PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Found5dollar]

I just drove by Bakery Square 2.0 and it looks like steel is already going up!

the webcam seems to agree...
http://bakerysquare.no-ip.biz:8080/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=2243

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by deja vu

More than 600 daily departures!?

That's total daily flights across all airlines. USAir alone had roughly 540 daily flights at their peak.

Man, most of the press out there really is glorified tabloids pretty much...

[Wave]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Is Forward Lanes still open?

Also, if there is anything that should close down it is Pizza Amier -- the place is filthy.

That block has been decaying for some time, but it really went downhill fast when Poli's closed. The whole intersection is really pretty depressing and embarrassing as an "entrance" to Squirrel Hill. Obviously the corner that we're talking about is blighted, but the Verizon building opposite is also dirty and its lot overgrown, the Poli parking lot is full of weeds, and the stretch of Forward up to Shady is pretty dingy as well.

Forward lanes is still open and so are a few other businesses on that stretch, including a magistrate and a dry cleaner, hair salon and a local non-profit. It looks so desolate primarily because the shuttered Theater takes up so much of that block.

Ironically, the fact that there is not much significant retail presence there makes it more marketable since its a low bar for a higher use- all just waiting for a developer to come in and do something there. The block has had several development deals fall through but I have heard that there is some current serious interest in that block from several developers. We shall see.

[ShooFlyPie]

Originally Posted by Wave

Forward lanes is still open and so are a few other businesses on that stretch, including a magistrate and a dry cleaner, hair salon and a local non-profit. It looks so desolate primarily because the shuttered Theater takes up so much of that block.

Ironically, the fact that there is not much significant retail presence there makes it more marketable since its a low bar for a higher use- all just waiting for a developer to come in and do something there. The block has had several development deals fall through but I have heard that there is some current serious interest in that block from several developers. We shall see.

Forward Lanes down to the Upper Room is a different owner. The original development project in 2008 was only going to go up to the Theater. The only thing left in those buildings is Pizza Amier. They kicked the coffee shop out even though the development never happened. I think the forward lanes building that also occupied good old Frankie's/PD's will stay with something eventually filling in where the bars were at. It would also be nice to see the strip next to forward with the cleaners be developed after they do something with Poli's and bring something to the area even though that would replace my wedding chapel where I had my non-traditional wedding. (I have many life memories on this decaying dying block)

But what would really be nice after Poli's and the Theater got developed is moving the damn gas station and fill in a cool development there. That gas station is in the most wrong spot. I only go there if I got GE points to use, and it is in a prime location for making a nice intersection like Murray and Forbes.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

Besides, JetBlue (granted they serve only Boston) and Southwest have a rather small presence at Pittsburgh, but I think they provide enough service to some of the main destinations to keep fares relatively down.

When JetBlue pulled out of the PIT-JFK market, the fares to and from New York skyrocketed. So New York is definitely one key destination that remains very expensive to access, and I think this could eventually be damaging to the Pittsburgh region. Hard to blame JetBlue---their NY market planes were not full, while the legacy carriers were at capacity. The flying public goes with the airline that provides miles for free trips, or the airline in whose frequent flier program they already have miles.

In March I flew from Newark to Philly to Pittsburgh to knock $400 off the fare. Turned out that 16 of the 17 people on the first leg were flying on to Pittsburgh. (Why else fly from Newark to Philly?)

I wonder if a possible solution is to have some organization, perhaps the Allegheny Conference, organize businesses which would pledge to use any new airline comes in to serve the Pitt-NY market. Maybe that would entice a Southwest or JetBlue back to the market. Most of the travel on this route is business so these companies are the ones paying the fares. Just a thought.

[haimon]

I wrote a letter to Gov. Corbett's office several months ago about train service, and was told the subject of how to improve service from pittsburgh east was being investigated. Although redoing the infrastructure would be optimum, I noted that I frequently drive to New York for business or take Megabus. If they would offer an 'overnight' route to New York, I would take it despite the 9.5 hour journey. Have a cocktail, do some work, and sleep. The hell with $500+ airline tickets.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

When JetBlue pulled out of the PIT-JFK market, the fares to and from New York skyrocketed. So New York is definitely one key destination that remains very expensive to access, and I think this could eventually be damaging to the Pittsburgh. Hard to blame JetBlue---their NY market planes were not full, while the legacy carriers were at capacity. The flying public goes with the airline that provides miles for free trips, or the airline in whose frequent flier program they already have miles.

In March I flew from Newark to Philly to Pittsburgh to knock $400 off the fare. Turned out that 16 of the 17 people on the first leg were flying on to Pittsburgh. (Why else fly from Newark to Philly?)

I wonder if a possible solution is to have some organization, perhaps the Allegheny Conference, organize businesses which would pledge to use any new airline comes in to serve the Pitt-NY market. Maybe that would entice a Southwest or JetBlue back to the market. Most of the travel on this route is business so these companies are the ones paying the fares. Just a thought.

That's why I was against the WN-FL merger. I thought if anyone were to launch PIT-LaGuardia, it would have been Airtran. I know they launched that when they first came to Pittsburgh only to get burned by US Airways.

I'd still like to see an airline like United, Delta, or AA/US open a focus city, and that's why I kinda support this merger -- they'd have over 60 flights a day that likely (and hopefully) will not go anywhere. However, Delta has made some nice additions at PIT...

Originally Posted by haimon

I wrote a letter to Gov. Corbett's office several months ago about train service, and was told the subject of how to improve service from pittsburgh east was being investigated. Although redoing the infrastructure would be optimum, I noted that I frequently drive to New York for business or take Megabus. If they would offer an 'overnight' route to New York, I would take it despite the 9.5 hour journey. Have a cocktail, do some work, and sleep. The hell with $500+ airline tickets.

I really don't understand my more Pittsburghers do not favor the trains over buses. Sorry to be blunt, but they suck! I've had two sub-par experiences on inter-city bus travel, once on Greyhound and the other on BoltBus. Trains, IMO, are far superior, or at least they should be far superior to bus travel...

Why on Earth did I choose to endure an 8-hour Greyhound bus ride from Lancaster to York, Harrisburgh, and then Pittsburgh next to the token drunk drifter?!!

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

I really don't understand my more Pittsburghers do not favor the trains over buses. Sorry to be blunt, but they suck! I've had two sub-par experiences on inter-city bus travel, once on Greyhound and the other on BoltBus. Trains, IMO, are far superior, or at least they should be far superior to bus travel...

I agree train travel is vastly superior to bus travel. Getting from NYC to Boston or Philly or even Harrisburg is civilized and efficient and more timely than driving (car or bus). But I fully get why Pittsburghers don't take trains: the trains are slow and uncomfortable and kinda expensive (not like flying but much more than buses) Amtrak owns the track only as far west as Harrisburg. From there to Pittsburgh, the track is owned by a freight railroad and freight has the right of way. Amtrak's passenger trains can sit for hours in the mountains waiting for the freight trains to pass.to death. Believe me, I have been on those trains. It's amazing that there are so few choices for transit between NY and Pittsburgh. I usually just rent a car, and for quick trips I take a deep breath and pay the airlines. Trains would be well-utilized but the country has a lot of infrastructure investing to do before that happens.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

I agree train travel is vastly superior to bus travel. Getting from NYC to Boston or Philly or even Harrisburg is civilized and efficient and more timely than driving (car or bus). But I fully get why Pittsburghers don't take trains: the trains are slow and uncomfortable and kinda expensive (not like flying but much more than buses) Amtrak owns the track only as far west as Harrisburg. From there to Pittsburgh, the track is owned by a freight railroad and freight has the right of way. Amtrak's passenger trains can sit for hours in the mountains waiting for the freight trains to pass.to death. Believe me, I have been on those trains. It's amazing that there are so few choices for transit between NY and Pittsburgh. I usually just rent a car, and for quick trips I take a deep breath and pay the airlines. Trains would be well-utilized but the country has a lot of infrastructure investing to do before that happens.

I know when I initially mentioned my idea for a new train station on Pittsburgh's North Side, people suggested that the city should have other rail options in place besides the early morning train to Philly and New York and the middle-of-the-night trains to DC and Chicago. Would a train to Erie and/or Buffalo make any sense -- or what about another PGH-New York trip via Erie and Buffalo?

My dream idea would be for Pittsburgh to have several daily trains to Philadelphia as well as to Cleveland and Chicago, and maybe a couple up north. I guess back in the day there was such service...

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by CubicalRebel

But what would really be nice after Poli's and the Theater got developed is moving the damn gas station and fill in a cool development there. That gas station is in the most wrong spot. I only go there if I got GE points to use, and it is in a prime location for making a nice intersection like Murray and Forbes.

Yeah, the gas station sucks, but I highly doubt it is going anywhere. As you said... prime location. The place is always busy. I'd bet it's one of the most profitable Getgo locations.

[haimon]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

I agree train travel is vastly superior to bus travel. Getting from NYC to Boston or Philly or even Harrisburg is civilized and efficient and more timely than driving (car or bus). But I fully get why Pittsburghers don't take trains: the trains are slow and uncomfortable and kinda expensive (not like flying but much more than buses) Amtrak owns the track only as far west as Harrisburg. From there to Pittsburgh, the track is owned by a freight railroad and freight has the right of way. Amtrak's passenger trains can sit for hours in the mountains waiting for the freight trains to pass.to death. Believe me, I have been on those trains. It's amazing that there are so few choices for transit between NY and Pittsburgh. I usually just rent a car, and for quick trips I take a deep breath and pay the airlines. Trains would be well-utilized but the country has a lot of infrastructure investing to do before that happens.

The necessary infrastructure improvements are necessary to make it worthwhile, but even added service would help tremendously. I would much prefer a 9 hour overnight train than a 7 hour overnight megabus. However, this would only be true in an overnight scenario. I don't think i'm alone. An overnight route would be more acceptable. There is only ONE eastbound train daily, and it leaves in the morning. I am NOT willing to waste a whole day traveling for business. A night however, yes. I could catch up on work, have a whisky on the rocks and get some shut-eye. Sounds good to me!

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by haimon

The necessary infrastructure improvements are necessary to make it worthwhile, but even added service would help tremendously. I would much prefer a 9 hour overnight train than a 7 hour overnight megabus. However, this would only be true in an overnight scenario. I don't think i'm alone. An overnight route would be more acceptable. There is only ONE eastbound train daily, and it leaves in the morning. I am NOT willing to waste a whole day traveling for business. A night however, yes. I could catch up on work, have a whisky on the rocks and get some shut-eye. Sounds good to me!

I hear you. Overnight would be better, but even then if traveling for work and learning that you are three hours behind schedule can be pretty disruptive. It's sad. A city of Pittsburgh's size in Europe would have trains heading in all directions all day and night.

How many westbound Amtrak trains stop in Pittsburgh? Can you get from Penn Station NY to Pittsburgh traveling at night?

[dfiler]

I recently ran across this video uploaded to youtube in March. Does anyone know the status of the east liberty transit center proposal? Is it actually moving forward?

East Liberty Transit Center / TOD Vision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE6z737jwEw&sns=em

[haimon]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

How many westbound Amtrak trains stop in Pittsburgh? Can you get from Penn Station NY to Pittsburgh traveling at night?

I believe there are only three trains from Pittsburgh daily. One east toward philly and nyc that leaves around morning 'rush hour'. Another toward DC, and ONE westbound overnight to Chicago.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by dfiler

I recently ran across this video uploaded to youtube in March. Does anyone know the status of the east liberty transit center proposal? Is it actually moving forward?

East Liberty Transit Center / TOD Vision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE6z737jwEw&sns=em

The past week or so there seems to be a lot of construction equipment stacking up on the site, so I'd imagine it's about to start moving.

[Evergrey]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424...153791048.html?google_editors_picks=true

A Castle in Wilmerding Searches for Its White Knight

Tiny Pennsylvania Town Puts Hope in Westinghouse Restoration.




By
JAMES R. HAGERTY

WILMERDING, Pa.—The tiny business district here includes a Dollar General store, a body-piercing parlor and a convenience shop whose front window displays pictures of shoplifting suspects.

"There's nothing to draw people here," Dominic Parisi, the 90-year-old mayor of Wilmerding, lamented one recent afternoon over lasagna at Johnny's restaurant. "Except the castle."

The castle, as it is known here, looms incongruously over this town of 2,200 in the Turtle Creek Valley, a deep gouge in the Allegheny foothills about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh. The five-story sandstone building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was erected in the 1890s as the headquarters of Westinghouse Air Brake Co., a maker of train equipment founded by George Westinghouse, inventor of the air brake and a pioneer in electricity. The octagonal clock tower still chimes every 30 minutes.

The castle imparts a "baronial feel of weight, importance and permanence" to what might have been just another factory town, said Diane Shaw, an associate professor of architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, who calls the style Medieval Revival.

Most days, though, the castle is padlocked. Tours are by appointment only. The local nonprofit that owns the castle has turned off the water and gas to save money. Weeds choke the gardens. Plastic barrels in the attic catch some of the rainwater that seeps through the steeply sloping slate roof.

Past efforts to save the castle, involving Elvis impersonators and ghosts, have fallen short.

Like the castle, Wilmerding has seen better days. Most of its factory jobs are gone. Median household income, at about $20,800, is 60% below the national level. Even so, John Graf, a Pittsburgh entrepreneur, has proposed to buy the castle and turn it into a luxury hotel. That plan hinges on whether he can raise $11 million to buy and renovate the leaky, creaky structure.

...

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by dfiler

Does anyone know the status of the east liberty transit center proposal? Is it actually moving forward?

Definitely. They got a federal grant for the infrastructure portions, and they are working on the first project (redoing the Highland Ave. bridge). Meanwhile I believe Mosites has gotten City Planning approval for their plan and should be sending it out for bid soon if they haven't already.

[dfiler]

Wow, I think that is good news regarding the East Liberty transit center.

Currently that section of town is an urban planning disaster. Pedestrians risk their lives by simply attempting to cross the road. The experience of using the busway is that of sitting in a purposeless concrete wasteland. While it was recently reworked, the result was still an intersection that drivers, pedestrians, businesses, and cyclists all found unwelcoming. This is despite it being prime real estate.

If that area can be reconfigured I think it will be an immense improvement. The busway/transit center will become a selling point of the neighborhood. Bicycles will be able to bypass the penn and penn circle intersection. This is not only much safer, but the transit center looks like it will become a beautiful park/green-way to bypass the intersection. Turning the 5-way intersection into a 4-way intersection will eliminate the massive unmarked field of concrete in which lanes are poorly defined. Drivers will have a clearly defined path and be better able to keep an eye out for pedestrians, etc. On top of that, there will be some new street-side locations for commercial development.

My fingers are crossed that everything shown in the video becomes a reality.

[DKNewYork]

Can anyone confirm that the scaffolding has come down on the three cast iron buildings on Wood between Forbes and Fourth? Anyone have pics to share. Thanks in advance if you do...

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

Can anyone confirm that the scaffolding has come down on the three cast iron buildings on Wood between Forbes and Fourth? Anyone have pics to share. Thanks in advance if you do...

From the PNC Tower webcam, it looks like the scaffolding is still up:
http://www.thetoweratpncplaza.com/pncWebCamVideo2.html#