PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[ShooFlyPie]

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/open-the-wabash-tunnel-to-cyclists/Content?oid=1719554

Very cool idea that could be big in terms of cycle development for the city of Pittsburgh. A strong cycling infrastructure is important for any city of the near future.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by ShooFlyPie

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/open-the-wabash-tunnel-to-cyclists/Content?oid=1719554

Very cool idea that could be big in terms of cycle development for the city of Pittsburgh. A strong cycling infrastructure is important for any city of the near future.

That would be a cool idea. I've thought of converting the rail line from the PA 51 Tunnel near Woodruff St. to the Ohio River into a trail. According to Google Earth, that rail segment looks abandoned. I think that could make a killer trail, especially if an idea like this Wabash Tunnel bike trail should come to fruition.

If only they were to actually construct those footbridges by the West End Bridge; I envision my RR trail connecting to one of those proposed footbridges. All three of these things would make for a killer bike route through the West End. Not to mention, could such a venture spur some possible development interest in the West End neighborhood?

[Urbana]

Renderings of the first phase of office buildings in Bakery Square 2.0









The rest of the planning commission presentation can be found here.

http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/schedule51/presentation-51-495.pdf

[BrianTH]

I don't necessarily love the design of the building, but I still look forward to how new buildings of that scale will create a new urban gateway effect along Penn:



The bike path is also a nice public feature.

The cube-fountain parklet they want to do along Penn in the Cultural District is pretty funky, and as such should fit right in.

[BrianTH]

Interesting article about three big development sites (the Buncher, Lower Hill, and ALMONO sites):

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...the-balance-in-2014/stories/201401030104

The most news seemed to be in the ALMONO part, including this:

RIDC currently is working with three potential developers -- Trek Development Group, NRP Group LLC of Cleveland, and the team of McCaffery Interests of Chicago and The Community Builders of Pittsburgh -- to revise the proposals they offered months ago for the first phase of residential development at the northern end of the site. Since then, a "well-known local developer" also has expressed interest in the residential phase, possibly Washington, Pa.-based Millcraft Investments. Lucas Piatt, Millcraft's president, could not be reached for comment.

Mr. O'Connor said U.S. Steel, whose lease in U.S. Steel Tower Downtown expires in 2017, and energy companies also have talked about the site. Mr. Smith said interest in the $1 billion redevelopment along the Monongahela River has been high since the city, county and Pittsburgh school district approved up to $80 million in tax increment financing for infrastructure improvements, adding that people now have more confidence that "it's going to be ready to go."

[DKNewYork]

PHLF completed the city's Downtown façade restoration project (eight façades restored on Wood, Market and Fifth) under budget, so two additional buildings have been added: The former Roberts & Sons Jewelers Building at 429 Wood and the adjacent "Skinny" Building at 241 Forbes. Both buildings are still owned by the URA, but this work should make the buildings more marketable as well as result in exterior easements being granted to PHLF prior to any sale. The façade work is expected to be completed by late summer. In the fall, I saw that a 7/11 occupies the ground floor of both buildings. Clearly the corporate signage that rings the Roberts street canopy and part of the Skinny Building will have to be addressed (meaning removed). The Roberts canopy was quite beautiful and I hope that it is simply hidden by the 7/11 banner.

My understanding is that this project is exclusively exterior. It will not address the combination of the upper floors of the two buildings, which will be necessary for any "occupied use" of the second and third floors of the Skinny Building. Due to the narrowness of that building, the upper floors do not adhere to current building codes and their use is now limited to storage. The URA has announced that the buildings would be sold as a pair. The Roberts Building would benefit from such a combination of upper floors---those huge windows overlooking Forbes would flood light into the Roberts second and third floors. The new owner could also conceivably open up the blank wall above the Skinny Building to bring still more light inside Roberts. Or create outdoor terrace space... I think this would be a really fun little project.

[Jonboy1983]

I think that Bakery Square II proposal looks pretty sweet. I think this will only make the East End an even more intriguing place than it already is. I also look forward to looking at the proposals for the LTV cokeworks site in Hazelwood.

[photoLith]

Wow so they are going to restore the skinny building, that will be amazing. That's one of my favorite buildings in the city.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Wow so they are going to restore the skinny building, that will be amazing. That's one of my favorite buildings in the city.

It is a great little building. I know that, at the very least, the exterior will be restored and the URA intends to market the two buildings as a pair, as the Skinny Building is rendered practically useless unless its upper floors are combined with Roberts.

Even with the construction of the Gardens, the Skinny Building will still get lots of sun. I think the combined buildings would make great residential or commercial space.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

Both buildings are still owned by the URA, but this work should make the buildings more marketable as well as result in exterior easements being granted to PHLF prior to any sale.

Great!

The Roberts canopy was quite beautiful and I hope that it is simply hidden by the 7/11 banner.

Me too. Link to a great photo of its glory days:

http://bradystewartcollection.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/pghv-818-roberts-1-391.jpg

The Roberts Building would benefit from such a combination of upper floors---those huge windows overlooking Forbes would flood light into the Roberts second and third floors. The new owner could also conceivably open up the blank wall above the Skinny Building to bring still more light inside Roberts. Or create outdoor terrace space... I think this would be a really fun little project.

That could definitely be cool as long as the exterior identity of the Skinny Building was preserved.

I also know the Skinny Building has been used as display space before. That would probably be less interesting and marketable, but could be an interim solution at least.

[BrianTH]

Some hotlinkable photos:



Closeup:

[Found5dollar]

Ah! Urbana beat me to posting about the renders for the bakery square office building. Points i was going to make that haven't been made yet:

Starts construction in March, 2 years of build
2 story bridge across Penn!
Bike way along Penn
Huge first floor but doesn’t look like it will be retail? I could be wrong

[Found5dollar]

Wait... make that a 3 story bridge! there a people walking along the top of it. This has to be for the expansion of Google.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

Wait... make that a 3 story bridge! there a people walking along the top of it. This has to be for the expansion of Google.

Actually, it's 40' high, and it looks like it is the 4th & 5th floors.

[Found5dollar]

^ from everything I am looking at it looks like it connects the 4th, 5th and 6th floors. 4 and 5 inclosed, 6 open air with a railing.

and it is 40 feet from the ground, not 40 feet tall.

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

Wait... make that a 3 story bridge! there a people walking along the top of it. This has to be for the expansion of Google.

Indeed, They plan on doubling the number of employees in Pittsburgh, potentially to almost 700.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Since moving into the old Nabisco cookie factory nearly three years ago, Google Pittsburgh has done nothing but expand.
This past June, the company added 75 employees, bringing its Pittsburgh workforce to more than 300.
Sources now say Google is planning its largest expansion of all. It will be leasing an as-yet-to-be constructed building across the street where it will potentially double its employees in the next few years.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/11/26/sources-google-planning-big-pittsburgh-expansion/

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

That could definitely be cool as long as the exterior identity of the Skinny Building was preserved.

I also know the Skinny Building has been used as display space before. That would probably be less interesting and marketable, but could be an interim solution at least.

Commercial display space, yes, and I also recall that the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh used the second and third floor windows for art installations for a while.

I would expect the restoration of the Skinny Building to be historically accurate and will preserve the building's individual identity. The photos that you posted show a lot of detail that either needs to be restored or replaced. (I love the small tiled roof as well as what appear to be flower boxes beneath some of the windows.) My only question would be whether the prominent Forbes Avenue entrance canopy of the Skinny Building would be restored. I would think so... That doorway and canopy could serve as the Forbes entrance to the combined upper floors (whether residential or commercial) while the Roberts entrance and canopy could provide access to a ground floor retail space which incorporates the first level of the Skinny Building. I will see if I can dig up any more information.

Great photos BTW.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Urbana

Indeed, They plan on doubling the number of employees in Pittsburgh, potentially to almost 700.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/11/26/sources-google-planning-big-pittsburgh-expansion/

Thanks for that link. I was *just* looking for an article like that to give to someone this morning.

[Evergrey]

Bon Appetit declares Pittsburgh "the next big food town".

http://www.bonappetit.com/columns/the-fo...014/?mbid=rest_20131224_16252734&slide=4

4) The Next Big Food Town: Yes, Steel City is where you need to eat now

Like Houston, Charleston, and Nashville before it, Pittsburgh is elbowing its way onto the culinary map. Here are four reasons why: 1) The East Liberty neighborhood, with its $52 million transit center and future Ace Hotel. 2) Farmers’ markets everywhere, including Farmers @ Firehouse in the Strip District. 3) Restaurants like Cure, Bar Marco, Conflict Kitchen, Notion, Fukuda, and Meat & Potatoes. 4) Serious beer (The Brew Gentlemen) and cocktails (The Livermore (pictured above), Butterjoint). (Credit: Adam Milliron)

[BrianTH]

This data brief from the Cleveland Fed is basically full of good news for the younger parts of Pittsburgh's labor force--despite the tough time period studied (2006-2011), it confirms the rapid increase in educational attainment, and also jobs and/or wage growth in a variety of fields:

http://www.clevelandfed.org/Community_De...ns/Briefs/pittsburgh_education/index.cfm

And just to support that Bon Appetit article:

Among occupations requiring lower educational attainment, young workers have higher shares of employment in Food Preparation & Services, Personal Care & Services, and Healthcare Support . . . all of which have experienced growth in employment and/or wages.

People sometimes scoff at Food Preparation, imagining every job at a McDonalds, but on the increasingly important higher-end of the scale, it is an important diversifier in our employment growth, particularly for younger workers.