PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[GeneW]

That should come pretty close to filling up all the retail slots at Bakery Square. Took a few years.

[wpipkins2]

West Elm will probably take the space near Panera Bread. The showroom will face Penn Ave and provide a lot of visibility. I wonder if the Neiman Marcus discount store is still possible?

[themaguffin]

I think most of us share the outlook on mixed income neighborhoods and in fact Crawford Square is one and had done well. I feel that should have been replicated eastward. The fact is that the arena site itself allows for a big project and really is essentially downtown though it's technically not - in most cities Pittsburgh's size and smaller... the downtown footprint is bigger.

The project should make the best use of the land.
I think income for that specific land is the wrong priority, overall quality and scale (size) is - as it is the transition from downtown to the Hill...

I see a lot of potential in the Hill proper and let's face, there's ample land there too, it has many open lots etc. Additionally, the uptown corridor along forbes and fifth east of Duquesne is a game changer or two from great progress...

[East Edge]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

West Elm will probably take the space near Panera Bread. The showroom will face Penn Ave and provide a lot of visibility. I wonder if the Neiman Marcus discount store is still possible?

Awesome! its about time West Elm came to Pittsburgh. Cant wait!

[East Edge]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Here is a new project in DC, City Center DC. Something along these lines is what I would love to see in the Lower Hill site (not necessarily in terms of design but in terms of scale/density):

I agree! Green roofs would be really cool there especially looking down on them from BNY and USX. Height and density i think would be key there also. I hate the skyline seems to end abruptly at Grant street. From a higher elevation a mid rise building would look pretty tall.

[eschaton]

My two cents on the Lower Hill debate.

As Mixed-income housing goes, Crawford Square was incredibly successful, insofar as it resulted in a safe enclave at the bottom of the Hill District which is a residence for a mixture of low-income blacks, middle-class blacks, and a not insubstantial number of white people (by Hill District standards).

But as an urban neighborhood, it fails miserably. It did not conform in any way to the original housing typology of the Lower Hill, which can be seen here on Roberts Street, where some old rowhouses still remain. Admittedly some areas around it are even worse, with split-level ranches, but they really should have done contextual infill. Thankfully, more recent projects in the Hill District have been a bit better by these standards.

The Lower Hill obviously needs to have higher density as the "bridge" between Downtown and that area. I really hope they integrate more "urban" patterns like zero setback. However, given Crawford Square has been successful in a social sense, I'm not worried these developments will flounder and become an unfashionable area.

[photoLith]

What's going on at the corner of Washington and church place in dormant/castle Shannon?

[Austinlee]

^Pretty sure that's a U/C light rail line T.O.D. apartment building. Something like 70-100 apartments. Anyone have the linkage?

[Austinlee]

Hey loyal Pgh forumers!

I have painstakingly collected another 120+ unique renderings and photos and drawings of other major city developments, excluding individual house restorations.

I have a couple questions about a couple mid sized developments that I am unsure of the current status before I post them.

What's the status of:

1. Odeon - East Lib? Moving forward?
2. Whiskey Barrel Flats (?) on West Carson St between Station Square and the SS flats? (Paging forumer Topher who was working on that project)
3. Hotel Indigo?
4. Vici on Mt Washington. Rendering looks nice but it's been stalled for 7 years. Prime location though.
5. The Pinnacle (or whatever it's called) highrise on Mt Wash on site of the now demoed restaurant.
6. Poli restaurant Squirrel Hill. Is there any multi story mixed use still planned or canned for that site?
7. Garden Theatre Block - Is ANYTHING happening there?? And renders?

Any other projects that have fallen by the way side??

Gracious muchachos!

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Hey loyal Pgh forumers!

I have painstakingly collected another 120+ unique renderings and photos and drawings of other major city developments, excluding individual house restorations.

I have a couple questions about a couple mid sized developments that I am unsure of the current status before I post them.

What's the status of:

1. Odeon - East Lib? Moving forward?
2. Whiskey Barrel Flats (?) on West Carson St between Station Square and the SS flats? (Paging forumer Topher who was working on that project)
3. Hotel Indigo?
4. Vici on Mt Washington. Rendering looks nice but it's been stalled for 7 years. Prime location though.
5. The Pinnacle (or whatever it's called) highrise on Mt Wash on site of the now demoed restaurant.
6. Poli restaurant Squirrel Hill. Is there any multi story mixed use still planned or canned for that site?
7. Garden Theatre Block - Is ANYTHING happening there?? And renders?

Any other projects that have fallen by the way side??

Gracious muchachos!

I can speak to the nature of the East Liberty projects. (Odeon and Indigo)
Odeon: Looks like preliminary drawings are starting to come out from the developer, but the idea of what the site will be is somewhat un-decided. Whether it will be apartments or offices is still up in the air.
Indigo: The lot on which they are building a whole new structure has reached about 3 floors at my last check, it may be more, but they are lightyears away from being done, as the entire building needs an overhaul.

[BrianTH]

I believe #5 is what is now called One Grandview. There was a discussion about it here recently: it has changed to an apartment project, but the initial (very crude) renderings were not well-received in the community, so supposedly they are working on a re-design.

#6 was also discussed recently. ACTION-Housing in a joint venture with Jewish Residential Services wants to do a 5-6 story residential/clubhouse project there, which may also include other uses depending on how far up Forward they can go:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2...oli-restaurant-site/stories/201311290087

On #7, that project was recently broken up and they are looking for new developers for separate pieces:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...ter-project-to-welcome-new.html?page=all

[GeneW]

There seems to be some activity at the Garden Theater. Just demolition as far as I can tell but there are work trucks and dumpsters parked outside daily. Some updates on the URA and developer relations in this article in the Northside Chronicle.

[PittExpat]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

^Pretty sure that's a U/C light rail line T.O.D. apartment building. Something like 70-100 apartments. Anyone have the linkage?

I think that the lot in photolith's picture now belongs to the #1 Cochran car dealership behind it. Perhaps they are reconstructing the lot and making it multilevel? Dormont Borough and #1 Cochran swapped parking lots so the public parking is now across the street from the Cochran dealership while the dealership now owns the triangular lot that was pictured.

There is a TOD plan though on the Dormont Borough website. I think they are planning that for the current parking lot at the Dormont Station T-Stop up where Biltmore intersects with West Liberty. the pdf on the link below has design info and indicates that construction is slated to begin this Sept.

http://www.boro.dormont.pa.us/index.asp?SEC=287CDCA5-1AF3-4706-851F-5560587B363E&Type=B_BASIC

[East Edge]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Hey loyal Pgh forumers!

I have painstakingly collected another 120+ unique renderings and photos and drawings of other major city developments, excluding individual house restorations.

I have a couple questions about a couple mid sized developments that I am unsure of the current status before I post them.

What's the status of:

1. Odeon - East Lib? Moving forward?
2. Whiskey Barrel Flats (?) on West Carson St between Station Square and the SS flats? (Paging forumer Topher who was working on that project)
3. Hotel Indigo?
4. Vici on Mt Washington. Rendering looks nice but it's been stalled for 7 years. Prime location though.
5. The Pinnacle (or whatever it's called) highrise on Mt Wash on site of the now demoed restaurant.
6. Poli restaurant Squirrel Hill. Is there any multi story mixed use still planned or canned for that site?
7. Garden Theatre Block - Is ANYTHING happening there?? And renders?

Any other projects that have fallen by the way side??

Gracious muchachos!

Vici is dead and the Pinnacle or One Grandview is still in redesign / public process. There has been some opposition to the fact that it will be apartments vs a hotel and not as public as before with only 1 restaurant. The drawings floating around are not what was last proposed. Perhaps Desmone's website has more recent drawings but even those were more diagrammatic / massing renderings that look very different but still lack a lot of detail. It will most likely happen long before VICI ever does.

However, this baby in Mt. Washington is well underway and should begin leasing this spring http://www.paulrodriguezarchitect.com/projects/the-lofts-of-mount-washington

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by East Edge

However, this baby in Mt. Washington is well underway and should begin leasing this spring http://www.paulrodriguezarchitect.com/projects/the-lofts-of-mount-washington

That stairs/bridge thing through the former auditorium is pretty funky, but it could be in a good way.

[Brentsters]

First Lyft and now Uber. These companies (assuming they survive legal challenges) could go a long way toward advancing nightlife culture in Pittsburgh. I've used Uber in Chicago during late hours when there's less cabs and have been satisfied. But it could have a far greater impact in Pgh given the sad state of Yellow Cab. Looking forward to see how this all plays out.

[George Woods]

Windows at PNC already:

[Austinlee]

Blue Man Window Pane Group.

[photoLith]

Holy shit, glass!

This doesnt relate to development, but I took this photo a couple days ago from Millvale of Lville, thought Id share it.



This sort of relates to development though, Im working with Preservation Pittsburgh, co authoring a book on preservation in the city with one of them and we are currently working on getting the Old Stone Tavern, built in 1783 in the West End on the national register and eventually restore it. Heres some photos I recently took of it and inside it while doing multiple surveys on the building for the register.




Some of the original wood tiles from the 1700s are still intact in the attic in an 1816 addition, which is incredibly rare.


An 1880s Hutchinson styled soda bottle under one of the basement floorboards.


Someone during the Civil War era hammered these US government issued bullet casings into the attic door, spelling out shooting.


Bricked up but still intact 1783 windows with original glass intact, also incredibly rare.


Archaeological remains found in the basement after digging a small plot, dates of the relics date from the 1780's to the 1890s.


18th century square nails in the attic.


A bed frame dating from the late 18th century, could have been used by slaves in the attic. Nobody had been in the attic for a very long time, as tons of 18th century relics were located everywhere.


Corn we found under the floorboards in the attic, when buildings were built during the 1700s people put stuff like this under the floorboards as good luck charms.

Sorry that doesnt really relate to development but thought Id share it. Its pretty cool stuff and the building will look incredible once restored.

Also if you haven't already check out my page which I update multiple times a day on western pa history, https://www.facebook.com/westernpahistory?ref=tn_tnmn

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by East Edge

I agree! Green roofs would be really cool there especially looking down on them from BNY and USX. Height and density i think would be key there also. I hate the skyline seems to end abruptly at Grant street. From a higher elevation a mid rise building would look pretty tall.

The City Center DC development is massive at street level. The site is adjacent to China Town and the bustling Verizon Center district. If the lower hill is built out with similar density, Im OK with that. A new tower or two would be awesome though.