PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[bmust71]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

^^^That idea of building new on top of old has been discussed on this board as a possible compromise to Oxford Development Company's long-delayed decision about whether to construct a 33-story skyscraper on Smithfield Street or simply renovate the former Lord & Taylor building.

But, I haven't actually heard the company discuss this as an option so I doubt it's something that's even being considered.

Tulsa used the idea of building on top of old with the Mid Continent Tower... They added 20 floors to the former building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mid-Continent_Tower.jpg

[Evergrey]

Very happy to hear Forbes will be a 2-way.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I don't think that article implied there will be a re-design of the building, only a change in the garage entrances. At least that's what I got from it.

I was referring to this passage:

Last week, the city Historic Review Commission approved a revised plan for the Gardens project that included moving the entrance and exit of the garage to Forbes. Previously, the exit from the garage as well as one entrance was on Fourth Avenue. Lucas Piatt, Millcraft's president and chief operating officer, said the change makes for better design and will help to alleviate parking issues affecting Market Square. With no need for ramps or infrastructure to handle traffic on Fourth, the change also creates better open space near Fourth, he said. Moving the garage exit and an entrance from Fourth to Forbes apparently is part of an agreement Millcraft has reached with the E.V. Bishoff Co., the owner of the Investment Building on Fourth, to settle design-related challenges related to the Gardens project.

Not a comprehensive redesign, but it sounds like there may be some significant changes on the Fourth Avenue side. Although less prominent than the Forbes side, I am in fact very interested in how the project will look from Fourth Avenue, including how it will interact with the historic Fourth Avenue highrises.

[markson33]

The change is a there is just a loading dock on the 4th avenue side, with expanded "greenspace". The previous plan had garage access from 4th avenue and that is gone now. Not a significant change, but good for the traffic on 4th.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/oxford-pursues-southside-works-complex-682814/

Oxford pursues SouthSide Works complex

April 10, 2013 12:14 am

By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oxford Development Co. has ditched plans for a 121,000-square-foot office building at the SouthSide Works in favor of a proposed 170-unit apartment complex on the same land.

The city's Urban Redevelopment Authority board is expected to vote Thursday on whether to rescind an approval given last year to sell a parcel of land on Sidney Street to Oxford and P.J. Dick for $2.5 million for the office project.

At the same time, members are expected to consider a separate resolution to enter into exclusive negotiations with Oxford, P.J. Dick and Lincoln Property Co. for construction of a 170-unit apartment building on the same tract of land.

In a report accompanying the proposed board actions, URA interim executive director Robert Rubinstein said Oxford has been unable to find a tenant for the office building. At one time, Oxford had hoped to have the project finished this year.

...

[Steel City Scotty]

That's a lot of school buildings...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news...public-schools-to-go-up-for-sale-682766/

19 Pittsburgh public schools to go up for sale
April 10, 2013 12:03 am
By Eleanor Chute / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"For sale" signs will be going up on 19 closed Pittsburgh Public Schools buildings, the next step in discovering whether buyers are interested or whether the buildings will be donated, demolished or "mothballed" in case enrollment picks up.

At a school board committee meeting Tuesday, Fourth River Development, which was hired last year as the real estate agent for the district, recommended trying to sell 19 of 20 closed buildings. One building, Knoxville, would be kept as a warehouse.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news...-to-go-up-for-sale-682766/#ixzz2Q48DCL54

[Evergrey]

This should be a salve for themaguffin's PIT fears

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2013/04/10/pittsburgh-los-angeles-nonstop-flights.html

Pittsburgh-Los Angeles nonstop flights start in August

American Airlines will be adding nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles in late August.

This will be in addition to the several times a week service that United Airlines has between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. It's also part of only a handful of nonstops between Pittsburgh and the West Coast. The flights from Pittsburgh International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport will begin Tuesday, Aug. 27.

It wasn't immediately clear the timing of the service, how many days a week, and what kind of aircraft. The announcement is part of a larger initiative to expand the American Airlines hub at the sprawling Los Angeles International Airport.

...

[DBR96A]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Before it got "modernized" the P-G building was actually pretty nice. You can see it in the background here:

Well shit, no wonder yinzers bitch about the lack of parking downtown.

[themaguffin]

It's funny is that, I don't find parking to be an issue downtown. Shadyside or the Southside, sure, but downtown, never had a problem...

[Evergrey]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...n-for-apartments-coming-to.html?page=all

Competition for apartments coming to SouthSide Works

Talk about an ironic change in circumstances at the SouthSide Works for the Soffer Organization.

Since at least 2009, the Soffer Organization was kept from building apartments at the former mill site on the South Side because Nationwide Realty Investors, owners of the Carson Street Commons apartments also on the site, held the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority to a long-ago agreement in the original master plan that no other developer could build more apartments at the project than were already there.

Now, nine months after the URA reached a settlement with Nationwide to allow new apartments at SouthSide Works, Soffer is going from being an unwanted competitor to facing new competition on its own plan to build new apartments.

Yesterday, the URA agenda for Thursday’s board meeting indicated that a team of Oxford Development Co. and PJ Dick plans to drop a plan to build its Hot Metal Corporate Center office building at SouthSide Works to instead pursue a new 170-unit apartment building with Lincoln Property Co.

This comes as Soffer also is gradually moving forward with a new development plan to build apartments as part of a mixed-use project expected to include retail along with a new parking garage on a surface parking lot behind the main retail center at the development.

Kyra Straussman, director of real estate for the URA, sees room for both projects.

“The whole point of our investment in that lawsuit was to open up that space for what is on record as one of the hottest rental markets in the nation,” said Straussman.

She added that her understanding from talking to real estate appraisers is Pittsburgh “has such a high absorption rate and there’s so few higher-end units in the city, period, that they can certainly handle a larger number of units.”

Soffer appears to be still keeping quiet on their new plans for apartments, a project on which they’re expected to work with a development partner. The Soffer project will also require a study for a new parking garage to serve the new development.

Straussman described the Oxford/Lincoln plan as pretty early stage and expects both projects will be developed at somewhat different times.

She also expects a good-sized influx of residents of newly-built apartments at SouthSide Works will also help Soffer’s retailers at the SouthSide Works.

...

[Austinlee]

Like this page on facebook for some awesome pics of historic Pittsburgh from the famed Pitt digital archives. The newest post of the liberty tunnel construction in 1914 is cool.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Pittsburgh/167000673447420

I can't remember if someone already posted this or where I found it, so sorry if this is a repost.

[Austinlee]

It's also a photo of one of the saddest architectural losses, the Wabash Terminal.

That along with the Renaissance hotel's "sister tower", the two historic towers that were demolished for what is now 1 PNC and the Millcraft 'Lazarus' mixed use building and the northside farmers market are some of the biggest losses.

[kennypip]

Originally Posted by themaguffin

It's funny is that, I don't find parking to be an issue downtown. Shadyside or the Southside, sure, but downtown, never had a problem...

When in doubt, use the first ave garage. Its never full and the T access makes it great!

[kennypip]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

It's also a photo of one of the saddest architectural losses, the Wabash Terminal.




That along with the Renaissance hotel's "sister tower", the two historic towers that were demolished for what is now 1 PNC and the Millcraft 'Lazarus' mixed use building and the northside farmers market are some of the biggest losses.

At least the Wabash Terminal was not demolished for the sake of development. It burned to the ground. I personally like four gateway center. Even exchange in my opinion. I love mid century architecture.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/oxford-pursues-southside-works-complex-682814/

Originally Posted by Evergrey

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...n-for-apartments-coming-to.html?page=all

I'm interested to hear some details on Oxford's plan for this 170-unit residential building. That sounds like a lot of units for one building. I'm curious if that's going to be something like an 8 or 9-story building or a shorter building with a huge footprint.

[MattofSloppyVariety]

Not sure if anyone knows much about this, but I suppose this is the best place to ask. The Leech Farm area above Washington Blvd. looks like it might be poised for some type of development. Not sure if the sign that says for sale in front of the Shuman Center is just for land or if it is for the whole complex. Also the VA facility up there is slowly being torn down. Once all building are vacant they are supposedly going demolish everything up there and sale the land. Anyone hear any noise about it?

[popstar]

Apparently there are plans for a new apartment structure on the corner of Baum and Liberty as you enter Bloomfield... anyone know if this includes the site of the goodwill building that has been sitting empty for years?

[glowrock]

Just heard a strongly-backed rumor last night while wandering around Downtown taking some photos that there's a Kimpton Hotel going to be locating in the old Reed Smith building very shortly. Let's face it, Downtown needs more hotels, and needs them now. This is nothing but another great piece of news!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by glowrock

Just heard a strongly-backed rumor last night while wandering around Downtown taking some photos that there's a Kimpton Hotel going to be locating in the old Reed Smith building very shortly.

I've also heard the same thing. A Kimpton (while I haven't always had the best experiences staying at them) would be a great addition to downtown in a category of hotel we're really lacking around here. Not to mention, the rooftop deck they have on that building would make an amazing bar. If they put that rooftop to proper use, they'll be printing dollars out of that place.

A Kimpton hotel and an Ace hotel within the same time frame is really amazing and speaks to the rapidly changing demographics of this town.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by glowrock

Just heard a strongly-backed rumor last night while wandering around Downtown taking some photos that there's a Kimpton Hotel going to be locating in the old Reed Smith building very shortly. Let's face it, Downtown needs more hotels, and needs them now. This is nothing but another great piece of news!

Aaron (Glowrock)

This rumor was floated in the Post-Gazette eighteen months ago.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/busi...hfield-oliver-corridor-struggles-319378/

• San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, an upscale boutique hotel and restaurant chain, reportedly is close to a deal to convert the Reed Building into a hotel.

Kimpton currently operates 53 hotels in 23 cities. On its website, it lists Pittsburgh as one of its target cities. A Kimpton spokeswoman said she was unaware of any interest by the company in the Reed building.

Jeffrey Ackerman, the CB Richard Ellis executive vice president who is marketing the property, confirmed the building is under agreement but would not say who the buyer is.