PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Morrow Park City has a few neat construction photos on its website:

http://www.villagegreen.com/pittsburgh/morrow-park-city-apartments/photos/

Wow, thanks. The courtyard looks intense. lol

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by dfiler

I think the concern is theft by people who aren't customers. Just regular cut the lock and steal kind of theft.

The main deterrent is that the bikes are obviously from the bike share program. The frame design is quite distinct. They presumably would have no resale value at pawn shops where thieves normally unload their stolen bikes.

I don't know about Pittsburgh but typically bike share bikes have non-standard parts that make them much less attractive targets for theft.

[RespectCondor]

Originally Posted by dfiler

Pittsburgh's culture of road use/behavior makes riding a bike somewhat dangerous. I have been hit 3 times while riding a bike in Pittsburgh! And that's while being hyper-vigilant and riding with anticipation of other road users' behavior. Hopefully as the number of riders increases, we'll see a cultural shift, both by cyclists and drivers.

The issue, in my opinion, is that us yinzers see dangerous road behavior as normal. Going 40 in a 25 or 55 in a 35, completely normal. This is so ingrained that pedestrians feel like it is their duty to not impede cars, ever. To do otherwise is dangerous. In other cities, a pedestrian merely has to hint like they are going to cross a road and traffic will stop. In Pittsburgh, people frequently run across crosswalks even when they have the right of way. Granted, downtown is a different scenario, but in most of Pittsburgh this is true.

There is a lot of momentum to car-centric urban planning. For example, note how the intersection by the East Liberty Target was rebuilt. It was designed to optimize traffic flow, with disregard for the experience of walking, working or living in the neighborhood.

Yet there is hope. Peduto's endorsement of the complete streets philosophy could reverse that momemtum.
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...o-complete-streets-project.html?page=all

I could't agree with you more. I have also been hit by three cars in Pittsburgh, what a sad club to be in! the whole city could use lots of traffic calming methods that are being used in other cities. Its about bringing top speed down, if you do it right the average speed will improve in lots of places and remain the same in others. Make road lanes that are not as wide as highway lanes and people are less likely to drive at highway speeds. timing traffic lights to go with average cycling speed is another great method they use in Copenhagen. I love the new separated bike lanes and want to see more, but I think the real battle will be getting people to understand that a person on a bike has every right to use roads that are not highways. A driver having to wait 30 seconds to pass me safely really isn't an inconvenience.

I will be biking my whole life and I am happy to see that more and more Pittsburghers are coming around to it. But there will always be people to scared to start riding when you have people doubling the speed limit and cussing at a cyclist just for being there.

I do have hope though. It's 1000x better than it was 10 years ago and I think a lot of the shit I hear out of car windows right now is the last roar of the dinosaurs realizing they are losing this cultural debate and getting a few last shots in.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

I can't for the life of me figure out why they are dead-ending the streets right next to each other instead of just connecting them through.

As the other poster noted, I also believe there was an earlier version of the project were the NIMBYs objected to them being through streets.

Of course the NIMBYs just want to kill the project, so more or less just throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, and are not above contradicting themselves over time.

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Wow, thanks. The courtyard looks intense. lol

Im pretty sure you cant see downtown from that location like that...

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Im pretty sure you cant see downtown from that location like that...

Hah! Funny, that view would put it in the Hill District, not Bloomfield/Shadyside.

[Wave]

Great shot & perspective. Actually that part of the Morrow Park apt. project is only one half of the "U" shaped development. The second section of the "U" is starting to go up as well.

Driving east on Baum Blvd. towards East Liberty as you approach the intersection of Baum and Liberty affords quite an impressive urban vista now. Between the two wings of the Morrow Park Apartment development, the new Hyatt Hotel, the existing Marriott on the west side of the park, the Two massive, gorgeous 10-12 story pre-war apartment buildings at Aiken and Centre and of course the stunning Romanesque Church on the east side of Morrow Park, plus the recently renovated and upgraded Morrow Park itself, this intersection has become the centerpiece of the Baum/Centre corridor. There are still a couple of parcels to develop that would truly complete the square (triangle really). The parcel behind the Hyattt where the Honda dealer is and the parcel east of the Hyatt where the surface lot is.

I also would love to see something significant built on Centre, just east of the two 1920's apartment high rises. Currently it consists of a low rise shopping strip including a Panera.

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Morrow Park City apartment is looking great! The size seems really perfect for that location. And it's not set back from the sidewalk. It's actually urban.

[MattofSloppyVariety]

Originally Posted by dfiler

I think the concern is theft by people who aren't customers. Just regular cut the lock and steal kind of theft.

The main deterrent is that the bikes are obviously from the bike share program. The frame design is quite distinct. They presumably would have no resale value at pawn shops where thieves normally unload their stolen bikes.

You can't just cut the lock on these, especially with how the stations are made.

[eschaton]

I agree that the "urban feel" of the Morrow Park area is dramatically improved by the new buildings. It's a shame when the Courtyard Marriott was built they didn't force the builders to have the facade front on Liberty/Baum, hiding the lot back on Centre. That said, given the front lot is roughly the same depth as the green space in front of First United Methodist, it doesn't hurt the "square" feel of the intersection too much.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Hah! Funny, that view would put it in the Hill District, not Bloomfield/Shadyside.

Which brings up a good point; Someday in the future when middle class income people feel the Hill is safe enough it will explode with development. I could see it becoming a high density neighborhood with lots of large apartment buildings. The central location is amazing. I'm thinking Capitol Hill in Seattle. I can dream can't I?

Capitol Hill next to downtown:

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Wave

Great shot & perspective. Actually that part of the Morrow Park apt. project is only one half of the "U" shaped development. The second section of the "U" is starting to go up as well.

Driving east on Baum Blvd. towards East Liberty as you approach the intersection of Baum and Liberty affords quite an impressive urban vista now. Between the two wings of the Morrow Park Apartment development, the new Hyatt Hotel, the existing Marriott on the west side of the park, the Two massive, gorgeous 10-12 story pre-war apartment buildings at Aiken and Centre and of course the stunning Romanesque Church on the east side of Morrow Park, plus the recently renovated and upgraded Morrow Park itself, this intersection has become the centerpiece of the Baum/Centre corridor. There are still a couple of parcels to develop that would truly complete the square (triangle really). The parcel behind the Hyattt where the Honda dealer is and the parcel east of the Hyatt where the surface lot is.

I also would love to see something significant built on Centre, just east of the two 1920's apartment high rises. Currently it consists of a low rise shopping strip including a Panera.

Right on! That intersection is really filling out nicely. And don't forget the nearby Vitmore to be built.

[Austinlee]

Also the delayed $300 million UPMC Center for Innovative Science will still be built someday, allegedly.


http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3428213-74/upmc-garage-center#axzz3Y5E4d0cw

UPMC has not determined a new date for opening the center, which would renovate a former Ford Motor Co. building at the corner of Baum and Morewood Avenue. The project would construct an addition onto the building, more than doubling its size.
UPMC bought the 92-year-old Ford building for $10 million in 2007, and said it would add research space there. The Center for Innovative Science was announced in October 2011 as a world-class research center where scientists would work to identify genetic and environmental factors that made some people more susceptible to cancer.


Read more: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3428213-74/upmc-garage-center#ixzz3Y5FJnFgk
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Of course the NIMBYs just want to kill the project, so more or less just throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, and are not above contradicting themselves over time.

As usual, a very astute observation from Mr BrianTH.

[Austinlee]

While browsing the Morrow Park Apartments link I noticed a related link of the "10 best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh for millenials".

https://blog.niche.com/2014/04/10-best-pittsburgh-neighborhoods-for-millennials-2/

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

While browsing the Morrow Park Apartments link I noticed a related link of the "10 best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh for millenials".

https://blog.niche.com/2014/04/10-best-pittsburgh-neighborhoods-for-millennials-2/

Greenfield, Regent Square, and Mount Washington listed before Lawrenceville? Really?

More on point, I wonder if all the development around Morrow Park will help push a revival of the Aiken Station proposal (which was killed by NIMBY forces when the East Busway was first being constructed). Seems like a no brainer to me, though you could also argue perhaps shifting the station to an intersection with Baum or Centre might make sense. My favorite idea is Millvale and Aiken though.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Greenfield, Regent Square, and Mount Washington listed before Lawrenceville? Really?

The methodology link didn't work for me, but I am guessing Lawrenceville scored relatively poorly on one or more of the statistics they used. There could be a bit of truth to that--rents, for example, have gone up rapidly--but I also suspect part of the problem is that Lawrenceville as a whole is very big with lots of different parts, and the best parts for young people may be mixed in with some other parts in the statistics.

[TBone7281]

I realize that moving to a new thread is somewhat arbitrary, but it may be time for a Pittsburgh Development Rundown III. We are up 100 pages and 2000 posts compared to the original.

Not it for starting the new one.

[TBone7281]

Not a lot of information, but Pittsburgh made a top 10 list for "Top Housing Markets for Home Buyers".

http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/22/real_estate/housing-markets-buyers/index.html

[Private Dick]

Some add'l info:

CMU proposes hotel, office, retail complex to help remake Forbes Ave.
April 23, 2015 12:27 AM

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...corridor-pittsburgh/stories/201504220154





A new office, hotel and retail development proposed by Carnegie Mellon University is part of a bid to transform the Forbes Avenue corridor in Oakland into one that could “rival the major hubs of innovation around the world.”

The complex — up to 425,000 square feet in size — would be built on two acres of university-owned land located between the Carnegie Museums and Junction Hollow near Craig Street.

The development has been part of the master planning for the university as it seeks to expand its campus and make space for technology giants like Apple and Disney Research lured by its talented and ambitious faculty and students.

The new development, according to Mr. Jahanian, could include research space for students and faculty, space for external partners, labs and studios for shared industry-academia use, office space, “a quality hotel,” a parking garage, and some retail space.

J.C. Pelusi, Jones Lange LaSalle market leader and managing director, said the developer to be chosen later this year will be responsible for building and funding. The new office, hotel and retail building will be the second-largest structure on campus.

According to a JLL press release, the development would provide new office space for industry, government and nonprofit partners seeking to establish or enlarge their footprints at the university.

One possible target could be Apple, which has been looking to expand its presence is the region. Currently located at the Mehrabian center, the iPhone and Mac computer maker has been searching for 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of office space.

JLL has been representing Apple in that matter. Mr. Pelusi would not comment on the search, but said there are many advantages for companies like Apple, Google and Disney Research, all of which have or have had a presence on CMU’s campus, to be close to the university known for its technology research.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by TBone7281

I realize that moving to a new thread is somewhat arbitrary, but it may be time for a Pittsburgh Development Rundown III. We are up 100 pages and 2000 posts compared to the original.

Not it for starting the new one.

I would be willing to create a new one. I was about to do major updates to page 1 anyway to add new projects and delete ones that aren't relevant anymore.