PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

Of the 6 houses on the south side of Phineas street, the 4 on the east side look to be fairly well in-tact and historic. Maybe they can leave some of those standing and work the parking around those structures, in the large gaps between the houses.

The 2 on the west side do not appear as though they'll be a big loss.

It would be nice if they renovated the historic brick homes, and do a creative infill project... but I don't think there is even a slim chance of that. People do want to live in the city, and those people also want somewhere to park their car(s).

[Muckk]

I don't think the hotel compliments the Arc House at all but I'm not terribly concerned with that. The double plus good about this block is that it will hopefully kick start more development and refurbishment on that side of 279.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Second, as you said, East Ohio there is basically a highway off/on ramp... it's just about the least pedestrian friendly area in the city of Pittsburgh. It's an awful situation, hemmed in by highways, overpasses, and a large median ROW. Without some major changes, I don't see how this block is even the least bit desirable. Is street redesign planned there?

Yes:
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/7936229-74/bike-lanes-east#axzz3ljzLLoL1

[Private Dick]

^ Thanks, well that is a step in the right direction. It will be interesting to see this area transform, especially because it is one of the least inviting/ugliest/demolished/worst designed places in Pittsburgh currently.



Bike lanes are a positive start, but what transformative (and realistic) changes could be done here?

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

It will be interesting to see this area transform, especially because it is one of the least inviting/ugliest/demolished/worst designed places in Pittsburgh currently.

Agreed... I've lived just a couple blocks from there for 3 years... yet I've never walked down that stretch of E. Ohio because it's an abyss of misery.

The 'near' North Side should be one of the most desirable areas of the city... but the spider-web of elevated highways along with Allegheny Center* will forever prevent this area from reaching its demographic and economic potential.

*(while I welcome the Faros investment and repurposing of Allegheny Center, it doesn't really address the fundamental urban environment negatives of that monstrous anachronism)

[photoLith]

Here's a photo I just took of the recently completed Hilton by the ball park. It looks pretty good actually.

[Private Dick]

Schenley Place taking shape

[photoLith]

Looks really good.

[Jonboy1983]

I used to be fascinated with that whole spaghetti interchange with I-579, I-279, and PA-28. After gaining a background in urban planning and looking at what Pittsburgh once had, that is just an eyesore. If someone dropped a bomb on that, they'd be doing the city a favor.

What would have been decent is if a tunnel was considered for I-579 instead of that rather "blah" bridge spanning the Allegheny River, and if I-279 could have been erected below grade.

I'm sure to do all of that would cost about as much as a subway link to Oakland if not more...

[TBone7281]

Nothing super exciting happening in the Strip, but I have a few update pics anyway.

The first residential building at Three Crossings continues plugging along. Started getting windows recently.

9/14



Second Three Crossings building under way.

9/1


9/8

[TBone7281]

As near as I can tell, "Audi Pittsburgh", aka Cochran Audi, is going to go here at some point. The ads I've been hearing on the radio make it sound like this should be well on its way shortly. It being a car dealership, I'm sure you guys are thrilled. However, I'm in the market, so I'm not complaining too much.

Going to go to the left of Liberty. (Liberty and 21st)






The future Smallman Place is pretty well gutted.

[Private Dick]

@photolith Yeah, I think both of those above projects turned out pretty nice. Both this office building in Oakland and the Holiday Inn on the Northshore provide good density and blend well with their surroundings. Will the ground floor of the Holiday Inn have retail/restaurant?

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

First, I think the hotel rendering looks like total shit. Looks like an Action Housing project or the new East Liberty projects or the crappy Google campus apartments or the Hyatt Place on the Northshore or etc. etc. etc... basically all the other junk material design that is going up. Hopefully, it's just a bad rendering and the finished project will wow us with its quality...

Second, as you said, East Ohio there is basically a highway off/on ramp... it's just about the least pedestrian friendly area in the city of Pittsburgh. It's an awful situation, hemmed in by highways, overpasses, and a large median ROW. Without some major changes, I don't see how this block is even the least bit desirable. Is street redesign planned there?

I disagree that that section of E. Ohio Street is not pedestrian friendly or not used by pedestrians. I go through it every day as well as the intersection of Chestnut and E. Ohio St and there are always bikers and people crossing over. That stretch of road is about to be repaved and a bike lane added too. I think the finished product is going to be pretty decent considering the huge highway impediment.

[BrianTH]

I'm not against the general idea of the Arc House project, I just think the design is poor. We've seen other projects go back for re-designs and improve, so that is what I would want to happen here.

[Evergrey]

An Audi dealership in the Strip District? Interesting...

Liberty Ave. in the Strip is a hopeless disaster... so I suppose a luxury car dealership isn't the worst thing in the world. Hopefully it has a design similar to the more 'urban' dealerships along Baum Blvd.

http://blog.cochran.com/wordpress/index.php/cochran-audi-pittsburgh-pa/

I wouldn't mind a TT next time I'm in the market.

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

What would have been decent is if a tunnel was considered for I-579 instead of that rather "blah" bridge spanning the Allegheny River, and if I-279 could have been erected below grade.

I'll take a bridge over a tunnel for a river crossing there any day though. One of the best views coming into Pittsburgh is on Liberty Bridge. As a highway bridge, it serves its purpose and provides incredible 360 views of the skyline, hills, rivers, and select neighborhoods. A tunnel outlet in downtown would have necessarily have wreaked massive demolition havoc.

279 is below grade. What would be great is if a cap was constructed over 279 between East Ohio and East North, and thus reconnecting the east northside with central northside; and a cap over the 28-279 ramps south of East Ohio St. This could be parkland with wonderful views and would serve to connect the northside with the river once again at the mainly abandoned Swiss Hole former neighborhood. Obviously it wouldn't be easy but it would be a huge huge thing for northside and Pittsburgh's overall core development.

Sorry for the terrible quality but I think you can get the idea,



OK, found a better way to post my "art".

Originally Posted by Evergrey

An Audi dealership in the Strip District? Interesting...

Liberty Ave. in the Strip is a hopeless disaster... so I suppose a luxury car dealership isn't the worst thing in the world. Hopefully it has a design similar to the more 'urban' dealerships along Baum Blvd.

http://blog.cochran.com/wordpress/index.php/cochran-audi-pittsburgh-pa/

I wouldn't mind a TT next time I'm in the market.

That's a nice looking ride.

Audis are great cars. I have an older one, but still nice. Really fast and responsive and stable. Great in the snow. My wife drives it mostly though.

Not the most urban of uses of the land, but I guess I'm glad to see a dealership moving to the Strip, and a major employer like that moving into city limits. I agree that there's not much worse you can do with Liberty Ave as it stands now.

[Austinlee]

There's a shit ton of new Audi's being stockpiled at this old lumberyard on Woodville Ave in the West End, at the back exit off of Mt Washington. (It's got a big old sign from the former business that is spelled Rennekamp i think) I could not figure out why they've been deposited there. That may be why?

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4339993,...pXVSQxC2GgvNTYA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Perch

I'll take a bridge over a tunnel for a river crossing there any day though. One of the best views coming into Pittsburgh is on Liberty Bridge. As a highway bridge, it serves its purpose and provides incredible 360 views of the skyline, hills, rivers, and select neighborhoods. A tunnel outlet in downtown would have necessarily have wreaked massive demolition havoc.

279 is below grade. What would be great is if a cap was constructed over 279 between East Ohio and East North, and thus reconnecting the east northside with central northside; and a cap over the 28-279 ramps south of East Ohio St. This could be parkland with wonderful views and would serve to connect the northside with the river once again at the mainly abandoned Swiss Hole former neighborhood. Obviously it wouldn't be easy but it would be a huge huge thing for northside and Pittsburgh's overall core development.

Sorry for the terrible quality but I think you can get the idea,

I DO like your ideas but we have to live in a world of likely possibilities and this is just not one, IMO. Redeveloping East Allegheny/East Deutchtown with some new money and buildings should kick start the immediate area plus hopefully surrounding under valued neighborhoods (Spring Hill, Spring Garden and to a lesser degree Troy Hill) and hopefully with all that shiny new development maybe entice owners to sell to devleopers for the many primo tracts of empty land from the Heinz factory over to the Alcoa building, aka Schweizer Loch/The Swiss Hole.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Nice pics. I am copying this post into each of those two U/C threads.