PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Interesting piece on the challenges of trying to integrate new developments into cool older neighborhoods:

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/7398568-74/developers-development-million#axzz3N6RI6Pm9

[BrianTH]

Polish Hill is being pulled into the East End redevelopment vortex:

http://triblive.com/business/realestate/7280191-74/hill-polish-says#axzz3N6RI6Pm9

Love the dry humor here:

[Catarinella] has just begun a project to turn two homes on Brereton Avenue into owner-occupied rental units. Both will have two-story homes for the owner and one-story apartments for the renter. He plans on selling them each for $350,000, a bit above the $11,000 and $10,700 Allegheny County lists as their 2014 full market values.

The article quotes a variety of people expressing skepticism, but I think the developer is probably right about the potential demand for this sort of thing--there is plenty of need for nice starter homes in general, and the model of using a rental unit to offset the mortgage has worked well in many other cities (this is pretty common in DC, for example).

[photoLith]

I really hope they are renovating the airport. I just flew to San Antonio and it's one of the dingiest airports I've debt been in and I've been in a ton. If Pittsburgh wants to come out of the 1980s and show that it's a modern progressive city, which it's not but has the capability to do so, then the city needs to start with remodeling the airport and making it modern looking.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I really hope they are renovating the airport. .

Yes sir. We discussed this to some degree a few posts back. Some of the proceeds the airport authority is getting from energy exploration and extraction will be used for upgrades. Whether these improvements (ie new flooring, paint, carpets) and other cosmetic changes will actually be enough is unlikely. But it is still long overdue.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Polish Hill is being pulled into the East End redevelopment vortex:

.

Eventually the city assessors will catch up in all this east neighborhoods. Means only good things for public schools and services in general. Who said gentrification is a bad thing?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Originally Posted by ShooFlyPie

Hazelwood isn't really off the beaten path as much as it feels. Past the Hot Metal Street Bridge there is just a vast amount of brownfield along the river front and a desolate empty Irvine street that resembles the 1980s rust belt. This will practically connect Hazelwood with the Southside Works if done correctly, and a new Boulevard from 2nd Ave to Hazelwood could easily make Hazelwood connected to the South Side. Decent public transit would make Hazelwood a quick connection to Squirrel Hill/South Side/Downtown/Oakland. Last but not least connect the Jail trail the Duck Hollow trail, to Nine Mile Run to access Frick and Regent square by bike without having to connect up through Squirrel hill. Hazelwood won't feel so much off the beaten path anymore and connected to all the vibrant neighborhoods of the city.

They also should connect Hazelwood Ave to the intersection of Becks Run and Carson Street across the Mon River with a new bridge. This would quickly become an important east/west corridor in a neglected corner of the city that doesn't have many alternative options as it exists now.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

They also should connect Hazelwood Ave to the intersection of Becks Run and Carson Street across the Mon River with a new bridge. This would quickly become an important east/west corridor in a neglected corner of the city that doesn't have many alternative options as it exists now.

I understand the appeal, but new river bridges are incredibly expensive.

[photoLith]

Yeah, I dont think any bridges will be built anytime soon...

[Minivan Werner]

What was the last bridge that was built over one of the rivers? Not counting re-purposed bridges like the Hot Metal.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

What was the last bridge that was built over one of the rivers? Not counting re-purposed bridges like the Hot Metal.

They did a new Mon bridge in 2012 as part of the Brownsville section of the MFE. The reported cost of the bridge was $96M, and I suspect in this case you would have to add a lot more for ramps, interchanges, etc.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

What was the last bridge that was built over one of the rivers? Not counting re-purposed bridges like the Hot Metal.

In the city? Maybe the Veterans Bridge which was finished in 1988 at a cost of $420 million. (Around $838 million in todays money)

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

In the city? Maybe the Veterans Bridge which was finished in 1988 at a cost of $420 million. (Around $838 million in todays money)

And it's easily the ugliest major bridge in the city.

[Topher51]

Originally Posted by GeneW

And it's easily the ugliest major bridge in the city.

It's a plate girder bridge; of course it is ugly compared to the dozen or so suspension and truss bridges in the city. It is also far cheaper to build and widen, if necessary and is barely noticeable in skyline shots of the city.

Most of the bridges on the Mon-Fayette are pre-cast concrete box girder bridges, which are relatively simple, but sleek looking. Below is a pic of the Smart Road Bridge near Virginia Tech, which they paneled with Hokie Stone.



I recall one of the early plans for the ALMONO site had a bridge connecting to Becks Run Road. That might have just been a U of Pitt student concept though. I personally think a cable stayed bridge would look great there and I believe it would be the only one in the area (not counting the one in Weirton, WV). A pre-cast box girder river crossing would also be the only one of its kind in the area and could look nice.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Originally Posted by Topher51

I recall one of the early plans for the ALMONO site had a bridge connecting to Becks Run Road. That might have just been a U of Pitt student concept though. I personally think a cable stayed bridge would look great there and I believe it would be the only one in the area (not counting the one in Weirton, WV). A pre-cast box girder river crossing would also be the only one of its kind in the area and could look nice.

Yes! A bridge similar to that one in Weirton for that location would be awesome.

I find it hard to believe that the Veterans Bridge cost 420 mil and yet the more recent one across the Mon at Brownsville was less than 100 mil?? I'm thinking that a new bridge at Becks run and Hazelwood would be more in the ballpark of the Brownsville one.

[SkyPittsburgh]

A while ago I posted an idea on the Talent City website, about turning the Hays woods area into a city or county park. The idea of a pedestrian/bike/car bridge connecting Becks Run road would tie in well with this idea. However, this is the biggest pipe dream in the City. But who says you can't dream?

[Private Dick]

I think the Oakmont bridge is the newest bridge in the area. Though it's probably still UC??

I hope they didn't knock the old one down -- it would make a great pedestrian, bike trail bridge.

[Jonboy1983]

I always thought a bridge should have been built leading from Becks Run Rd over to Hazelwood, especially with new development soon to be underway. I don't think the Veterans Bridge is a good comparison though, costwise. You figure the Vets Bridge carries 8 lanes of interstate highway and has a series of ramps at either end.

At the same time, I don't think it's going to cost as little as $92 million either. That whole intersection with Becks Run at E. Carson needs to be completely reconstructed; in terms of the grade it's actually below the CSX tracks. They need to fill that land in, although I guess it can be done in a similar manor that they did when reconstructing the Allegheny Valley Expressway at some of those bridges.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by GeneW

And it's easily the ugliest major bridge in the city.

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

Yes! A bridge similar to that one in Weirton for that location would be awesome.

I find it hard to believe that the Veterans Bridge cost 420 mil and yet the more recent one across the Mon at Brownsville was less than 100 mil?? I'm thinking that a new bridge at Becks run and Hazelwood would be more in the ballpark of the Brownsville one.

It's a huge bridge. One of the longest and widest in the Pittsburgh metro.


http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-archi...ans-Memorial-Bridge/stories/201307210274

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

I'm thinking that a new bridge at Becks run and Hazelwood would be more in the ballpark of the Brownsville one.

I don't know everything that was involved in the Veterans' Bridge, but I do know a variety of things can add up quickly when it is not just a simple bridge connecting highway segments on each side in a relatively undeveloped spot. You've got ramps and interchanges you would need, railroad lines (and a railroad overpass) to deal with, probably all sorts of rights of way and easements to acquire, maybe utilities to move and such--I'm pretty sure all that stuff could at least double the final bill, and maybe more.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

I think the Oakmont bridge is the newest bridge in the area.

That's a replacement not an entirely new bridge, however, which I believe can avoid a lot of those additional costs.

Looks like the old one is going to be demolished (which is too bad):

http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/youral...-74/bridge-project-oakmont#axzz2hn20C6wk

The bridge is being built just upstream of the current bridge, which will be demolished once construction is completed.