PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Pittsburgh doesn't have to become as unaffordable as NYC, DC, Boston, etc., but to avoid that fate it needs to be developing new housing units fast enough to keep up with demand, and ultimately it needs to be investing in things like rapid transit expansions as well.

To this limited extent, the model we should really be looking at when it comes to housing development is the Texas cities, places like Houston and Dallas, which have managed to retain affordable housing despite rapid population growth. And their solution is not magic--it is just really easy to build new units there.

However, high transportation costs in those cities offset a lot of their housing affordability (as do lower incomes, which is a whole other story). And low transportation costs is where cities like NYC, DC, and Boston shine (and also on the income side).

So, if we could combine Texas-like housing policies, with Northeast Coast-like transportation policies, with the already solid income growth we are seeing--that could keep Pittsburgh out in front when it comes to overall affordability indefinitely.

Edit: There are a lot of great statistics and some good policy recommendations in this (relatively) short report:

http://www.nhc.org/media/files/LosingGround_10_2012.pdf

[Urbana]

The first apartment building in Bakery Square 2.0 is almost complete and they have began to drill for the foundation of the new Google offices.



http://bakerysquare.no-ip.biz:8080/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=482

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Urbana

The first apartment building in Bakery Square 2.0 is almost complete and they have began to drill for the foundation of the new Google offices.

I'm wondering if they're going to be offering some sort of discount to the people who move into that apartment for the first year? Being surrounded by a construction site has to make it a bit less attractive as a rental option.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm wondering if they're going to be offering some sort of discount to the people who move into that apartment for the first year? Being surrounded by a construction site has to make it a bit less attractive as a rental option.

Interesting question--although people in this forum might pay extra!

[GeneW]

Nothing on their website mentions any early discount. $1225-$1345 for a 508 square foot efficiency!

[mattejb]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Nothing on their website mentions any early discount. $1225-$1345 for a 508 square foot efficiency!

I didn't realize that Pittsburgh is more expensive then Chicago!

[photoLith]

Newly restored old Jewish theater in l ville across from the doughboy


Doughboy square

[eschaton]

While it's far better than the old concrete block face of that building, I'm not a fan of the new facade. It looks very tacked on. The glass should basically take up the entire front of the building.

Edit: And the brickwork on the Doughboy Apartments is looking hideous.

[mikebarbaro]

Dedicated bike lane coming to downtown by September: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...e-lane-by-September/stories/201404010174

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by mikebarbaro

Dedicated bike lane coming to downtown by September: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...e-lane-by-September/stories/201404010174

The comments in that PG story are less stupid than usual. I always dread any bike story in the paper because of the knee-jerk comments.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by GeneW

The comments in that PG story are less stupid than usual. I always dread any bike story in the paper because of the knee-jerk comments.

Still pretty terrible though.

Here's a neat shot from the USX tower that came through my news feed a minute ago. Nice view of the PNC tower!

[BrianTH]

Ah, the East Liberty Transit Center event today was to announce the state was kicking in $5M:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...t-grants-5-million-for-east-liberty.html

[BrianTH]

The redesigned Whole Foods expansion and parking structure got approval, but construction was delayed for a year:

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/5872044-74/deck-foods-parking#axzz2xdbL6YiS

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

Still pretty terrible though.

Here's a neat shot from the USX tower that came through my news feed a minute ago. Nice view of the PNC tower!

Speaking of the US Steel Tower, I'm working on my own suggestion for Peduto's vision for the rooftop.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Edit: And the brickwork on the Doughboy Apartments is looking hideous.

What is Pittsburgh's ongoing fascination with yellow brick all about?

[photoLith]

^
Eh, I dont really mind it, obviously it pales in comparison to the amazing historic buildings that surround it but it filled in a large hole on Butler. And holy crap, is that real that Peduto wants to put a restuarant or viewing thing at the top of the US Steel Tower? That would be effing amazing, Pittsburgh is lacking a public sky lobby. From what I understand there used to be a restaurant at the top of the Steel Tower but it closed in 2001 or something like that.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

What is Pittsburgh's ongoing fascination with yellow brick all about?

"...Now and then there is a house of brick. But what brick! When it is new it is the color of a fried egg. When it has taken on the patina of the mills it is the color of an egg long past all hope or caring. Was it necessary to adopt that shocking color? No more than it was necessary to set all of the houses on end. Red brick, even in a steel town, ages with some dignity. Let it become downright black, and it is still sightly, especially if its trimmings are of white stone, with soot in the depths and the high spots washed by the rain. But in Westmoreland they prefer that uremic yellow, and so they have the most loathsome towns and villages ever seen by mortal eye..."

-H.L. Mencken, 1927
The Libido for the Ugly

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Pittsburgh doesn't have to become as unaffordable as NYC, DC, Boston, etc., but to avoid that fate it needs to be developing new housing units fast enough to keep up with demand, and ultimately it needs to be investing in things like rapid transit expansions as well.

To this limited extent, the model we should really be looking at when it comes to housing development is the Texas cities, places like Houston and Dallas, which have managed to retain affordable housing despite rapid population growth. And their solution is not magic--it is just really easy to build new units there.

However, high transportation costs in those cities offset a lot of their housing affordability (as do lower incomes, which is a whole other story). And low transportation costs is where cities like NYC, DC, and Boston shine (and also on the income side).

So, if we could combine Texas-like housing policies, with Northeast Coast-like transportation policies, with the already solid income growth we are seeing--that could keep Pittsburgh out in front when it comes to overall affordability indefinitely.

Interesting analysis. A little optimistic, though?

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by doo dah

"...Now and then there is a house of brick. But what brick! When it is new it is the color of a fried egg. When it has taken on the patina of the mills it is the color of an egg long past all hope or caring. Was it necessary to adopt that shocking color? No more than it was necessary to set all of the houses on end. Red brick, even in a steel town, ages with some dignity. Let it become downright black, and it is still sightly, especially if its trimmings are of white stone, with soot in the depths and the high spots washed by the rain. But in Westmoreland they prefer that uremic yellow, and so they have the most loathsome towns and villages ever seen by mortal eye..."

-H.L. Mencken, 1927
The Libido for the Ugly

Thanks for posting this... I remember having to read that in high school, and totally forgot about it... and never realized how he mentions the "uremic yello" brick!

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Eightball

Interesting analysis. A little optimistic, though?

Yeah, there are lots of reasons to believe that vision won't be fulfilled. On housing, while Peduto sort of seems on board, there are still plenty of local NIMBYs and politicians looking to serve them. On transportation, Fitzgerald and again Peduto seem on board, but most of the important policy decisions are going to be made at the state and federal level.

Still, at a minimum we should have some clarity on what is necessary, since it sometimes is possible to partially counteract local NIMBYism with local support on the other side. And as for transportation, you never know--things could change for the better at the state and federal levels, maybe even within a few years from now.