PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 714

BrianTH · #**14261** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 2:28 PM**

I'd actually hate to see the Spaghetti Warehouse building get torn down--it is pretty cool:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4556257,...rg0umM_7YL92g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

A new restaurant/bar could be nice, however.

GeneW · #**14262** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 2:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Looks like the official holding company for the Spaghetti Warehouse site is "Three Crossings Restaurant Partners LP." This seems to indicate they are going to keep the site as a restaurant, but perhaps go more upscale - a good business plan, considering there's relatively few eateries within a few blocks of the apartments, and unless they bought out the other three property owners on that block the scale might not be large enough to warrant further apartments or offices.

The Spaghetti Warehouse is such a weird throwback. I haven't been there in a while but the last time I was there it seemed like it was still 1975 in there.

Brian, I agree that it shouldn't get torn down, it's a nice building and a great space inside.

Evergrey · #**14263** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneW

The Spaghetti Warehouse is such a weird throwback. I haven't been there in a while but the last time I was there it seemed like it was still 1975 in there.

I've never been... but now I'm intrigued.

markson33 · #**14264** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 3:43 PM**

They are not going to tear down the Spaghetti Warehouse, but they are potentially looking for a more upscale restaurant.

Personally I don't want to see it go. Yes, its a bit cheesey, but my kids love it and the food isn't that bad.

BrianTH · #**14265** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 3:48 PM**

There are some interior photos mixed in here:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spaghetti-warehouse-pittsburgh

Unfortunately, I would more go with the 1990s (1970s would be a lot more exciting).

Private Dick · #**14266** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

There are some interior photos mixed in here:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spaghetti-warehouse-pittsburgh

Unfortunately, I would more go with the 1990s (1970s would be a lot more exciting).

Yeah, it kinda has that TGIFridays "throw a bunch of antiques on the walls and ceiling" motif... which was widely copied at warp speed in all types of restaurants in the 90s, for some reason.

BrianTH · #**14267** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Yeah, it kinda has that TGIFridays "throw a bunch of antiques on the walls and ceiling" motif... which was widely copied at warp speed in all types of restaurants in the 90s, for some reason.

Leading to the legendary Chotchkie's and its "flair":

qwho · #**14268** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 5:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Yeah, it kinda has that TGIFridays "throw a bunch of antiques on the walls and ceiling" motif... which was widely copied at warp speed in all types of restaurants in the 90s, for some reason.

I thought with those wood beams:

that it kinda looked like a hoss's

image credit yelp

themaguffin · #**14269** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 7:21 PM**

Wow, I haven't been there since the early 90s. I totally forgot about it.

Austinlee · #**14270** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 11:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I'd actually hate to see the Spaghetti Warehouse building get torn down--it is pretty cool:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4556257,...rg0umM_7YL92g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

A new restaurant/bar could be nice, however.

Word. Although it's a chain restaurant and not necessarily the BEST representation of the wonderful international bazaar that the strip represents, but as a young teen this was my first brick warehouse style introduction to the glory of old city neighborhoods for this suburban raised guy. I had good feelings about it and it probably was one of several factors that grew my interest into city life and the rich history therein.

Austinlee · #**14271** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

I've never been... but now I'm intrigued.

I love how this random men's fashion photo from a JC Penney's catalog or similar from what seems to be the 70's randomly surfaces across a wide variety of websites and forums over the years. This photo has staying power!

Austinlee · #**14272** Posted **Oct 2, 2015, 11:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwho

I thought with those wood beams:

that it kinda looked like a hoss's

image credit yelp

Wow, it looks like a rundown Hoss's.

I guess my good memories fail me.

Austinlee · #**14273** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 12:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucka

I hope PNC lights up the top of the new Tower at PNC Plaza.

Great pic. The lighting in this shot looks wonderful.

I too have high hopes that the final lighting designs will be up to par on a building of this caliber. Hopefully something special.

Austinlee · #**14274** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 12:24 AM**

I don't think anyone posted this interesting article from about 1 month ago. This is a topic that endlessly interests me.

Tech industry driving office growth in Oakland and beyond
September 4, 2015 12:00 AM

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...ith-Oakland-leading/stories/201509040146

By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Quote:

The region’s burgeoning tech industry is helping to fuel office growth in Pittsburgh, with Oakland leading the way.

A new report by the CBRE real estate company found that Oakland had the 16th highest rent growth of any tech submarket in the United States from the 2013 second quarter to this year’s second quarter.

That, in turn, has helped to pump up the office market as a whole, with Pittsburgh recording the 11th highest rent growth in the country over the same period, according to the report, which analyzed the top 30 tech cities in the U.S. and Canada.

It found that rents in Pittsburgh soared by 12.4 percent over that time.

“The fastest growing office-using sector in the country is tech. We’ve definitely been a big benefactor of that,” said Jeffrey Ackerman, managing director of CBRE’s Pittsburgh office.

Such diversity has helped the city to avoid situations like that in Houston, which is experiencing layoffs because of the downturn in the oil and gas industry, he said....

While Oakland has been the hub of high tech with its strong education and healthcare sectors, the market is expanding — with the East End, the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Downtown, the North Side and the South Side all seeing an increase in tech users, CBRE said.

Apple, for example, will be moving its offices from the Robert Mehrabian Collaborative Innovation Center at Carnegie Mellon University to a 52,000-square-foot office building that Oxford Development Co. is erecting in the Strip as part of its Three Crossings project. Google left CMU for Bakery Square in Larimer, where it continues to expand.

Despite the growth, Pittsburgh has yet to crack the top 10 in terms of high tech markets, a list dominated by the likes of the Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Seattle and Austin.

Mr. Ackerman said “creative partnerships” also are driving growth, specifically mentioning the collaboration between Uber and CMU in creating the Uber Advanced Technologies Center located in the Strip.

“I think we will continue as a second 10. I don’t see us breaking into the top 10. Those markets are experiencing such strong growth,” Mr. Ackerman said....

As much as I am a Pittsburgh booster, I think it's incredibly important to remind ourselves about our true position in the world. So clearly Pittsburgh is not a "top 10 city" in the country for tech but more like a second tier tech grouping that keep in mind, with CMU being a "New Ivy" often times competes for the same exact top talent - students and faculty - as the best universities in the country. Overall not bad considering Pittsburgh's size, history, geography and small size in a world with so many growing megacities.

JVC · #**14275** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 1:40 AM**

SKYSCRAPER OF LEARNING

Muckk · #**14276** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 8:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I love how this random men's fashion photo from a JC Penney's catalog or similar from what seems to be the 70's randomly surfaces across a wide variety of websites and forums over the years. This photo has staying power!

And thus a fundamental circumstance of the internet is illustrated. Once something has been done well, it's silly to repeat in any other manner. If only the development in our region adhered to such a uniform discipline.

But, yeah. I've seen that pic before. Gem.

BrianTH · #**14277** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 12:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Wow, it looks like a rundown Hoss's.

I guess my good memories fail me.

I dunno--a typical Hoss is a fake version, this particular building is the real thing. I think as a result in person it transcends the Hoss comparison, at least in potential (the decor is counter-productive).

Random comment--there is a small-chain Italian restaurant in a strip mall in Hyde Park (Chicago), Leona's, that reminds me of a fake-version of the Spaghetti Warehouse:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Leona'...4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xae00243c77849598!6m1!1e1

BrianTH · #**14278** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 1:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

So clearly Pittsburgh is not a "top 10 city" in the country for tech but more like a second tier tech grouping that keep in mind, with CMU being a "New Ivy" often times competes for the same exact top talent - students and faculty - as the best universities in the country. Overall not bad considering Pittsburgh's size, history, geography and small size in a world with so many growing megacities.

Exactly. Thinking of this as a city-versus-city thing is a mistake, and indeed I think it would be a long-term mistake to want Pittsburgh's economy tied too much specifically to "tech" industries. Rather, the goal should be for Pittsburgh to be participating in "tech" industries at, or maybe somewhat above, where its relative size would imply, but as just one component of an overall diverse set of local growth industries.

Dr. Avis · #**14279** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneW

The Spaghetti Warehouse is such a weird throwback. I haven't been there in a while but the last time I was there it seemed like it was still 1975 in there.

Brian, I agree that it shouldn't get torn down, it's a nice building and a great space inside.

I love the Spaghetti Warehouse! It is so nice inside and just has a great classic feel. I would be devastated if they would be forced out. I'm sure one of the city's excellent suburbs would welcome them with open arms if so. Spaghetti Warehouse is one of the best things the city offers.

Dr. Avis · #**14280** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 9:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

As much as I am a Pittsburgh booster, I think it's incredibly important to remind ourselves about our true position in the world. So clearly Pittsburgh is not a "top 10 city" in the country for tech but more like a second tier tech grouping that keep in mind, with CMU being a "New Ivy" often times competes for the same exact top talent - students and faculty - as the best universities in the country. Overall not bad considering Pittsburgh's size, history, geography and small size in a world with so many growing megacities.

Exactly. This is more of a city where once they get started off the ground a little, they will leave for the big times and somewhere more pro business. This has happened with quite a few local start ups.