PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by doo dah

Apropos of nothing, I came across this interactive Pittsburgh Zoning map today:

I've played around with it before--it can be a very useful resource.

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

another dagger from Doug Parker

Ah yes, what have we ever done for US Airways? I mean, it't not like we built a state of the art airport and expanded it for them (taxpayer funded of course.)

It's nice to see US Airways give us the middle finger once again, why don't they just consolidate to a smaller airport, it's not like that will cause more delays.

Sorry for the rant-like tone, this is an issue I'm passionate about.

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I've played around with it before--it can be a very useful resource.

If you want, there is a "legacy" version of this that has some neat features (mined areas, floodplains, woodlands, etc) you can find it here: pghgis.com

And, if you want to find out who owns a plot of land, you can use this website:
http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Search.aspx

All very interesting resources.

[BrianTH]

Article involving different local real estate people speculating about re-using the AWC:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...limited-for-suitors/stories/201401240064

Of course this is one of those situations where you don't need everyone to agree on what makes sense--you just need one entity with an interesting plan it thinks can work. Along those lines, I think these were promising comments:

One real estate firm that has explored possible hotel, office, and residential uses at the center is Downtown's Beynon & Co. Richard Beynon, the company's president, said he sees potential to build on top of the current facility and perhaps to incorporate the center into a mixed-use development. "I believe there would be an opportunity to make use of the lower level of the existing structure that could be worked into a mixed-use project as opposed to razing it all and developing it for a different use," he said.

I'm sure some would like to see it all go, but I personally think re-using some of the existing structure could be preferable.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I agree it can be tough to cut through the buzz language, but basically it is still going to be a sort of vocational school, with some business incubation on the side.

Is it part of or sponsored by the Pgh Public Schools?

[themaguffin]

Wow Useless air announced this for Friday... surprised they didn't send out the memo Friday afternoon when news is released that the news makers don't want to be seen.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

Is it part of or sponsored by the Pgh Public Schools?

I don't think so. It is basically being sponsored by some local businesses (with some public help):

http://eicpittsburgh.org/stakeholders/

At least originally, the lead was being taken by Pittsburgh Green Innovators, a non-profit:

http://www.pghgreeninnovators.org/Innovation_Center.html

You can see who is involved with them here:

http://www.pghgreeninnovators.org/How_We_Do_Things.html

Pittsburgh Gateways is apparently the developer:

http://www.pghgateways.org/projects_green.html

My impression is they are sort of focused on helping out tech companies do development work, including spin-offs from the universities:

http://www.pghgateways.org/about.htm

[Evergrey]

Well, none of us should be surprised Doug Parker is shuttering the Moon operations center. I thought it was a misguided idea for Pennsylvania to chase after the center back in 2008 after everything US Air had done to us... (and was absolutely flabbergasted when they picked us)... turned out to be a poor investment.

[7068073429]

thanks for the info!

[themaguffin]

I don't think the move by the airline is a surprise. it was surprising that Moon got it to begin with, but hey, with the state subsidizing it, "why not"

[Jonboy1983]

My opinion about Mt Washington, if that initial project isn't going to be the one going up, then nothing should be built there. That piece of land is far too valuable for the likes of something like what is in that drawing. People may call me a hypocrite for saying that and what I say about Buncher, but this is different. the Strip plan (though still crappy) is a better use of that land than this is regarding its location on Mt. Washington. Something iconic needs to go there; something that say's, "YEAH! THIS is PITTSBURGH!"

Instead, we get, "eh... Yeah... whatever..."

My opinion, develop other parts of Mt. Washington and the surrounding area; invest in these areas, develop Station Square more, and then, perhaps then, can there be enough interest in this parcel to put that iconic development. With the way things are going right now in and around Downtown, hopefully we won't have long to wait...

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I've played around with it before--it can be a very useful resource.

I've always been surprised at how much of desirable neighborhoods in the East End is still zoned multi-family. Particularly Squirrel Hill, where it seems like it's allowed in the majority of the neighborhood to split a house into two (if not more) units. On the other hand, subdivision is basically barred in most of South Side and all of Lawrenceville.

[photoLith]

Photos I took yesterday of PNC during this — weather


You can see the crane for pnc slightly through the snow

[themaguffin]

You know, it's funny - a few weeks ago Philly was brought up for the amount of stuff happening there. I don't get to focus on a lot of cities and hadn't paid attention and only saw the news of the new Comcast tower this morning. Who knew that Comcast had an even bigger building on their agenda. Wow.
I love what's happening with PNC, but man, it seems small now (seriously though excited for what PNC is going to do to the skyline).

Not to digress to far out, but I don't like the Comcast design for what will be their new tallest....

[photoLith]

Not really development related, just photos of all this snow from today.








You can see PNCs steel starting to rise pretty well now.

[Austinlee]

^Damn! To both of you. Those snow shots are great.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by themaguffin

You know, it's funny - a few weeks ago Philly was brought up for the amount of stuff happening there. I don't get to focus on a lot of cities and hadn't paid attention and only saw the news of the new Comcast tower this morning. Who knew that Comcast had an even bigger building on their agenda. Wow.
I love what's happening with PNC, but man, it seems small now (seriously though excited for what PNC is going to do to the skyline).

Not to digress to far out, but I don't like the Comcast design for what will be their new tallest....

You just blew my mind (and my day) when you posted that. I just spent 3 hours reading the threads for the new Comcast Tower.

PA's first supertall!
Comcast Innovation & Technology Center | 1,121 FT | 59 FLOORS
$1.2 billion. Starts this summer. Completion in 2017.

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

^Damn! To both of you. Those snow shots are great.

A beautiful city, and not to mention, we have a Mayor who actually reports, dare I say REPORTS how the snow removal is going.

[photoLith]

Im glad thats not getting built here, its way too bulky.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Im glad thats not getting built here, its way too bulky.

Agreed, that building design just screams NYC. It really looks out of place in Philly's skyline.

Hopefully there will be new renders that will change some major design elements. The first PA super tall should be way more iconic than that.