PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

On the other hand, there isn't enough connectivity on the back end of that site. The street some of the townhouses front on looks like it will piddle out into a dead end without connecting to Rennig Street/Social Way. This is what the Village of Shadyside did, only in reverse, and I think not allowing residents a back way to drive out of the complex is poor urban design.

I wonder if they already got a mandate not to create a new through-path to Penn. I could see the school, neighbors, etc. being concerned people would use such a path to bypass the Fifth/Penn and Shady/Penn intersections.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that sentiment in general, but I could see the argument being those local streets and intersections are not really designed to handle a traffic pattern like that.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

I was under the impression that that garage may also support a Bakery Square Busway stop, as well as the E. Liberty and Homewood ones.

Yeah, we discussed that a bit before, and it is indicated again on Page 6. It could be a decent idea as long as it also replaced the employee stop.

Edfit: Incidentally, I'd vote for calling it Larimer Station. It is officially accurate and it couldn't hurt Larimer's branding.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I wonder if they already got a mandate not to create a new through-path to Penn. I could see the school, neighbors, etc. being concerned people would use such a path to bypass the Fifth/Penn and Shady/Penn intersections.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that sentiment in general, but I could see the argument being those local streets and intersections are not really designed to handle a traffic pattern like that.

It's happened in the past. Apparently the reason why the next phase of Summerset @ Frick (which will be in Swisshelm Park) won't connect to the neighborhood streets is because the residents of said neighborhood did not want the streets connecting.

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

I was under the impression that that garage may also support a Bakery Square Busway stop, as well as the E. Liberty and Homewood ones.

Bakery Square is less than a 10-minute walk from the East Liberty stop though. I mean, I'm not 100% opposed, but if you put too many stops onto a BRT system it starts losing some of its advantages.

Admittedly, the walk isn't great now. But I'll bet dollars to donuts either the "Shakespeare" Giant Eagle or the strip mall right next to Bakery Square 1 gets redeveloped within the next five years, which will make the walking experience much more pleasant.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It's happened in the past. Apparently the reason why the next phase of Summerset @ Frick (which will be in Swisshelm Park) won't connect to the neighborhood streets is because the residents of said neighborhood did not want the streets connecting.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Bakery Square is less than a 10-minute walk from the East Liberty stop though. I mean, I'm not 100% opposed, but if you put too many stops onto a BRT system it starts losing some of its advantages.

I agree about not overdoing it, but the distance between the stations at East Liberty and Homewood is probably too long for what will hopefully be a dense area of the City by the time redevelopment really takes off (about 1.5 miles or so). The halfway point would probably be closer to Fifth, but for the sake of making it more convenient for Larimer and BKSQ (including BKSQ parking), I think this is a pretty reasonable spot.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Interesting to finally hear the architect weigh in...

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/6214401-74/center-hotel-980#axzz33pVMZl6L

I saw that article and the other article regarding North Shore development. I posted a response to the North Shore development article, basically saying the city needs taller buildings, period, especially when it comes to residential buildings.

In regards to the August Wilson Center, I hope they do go forward with their intent to build the hotel. I'd like to see them go taller than 10 stories, but even then that would make this a 12-story building.

[BrianTH]

Pittsburgh won't be bidding on the 2016 DNC. Can't blame them--that sort of event is of dubious direct economic benefit, and budgets are still tight:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...-to-bid-on-2016-democratic.html?page=all

[BrianTH]

It appears CSC may take most of the office space in North Shore Place I and II:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...take-office-space-at-north.html?page=all

Gee, that was fast. It is almost like Continental could have built bigger . . .

[BrianTH]

So an opinion piece by Joseph Stiglitz published in the online PG had a mention of aerial gondolas in Medellin, complete with picture:

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014...-all-their-citizens/stories/201406080041

[popstar]

http://www.post-gazette.com/newimmigrant...-to-his-new-country/stories/201406080115

[KINGPIN]

Hey everyone...I was watching kdka news yesterday morning and seen a commercial for the "Your Pittsburgh" news magazine. The short commercial showed a photo of the "Mon Tower" project and an interview with a gentleman who stated he wanted to build the tallest building in Pittsburgh. It might be interesting to check out. I think it airs Monday at 730.

[Evergrey]

Nice...I love "Your Pittsburgh". Thanks for the heads up, KINGPIN.

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by KINGPIN

Hey everyone...I was watching kdka news yesterday morning and seen a commercial for the "Your Pittsburgh" news magazine. The short commercial showed a photo of the "Mon Tower" project and an interview with a gentleman who stated he wanted to build the tallest building in Pittsburgh. It might be interesting to check out. I think it airs Monday at 730.

What did the photo look like? How tall did it look? Where was it located? The Burns and Scalo site? Any distinguishing architectural features?

Sorry to jump down your throat with questions - those are some exciting statements.

[KINGPIN]

What did the photo look like? How tall did it look? Where was it located? The Burns and Scalo site? Any distinguishing architectural features?

Sorry to jump down your throat with questions - those are some exciting statements.

No problem...The photo featured on the commercial was the GBBN proposal. It was the same rendering that has been used since B & S announced the three design finalist. I hope to be home to watch the Your Pittsburgh segment, hopefully the piece is worthwhile and not just BS from B & S. I have noticed KDKA favors reporting development news more than WTAE or WPXI-if that means anything.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by KINGPIN

No problem...The photo featured on the commercial was the GBBN proposal. It was the same rendering that has been used since B & S announced the three design finalist. I hope to be home to watch the Your Pittsburgh segment, hopefully the piece is worthwhile and not just BS from B & S. I have noticed KDKA favors reporting development news more than WTAE or WPXI-if that means anything.

If anyone misses the telecast of "Your Pittsburgh"... the segments from the news magazine will be available for viewing on their website under the "Your Pittsburgh" link.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

$88 million in New Market Tax Credits has been awarded to local entities (although I don't think the PNC entity will allocate them all here, but some probably will be).

A third group that has also funded a lot of projects in Pittsburgh also got $33M:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...pers-receive-33m-in-federal-funding.html

[GeneW]

East End retail plan [AutoZone] draws opposition from community group

[Found5dollar]

More real time bus tracking will be rolling out fast.

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region...edule/stories/201406040064#ixzz349veWpdF

<quote>"The plan after that is to do a cluster of routes every two to three weeks and monitor for problems as we go through," he said. All bus routes are expected to be on the system by the end of the year, and Light Rail Transit service will be added in 2015.
</quote>

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

More real time bus tracking will be rolling out fast.

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region...edule/stories/201406040064#ixzz349veWpdF

<quote>"The plan after that is to do a cluster of routes every two to three weeks and monitor for problems as we go through," he said. All bus routes are expected to be on the system by the end of the year, and Light Rail Transit service will be added in 2015.
</quote>

T Service tracking won't be much use until they get some kind of network access in the subway stations. Not much point in having an app to tell me if the train is coming if there's no network connection.

[BrianTH]

An AWC hearing has been set for July 1st, to resolve whether the URA can block the hotel development (in which case Dollar Bank will seek to foreclose):

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...-ongoing-open-wound/stories/201406090159

Another possibility is the parties will reach an agreement, and maybe having a hearing set will help.

Incidentally, this is good news:

David Franklin, an attorney for the developer . . . added 980 Liberty Partners is far enough along on engineering studies related to the building that it is confident that the proposed hotel can be built.

"All signs point to go right now," he said.