PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[mind field]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Interesting article on where the money is moving in Pittsburgh...

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/pr...el-most-affluent-community-in-state.html

Interesting. Good for the Pittsburgh region, i would have thought that Philly MSA would for sure have the most affluent town in PA. What are the most affluent neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh? How are they holding up relative to affluent suburban areas? I wonder if the wealthy neighborhoods in Pittsburgh face any of the same challenges that wealthy neighborhoods in Detroit face? Some of the highest property taxes in Michigan can be found in Detroit, along with much higher rates for homeowner and auto insurance. On top of all that the schools are terrible (generally speaking) and property crime still can be an issue. Detroit's wealthy neighborhoods pay for private security patrol. So a vast majority of the region's wealth chooses the suburbs over the city, unfortunately.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by mind field

Interesting. Good for the Pittsburgh region, i would have thought that Philly MSA would for sure have the most affluent town in PA. What are the most affluent neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh? How are they holding up relative to affluent suburban areas? I wonder if the wealthy neighborhoods in Pittsburgh face any of the same challenges that wealthy neighborhoods in Detroit face? Some of the highest property taxes in Michigan can be found in Detroit, along with much higher rates for homeowner and auto insurance. On top of all that the schools are terrible (generally speaking) and property crime still can be an issue. Detroit's wealthy neighborhoods pay for private security patrol. So a vast majority of the region's wealth chooses the suburbs over the city, unfortunately.

The answer is no on almost all of these concerns. Pittsburgh's property taxes are much lower than many surrounding municipalities, in part because the school district relies more upon a wage tax for funding. Pittsburgh Public Schools has issues, but it's not terrible as urban school districts go - it has a pretty robust magnet system, along with desirable neighborhood schools in the Lower East End (where most of the wealth in the city has been located historically). Even in aggregate, PPS is now better performing than some of the suburban districts, like Penn Hills and Woodland Hills.

You can see on this map that the City of Pittsburgh has some neighborhoods which are as wealthy as many of the wealthier suburbs. One thing which census numbers don't adjust for is that wealthy parts of the city also contain a large number of students. Thus even though Shadyside, for example, has a relatively modest income, discounting the college/graduate student crowd it certainly would have also been in the light red category shown here.

[Wally G]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I find the brick styling on the first floor of that building in Homestead horrendous. It looks straight out of the 1960s.



There's no doubt that architects vary in skill and creativity. But I just can't believe that all Pittsburgh architects are design challenged. That couldn't happen unless you believe that all decent architects leave town, or perhaps that CMU's architecture program (which is still probably where half of local architects come from) is actually not good.

I never tried to imply all Pittsburgh architects are bad just most in my opinion. I know some of the projects on this thread are out of towners and we still may not like them. About CMU Architecture program i was told it not known to be so great compared to others like Penn State. Either way it goes i hope to see better out of their students in the future. Most of the buildings i like are outside architects but companies like Desmone been showing some promise.

[DBR96A]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

http://www.streetsblog.net/2015/11/19/check-out-pittsburghs-new-bicycle-merge-lane/

Wow, that merge lane is longer than many of the merge lanes on the Parkways East and West!

[Cro Burnham]

Originally Posted by JVC

does anyone have any idea when people can start moving into eastside 3?

I have been told it will be OK as soon as the Central Committee for Socially Acceptable Relocations approves all the Form 3401.b subpart 11.g Applications for Demonstrating Compliance with Revolutionary Ideals Necessary for Geo-Social Homogenization. Remember that this form will only be considered if the proper Form 1G.23.D6.634 (q)(iv)(W) Identity and Party Status Verification was submitted and approved by the original September 8, 2012 deadline.

In other words, you should be able to move in by around November, 2023. Just in time for your release from the Gulag.

See you at the next Prolitarian Ping Pong Club meeting for the Pol Pot Memorial Match.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Urbana

There are details about the Empire project as well as a new hotel project on the Strip/Downtown border in the most recent planning presentation.

http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/schedule65/presentation-65-711.pdf

Surprised to see The Renaissance hotel is putting up white lettering near the top.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Surprised to see The Renaissance hotel is putting up white lettering near the top.

Nooooo!!! A historic beauty marred by corp graffiti? Much rather see vertical signage akin to the new Monaco Hotel or ala Warner Center, if they had to do it.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by daviderik

Nooooo!!! A historic beauty marred by corp graffiti? Much rather see vertical signage akin to the new Monaco Hotel or ala Warner Center, if they had to do it.

Yeah, unlike the 1980's skyscrapers with corporate signage I don't see how this would look right on an ornate old building.

[Austinlee]

My girlfriend took this pic of me on Friday night admiring the foyer of the new Tower at PNC Plaza. Sweet building. Light Up Night continues to be possibly the coolest mass event held in the city each year. Great live music, food, the mayor lighting up the Christmas tree at Gateway Center and an amazing fireworks display. If you haven't gone, I strongly recommend you check it out.

[gg1]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

If you have a solution to any school issues and can afford a nice house, there is little reason not to strongly consider those sorts of city neighborhoods these days. And I think a lot of people have realized that no matter how nice your house and yard, minimizing your commute and maximizing convenient access to activities outside your home are precious as well, because time is precious regardless of personal wealth.

I think that is the appeal of Fox Chapel. It is VERY close to the city and VERY close to Oakland. I can get to downtown faster than most that live in the East End of the city itself, which is pretty interesting. Less than 10 minutes to downtown is fast. Of course it takes me longer, because I ride a bike. I am usually downtown in about 40 minutes because I take an off road route. I know you love the city, but FC is a very near suburb with a very well funded school that is tops when it comes to the rankings that matter. You were the one that pointed that out a long time ago.

[gg1]

Originally Posted by DBR96A

Wow, that merge lane is longer than many of the merge lanes on the Parkways East and West!

Oh, they changed that since I last rode there. I haven't tried the merge lane yet, but it looks okay I guess. I just take my time to get into traffic and then get out of it as soon as I can. I prefer these days to keep away from cars. Just too much aggression out there and this time of the year is really crazy. January settles down a bit thank goodness, but it is really intense now with all the misguided people rushing around for Christmas stuff, as if that is important. Odd. Thanks for posting that link.

[Evergrey]

You can never help yourself, can you summersm?

"Not to start a flame war" always means you're starting a flame war. Moderators should be above such shenanigans.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by gg1

This is my last post on this subject because I feel it is detracting from this forum. Again, zip codes have NO MEANING! GET IT!?! Geez! Blawnox is in the zip code and so is Sharpsburg! HELLO? Anyone home? You are correct on one point. It isn't up for debate! Done!

Dude, save it for City-Data and don't bring that kind of attitude here.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

You can never help yourself, can you summersm?

"Not to start a flame war" always means you're starting a flame war. Moderators should be above such shenanigans.

Fair enough. I will delete my comments and let you continue on.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The AC Hotel plan seems reasonable--acceptable scale for that spot and an OK design:

I like this design. Looks good, imo.

[Wally G]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

My girlfriend took this pic of me on Friday night admiring the foyer of the new Tower at PNC Plaza. Sweet building. Light Up Night continues to be possibly the coolest mass event held in the city each year. Great live music, food, the mayor lighting up the Christmas tree at Gateway Center and an amazing fireworks display. If you haven't gone, I strongly recommend you check it out.

Nice pic and yeah it's really nice.

[Wally G]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Cleveland stuff:



http://www.cleveland.com/business/index....rk_capital_plan_a.html#incart_river_home

Green space, green roofs, tree coverage, water retention--these are all big deals these days, as they should be. But you do want to make sure the street level works as well from an urban fabric perspective.

Cleveland has been getting some good developments projects lately. I really like green roofs but your rigth the street level can't be forgotten. What do you think about Clevelands Flats East Bank project?

[BrianTH]

Hmm, looks like I missed some sort of brouhaha.

My two cents--Fox Chapel in my view is definitely one of the nicest suburbs in Pittsburgh, or really anywhere. It is very pretty with all the rolling wooded hills; for a top-rated (meaning high test score) school district it actually has a decent amount of diversity; and it is indeed relatively convenient for Downtown and the East End.

That said, Fox Chapel is a big area and most of the people do not in fact have an under 10 minute commute to Downtown (and you also lack convenient public transit options, although for most super wealthy people that is probably a non-issue--but for professional class folks, it can be). And of course if you live in city neighborhoods like Shadyside, Murdoch Farms, Schenley Farms, the Strip, and so on, you are right in the middle of all the great city amenities.

So I do think these sorts of top city neighborhoods offer a convenient urban lifestyle that is tough for even relatively convenient suburbs like Fox Chapel to match. That's not to say there are not still going to be plenty of wealthy people in the future who prefer a nice big yard (or "estate") in a suburb like Fox Chapel, but I think that is the basic reason the really "hot" neighborhoods these days tend to be in the City.

Edit: BTW, I think one of the main driving factors in all this is that younger higher-income people these days are a lot less afraid to live in cities, which in turn is largely attributable to the dramatic decline in crime rates (and substantial reduction in the suburban/city crime rate gap) since the early 1990s. That in turn may be mostly driven by the reduction in childhood lead exposure starting in the 1970s. If all that is true, then these dynamics may continue indefinitely and in fact strengthen. A 45 year-old executive today has seen cities getting safer for pretty much his or her entire adult life, but still grew up with "inner city crime" being a major issue (see, e.g., Escape from New York). But in 20 more years, even that will be ancient history.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Wally G

I never tried to imply all Pittsburgh architects are bad just most in my opinion. I know some of the projects on this thread are out of towners and we still may not like them. About CMU Architecture program i was told it not known to be so great compared to others like Penn State. Either way it goes i hope to see better out of their students in the future. Most of the buildings i like are outside architects but companies like Desmone been showing some promise.

FWIW at my wife's firm I know there is a real "hierarchy of design," where architects who the principals like the work of are allowed to do the "high design" work, and those they do not are left to manage more routine/construction management type jobs. Thus it's pretty unlikely the firm will break from its current form any time soon.

I have to presume other firms largely work the same way. Which is why I intimated that if you think the fish stinks, it comes from the head, as the principals are the ones who set the design tone, meaning we're really only talking about perhaps 20 architects who effectively "lead" the entire local design community.

[TBone7281]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Speaking of low-quality industrial buildings, this project would wipe out a few (it is all the parcels between Spruce Way and Railroad, 26th and 27th):

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4564195,-79.9790571,218m/data=!3m1!1e3

The variances requested are a 0' side setback (versus the minimum 10') and a FAR of 3.72:1 (versus the maximum 3:1). This, of course, is great--not that a parking structure is inherently exciting, but it is a necessary component of allowing dense development in this area, and the ground floor retail with no setbacks is exactly what you would want in such a project.

I actually posted pictures of the demo when it happened maybe 2 years back. There aren't any buildings on that block any more. Where those buildings used to be is now used as parking for the workers at 3 Crossings.