PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[dfiler]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Very interesting. Making Euclid two-way and eliminating the highspeed lanes between Penn and Euclid would be nice too. If they could then build out to the corner, then along with East Liberty Place North and South that would almost be a complete urban corner.

That would really revive these couple blocks along Penn. It makes no sense to have a two block long highway stuck into the middle of an otherwise normal urban street. That highway structure destroys the livable nature of the neighborhood. If returned to a regular street, I predict it would be an appealing expansion of the east liberty business district.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by dfiler

That would really revive these couple blocks along Penn. It makes no sense to have a two block long highway stuck into the middle of an otherwise normal urban street. That highway structure destroys the livable nature of the neighborhood. If returned to a regular street, I predict it would be an appealing expansion of the east liberty business district.

I agree with this. A two lane street would go along way in this case. The recreation of a street wall with new intersecting streets would make the area unrecognizable.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by dfiler

That would really revive these couple blocks along Penn. It makes no sense to have a two block long highway stuck into the middle of an otherwise normal urban street. That highway structure destroys the livable nature of the neighborhood. If returned to a regular street, I predict it would be an appealing expansion of the east liberty business district.

Unlike say East Liberty Boulevard, Penn Avenue seems like it always was wide. Maps from the late 19th and early 20th century show that it began widening at Fairmount, and continued to be a very wide ROW through to where the East Busway is today. This totally makes sense given it was laid out as a regional center of commerce, and there was historically little difference between roads and sidewalks - you'd want to have a lot of street width for foot traffic, and later to make way for the numerous streetcar lines.

Probably the easiest fix would be to continue the same treatment a similar width Penn Avenue had through the East Liberty business district - wide sidewalks and bulb outs at the intersections. This would especially help fix the notoriously awful Penn/Negley intersection. It wouldn't work well with the integration of bike lanes, but I don't see how you fit them on that segment of Penn unless you continue them all the way through DT East Liberty - which would require redesigning all of the blocks which were already redone fairly recently, including removing the bulb outs.

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It wouldn't work well with the integration of bike lanes, but I don't see how you fit them on that segment of Penn unless you continue them all the way through DT East Liberty - which would require redesigning all of the blocks which were already redone fairly recently, including removing the bulb outs.

BikePGH has looked at this issue in the past. The continuation of the bike lanes would actually be pretty easy in the area using a shared sidewalk configuration. The sidewalks on Penn are very wide, and would be able to accommodate lanes.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

BikePGH has looked at this issue in the past. The continuation of the bike lanes would actually be pretty easy in the area using a shared sidewalk configuration. The sidewalks on Penn are very wide, and would be able to accommodate lanes.

Huge fan of these. They're everywhere in Germany and were a pleasure to ride on. They also didn't require that much space.

[Dr. Avis]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

It's a different space that was originally slated for a much more aggressively obnoxious concept called Dick's Last Resort.

http://www.dickslastresort.com/

Could you imagine Dick's Last Resort and Toby Keith right next to each other? Talk about a critical mass of brash American attitude!

Kudos to Continental Real Estate, the Steelers and Herky Pollock for their ambition in trying to transform Pittsburgh's North Shore into a world class dining and entertainment destination.

That's disappointing! I've been there in Indianapolis and Columbus when the girls and I took weekend getaways! They are such fun places to eat with great staff, a fun atmosphere, and good food to go along with it. Terrible that we're not getting one like those cities are lucky to have one.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

Huge fan of these. They're everywhere in Germany and were a pleasure to ride on. They also didn't require that much space.

Yeah, that looks great. And in general, a nice bikeway along Penn from Downtown to Wilkinsburg would be fantastic.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

BikePGH has looked at this issue in the past. The continuation of the bike lanes would actually be pretty easy in the area using a shared sidewalk configuration. The sidewalks on Penn are very wide, and would be able to accommodate lanes.

That looks fantastic, but I still say the existing sidewalk layout has pretty much destroyed this option without heavy reconstruction. The city planted street trees in what would be the best ROW for the bikes. The area closer to the curb is full of biking impediments like handicapped parking signs, the new auto-meter machines, and light poles - not to mention also being in the door swing area for parked cars. You could perhaps squeeze a bike lane in on the "facade side" of the trees, but this would result in a relatively narrow area for pedestrians, not to mention essentially precluding things like sidewalk cafes from developing. You'd have to at minimum re-engineer the curb cuts as well, since they aren't placed well for bike travel on the sidewalk surface.

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by eschaton

That looks fantastic, but I still say the existing sidewalk layout has pretty much destroyed this option without heavy reconstruction. The city planted street trees in what would be the best ROW for the bikes. The area closer to the curb is full of biking impediments like handicapped parking signs, the new auto-meter machines, and light poles - not to mention also being in the door swing area for parked cars. You could perhaps squeeze a bike lane in on the "facade side" of the trees, but this would result in a relatively narrow area for pedestrians, not to mention essentially precluding things like sidewalk cafes from developing. You'd have to at minimum re-engineer the curb cuts as well, since they aren't placed well for bike travel on the sidewalk surface.

This is the long term vision for East Liberty. If you look at the Better Bikeways vision video BikePGH made, the short term vision is having the bike lanes closer to the buildings (see here: https://youtu.be/aV5bAWemTxE?t=6m29s) , with long term infrastructure improvements like moving the trees and stuff out of the way (see here: https://youtu.be/aV5bAWemTxE?t=7m1s)

[eschaton]

Eyeball report that J&K's place in Lawrenceville (by Doughboy Square) has been demolished as part of the site prep work for the eventual "Squareview" building. I am guessing since they are only doing excavation now there is no way they will get a foundation in before winter - the Lawrenceville new construction projects are moving slow as molasses over the last year.

Also, riffing on East Liberty, not only could three out of four corners of the Penn/Euclid intersection be a complete urban corner, the same may be true for Penn/Negley. The owners of Penn Plaza also own the Babyland site, and while their previous plans there have been underwhelming to say the least, given their new, presumably more ambitious plans across the street I wouldn't be surprised if they include it in whatever major redevelopment takes place. In addition, I have heard that Monro Muffler is closing and selling to a developer. Their ownership includes the vacant lot at the corner and the UMPC building just behind on Negley, in addition to their building next to the (now vacant) Salt of the Earth building.

I also saw today the Urban League Charter school is moving out of their current home a bit further up on Negley, presumably for the old PPS facility in Larimer they earlier showed interest in. The old synagogue they are vacating is amazing, and certainly deserves historical designation if it doesn't have it already. I could see it being a really tough building to preserve given the current redevelopment pressures in East Liberty however.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I also saw today the Urban League Charter school is moving out of their current home a bit further up on Negley, presumably for the old PPS facility in Larimer they earlier showed interest in. The old synagogue they are vacating is amazing, and certainly deserves historical designation if it doesn't have it already. I could see it being a really tough building to preserve given the current redevelopment pressures in East Liberty however.

That's a Hornbostel, same architect as CMU campus, The City-County Building, Soldiers and Sailors and scores more. It would be a crime to lose that building.

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by Dr. Avis

That's disappointing! I've been there in Indianapolis and Columbus when the girls and I took weekend getaways! They are such fun places to eat with great staff, a fun atmosphere, and good food to go along with it. Terrible that we're not getting one like those cities are lucky to have one.

Fail at trolling.

Anyways, I dont see how those bike lane/sidewalk things would work there, theres trees and stuff in the way. They would have to rip up some of the side street parking and basically rebuild the street to make those lanes, I like the idea, but I dont see how it would be feasible, and also I dont see people here to understand to watch out for bikes and accidents would happen.

[BrianTH]

Another eyeball report--they have started interior demolition of all floors of the Graphic Arts Building. Last I knew this was going to become 100 small apartments--it would be great if that was now moving forward, particularly with the new hotel going in across the street and the Salvation Army-to-hotel project also nearby.

[BrianTH]

Nice article with a lot of interior photos of PNC Tower:

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-desig...e-greenest-office-building-in-the-world/

I have to say that is really an impressive, world-class-looking building.

[photoLith]

I walked past PnC Tower last night and the big chandelier they have hanging at the entrance is super cool and changes colors, it's nice to have such a modern building in the city finally.

[BrianTH]

The URA is seeking $7.7 million in federal grants to complete the process of un-doing Penn Circle (this would finish off Station Street, formerly Penn Circle N, and Euclid, formerly Penn Circle W):

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9217711-74/penn-circle-streets

[Minivan Werner]

I wonder what the actual cost was of creating Penn Circle in the first place?

[dfiler]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Unlike say East Liberty Boulevard, Penn Avenue seems like it always was wide. Maps from the late 19th and early 20th century show that it began widening at Fairmount, and continued to be a very wide ROW through to where the East Busway is today. This totally makes sense given it was laid out as a regional center of commerce, and there was historically little difference between roads and sidewalks - you'd want to have a lot of street width for foot traffic, and later to make way for the numerous streetcar lines.

Probably the easiest fix would be to continue the same treatment a similar width Penn Avenue had through the East Liberty business district - wide sidewalks and bulb outs at the intersections. This would especially help fix the notoriously awful Penn/Negley intersection. It wouldn't work well with the integration of bike lanes, but I don't see how you fit them on that segment of Penn unless you continue them all the way through DT East Liberty - which would require redesigning all of the blocks which were already redone fairly recently, including removing the bulb outs.

I agree, continuing what was done through DT East Liberty would be a welcome change. Or at least it makes sense to have a continuous street structure, whatever that optimal structure is.

It doesn't seem like the 4 lanes of traffic with a raised median and rounded on/off ramps is what was historically there. It also doesn't fit with the surrounding urban neighborhood. The one block stretch of highway between Negley and Euclid is pretty preposterous when viewed in context.

[BrianTH]

Shell is putting up $69 million for a new water intake and treatment plant in Center Township (that's about 96% of the total cost), which is a necessary step in preparing the possible ethane cracker site:

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powe...ets-for-101-million/stories/201510060191

The article also mentions they plan to spend $80 million on soil remediation.

Shell still hasn't committed to building the cracker, but investments like these are nice even if it doesn't get built.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Nice article with a lot of interior photos of PNC Tower:

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-desig...e-greenest-office-building-in-the-world/

I have to say that is really an impressive, world-class-looking building.

Did you notice the wood framed window? When was the last time an office tower was constructed using wood framed windows? 1880's? This building beat all of my expectations.