PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Evergrey]

rendering of the new Squirrel Hill condo building... The Q

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/neighborho...-hill-get-the-q-new-condominium-complex/

[Evergrey]

sadly, the historic and condemned Brashear lens factory in Perry Hilltop collapsed and has been demolished

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...after-wall-collapse/stories/201503170199

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by Captain Crash

So this new Sheetz development is for our neighbors to the south, but it's interesting...



http://www.wtae.com/news/a-recently-open...ae4&Content%20Type=Story&linkId=12896087

This seems like a cool concept. I know a couple years ago Sheetz was kicking the tires on some urban Pittsburgh locations that would be just the standard size stores minus the gas component. But maybe with the small grocery store component added to the restaurant and such, something like this Morgantown Sheetz could work really well Downtown.

more on Sheetz's urban strategy:

http://triblive.com/business/headlines/7934196-74/woodley-trib-stores

Sheetz to add food-only stores to promote growth in urban areas, exec Woodley says

...

In a bid to expand into urban markets, the company, which employs more than 16,000 people, is pushing a new store model — one without the gas pumps that focuses on higher-margin sales of food and beverages, said Dave Woodley, the company's executive vice president of sales and marketing.

“Our platform has obviously changed from a convenience store to more of a restaurant feel,” he said.

...

Trib: Do you see these stores primarily being on college campuses, or in any urban center?

Woodley: The current (gas station) model we have today is tough to take into an urban setting, so (fuel-free stores) gives us an opportunity to expand our model and move into a more urban setting. It's not necessarily going to be all college.

...

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...-new-U-S-Steel-plan/stories/201503180146

Hill District residents raise concerns over U.S. Steel headquarters plan

March 18, 2015 12:00 AM

...

There have been some tweaks made in response to criticism from Christine Mondor, city planning commission chairwoman, who recently said it looked like a building in a suburban office park. Mr. McKee said the long, smooth face of the building’s front will be broken up and the main entrance will be more clearly identified.

“Design of a building is driven by the tenant,” said Mr. McKee, who said U.S. Steel wanted a building that was not costly and had large floor plans with wide-open spaces.

“This is not an ostentatious building. It’s a very smart, cool, practical building that I believe they think will help them in recruiting.”

One resident asked about the building’s roof, since it will be visible from viewers in the Hill District, but Mr. McKee said costs were likely to preclude many appealing options.

...

[TBone7281]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...-new-U-S-Steel-plan/stories/201503180146

If that's what US Steel was looking for (large open floor plans, cheap) they shouldn't have stayed downtown.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

rendering of the new Squirrel Hill condo building... The Q

Of course I wish it was at least a couple floors taller, but overall that is a reasonable scale and a nice addition for that particular location.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

rendering of the new Squirrel Hill condo building... The Q

I'd say I could have sworn I saw this before, but virtually every new-construction residential building in the country looks interchangeable these days.

It would be really cool, given the location, to have something calling back more to the 1920s-era vernacular of that portion of Squirrel Hill.

[TBone7281]

From the 28 side of the 31st St. Bridge on 3/12.




2500 Smallman coming along on the left. The offices at 3 Crossings on the right. They've been pouring the concrete floors of the office pretty much all week. (3/16)




Renovation for Gaucho Parilla's expansion project. (This is at the corner of 16th and Penn). (3/17)

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by TBone7281

Renovation for Gaucho Parilla's expansion project. (This is at the corner of 16th and Penn). (3/17)

I wasn't aware of that one--that's great, because I love that building.

[TBone7281]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I wasn't aware of that one--that's great, because I love that building.

The building is nice, but Gaucho is amazing. If you're a meat eater, this place is a bit of a mecca.

As for the renovation, they've been working on it for a while... nearly a year now, I think. Most of last year was in working with the city and trying to actually get it all planned out. They had originally intended to have it done by last winter so that people actually could eat in. (They only have room for maybe 6 people to eat inside.) I asked on their Facebook page how it was going on 12/15/14 and they responded with:

Originally Posted by Guacho Parrilla Argentina

For all you folks wondering why we haven't completed our expansion yet....
The city wants us to bring the building back to its original 1860 glory. We are all good with that but they also want it up to 21st century international building code.

It's taking a lot longer, but it should be pretty sweet when complete.

[TBone7281]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I wasn't aware of that one--that's great, because I love that building.

The last I heard, the front half would be an expanded dining area. The back half will be a lounge once they get their liquor license.

[BrianTH]

Something to carry in this forum's gift shop section:

http://triblive.com/opinion/ericheyl/7967187-74/chess-cline-pittsburgh

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by TBone7281

The building is nice, but Gaucho is amazing. If you're a meat eater, this place is a bit of a mecca.

Agreed. Incredible eatery.

[JVC]

Rendering of new squirrel hill condo achieves new low in architectural imagination - potential buyers thrilled

Building shocks neighborhood by placing resident entrance in facade - decision to add nameplate to entrance results in celebration

Originally Posted by evergrey

rendering of the new squirrel hill condo building... The q

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/neighborho...-hill-get-the-q-new-condominium-complex/

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by JVC

Rendering of new squirrel hill condo achieves new low in architectural imagination

I would tend to agree. I usually don't mind this sort of design (for instance, I think the Walnut on Penn building is fairly sharp), but this is truly hideous. I cannot imagine a world where this building will age well at all.

[BrianTH]

The Burnham-designed Allegheny Building in Downtown is being put up for sale:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...e-building-put-up-for-sale.html?page=all

As noted in the article, this is currently a Class C office building with only 75% occupancy, and would seem to be a candidate for at least a partial residential or hotel conversion.



It is actually U-shaped, with a bay in back, but the Macy's Annex blocks off the lower floors. See here.

[JVC]

Originally Posted by Urbana

I would tend to agree. I usually don't mind this sort of design (for instance, I think the Walnut on Penn building is fairly sharp), but this is truly hideous. I cannot imagine a world where this building will age well at all.

the walnut on penn design is hideous

[JVC]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The Burnham-designed Allegheny Building in Downtown is being put up for sale:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...e-building-put-up-for-sale.html?page=all

As noted in the article, this is currently a Class C office building with only 75% occupancy, and would seem to be a candidate for at least a partial residential or hotel conversion.

hopefully it will be developed into a hotel - there should be at least fifty hotels per neighborhood in pittsburgh

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Something to carry in this forum's gift shop section:

http://triblive.com/opinion/ericheyl/7967187-74/chess-cline-pittsburgh

They should swap out the US Steel tower for the NEW US Steel HQ.

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Someone really needs to develop that lot, it makes that part of downtown kinda —.