PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Evergrey]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2013/06/12/dicks-sporting-goods-expanding-hq-again.html

Jun 12, 2013, 1:52pm EDT

Dick's Sporting Goods expanding HQ again

As expected, Dick's Sporting Goods is ready to grow again at its corporate campus in Findlay Township.

The Airport Authority agreed at its board meeting today to lease 73 acres at its Northfield Commerce Park to Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) so that it can build a new office of at least 180,000 square feet in size.

While details are limited at this point, Dick's is expected to complete the expansion no later than 2015. Dick's Sporting Goods currently operates a headquarters campus that totals 667,000 square feet on airport authority property in Findlay Township and has been operating under a master plan that could eventually extend its campus to more than 1 million square feet.

Randy Forister, director of development for the airport authority, which is legally required to lease and not sell its land, said of the expansion: “I think it’s great opportunity for the region. Dick’s has been a great corporate partner in the area for years. For them to make this kind of commitment and that they’re going to expand and stay in the region, i think it’s great for everybody.”

Dick's ongoing growth and need for more office space has been a reality for the publicly traded company for at least the last five years. Allegheny County chief executive Rich Fitzgerald has noted at various events that Dick's was bursting at the seams and needing to grow by 200,000 to 300,000 square feet.

Tim Schooley covers retail, real estate, construction, hospitality, arts and entertainment, and government. Contact him at [email protected] or 412-208-3826.

[BrianTH]

73 acres? Can that possibly be right?

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

73 acres? Can that possibly be right?

must be a "campus" environment

[BrianTH]

Just for reference, 180,000 sqft is a little over 4 acres. So even assuming they are building one-story, that leaves almost 69 acres unaccounted for.

Maybe a taxiway and hangar?

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Just for reference, 180,000 sqft is a little over 4 acres. So even assuming they are building one-story, that leaves almost 69 acres unaccounted for.

Maybe a taxiway and hangar?

Distinctly possible, I'd think. Either way, it's good for the region that they continue to expand and do well. Dick's may have a terrible name (heh), but they're a pretty damned large company and a good corporate sponsor of many local and regional events.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[PITairport]

Dick's currently occupies 116 acres, which already has a taxiway and hangar.

73 additional acres is quite an increase, especially for 'only' one additional building (there may be more down the road). Therefore I imagine the overall setting of their enlarged campus will remain the same. That is, an abundant amount of recreational facilities, outdoor areas, trails, and wooded areas.

[AaronPGH]

They are in cahoots with the US government and are building an underground alien/illuminati base. Like Denver.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

They are in cahoots with the US government and are building an underground alien/illuminati base. Like Denver.

Damn right! I'll let you guys know if I find any incriminating evidence when I fly into Denver this Saturday!

j/k

Aaron (Glowrock)

[markson33]

A 180,000 sf building probably requires 10 acres given topography, setbacks, parking and drainage. I wouldn't be surprised if 1/3 of that land isn't useable because of wetlands and topo issues.

[Evergrey]

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4185367-74/county-allegheny-census#axzz2W6rgx0Ti

Census: Allegheny County youngest population grows


By Brian Bowling

Published: Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 11:31 p.m.
Updated 12 hours ago

Many of Allegheny County's newest residents are also some of its youngest.

Bucking national, state and regional trends, the county saw an increase in its number of people younger than 5 years old between 2010 and 2012, according to Census Bureau figures released Thursday.

Paris and Jay Wellons of Homestead said they know a lot of other couples with kids as young as theirs, Paris Jr., 6, and Reeji, 19 months.

“Every time we turn around, it seems like we're going to a baby shower,” Jay Wellons said.

The annual demographic estimates from the Census Bureau show that Allegheny County gained about 586 newborns and toddlers during the two-year period. That 0.9 percent increase compares to a 0.9 percent decrease nationally, a 1.2 percent drop in Pennsylvania and a 1 percent drop in the 10-county region around Pittsburgh.

Chris Briem, a regional economist at the University of Pittsburgh, said the number supports other statistics that show Allegheny County and Pittsburgh are getting younger.

One factor driving the increase is a corresponding increase in 20- and 30-something adults who are moving to the area to take jobs, he said.

Michael and Megan Beakley brought their two young children — Maya, 6, and Bikila, 4 — when they moved from Dallas to Greensburg to East Liberty in August.

“The main reason is that Meg wanted to get her master's in social work and Pitt has a great program,” said Michael Beakley, 36.

Michael is a Lubbock, Texas, native but Megan is from Greensburg, so the move also allowed them to spend more time with her family, he said.

“We really enjoy it,” he said. “The city is beautiful. There's a lot of diversity, which is important to us because our son is adopted from Ethiopia.”

Her husband's job brought Sue Risley and her family from St. Louis to Ohio Township about a year ago. Although her son is in high school, the neighborhood has many younger families, she said from her front porch.

“I am shocked at how many babies,” Risley said, pointing to houses down the street. “Babies next door, down the street and next to them.”

Staff writer Aaron Aupperlee contributed to this story. Brian Bowling is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-325-4301 or [email protected].

[BrianTH]

Of course that is a mirror-image reversal of what happened with the Steel Bust. Back then, young jobseekers migrated out, and de facto took their present and future children with them. Now young jobseekers are migrating in on net, and bringing their present and future children with them. And we know the new net migration of jobseekers seems to be disproportionately favoring the core area, hence the result specifically in Allegheny County.

In other words, all this will likely strike some diehard regional pessimists as mindblowing, but it is really to be expected given the observable labor market dynamics of the last 8 years or so.

[BrianTH]

Fun interactive map on changes in median age by county. Note that Philly, like Allegheny, bucked the national trend:

http://www.governing.com/gov-data/age-65-older-population-map-usa-counties.html

Article on rural population decline. One upshot is that seniors are increasingly looking at retiring in or near cities, which is going to be an important dynamic to consider going forward (and to exploit--urban seniors can provide a very useful political and financial base for pro-urban policies):

http://news.yahoo.com/census-rural-us-loses-population-first-time-040425697.html

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Fun interactive map on changes in median age by county. Note that Philly, like Allegheny, bucked the national trend:

http://www.governing.com/gov-data/age-65-older-population-map-usa-counties.html

Article on rural population decline. One upshot is that seniors are increasingly looking at retiring in or near cities, which is going to be an important dynamic to consider going forward (and to exploit--urban seniors can provide a very useful political and financial base for pro-urban policies):

http://news.yahoo.com/census-rural-us-loses-population-first-time-040425697.html

Something else to take note of, Philadelphia's 65-plus demographic bracket has the smallest population figure, while Allegheny County's is the 2nd lowest.

[Nomad Bryce]

I'm having a fantastic time during my vacation to Pittsburgh! I've taken lots of pictures trying to show the city off to my friends back home who find my passion for the city a little bizarre Check out my instagram page! instagram.com/nomadbrian



































Here till Saturday afternoon, send me a message if you want to get coffee in any of the core neighborhoods to talk about the urban planning, architecture, or future of the city! I try to keep up on all the master plans for all the neighborhoods and would love to hear your views on what's going down =]

Cheers! Brian Hanrahan

[markson33]

Cool Brian! Where was that yellow painted bldg with the Coke signs?

[Nomad Bryce]

Originally Posted by markson33

Cool Brian! Where was that yellow painted bldg with the Coke signs?

Thanks Markson, that building is at Arch and Jacksonia in the Northside on the eastern edge of the Mexican War Streets neighborhood.

[Private Dick]

Cool pics. Glad you're enjoying.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Nomad Bryce

Thanks Markson, that building is at Arch and Jacksonia in the Northside on the eastern edge of the Mexican War Streets neighborhood.

That's Randyland.

[Steel City Scotty]

Ah, Brian. It looks like I will just miss you. I'll be arriving in the city at about 6:00 on Saturday evening.

Thanks for sharing the pics though. I'm glad you're enjoying your time in the Steel City. Come back soon.

[BrianTH]

Great pics! It is nice to see the Point fountain back to being a landmark, and also the Mon Wharf being photogenic.