PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[shipsterns]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

in a desperate attempt to keep this thread from descending into City-Data anecdote hell... here's some renderings of a condo development on Carlton St. in Lawrenceville... 2 br listing for $430k for Summer 2014 occupancy...

Wow, looks a ton like these two near South Side Works:

[Steel City Scotty]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

You definitely need to try to have a friend who can vouch for you. Unfortunately, it seems like most of these industries hire tried and tested locals (lame, I know). I work in advertising and marketing.

Now onto the positives – there are quite a few of these companies doing well and hiring in PGH. So there's potential.

Well, I did meet and have lunch with someone who works for Pittsburgh's URA while at a statewide "Main Street Managers" meeting in Latrobe last month.

So, I guess that's a start...

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

And quotes like that are the reason we are called the "give me" generation.

Oh I'm sorry that wanting a decent wage and not being poor sounds selfish. You sound like that piece of shit Stuart Varney on Fox News.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

um, that is horribly offensive. Claiming that my, and my friends, chosen field of work has only "volunteer positions, internships, and low-wage jobs." I'm not sure if you have noticed, but Arts organizations have to have managers, consultants, IT people, graphic and web designers, etc. Most people I know have nothing to do with art, but they install exhibits, run education programs, schedule tours, manage personnel, etc. Yes you can make more money in finance, but you also are not around as many interesting and fun people.

Also,

"the economic impact of the arts in the Pittsburgh region is around $1.17 billion annually. “That translates in terms of jobs, over 20,500 jobs annually, generates $410 million in resident household income and then $74 million in tax revenues”"

http://wesa.fm/post/study-shows-pittsburgh-region-strong-arts-and-culture-spending

So no, just because I work in the arts does not mean I am a volunteer, intern, or low wage worker. It does mean I add way more to a society than I take.

I'm a horribly offensive person, but don't be horribly offended. It was a joke.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

in a desperate attempt to keep this thread from descending into City-Data anecdote hell... here's some renderings of a condo development on Carlton St. in Lawrenceville... 2 br listing for $430k for Summer 2014 occupancy...

Hate the front-facing garage doors. Looks so suburban.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Hate the front-facing garage doors. Looks so suburban.

Industrial suburban. Is that even a thing?


I've always wondered by these type of industrial townhomes didn't exist in Pittsburgh. They've been in other cities for years. Guess they finally made their way here.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

in a desperate attempt to keep this thread from descending into City-Data anecdote hell...

City-data:

"HI, I want to move to Pittburg but I want to be in a SAFE area; I'm thinking Monroeville, Cranberry or Slippery Rock. Are these SAFE areas of the city???"

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

City-data:

"HI, I want to move to Pittburg but I want to be in a SAFE area; I'm thinking Monroeville, Cranberry or Slippery Rock. Are these SAFE areas of the city???"

Ok, wow... Just wow...

On the topic of those Lawrenceville Townhomes, I like the loft-style layout, but I also am somewhat concerned about those garage doors. My townhouse has a garage door, and I'm in a Philly suburb that is over an hour from center city. Lawrenceville is still inside the PGH city limits...

Still, I like the design. It does look industrial, but wasn't Lawrenceville an industrial neighborhood some years back? This design ties in with the industrial history of that neighborhood which I like.

[Brentsters]

On the hotel front, the latest round of applications for PA's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program includes a couple hotel projects. Of course, only a handful of projects will receive funding so nothing might come out of this. Interesting nonetheless.

ARC House Development - October Development - Construction of a 120 room upscale Hotel in the Deutschtown/East Allegheny neighborhood of Pittsburgh, with retail and a parking garage with 300 spaces.

Forbes Hotel - Granite Building, LLC - An adaptive reuse of the historic Granite Building, a lively, unique, independent boutique hotel with 104 rooms, 1 restaurant, 3 bars, 5-star service, & close proximity to 14 major cultural venues and 18 corporate headquarters. A showcase for Pittsburgh, its people and products. A national & international destination, a meeting place for local residents, & a force for positive change in the surrounding community.


I also noticed this submission for the Odeon building. Not very clear what the mixed-use would be.

ODEON Building - TBR Odeon JV Entity - Construction of an approximately 106,000 square foot mixed- use building located on the most prominent corner in the center of the East Liberty neighborhood commercial district in the City of Pittsburgh.

[chucka]

Here is a link to the list of projects submitted for RACP funding.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6RjFBZ1MNxeVTBWajFrdDVCTGM/edit?usp=sharing

Originally Posted by Brentsters

On the hotel front, the latest round of applications for PA's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program includes a couple hotel projects. Of course, only a handful of projects will receive funding so nothing might come out of this. Interesting nonetheless.

ARC House Development - October Development - Construction of a 120 room upscale Hotel in the Deutschtown/East Allegheny neighborhood of Pittsburgh, with retail and a parking garage with 300 spaces.

Forbes Hotel - Granite Building, LLC - An adaptive reuse of the historic Granite Building, a lively, unique, independent boutique hotel with 104 rooms, 1 restaurant, 3 bars, 5-star service, & close proximity to 14 major cultural venues and 18 corporate headquarters. A showcase for Pittsburgh, its people and products. A national & international destination, a meeting place for local residents, & a force for positive change in the surrounding community.


I also noticed this submission for the Odeon building. Not very clear what the mixed-use would be.

ODEON Building - TBR Odeon JV Entity - Construction of an approximately 106,000 square foot mixed- use building located on the most prominent corner in the center of the East Liberty neighborhood commercial district in the City of Pittsburgh.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

Ok, wow... Just wow...

On the topic of those Lawrenceville Townhomes, I like the loft-style layout, but I also am somewhat concerned about those garage doors. My townhouse has a garage door, and I'm in a Philly suburb that is over an hour from center city. Lawrenceville is still inside the PGH city limits...

Still, I like the design. It does look industrial, but wasn't Lawrenceville an industrial neighborhood some years back? This design ties in with the industrial history of that neighborhood which I like.

The front facing garages are really triply bad:

1. They turn the sidewalk into a driveway making it harder to walk past the houses.
2. They steal parking spots from the street, basically turning a public space into a private one.
3. People just drive into their garage and close the door behind them without ever interacting with the street.

The last one is what I hate the most. I lived in a townhouse in Murrysville for years and no one in the complex knew anyone else because they all just drove straight into their garages and didn't get out until the garage door was shut. Compare that to where I live now, in a similarly sized townhouse, but were you're forced to engage with the street and your neighbors. I swear that I knew more of my neighbors here on the Northside in the first month than I'd known in Murrysville in nine years.

[photoLith]

Well if that crap just becomes infill like I believe that one in Lawrencville is then I dont really have a problem with it as long as the lot was already vacant. Id have a huge problem with those things if they start tearing down historic houses for them. But unfortunately modern day yuppies want garages in an urban setting. Its urban suburbia. And I just cant stand that horrid corrugated metal on every new building, they seriously need to stop slapping on corrugated sheet metal thinking its cool and modern. It looks cheap and unattractive.


http://www.ezhez.us/corrugated-metal-sheet-fence-with-natural-grainy-texture-royalty/

Stop it, stop it now architects and builders, for the love of God. Friends dont let friends rent or buy properties which use this horrible material.

[Austinlee]

^I used to hate it too but that style has slightly grown on me.

It looks like Houston infill. Haha

But yeah, garage doors at front street level is no good. Urban development 101.

[Austinlee]

You have to realize, garage stalls on new city construction is a must if you want to lure suburbanites back. But back alley is where it must go.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

You have to realize, garage stalls on new city construction is a must if you want to lure suburbanites back. But back alley is where it must go.

I've often thought that alleys in most Pittsburgh neighborhoods are a great asset. You keep the ugly garages (and garbage) in the back an preserve the streetscape in the front. It allows urbanites like me to own a garage without making the neighborhood car-centric.

[Don't Be That Guy]

Originally Posted by GeneW

I've often thought that alleys in most Pittsburgh neighborhoods are a great asset. You keep the ugly garages (and garbage) in the back an preserve the streetscape in the front. It allows urbanites like me to own a garage without making the neighborhood car-centric.

Unfortunately there isn't an alley parallel Carlton St. to put garages. Regardless, three adjacent curb cuts placed mid-block is bad. You'd think the city would have a policy about not allowing that, but a lot of the infill projects have integral garage with a curb cut, even in areas that have alleys. Zoning and Public Works need to get a coherent policy on this soon.

And then there's the metal panels and split face block.... At $400,000+ the least they could do is use some hardy plank, but I guess that's not trendy enough.

[Captain Crash]

Sorry if this straying too far off topic, but here's an article on the new visitor's center set to open in Ohiopyle this year. It's obviously not in Pittsburgh proper but its an important tourist destination in the region. This new building looks like a great addition to the park and was much needed for the growing visitation there.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local...c5ba084-60dd-553b-8895-fa6f64f0e895.html

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by GeneW

I've often thought that alleys in most Pittsburgh neighborhoods are a great asset. You keep the ugly garages (and garbage) in the back an preserve the streetscape in the front. It allows urbanites like me to own a garage without making the neighborhood car-centric.

One of the best books I've ever read:



The book is just so so smart. And so many things make you think "I knew it!"

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Captain Crash

Sorry if this straying too far off topic, but here's an article on the new visitor's center set to open in Ohiopyle this year. It's obviously not in Pittsburgh proper but its an important tourist destination in the region. This new building looks like a great addition to the park and was much needed for the growing visitation there.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local...c5ba084-60dd-553b-8895-fa6f64f0e895.html

Wow, that looks great! Ohiopyle is an awesome area.

[photoLith]

I saw the ohiopyle development a few weeks ago, it will be pretty amazing for sure.

And that suburban nation book is really good.