PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 549

BrianTH · #**10961** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Such a nice building.

Absolutely. It would be a shame if it stayed City offices.

Jonboy1983 · #**10962** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Absolutely. It would be a shame if it stayed City offices.

That is a nice building. I couldn't remember where exactly that was, so I looked around for it in Google Earth. I see that it's on Ross St and right up against the eyesore that is Blvd. of the Allies. Annnd... with that get ready for a tangent...

Blvd of the Allies really takes away from that building and the rest of the surroundings. I wish they would completely overhaul that street as well as the Crosstown Boulevard. They are not doing Downtown any favors at all. I foresee the Boulevard terminating at Crosstown, and I see the whole elevated portion of the Crosstown Boulevard going away in favor of surface streets. There could be a jughead intersection with Blvd of the Allies and Crosstown Blvd, and the Crosstown could/should be redesigned as a surface street, becomming I-579 just prior to crossing the Allegheny River at the Veterans Bridge.

If those awful roads go away, that could really open that part of town up further for development and redevelopment...

Austinlee · #**10963** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

That is a nice building. I couldn't remember where exactly that was, so I looked around for it in Google Earth. I see that it's on Ross St and right up against the eyesore that is Blvd. of the Allies. Annnd... with that get ready for a tangent...

Agreed. It kills the urban fabric in that corner of downtown. However with the PNC Firstside opening, the new park across the street, the lightrail station, the renovation of buildings like the old J&L HQ and the Salvation Army building, and the Art Institute 1 block away, this area has a very surprising vibrancy to people who aren't familiar with it. It's the most underrated corner of downtown.

Jonboy1983 · #**10964** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 1:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Agreed. It kills the urban fabric in that corner of downtown. However with the PNC Firstside opening, the new park across the street, the lightrail station, the renovation of buildings like the old J&L HQ and the Salvation Army building, and the Art Institute 1 block away, this area has a very surprising vibrancy to people who aren't familiar with it. It's the most underrated corner of downtown.

Yeah, that is a neat little corner of the city. Could you imagine what it could be like if not for the aforementioned hideous so-called Boulevards?

Austinlee · #**10965** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 2:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

Yeah, that is a neat little corner of the city. Could you imagine what it could be like if not for the aforementioned hideous so-called Boulevards?

Pittsburgh might actually have a functional, albeit small Chinatown of its own.

Evergrey · #**10966** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 2:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

158 beyond what you'd assume just from the unit-bedroom count.

Pittsburgh only requires under zoning code one parking space per unit. For hotels, there don't appear to be any set parking requirements, which makes sense, given the parking needs of a hotel Downtown are different from one elsewhere.

Regardless, I agree this seems like too much parking. While hotel employees might need to have cars on a daily basis, not everyone staying at the hotel will bring a car, if they are flying in from out of town. Certainly it's unlikely that one room would need two spaces. Which means it must be presumed that the additional spaces are for the residential component. I'm guessing NIMBYs are to blame here, but not certain.

Any renderings of the downsized, parking-centric One Grand view proposal?

Found5dollar · #**10967** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Any renderings of the downsized, parking-centric One Grand view proposal?

Renderings and more info coming in march.

http://m.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/gra...ter-than-none-at-all/Content?oid=1724276

BrianTH · #**10968** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 5:04 PM**

Although eliminating the ramps would be nice, I don't think that is necessary for the purpose of redeveloping that area. Crosstown is over past the railroad tracks, which provides a little spacing. BoA does cut into the area, but presumably PMC had a plan in mind for the Robin/J&L building, and the lot behind could do something like put a few levels of parking on the lowest floors, as could the lot at B and First.

BrianTH · #**10969** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 5:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

Renderings and more info coming in march.

http://m.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/gra...ter-than-none-at-all/Content?oid=1724276

Isn't that article from last January?

Jonboy1983 · #**10970** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 5:40 PM**

I'd say that with the way the apartment AND hotel market is shaping up in Pittsburgh, they should bring back that original proposal, especially with some plans in the works for the parking lot and former night club in Station Square. I think a 5-star hotel could do well up there now with everything else that has been going on in this city.

But... I guess these bureaucrats who think they have the credentials for city planning probably don't/won't see that...

And yes, that article is from last year.

Found5dollar · #**10971** Posted **Jan 18, 2015, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Isn't that article from last January?

shit. your right. It was linked from a current article and i always get the year wrong in january.

BrianTH · #**10972** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 1:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

shit. your right. It was linked from a current article and i always get the year wrong in january.

Me too--it was actually why I thought to check.

The good news is they added back in a hotel since then. The bad news is it is year later, and this really isn't any farther along.

daviderik · #**10973** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 2:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

I'd say that with the way the apartment AND hotel market is shaping up in Pittsburgh, they should bring back that original proposal, especially with some plans in the works for the parking lot and former night club in Station Square. I think a 5-star hotel could do well up there now with everything else that has been going on in this city.

But... I guess these bureaucrats who think they have the credentials for city planning probably don't/won't see that...

And yes, that article is from last year.

Absolutely. The old plan was a real gem. From the townhouses to the steps falling down the hill. But the real issue is finding investors, and pleasing the local residence. (Which are vocal minority of never happy, shortsighted babies). The developer should hang tough though. In a few years they'll all say "why didn't we build bigger".

Austinlee · #**10974** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 4:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Found5dollar

Renderings and more info coming in march.

http://m.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/gra...ter-than-none-at-all/Content?oid=1724276

The second rendering looked like a pile of discarded newspapers sitting in a landfill.
Hopefully 3rd time is a charm. I personally have thought that both renderings suck thus far.

Austinlee · #**10975** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 4:54 AM**

I KNOW some of you purists are gonna have a problem with the latest idea from the Pittsburgh Tourism board to increase the visibility of the Pittsburgh name and brand by installing huge lettering across downtown:

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/2015/01/1...-shines-at-Carnegie/stories/201501180014

Found5dollar · #**10976** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 5:00 AM**

^ but seriously, if you haven't seen the Duane Michals show at the Carnegie yet, do it.

The exhibit is amazing.

Private Dick · #**10977** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pghaedesign

You'd think with all the other announcements regarding other projects, this one would move a little quicker. Considering how long its been in limbo.

This is a rookie "developer" attempting to undertake a big -- and very risky -- project. It shouldn't be surprising that it's moving so slowly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

I'd say that with the way the apartment AND hotel market is shaping up in Pittsburgh, they should bring back that original proposal, especially with some plans in the works for the parking lot and former night club in Station Square. I think a 5-star hotel could do well up there now with everything else that has been going on in this city.

But... I guess these bureaucrats who think they have the credentials for city planning probably don't/won't see that...

So the bureaucrats who engage in city planning initiatives are the ones who scaled back the proposal? Interesting... I had no idea.

If a 5-star hotel thought it could do well up on Mt. Washington, that's what we would see being proposed.

GeneW · #**10978** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 6:30 PM**

Bakery Square set to expand again.

Seems to be quite a few tech companies moving from the suburbs into city lately. They mention Autodesk in the story but both Resumator and Avere have recently moved from the North Hills to The Strip and The North Side respectively.

JVC · #**10979** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 7:59 PM**

any word on when walnut capital plans to begin demolition for the new penn-highland building in east liberty?

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...rgets-ex-PNC-branch/stories/201411180068

BrianTH · #**10980** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 12:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneW

Bakery Square set to expand again.

Cool. It will look pretty sweet coming down Penn once they are both built.