PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Urbana

Especially on the north side. I doubt the Pittsburgh tech scene will stray far from the east end in the foreseeable future.

There's already quite a few tech companies on the North Side/Shore. On Federal Street, River Ave, The Heinz Lofts and over in The Cardello Building.

[DKNewYork]

Metropolis magazine just published a list of the global cities which are "most notable" in eleven different categories, such as Sustainability or Walkability or Smart Infrastructure. Pittsburgh got the nod for Preservation.

http://www.metropolismag.com/July-August...x.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#Pittsburgh

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Would it be better if Faros evicted PNC Mortgage from the 400k sq ft they occupy (1/3 of the facility) because they aren't a Silicon Valley startup? Seems pretty silly... 1.2M sq ft is a lot of space to fill with Silicon Valley-style tenants... PNC Mortgage at least gives Faros quite a bit of stabilization and credibility for the property. Losing PNC would've made it monumentally more difficult for Faros to transform this property into their vision.

Oh sure, I get all that. I'm not saying they are being irrational, just that some of the hype might have been a bit overblown in articles like this:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...to-a-technology-hub/stories/201505210194

[BrianTH]

5900 Penn is up for sale:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...ovum-building-on-the-market-in-east.html

This is a pretty key property:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.462054,-...ghsyBTwfbEyaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I, for one, would love to see something like The Penn at Walnut on Highland get done with this property.

[BrianTH]

Article on the three hotel projects in Oakland being presented to the Planning Commission:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...w-hotels-pushing-forward-in-oakland.html

Of course we knew about all that, but this is an interesting discussion:

David Cocco, a partner with MWK, which is working with TKA Architects as the designer of the project and Massaro Corp. as the builder, described Oakland as a natural market for extended stay hotels.

“We really go after guests who are interested in staying five nights or more,” he said. “Extended stay thrives on eds and meds. Of course, we all know that Oakland is the hub for that in our city.”

That seems like a valid point to me, although I think Oakland is also still a good tourist base too. But maybe Downtown has become more the place for that market.

[SWPA]

Interesting about the Novum building. That blank wall has always been an eyesore. It was built in the mid-60s or so as Hahn Furniture during the "malling" of East Liberty. Originally the bricked up spaces were display windows, so it didn't always look this forlorn.

[eschaton]

Obviously the Novum building is going to be toast, which is a good thing (aside from the loss of the mural). I am certain that the initial ground-floor retail is going to be vacant in that location (aside from Zeke's and Orange Theory there's been no sign of a retail renaissance on Penn Avenue). Still, eventually once enough market-rate rental units are located along Penn (not to mention the hotels being open) we should see a pretty rapid transition of the business district.

[TBone7281]

Due to the merger with American, US Airways is closing it's flight operations center. I'm a bit confused as to what impact that might have on PIT. Obviously the area will be losing 650 jobs, but I wonder what the overall merger means for flights to/from Pittsburgh.

http://www.wtae.com/news/us-airways-closing-flight-operations-center-in-moon-township/34417204

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

5900 Penn is up for sale:


I, for one, would love to see something like The Penn at Walnut on Highland get done with this property.

Yeah, maybe they could call it something like The Beatty at Walnut on Penn or The Penn at Walnut on Beatty or The Migonette at Walnut between Beatty and Whitfield on Penn in East Liberty.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by TBone7281

Due to the merger with American, US Airways is closing it's flight operations center. I'm a bit confused as to what impact that might have on PIT. Obviously the area will be losing 650 jobs, but I wonder what the overall merger means for flights to/from Pittsburgh.

Hardly anything for flights anymore. The vast majority of the flight changes have already taken place since the earlier bankruptcy and de-hubbing. So this closure, already expected (if not already announced, I can no longer remember), will have minimal effect on PIT flights. The flights are already down to a minimal amount. I suspect any unprofitable flights have long since been cut so capacity is probably already where it needs to be.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Obviously the Novum building is going to be toast, which is a good thing (aside from the loss of the mural). I am certain that the initial ground-floor retail is going to be vacant in that location (aside from Zeke's and Orange Theory there's been no sign of a retail renaissance on Penn Avenue). Still, eventually once enough market-rate rental units are located along Penn (not to mention the hotels being open) we should see a pretty rapid transition of the business district.

It is a really massive retail district so it was bound to take time under any circumstances (given the current struggles of retail), and as you note there are a bunch of local projects coming along soon. I also think replacing the Novum building with something that better maintains continuity and a street wall effect coud help.

But I also think it would help a lot if that did not so much feel like an abrupt end to East Liberty at Euclid. The old Penn Circle intersection is horrible, but also redeveloping at least the Penn Plaza side of Penn to provide continuity over to Negley could ultimately be very helpful.

Indeed, even an urban format Walmart (in a mixed use development) could sort of "bookend" with the Target, thereby redefining everything in between Target and this hypothetical Walmart as part of the core of East Liberty, rather than periphery (which I think is the feel today).

[SWPA]

Mixed-use retail with a good anchor west of Euclid would be a great idea. With anchors at each end of the business district on Penn (Target and urban Wal-Mart or whatever it turns out to be), smaller retail could fill in and would encourage more pedestrian traffic along Penn.

I don't know if any developers are working on what to do with the big expanse on the northwest side of Penn Circle where the old vacant AAA/Public Safety building is. There may have been news about it some time ago, but I don't remember.

[Evergrey]

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/8825904-74/bike-lanes-oakland

Pittsburgh is planning to add network of bike lanes through Oakland


Andrew Russell | Trib Total Media
Nico Lynch, 2, plays with the bell on one of the bikes for Healthy Ride, Pittsburgh's bike share program, outside the Carnegie Library in Oakland, June 9, 2015.

By Melissa Daniels
Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 10:54 p.m.
Updated 10 minutes ago

Pittsburgh plans to add a network of bike lanes through Oakland, a neighborhood where college students and commuters on bicycles compete daily with cars for lane space in crammed rush-hour traffic.

“You can bike into Oakland, but once you get to Oakland you don't really have a safe way to get through the neighborhood,” said Elly Fisher, a bike commuter and assistant director of planning and development at Oakland Planning and Development Corp. “It's always been a problem.”

The bike lanes will connect existing routes in the neighborhood via protected lanes, brightly painted bike lanes and “share-the-road” pavement markings.

Final plans will be on display Thursday night at a public meeting at the Oakland Career Center on Semple Street.

None of the lanes are planned for Forbes or Fifth avenues, Oakland's main thoroughfares that receive the most traffic. The largest addition will be a painted lane stretching about a mile along O'Hara Street, Bigelow Boulevard and Bayard Street, essentially running between the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University campuses across North Bellefield Avenue and North Craig Street.

Pittsburgh officials said they could not provide a cost estimate for the project because they haven't sought bids from companies that want to do the work.

Parking spaces will be removed from the north side of the O'Hara-to-Bayard stretch to help accommodate the lanes, under the proposal.

Work there also will add left turn lanes for cars to ease congestion, said Kristin Saunders, the city's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator.

“We decided to remove the northern side of parking because there are a lot of driveways and the parking impacts here are much less,” she said.

Mayor Bill Peduto supports incorporating more bike lanes to accommodate all types of traffic. City streets, he said, were built almost exclusively for cars decades ago.

“It needs to be built so people on bikes aren't put in danger to themselves or automobiles,” Peduto said. “If you design it that way, then you don't have problems later on.”

...

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by SWPA

I don't know if any developers are working on what to do with the big expanse on the northwest side of Penn Circle where the old vacant AAA/Public Safety building is. There may have been news about it some time ago, but I don't remember.

I think you are referring to the lots where the ELDI Mellon's Orchard development is planned.

http://www.eastliberty.org/sites/default/files/article/files/MO_PublicMeeting_1%20%281%29.pdf

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by GeneW

There's already quite a few tech companies on the North Side/Shore. On Federal Street, River Ave, The Heinz Lofts and over in The Cardello Building.

It's true. Also don't forget 4moms relocating to downtown, and ShowClix – one of Pittsburgh's original startup darlings.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by greg42

Hardly anything for flights anymore. The vast majority of the flight changes have already taken place since the earlier bankruptcy and de-hubbing. So this closure, already expected (if not already announced, I can no longer remember), will have minimal effect on PIT flights. The flights are already down to a minimal amount. I suspect any unprofitable flights have long since been cut so capacity is probably already where it needs to be.

I find it kind of interesting that with the combined flight network of American and US at PIT, we are pretty much back at "focus city" levels of flights. I'm still holding out hope that as they take on many more 787s, we'll nab that Heathrow flight. We have the best AA frequent flyer base of all the competing neighboring cities.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

It's true. Also don't forget 4moms relocating to downtown, and ShowClix – one of Pittsburgh's original startup darlings.

And then heading up the Strip District there's Apple(soon), Uber, Jazz(nee Resumator), Turnitin.com, Wombat Security, SnapRetail, etc. There's tech companies pretty much everywhere in the city, not just in the east end.

[Evergrey]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...know-today-and-no-snacks-for-you-at.html

Retail space is scarce

On the heels of the recent decision by Macy’s to close its downtown store, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank reports in its mid-year Retail Report that available space for shops and restaurants is extremely limited regionwide as well as downtown. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank puts the retail vacancy for Pittsburgh retail at 4.3 percent, characterizing the trend as a result of “a lack of overbuilding, low unemployment and pent-up demand” that contributed to an “ever-tightening marketplace.” The firms indicated the trend holds for downtown as well, where occupancy rates are increasing and asking rents are on the rise.

[Lobick]

Latest proposal by Trek for the Garden Theater Block:

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/d26003d835d4d373376fa8cf7/files/07_13_15_ACCA_Meeting_reduced2_1_.pdf

I'm still digesting it although I'm preparing myself for the neighborhood meeting where everybody goes crazy

[Evergrey]

I've noticed what seems to be an explosion of Healthy Bike riders in recent weeks. Nice to see Pittsburgh becoming healthier, smarter and more sustainable.

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/...es-for-an-easy-ride/stories/201507310052

Pedal pushers: New bike-sharing initiative makes for an easy ride

July 31, 2015 12:00 AM

By Lawrence Walsh / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It’s summer, time to get back on a bicycle for a ride around the city and the suburbs.

If you don’t have a bike — or if you haven’t ridden yours since the Wright Brothers went airborne — Pittsburgh Bike Share’s Healthy Ride program can provide one at any of its 50 rental stations in Pittsburgh.

I visited the station at 42nd and Butler streets in Lawrenceville. It’s adjacent to a public parking lot and across the street from Dijlah Restaurant.

Erin Potts, director of marketing and outreach for Pittsburgh Bike Share, met me. She provided background on the program, demonstrated how to rent one of its 500 bicycles and said it has had more than 20,000 riders since May 31.

You must be 18 or older to rent a bike. It costs $2 to rent one for 30 minutes, but money-saving memberships are available: unlimited 30-minute rides for $12 a month and unlimited 60-minute rides for $20 a month. Bikes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bikes can be rented from one station and returned to another station.

The sturdy metal bikes weigh 37 pounds, have seven gears and a pair of hand brakes. Seats are adjustable. The U-shaped design from the seat post to the handlebars makes it easy to get on and off. There are fenders for the front and back wheels. The front fender has a rider-powered headlight. A red light is positioned behind the seat.

Riders must register to rent a bike. They can register for a bike at solar-powered kiosks at each of the 50 rental stations in the city. They also can use a mobile app or call customer service at 412-535-5189 to register.

The largest bike stations — Market Square and Consol Energy Center — each have 37 bikes.Those stations also provide easy access to the paved Three Rivers Heritage Trail, which borders each of the three rivers.

...