PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by chucka

A new proposal for One Grandview. It is a complete redesign. Looks very boxy...

I like it being 300 apartments now, and I like it filling in down the slope.

What I don't like is the loss of the large public plaza that was in the old design.

[Found5dollar]

hahaha, that link says it will include "a parking structure and a restaurant." There should be more than "a restaurant" included. Mount Washington needs more retail, alot more. It has the most beautiful views of the city and is a draw for that, but once a tourist or local goes up there, all they have to do is go back down. It really should be a destination for things besides just the view.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

It has the most beautiful views of the city and is a draw for that, but once a tourist or local goes up there, all they have to do is go back down.

The Shiloh business district is pretty good. It seems to me the key is helping visitors find it.

[Minivan Werner]

I think the restaurant and retail options on Mt. Washington are improving. It's not the Strip or Lawrenceville, but it's on an upswing. I remember a few years ago there was some talk of turning Shiloh into pedestrian-only.. considering how much foot traffic goes up the inclines anyway just for the view, that might be a good idea.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I like it being 300 apartments now, and I like it filling in down the slope.

What I don't like is the loss of the large public plaza that was in the old design.

A case of be careful what I wish for...I may get it.

I was glad that the developers had some financing issues because I disliked much of the original design and wanted changes. I think the original building with its bare metal tower looked like something that would have been built in Knoxville or Memphis is the early 90s. The glass, as I understood it, was to be colored and highly reflective. And those cutesy townhomes spilling down the hillside...interesting use of the topography but a bit too Disney in execution (and too literal a tip of the hat to the Slopes). But the open plaza continuing Grandview was truly inspired---a great new public space that would have kept most of the necessary parking out of sight.

So now the plaza is gone and the building closest to Grandview has been reduced in height even as it has been pushed northward, breaking the plane of existing buildings on Grandview. This will restrict---close in, darken, ruin---the view along Grandview looking east.

This plan is really disappointing. I am not sure if the blame belongs to yet another unimaginative Pittsburgh architect or to a client who has no clue about good or contemporary design. I suspect the latter but what does it matter.

[photoLith]

Yeah, the design for that One Grandview is pretty bland, but I guess its better than nothing. Oh well.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by chucka

A new proposal for One Grandview. It is a complete redesign. Looks very boxy...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/165216831/One-Grandview-Community-Review-Meeting-9-10-13

ehh...

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

A case of be careful what I wish for...I may get it.

I was glad that the developers had some financing issues because I disliked much of the original design and wanted changes. I think the original building with its bare metal tower looked like something that would have been built in Knoxville or Memphis is the early 90s. The glass, as I understood it, was to be colored and highly reflective. And those cutesy townhomes spilling down the hillside...interesting use of the topography but a bit too Disney in execution (and too literal a tip of the hat to the Slopes). But the open plaza continuing Grandview was truly inspired---a great new public space that would have kept most of the necessary parking out of sight.

So now the plaza is gone and the building closest to Grandview has been reduced in height even as it has been pushed northward, breaking the plan of existing buildings on Grandview. This will restrict---close in, darken, ruin---the view along Grandview looking east.

This plan is really disappointing. I am not sure if the blame belongs to yet another unimaginative Pittsburgh architect or to a client who has no clue about good or contemporary design. I suspect the latter but what does it matter.

Originally Posted by photoLith

Yeah, the design for that One Grandview is pretty bland, but I guess its better than nothing. Oh well.

I agree with both sentiments. This new design looks almost as exciting as burnt dry toast. I do like the older plan better, especially with the open plaza at the end of Grandview and the 20-some story building. If they had to shorten it, though, I could have seen it reduced to maybe 12 to 14 floors.

This design looks like pedestrian unfriendly barracks. And Glowrock, what's up with the "it's better than nothing" remark? I'm starting to pull away from that crowd. Grandview should have a "wow" factor; not "ho hum."

[Private Dick]

Agree with BrianTH -- glad that it's planned to be apartments and how it will be built down the slope, and disappointed about the loss of the public plaza from the original design.

The new design looks to be very rudimentary... so I'm hopeful that upcoming renderings will give us a better idea of the actual design.

Because I'm getting a strong 1960s office building-ish "Allegheny Center on Mt. Washington" vibe right now...

I was not a fan of the original design at all. The glassy tower was terribly dated and the cute little Alpen village design of the condos made a bizarre partnership. This new design certainly does not look great... but I'll reserve judgement until I see some of the future designs and hear more about it.

[Steel City Scotty]

I'll chime in and add that One Grandview has been the proposed project that I've been the most excited about ever since discovering this forum several months ago. That said, I always kind of thought the original design bordered on ridiculous and had a slim chance of actually ever being built (even though I really wanted to see it happen).

I loved the idea of a super tall structure sitting atop Mount Washington, but I know others thought it would be an "eyesore" that would potentially ruin the view of the hillside when looking at it from down below.

While the new design isn't quite as exciting and "outside the box," I think it has a better chance of actually getting built. I don't always agree with the "better than nothing" mantra, but in this case, I prefer the new proposal to the empty lot that's been sitting there untouched for the past few years.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

I'll chime in and add that One Grandview has been the proposed project that I've been the most excited about ever since discovering this forum several months ago. That said, I always kind of thought the original design bordered on ridiculous and had a slim chance of actually ever being built (even though I really wanted to see it happen).

I loved the idea of a super tall structure sitting atop Mount Washington, but I know others thought it would be an "eyesore" that would potentially ruin the view of the hillside when looking at it from down below.

While the new design isn't quite as exciting and "outside the box," I think it has a better chance of actually getting built. I don't always agree with the "better than nothing" mantra, but in this case, I prefer the new proposal to the empty lot that's been sitting there untouched for the past few years.

Agreed. Something about a tall structure on that end of Grandview appealed to me. It could have been an anchor for new retail development. I believe the old plans included a Hotel, which would have included epic views for out of towners and an overall destination point for Mt. Washington. Which really has none to this point. The view it's self is the selling point and brings people to the top. But once you get there and take a few pics...ummm lets go back down. The new plans will not change that.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

This new design certainly does not look great... but I'll reserve judgement until I see some of the future designs and hear more about it.

Fair points and I am also willing to take a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to the finer points of the design.

One other thing I will say in its favor--I think the clustering of buildings is going to help create a "mini-city" look around the top of the incline. In its own way that could be pretty cool and transformative.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

I loved the idea of a super tall structure sitting atop Mount Washington, but I know others thought it would be an "eyesore" that would potentially ruin the view of the hillside when looking at it from down below.

I also like the thought of a tall building at the eastern end of Grandview. It would benefit the neighborhood as well be a welcome addition to the Mt Washington skyline as seen from downtown.

It is just so frustrating to guess what an imaginative architect could come up with for that site.

[Buzz Pittsburgh]

I don't see how that rendering will be anything near what the completed building will look like...At least, I HOPE it won't look like that. It seriously looks like Allegheny County Jail or a suburban medical complex.

I don't necessarily care about the height. If it was very tall, then I'd be fine. At it's projected height, I'll take it. I agree with many here that I'd like to see retail on the Grandview street side and the public plaza was definitely a really excellent idea. I'm sad it's gone, at least in this redesign.

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The Shiloh business district is pretty good. It seems to me the key is helping visitors find it.

Indeed. I've been up to Mt. Washington quite a bit to show out-of-towners the view and I have no idea where the Shiloh business district is. Maybe some kind of wayfinder system or signage can be created? Any opportunity to capitalize on the visitors to Grandview should be exploited. If I had a business on Shiloh I'd have a sign on Grandview pointing the way for sure.

[Steel City Scotty]

So...according to that link...the "One Grandview Community Review Meeting" is scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday, September 10 at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at The Mt. Washington Senior Center on Virginia Avenue.

"All are welcome!" Are any of our locals able to attend?

[photoLith]

I should be able to go.

[Steel City Scotty]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I should be able to go.

Sounds great, Photolith.

Don't leave the meeting until the designers promise to put the public plaza back into the plans, haha.

[Wave]

Originally Posted by chucka

A new proposal for One Grandview. It is a complete redesign. Looks very boxy...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/165216831/One-Grandview-Community-Review-Meeting-9-10-13

Is it me or does it look like many of the units in this proposal would have limited or no views of the downtown skyline. It looks like the buildings in front block the view of the "allegheny center" looking building in the front. It also looks like there will be south and east facing units which may have views but not the killer north facing views. I cant possibly imagine a developer building on Mt.Washington without absolutely taking every possible advantage of the downtown views, but that's not what it looks like to me. Of course these renderings are tiny and very non-detailed so we really wont know until the full sets are released.

[glowrock]

So, it appears that the cold-storage warehouse in the Strip District with the Wholey's fish on it will finally start its conversion to 140+ apartment units in the Spring!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[photoLith]

That's pretty sweet news, glad to see them preserving and restoring that building. The strip needs solid residential from downtown to larwencville.