PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

So somebody wants to build a hotel on top of the AWC. I think if anything that could enhance the use of the AWC.

Indeed. In fact, how many public venues don't want an adjacent hotel?

I think this isn't about use, it is about control, meaning the foundations wanted control, and the developer's plan circumvented them.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Gilamonster

An 8 story hotel with 9 parking spaces. I don't think that's good for business.

It is pretty common for hotels in downtown locations in major cities not to have much if any parking on site. In Pittsburgh, there are also the William Penn, Residence Hotel, Courtyard . . . the usual solution for convenience is to offer valet parking.

Of course this particular property is in a pretty good location for the carless (not that any location in Downtown is going to be bad), with a T station in the free zone nearby, Station Square across the bridge, and so on.

[markson33]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

It is pretty common for hotels in downtown locations in major cities not to have much if any parking on site. In Pittsburgh, there are also the William Penn, Residence Hotel, Courtyard . . . the usual solution for convenience is to offer valet parking.

Of course this particular property is in a pretty good location for the carless (not that any location in Downtown is going to be bad), with a T station in the free zone nearby, Station Square across the bridge, and so on.

The developer just bought the building/lot next door for additional parking.

[GeneW]

I've definitely stayed in hotels that had no parking, mostly in DC or in San Francisco.

[themaguffin]

Consumers won't know that the hotel doesn't have parking on site. A valet will take the car to a nearby garage that the hotel will have an arrangement with and guests will pay an additional $30 or so dollars a day for parking.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by markson33

The developer just bought the building/lot next door for additional parking.

The one along Fort Pitt? That would suck--that is basically a riverfront parcel which should be redeveloped with an appropriate use.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Indeed. In fact, how many public venues don't want an adjacent hotel?

I think this isn't about use, it is about control, meaning the foundations wanted control, and the developer's plan circumvented them.

What's to say that the foundations can't still have control over the AWC if the hotel is built? Does it specify that in a clause somewhere that I did not see? If the foundations loose control, I don't see how that would be a problem. Maybe I'm blind as hell. Maybe I'm cynical, but I just don't see it...

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

What's to say that the foundations can't still have control over the AWC if the hotel is built?

They didn't have control over the AWC before--it was an independent non-profit. If their bid had been successful, they would have taken control over the building, and likely the program as well, for the first time.

It is not clear to me who will be running the program if the developer's bid is successful, since the old non-profit is bankrupt and the board members all resigned. So that does create theoretical room for a deal in which the foundations could still have a lot of influence over the program. But one thing they still wouldn't get is absolute control over the building.

[East Edge]

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed that the tower on the facade of the Allegheny County Courthouse is lit up with Purple lighting accenting some architectural details. I have long said that this landmark should be lit so that it can be viewed at night from Mt Washington and other views.

Its a great start. Does anyone know more about this project? is it just temporary or are they playing with different schemes to decide on a final solution. while it is very cool its a little too subtle and doest highlight the hight of the tower. from a distance is just some floating windows without any context of the rest of the facade. Hopefully whoever is in charge of those decisions can turn it up a notch.

The city looked beautiful tonight on the ride in on the veterans bridge with a Pirate game in action, the gulf tower lit up for Pride, PNC construction, and the discovery of these new lights on the Courthouse.

Photo Lith, I don't know if you have ever attempted walking up on the veterans bridge and getting some shots of the city looking out over the allegheny. Its a great view. Tonight i noticed a great vantage point in the passenger seat with St. Mary of the Mount perfectly framed between two buildings and i never noticed that before since I'm typically driving. For a minute i thought it was the roof of the Union Trust but realized it was st mary's off in the distance. Pittsburgh is such a great city to see at night from every angle. If you do attempt to get these it may be illegal to be walking along there so don't say i didn't warn you but it would make the shot all the sweeter if you can get a good one.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by East Edge

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed that the tower on the facade of the Allegheny County Courthouse is lit up with Purple lighting accenting some architectural details. I have long said that this landmark should be lit so that it can be viewed at night from Mt Washington and other views.

Its a great start. Does anyone know more about this project? is it just temporary or are they playing with different schemes to decide on a final solution. while it is very cool its a little too subtle and doest highlight the hight of the tower. from a distance is just some floating windows without any context of the rest of the facade. Hopefully whoever is in charge of those decisions can turn it up a notch.

Agreed, Pittsburgh has taken on a few temporary lighting projects over the last few years. Hopefully this one is permanent. I remember the city lighting the fort pitt and duquesne bridges a few years back. With LED's the investment in such projects is affordable for the city. So I hope the trend continues.

[Found5dollar]

Article about the recent memorial building craze on the northshore.

http://triblive.com/aande/architecture/6087873-74/memorial-war-pull#axzz32lN9tuZl

[popstar]

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/201...state-price-upsurge/stories/201405250030

[Found5dollar]

Mellon Square Park will be rededicated Thursday at noon.

http://www.wtae.com/news/mellon-square-park-to-reopen/26167942

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

Mellon Square Park will be rededicated Thursday at noon.

The step fountain was running this morning. I guess it is staying that seafoam color? Didn't see that coming.

[DKNewYork]

PHLF is finalizing restoration plans for two more Wood Street facades---the ones immediately south of the ISDA Building (one has a women’s boutique on the ground floor and the other houses Weldin’s Stationery). Great news as these are two of the prettier buildings on the street. The two front facades will now be fully restored---cleaned, repointed, windows restored or replaced if necessary, new awning for Weldin’s and removal of the huge AC unit that juts out of one of the stationery store’s clerestory window. This work should start sometime in the fall. It is expected that the upper floors will be built out as market rate apartments.

The two cast iron buildings closest to Forbes are owned by PHLF and are currently undergoing interior build-outs. A single retail space will be created on the first floor space of the two buildings. A demising wall is being installed to separate this retail space from the northernmost door, which will be the entrance to the market-rate apartments on the upper three floors. I think six apartments are being constructed. The third cast iron building is privately owned and no one is sure what, if anything, is being done on its upper floors.

Re the painting of the cast iron facades: I also would have liked more accent colors on the facades. I've come to really like the burnt yellow, which I can confirm was selected by an architectural historian and was used in the 1870s and 80s. The yellow works particularly well on overcast and rainy days, always a good thing in Pittsburgh. My issues are with the signage (should be a bit larger and needs lighting, perhaps like the umbrella lights recently installed on the Thompson Building) and the doors (the current ones cannot be anything like the original doors…they seem too small, the infill around them is awkward and shouldn’t they be made of wood?).

[SkyPittsburgh]

Judge allows next step in proposed sale of August Wilson Center for a hotelMay 27, 2014 12:29 PM
By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Orphans Court Judge Lawrence O’Toole signed an interim order today approving the sales and purchase agreement to 980 Liberty Partners, as requested by conservator Judith Fitzgerald.

The decision allows the developer to move ahead with due diligence and an engineering study to determine if its plan to build a 200-room luxury hotel atop the Downtown building is feasible.

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...-Center-for-a-hotel/stories/201405270139

Good news on the AWC, looks like things are moving along in spite of opposition, but I assume this is just one small step.

[BrianTH]

Quick aside:

Early next month, the EPA is going to release its proposed carbon dioxide rule for existing power plants. There are lots of interesting discussions going on in anticipation of the rule, but one thing worth noting is that the rule will likely have the side effect of reducing emissions of other more "traditional" pollutants (aka "co-benefits"). As usual, Pennsylvania in turn is likely to be among the largest beneficiaries of such a reduction in traditional pollutants, and a study has just been released finding as much:

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6182025-74/plants-coal-environmental
http://eng-cs.syr.edu/our-departments/ci...ng/research/carbon-co-benefits-research/

All this is a bit tangential to development issues in the short term, but in the long term improvements in local air quality, with the resulting benefits in health and quality of life, are likely to be pro-development, particularly in more urbanized areas.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

looks like things are moving along in spite of opposition, but I assume this is just one small step.

Just one step, but a very important one. After due diligence, engineering, and financing, the developer's bid could evaporate entirely, or (more optimistically) give us something concrete to talk about.

And a minimum, this should increase the pressure on the opposition to work out a negotiated settlement, which in my view is the preferable outcome.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...-Center-for-a-hotel/stories/201405270139

Good news on the AWV, looks like things are moving along in spite of opposition, but I assume this is just one small step.

Excellent news.

Peduto was misguided on this issue.

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Excellent news.

Peduto was misguided on this issue.

Peduto knew where his bread was buttered, this will make him look better with foundations, but I doubt he would have ever actually supported denying this bid.