PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 171

BrianTH · #**3401** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 6:54 AM**

This has been on the back burner for a long time now:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...-for-health-dept-site-in-oakland-681025/

Quote:

Allegheny County is close to finalizing a long-delayed deal to sell the health department building in Oakland for $4.9 million to a local group with plans to use the site for a proposed hotel and office development. County officials hope to sign a sales agreement with the team of Massaro Properties, the Langholz Wilson Ellis real estate firm, and architect Tasso Katselas Associates in a couple weeks, economic development director Dennis Davin said. The county is nearing the completion of a deal more than three years after county council approved the sale in November 2009. Mr. Davin said the deal was held up by the recession and a change in hotel developers. . . . The team hopes to close on the property at 3333 Forbes Ave. by year's end after a period of due diligence, Mr. Wilson said. It is planning a 50,000-square-foot office building, a 168-unit hotel and a parking garage at the site, which has frontage on Forbes and Fifth avenues. . . . The group also purchased a property at 3337 Forbes Ave. next to the health department building last December for $385,000. Mr. Wilson said that land will be used to provide easier access to the hotel. If all goes according to plan, the development team hopes to start on the project early next year and have the office building completed about a year later. The hotel would be finished in late 2015.

Oakland definitely needs the office space and hotel rooms, and it won't hurt the tax base either.

glowrock · #**3402** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 9:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

This has been on the back burner for a long time now:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...-for-health-dept-site-in-oakland-681025/

Oakland definitely needs the office space and hotel rooms, and it won't hurt the tax base either.

Excellent news, BrianTH! Yet another good-sized construction project to begin in the relatively near future!

Aaron (Glowrock)

Topher51 · #**3403** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 3:05 PM**

Forbe's 15 "Emerging Downtowns"

No surprise here, Pittsburgh made the list.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrenna...s-districts-to-lure-young-professionals/

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45eddgl/pittsburgh-penn/

themaguffin · #**3404** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 4:58 PM**

Better than some other "articles" which are really Chamber notes.... would be better if not noting the "emerging" LA and NYC downtowns....

Austinlee · #**3405** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

I designed that little thermometer!

Nice man!

Jonboy1983 · #**3406** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Off hand I don't see why a commuter service would need double tracks (not counting a few sidings). This is assuming freight would be time-segregated.

It just seems that every other metro I've seen that has a commuter/regional rail line/system seems to follow the double-tracking model. I think since there would likely be numerous trains daily that would use the lines, double tracking becomes a necessity. Suppose one train has a mechanical issue, or per your indication of freight trains using lines, one of those is in the path of a commuter train at any given segment of the line. I guess this model is in place because trains need a way to maneuver around obstacles like these...

Here in the West Chester area, there is continued talk of extending SEPTA's Media/Elwyn line out to West Chester. In order for that to happen, the line needs to be electrified and double-tracked. Right now, it is neither...

Wiz Khalifa · #**3407** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 3:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

Better than some other "articles" which are really Chamber notes.... would be better if not noting the "emerging" LA and NYC downtowns....

Wait, did I read that right? 480 Billion

invested into lower Manhattan in the past decade, an area geographically similar in size to the golden triangle? I realize money takes on a completely different meaning when it comes to NYC, but that's just seems like a crazy figure. I wonder how much of that is tied up with the WTC construction...

Urbana · #**3408** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 10:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

Wait, did I read that right? 480 Billion

invested into lower Manhattan in the past decade, an area geographically similar in size to the golden triangle? I realize money takes on a completely different meaning when it comes to NYC, but that's just seems like a crazy figure. I wonder how much of that is tied up with the WTC construction...

2 billion for One World Trade Center, I believe.

Topher51 · #**3409** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 12:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

Wait, did I read that right? 480 Billion

invested into lower Manhattan in the past decade, an area geographically similar in size to the golden triangle? I realize money takes on a completely different meaning when it comes to NYC, but that's just seems like a crazy figure. I wonder how much of that is tied up with the WTC construction...

One World Trade Center is $3.8 billion on it's own. Add in the cost of cleaning up ground zero, constructing the memorial, 7 World Trade Center, 4 World Trade Center, the performing art center, the PATH station, all the utilites, etc and I wouldn't be surprised if it was north of $25 billion just in that area.

photoLith · #**3410** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 3:03 PM**

Holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵? 25 billion. Where in the hell did they get that kind of money?

Found5dollar · #**3411** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 3:33 PM**

As someone who recently moved to Pittsburgh there are 3 really simple fixes that would make transit in the city 100 times more usefull.

1) Time tables and/or maps at bus stops: Pittsbugh is the only city I have ever been in that doesn't keep time tables at the bus stops. I don't care if the buses never follow it, but, as someone without a smart phone, I need a way to figure out when the next bus is coming and where it is heading. This small problem keeps me from taking the bus anywhere I am not familiar with because i have no idea how to get back from there.

2)A system map: Currently if I am a tourist or someone visiting Pittsburgh the only rapid transit that I can find a map for is the T. The bus lanes, inclines, airport flyer, etc have no easy visual representation for those unfamiliar with the transit system. It would be incredibly easy to expand the "T map" to a "Rapid transit map." It would get more visitors to go on the various lines and to other parts of the city without using a car.

3) Connect Rapid Transit Lines: This one drives me absolutely crazy. You can get from East Liberty to Dormont to catch a movie at the Hollywood only using rapid transit but you would never know from the system maps or how transit is considered in this city. Just by merely drawing a line on a map, adding a few new signs at Wood Street, and maybe painting a few new stripes on the road,The East Busway suddenly connects to the rest of the rapid transit system in the city, almost doubling the amount of the city obviously reachable by transit.

None of these suggestion would cost much money, but they would all have a major impact on ridership and useability of the Transit system in Pittsburgh.

photoLith · #**3412** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 3:53 PM**

Houston doesn't have time tables or maps either. I think it's much easier said than done. Considering bus schedules change and to have a timetable at the bus stop the sign would have to be huge to fit everything on there. In fact I can't think of too many southern cities I've been to that have the bus schedule or maps at bus stops.

photoLith · #**3413** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 5:15 PM**

http://www.greaterhilldistrictmasterplan.org/Documents/HDMP_Report_FINAL1.pdf

Came across this the masterplan for the hill.

themaguffin · #**3414** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 6:18 PM**

Does anyone remember where things stand with the One Grandview project?

Steel City Scotty · #**3415** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

Does anyone remember where things stand with the One Grandview project?

I'm curious about this as well. The renderings of One Grandview look amazing, and it's a project that I'm extremely excited about, although I realize there's still a decent chance that it never happens.

Speaking of excitement...I leave for my first trip of the year to Pittsburgh in less than hour. Spending time in the Steel City always brings out a level of enjoyment in me that is difficult to match.

Jonboy1983 · #**3416** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 8:20 PM**

I can't believe nobody posted this...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...-shore-office-retail-development-681239/

The one thing that irks me is the PG doesn't seem to like the idea of hiring union-workers...

Quote:

Also today, officials of Local 3 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees pressed the board for the opportunity to work at publicly subsidized Stage AE, saying the venue has been hiring out-of-town, non-union labor since opening several years ago.

They want to be considered for the next contract in 2015, particularly since the state provided a $2.5 million state grant to finance the construction.

City Councilman Corey O'Connor, a stadium authority board member, backed their fight.

"We should keep these jobs here," he said.

I really don't get what the problem is. And as far as "unionized workers" are concerned, does everything have to be unionized?

Grego43 · #**3417** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 10:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

I can't believe nobody posted this...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...-shore-office-retail-development-681239/

The one thing that irks me is the PG doesn't seem to like the idea of hiring union-workers...

I really don't get what the problem is. And as far as "unionized workers" are concerned, does everything have to be unionized?

What's your problem with unionized workers?

photoLith · #**3418** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 11:07 PM**

They are commie lib bastards of course.

themaguffin · #**3419** Posted **Mar 28, 2013, 11:29 PM**

Quote:

I really don't get what the problem is

State subsidizing out of state employment.

Quote:

And as far as "unionized workers" are concerned, does everything have to be unionized?

It's not everything. It's what they and the union respresents their trade, so of course the union is going to fight for job opportunities.

Jonboy1983 · #**3420** Posted **Mar 29, 2013, 12:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

They are commie lib bastards of course.

bingo... Thank you, photoLith.

In a nutshell, they're overpaid crybabies. I know I'm coming off a bit harsh, but here's an example. You remember the turnpike strike some 10 years ago? You know how much money they were making to collect money and make change? Give up? It was somewhere in the ballpark of $70k or so. Talk about being a well-paid cashier! Another example, you want to make six figures as a police officer? Move to Camden, NJ.

It's one thing to want a fair wage, but it's another thing to want/demand something that is just flat out unreasonable and get away with it... -- I know it's a small factor, but it is, in a nutshell, why I don't like 'em...

Rather than discuss this, which can get heated in a second, how about discussing something else that could impact the Airport.

The Trib is also reporting that the Bankruptcy Court approved of the US/AA merger. And, US said that half of its employees at the flight ops center in Moon are getting some severance package (if I read that right). I can't remember if they are union or non-union tho, but that part doesn't matter. The main thing is it is likely that the center will close. Heck, at least they're being up front about this...