are not saving the facade of the Yen's Gourmet building as part of the design:

http://goo.gl/maps/12FWM

Captain Crash · #**3366** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 3:27 PM**

As far as I'm concerned it's great news they're even talking about extending the T again. Though I would rather see efforts to get to Oakland and the airport first.

Quote:

T expansion could take tracks to the North Hills, cost estimate over $1 billion
By Tom Fontaine

Published: Saturday, March 23, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated 12 hours ago

A year after opening the North Shore Connector, elected officials are talking with engineers about again extending Port Authority of Allegheny County's light-rail system.

“I think it's something we have to at least take a look at,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who organized a recent meeting with engineering consultants to discuss an extension.

...

A North Hills extension would run from the Allegheny Station near Heinz Field to Cranberry, roughly following the path of Interstates 279 and 79, Creagh said. Seven stations would be built. He estimated the total cost for an 18-mile line at $1.385 billion.

Creagh said the project could alleviate traffic congestion and spur development in growing North Hills communities while revitalizing areas of Pittsburgh's East Allegheny neighborhood.

...

Creagh said he and DiMiceli did not produce a proposal to extend a T line to Pittsburgh International Airport.

Past discussion proposed extending a line along Route 65 and crossing the Ohio River en route to the airport, Fitzgerald said. He said officials would investigate whether it's possible to use any of the projected $500 million the county Airport Authority will get from natural-gas drilling at Pittsburgh International to develop a transit line to the airport. Federal rules require that money from the drilling lease with Cecil-based Consol Energy Inc. be used for airport-related purposes.

...

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/3601107-74/north-million-rail#axzz2ON4PyGPU

markson33 · #**3367** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 4:35 PM**

Any extension of the T is a good thing. It will probaby take a decade before anything substantial gets done - by then there could be a big increase in the population in the North Hills. Ideally it should be out to the East End and the Parkway East, but since I live in the North Hills I won't complain.

MMorales2 · #**3368** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 9:15 PM**

If the T expansion does go all the way to Crannbery that would be awesome!!! I live in Wexford and traffic 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 trying to get into Pittsburgh for work. It can take me a good hour or more depending on all of accidents from bad drivers. I really hope the plans for the expansion go through. Save me on some gas money too.

glowrock · #**3369** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 9:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMorales2

If the T expansion does go all the way to Crannbery that would be awesome!!! I live in Wexford and traffic 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 trying to get into Pittsburgh for work. It can take me a good hour or more depending on all of accidents from bad drivers. I really hope the plans for the expansion go through. Save me on some gas money too.

Do I dare ask why you live in Wexford and work downtown?

Aaron (Glowrock)

BrianTH · #**3370** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 10:04 PM**

The T is the wrong technology for commuter rail, and in general there would be many more productive ways to spend $1.4 billion on local transit projects. I think this is more a political gesture than an actual serious plan.

PITairport · #**3371** Posted **Mar 24, 2013, 11:22 PM**

http://triblive.com/aande/architecture/3696990-74/development-hazelwood-rivers#axzz2OPAHMzCm

Jonboy1983 · #**3372** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 12:50 AM**

I know where they need to extend the North Shore extension through the North Hills, and it is NOT entirely along I-279 and I-79 and originating from the Allegheny Station. That would involve making one big loop through the North Side back around to I-279. Why not just build a spur from just west of the North Side station, turn right and run underneath South Commons with a stop at Allegheny Center, then turn north along I-279 and eventually along US 19 through Ross Twp and Franklin Park? I posted a map a while back what I would like the next extensions to look like.

I understand it might be less expensive to put the line along the interstates, but I doubt you're going to get the maximum ridership by doing that. You need to run lines right down the middle of population centers. By acquiring ROW along US 19 (which is SIX LANES in some parts, excluding right and/or left turn lanes!), they'd provide service to a lot more people and businesses. Suppose you had people who live in or close to Downtown and work along McKnight Road or just off of McKnight RD?

Jonboy1983 · #**3373** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 12:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The T is the wrong technology for commuter rail, and in general there would be many more productive ways to spend $1.4 billion on local transit projects. I think this is more a political gesture than an actual serious plan.

Brian, I don't view this as commuter rail but more of a metro rail system for an overall less-dense metro area. I think Cranberry might be the furthest extension we'll see of the T system.

It does make sense for Pittsburgh because the surrounding suburbs are not quite as dense as places were heavy/metro rail is present. The only place I see such service being viable is between Downtown and East Liberty and possibly out to Wilkinsburg.

I envision a commuter rail network using NS and AVRR lines linking places like Washington, Greensburg, Butler and New Castle with Pittsburgh.

themaguffin · #**3374** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 2:11 PM**

I think when it comes to the North Hills, if T extension by way of interstate path is the easiest way (and let's face it MUCH less costly in terms of right or way for an extended period) then that's the way to go.

As they say, don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

I think a T stop at an entirely new Allegheny Center would be nice too, as taking down that ugly waste of space I think would be huge and open a lot of space, but that ain't happening any time soon.

markson33 · #**3375** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 2:34 PM**

[QUOTE=glowrock;6065083]Do I dare ask why you live in Wexford and work downtown?

I live in Wexford as well, but by getting on at Camp Horne my commute is probably 20 minutes tops. Its an easy shot.

I would love to live in the city eventually, but with kids you kind of have to be in the suburbs.

haimon · #**3376** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 6:16 PM**

[QUOTE=markson33;6065720]

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

Do I dare ask why you live in Wexford and work downtown?

I live in Wexford as well, but by getting on at Camp Horne my commute is probably 20 minutes tops. Its an easy shot.

I would love to live in the city eventually, but with kids you kind of have to be in the suburbs.

Nothing personal, but I really do take issue with your equating kids and the suburbs. I also have a child, and [despite my wife's wishes] would never have considered the suburbs.

popstar · #**3377** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 7:19 PM**

Agree 100%. You can raise children well in Pittsburgh. I would argue, even better, within the city. Besides... this is a Pittsburgh development thread. Has there been a force more destructive to our cities than suburbanization, white flight, and sprawl

?

glowrock · #**3378** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 7:24 PM**

[QUOTE=markson33;6065720]

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

Do I dare ask why you live in Wexford and work downtown?

I live in Wexford as well, but by getting on at Camp Horne my commute is probably 20 minutes tops. Its an easy shot.

I would love to live in the city eventually, but with kids you kind of have to be in the suburbs.

Sorry but I don't buy this, markson33. Why on earth can't you live in Pittsburgh (or at least very nearby) with kids? There are definitely good schools in Pittsburgh, though I'll admit they're relatively few with respect to the district as a whole. If it's a question about housing, there's plenty of reasonably priced housing, even with yards, in and very near Pittsburgh. If you want to live in Wexford, that's perfectly fine. I'd never once say otherwise. But wow, don't complain about the commute when you work downtown, there are/were plenty of choice closer by that would have worked out just fine.

Aaron (Glowrock)

Austinlee · #**3379** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 8:07 PM**

Quote:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...-keith-on-pittsburghs-south-side-679450/

Miller's Ale House to replace Toby Keith at SouthSide Works

March 15, 2013 1:01 am
By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Goodbye, Toby Keith. Hello, Miller's Ale House.

Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority board members approved the sale of half an acre of land Thursday to Mon Shore MAH Associates L.P., an affiliate of the Soffer Organization, for the construction of Miller's Ale House at the SouthSide Works complex.

Jonboy1983 · #**3380** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 8:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

I think when it comes to the North Hills, if T extension by way of interstate path is the easiest way (and let's face it MUCH less costly in terms of right or way for an extended period) then that's the way to go.

As they say, don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

I think a T stop at an entirely new Allegheny Center would be nice too, as taking down that ugly waste of space I think would be huge and open a lot of space, but that ain't happening any time soon.

You do have a point. I'm just saying that if you were to have the thing run along Rt 19, you could directly serve thousands more people and probably even encourage or enhance development or redevelopment along the corridor.

Regardless, at least they want to run it to Cranberry. While I'm thrilled that the growth rate is astronomical up there, it is rather unsustainable. Most of the development is sprawl (sprawling, autocentric business campuses and shopping centers/strip malls, and lots of single/detached housing). Cranberry needs a viable link to Downtown as well as the rest of the region. I do agree that the Airport and the East End might be higher priority, but Cranberry should be right up there with...