PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 659

acenturi · #**13161** Posted **Jun 22, 2015, 11:00 PM**

I've been on this Forum for a lot of years and 1 thing that never changes is how frequently it's purpose is derailed by off-topic discussions - usually by the same soap boxes. Who the hell cares if Gucci skips the Gallery, or if KofP has more upscale stores than CC. Negadelphians here should read the Pittsburgh Forum once in awhile for guidance. Observe the mass of super impressive BUILDING RELATED photos/discussions in their threads and how they present an aura of being proud of their city and its ongoing construction - which a miniscual to what's happening in Philly. I long for the times when there were 2 or 3 posts/per day in this Forum, which provided insight into construction rumors/unofficial forecasts, rather than 20 posts about whether CC can/can not support a Movie Theatre, an expensive Italian clothing store, etc.!

Austinlee · #**13162** Posted **Jun 22, 2015, 11:21 PM**

Thanks for posting those Private Dick. Those are some wonderfully unique angles.

Austinlee · #**13163** Posted **Jun 22, 2015, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbana

Stumbled across this old postcard depicting East Liberty from the air. I was immediately smacked in the face with what could have been - enough to pretty much ruin my day. So anyway, I thought I would share the despair with you all!

http://www.atticpostcards.com/images/LH97/057.html#pic2

East Lib looks like a major city there! Haha.

BrianTH · #**13164** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 11:13 AM**

Although it is frustrating what it went through, I also agree the core of East Liberty is coming back very strong. It will not be quite as charming as it could have been, but it will still end up a dense, thriving, town-center sort of place, and still with lots of historical interest.

And if the development sites around the circle and down Penn get filled up with apartments, offices, and such, and Larimer and Garfield also continue down positive development paths, it could in some ways actually reach new heights.

eschaton · #**13165** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 12:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

East Lib looks like a major city there! Haha.

I'm noticing how the block catty-corner to the church looked prior to remuddling. I know from pre-Penn Circle pictures that many of those facades were ruined already by 1960. But I wonder if anything worth saving still exists under those disgusting mid-20th century facades?

eschaton · #**13166** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 1:48 PM**

Found some old pictures of East Liberty from the 1920s. Check em out.

TBone7281 · #**13167** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 2:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acenturi

I've been on this Forum for a lot of years and 1 thing that never changes is how frequently it's purpose is derailed by off-topic discussions - usually by the same soap boxes. Who the hell cares if Gucci skips the Gallery, or if KofP has more upscale stores than CC. Negadelphians here should read the Pittsburgh Forum once in awhile for guidance. Observe the mass of super impressive BUILDING RELATED photos/discussions in their threads and how they present an aura of being proud of their city and its ongoing construction - which a miniscual to what's happening in Philly. I long for the times when there were 2 or 3 posts/per day in this Forum, which provided insight into construction rumors/unofficial forecasts, rather than 20 posts about whether CC can/can not support a Movie Theatre, an expensive Italian clothing store, etc.!

I think you meant to post this in the Philly thread.

JVC · #**13168** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 4:48 PM**

speaking of east liberty, when completed eastside 3 will have 50,000 square feet of retail space available for rent

that means the eastside developer has to fill a space equivalent in size to the ground floor of walnut street extending from shillers pharmacy to x shadyside

good luck with that

photoLith · #**13169** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 8:19 PM**

Jesus Christ, East Liberty could have been cooler than downtown if they hadn't destroyed it, fml.

eschaton · #**13170** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 2:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Jesus Christ, East Liberty could have been cooler than downtown if they hadn't destroyed it, fml.

A lot of these buildings don't look recognizable because the blocks are long gone. Frankstown used to intersect Penn Avenue almost where Collins Street is today - e.g., where the Target is. Obviously the north block where Target was is gone. So is the south block where they are building the new Eastside phase now. Everything on the short block by Sheraden Square (which included the Sheraden Square Theater) was also demolished - that's where the ugly CVS and Citizens Bank are today. The Liberty Building's block is the only one in the foreground of these pictures which survived, and the Liberty Building itself is one of the only ones which wasn't horribly remuddled on that block.

eschaton · #**13171** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 3:32 PM**

Lots of debate going on about this at the other place. Pittsburgh is looking at the "woonerf model" for certain streets Downtown.

I've thought we need to have some woonerfs in Pittsburgh for awhile. But I think the place suggested is not the best, considering it's a glorified highway onramp with little to no street activity. Pittsburgh should do it first on residential streets in the rowhouse neighborhoods, or maybe a commercial district like Walnut Street.

BrianTH · #**13172** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 6:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

I've thought we need to have some woonerfs in Pittsburgh for awhile. But I think the place suggested is not the best, considering it's a glorified highway onramp with little to no street activity. Pittsburgh should do it first on residential streets in the rowhouse neighborhoods, or maybe a commercial district like Walnut Street.

I can see the appeal of that location. I cross through that area as a pedestrian a lot at the crosswalk without a signal, and it usually doesn't have much traffic so that works well. Thus, it could be a pretty smooth transition.

That said, I also agree it is lacking much activity of all sorts, outside of festival periods and such. But maybe that could change a bit. There certainly is a bunch of largely wasted land built into that area.

Edit: By the way, I'm not sure about this, but isn't a "woonerf" specifically a street, and one where pedestrians have right of way? I think the more generic term "shared space" is usually used when you are talking about a different sort of space.

BrianTH · #**13173** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 7:42 PM**

McCaffery is gearing up to get the URA to approve a plan for the Produce Terminal in July:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...p-District-terminal/stories/201506240110

I didn't mind exploring blending in some elements of the Rubino proposal, but I would like to see this start moving along and the basic outlines of McCaffery's proposal are fine with me.

qwho · #**13174** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 12:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

That said, I also agree it is lacking much activity of all sorts, outside of festival periods and such. But maybe that could change a bit. There certainly is a bunch of largely wasted land built into that area.

Maybe an effort could be made to add on to the base of the buildings, such as the two gateway center towers along Penn, the edge of the park behind the old state office tower, in order pull them up to the street edge and add ground level retail. Like you said without anything going on there, it is dead besides arts fest. When my wife and I were down there for it, we were both saying boy this is pretty, but it is so empty...

Captain Crash · #**13175** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:23 PM**

The oldest house in the city is apparently available for purchase from the URA. The "John Woods House" in Hazelwood was built in 1792 at the corner of Monongahela St. and Tullymet St.

I've never heard of this place before, but the pictures of this small stone homestead are truly amazing. I'm not really sure how to put it into good use. I think it would be a really cool venue for a cafe/coffee shop, but even with the expected increase in development in the area, its location might still be too distant from the main roads for a retail use.

Thoughts?

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=16096902c0eb51d713451c106&id=9a3bea0c85

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Woods_House

Austinlee · #**13176** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Lots of debate going on about this at the other place. Pittsburgh is looking at the "woonerf model" for certain streets Downtown.

I've thought we need to have some woonerfs in Pittsburgh for awhile. But I think the place suggested is not the best, considering it's a glorified highway onramp with little to no street activity. Pittsburgh should do it first on residential streets in the rowhouse neighborhoods, or maybe a commercial district like Walnut Street.

Would you mind linking me to that discussion? I would like to read that. Thx

eschaton · #**13177** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 6:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Would you mind linking me to that discussion? I would like to read that. Thx

Is linking to other forums allowed here? I know if we link to this forum there, it is considered an infraction and the post is deleted.

greg42 · #**13178** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Would you mind linking me to that discussion? I would like to read that. Thx

Having sworn off the other place several months ago, I would say you won't likely be happy with the outcome of reading it, in the end. ;-)

Austinlee · #**13179** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 12:09 AM**

Wow, the sign for Big Heart Pet Brands just went up months ago and now they are consolidating back to Ohio and will be gone by next spring. :/ That was quicker than the lifespan of a hamster.

Austinlee · #**13180** Posted **Jun 26, 2015, 12:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Is linking to other forums allowed here? I know if we link to this forum there, it is considered an infraction and the post is deleted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg42

Having sworn off the other place several months ago, I would say you won't likely be happy with the outcome of reading it, in the end. ;-)

Nevermind. I looked it up and WOW; That thread went toxic from post #1. Good lord, and that is why I NEVER joined that forum even though I love talking about my city (and other cities). Thanks for the heads up guys.