PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

In contrast, that Steel Mill Saloon project strikes me as lacking ambition.

At least the name of the saloon is creative.

[BrianTH]

Shorenstein has closed on the Oxford Centre. It will be interesting to see what changes they make:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...f-One-Oxford-Centre/stories/201601220232

[BrianTH]

Discussion/debate of the need for more condos Downtown:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...n-Pittsburgh-condos/stories/201601220122

[WillyC]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I'm pretty sure every advertising I have ever seen for a building doing pre-leasing has included some sort of "special offer".

In other words--please don't feed the trolls.

Little annoyed with this type of response.

The dude sometimes posts good stuff and sometimes he posts asinine garbage. Climb down off your high horse and thicken your skin, he isn't Dr. Avis.

[WillyC]

Originally Posted by JVC

since when do brand new apartment buildings offer "specials"?

It's not uncommon for the first units of a new construction to get a special entry price offer. It's not something I've seen quite as often in Pittsburgh simply because until recent, I've not seen the kind of development I've seen in other metros here in Pittsburgh.

However, what would be an issue would depend on if they are indeed slashing the price on units that are about to come online after the initial batch. This would indicate that they aren't filling like they thought.

This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing to me. Sure, it will probably cause developers to kill some of the future projects we've seen on the forum, but this would mean the current housing being built might become more affordable for people. It might also check some of the rampant speculation going on. All the private numbers I've seen indicate the city can't afford this many high end apartments/condos. It has to give at some point.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by WillyC

The dude sometimes posts good stuff and sometimes he posts asinine garbage. Climb down off your high horse and thicken your skin, he isn't Dr. Avis.

OK, obviously you are free to disagree. But I am being informed by the fact I have seen what this poster has done to forums in the past.

[Evergrey]

I noticed this today while shopping for records at the Attic... Millvale is building a Fresh Food Hub:

http://triblive.com/mobile/7192522-96/millvale-building-town

[gg1]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

I noticed this today while shopping for records at the Attic... Millvale is building a Fresh Food Hub:

http://triblive.com/mobile/7192522-96/millvale-building-town

Link isn't working for me at this time. I am always interested in Millvale's direction. It has a lot of possibilities and IMHO, is much more interesting than Lawrenceville's future, which seems to be getting too expensive for young folks.

[themaguffin]

I'm going to go back to the apartment rental thing one more time.

Look, it's very odd that someone would be surprised that an apartment complex/building would have specials - the implication is that something is wrong if NEW construction has to do that, or more specifically, well of course new construction in Pittsburgh.

It's a reality everywhere.

Also, people, it's fucking January. How wants to move in shit?

Moving on...

[Austinlee]

I just want to say that the Eastside 3 apartment buildings are the sharpest buildings going up in the city right now. They look amazing.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I just want to say that the Eastside 3 apartment buildings are the sharpest buildings going up in the city right now. They look amazing.

I think I like Morrow Park apartments more, which is technically not quite finished with construction. I have issues with the street level integration of the completed Eastside 3 building on S Highland, but I know the grade there was problematic. Hopefully the next two do better.

The Walnut Capital building at Penn and Highland is looking like shit though. Really ugly, chunky windows.

[Evergrey]

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9844735-74/downtown-bus-stop

Bus stop upgrades on Smithfield Street part of bigger transformation



Overhead shelter, lean rails and extra space to stand are little changes making a big difference at Downtown Pittsburgh's busiest bus stop.

The Smithfield Street bus stop at the corner of Sixth Avenue is the test site for Envision Downtown's transit system upgrades, designed to make riders more comfortable.

“We had this huge volume of passengers and such a skinny sidewalk with no amenities,” said Sean Luther, executive director of Envision Downtown, a public-private partnership with the city.

The agency is a foundation-funded and city-backed initiative that is paired with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. It is tasked with coming up with ideas and designs to make it easier to get around Downtown.

The Smithfield Street bus stop gets an average of 6,500 riders a day, making it the busiest Downtown stop in Port Authority of Allegheny County's system.

Plans began in May to transform the site into a “superstop” with new concrete sidewalks jutting into the street, an overhead roof above lean rails and planters. Parking spaces in the corridor were bumped up from part-time to full-time possibilities.

Bruce Curry, 47, of Swissvale leaned against a rail in the shelter Friday morning, the day after crews removed construction fences. He said he hoped for a structure that was more enclosed, to block the wind, but appreciates the shelter.

“It definitely helps,” he said. “I really like it.”

Envision Downtown plans to install digital notification systems in storefront windows near the stop, so riders can see estimated arrival times. In spring, its next project will include painting and upgrading Strawberry Way to make it more pedestrian-friendly.

“This is going to prototype what the transit experience could be like around Downtown,” Luther said. “The bus system itself is going to be really crucial to maintaining Downtown's position as the region's job center.”

...

[BrianTH]

I use that stop and it is definitely way nicer and more functional now.

[Captain Crash]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9844735-74/downtown-bus-stop

In spring, its next project will include painting and upgrading Strawberry Way to make it more pedestrian-friendly.

I would really love to see them make Strawberry Way not just more pedestrian friendly but pedestrian only. Or at least from Grant to Smithfield. What a cool narrow street with interesting buildings along it! They could encourage building owners to put some cafes in there with plenty of street seating-- Hotel Monaco already has its restaurant fronting Strawberry, so they could be the first to jump in with an outdoor seating area. With some businesses and better lighting this could be a high energy area as it connects the plaza at the US Steel building to Smithfield and on to Liberty (though that last block would be much tougher to convert).

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...tech-creative-space/stories/201601260063

Historic Pitt Building will be remade into a ‘high-tech creative space’

January 26, 2016 12:00 AM


Miami-based Hippeus Capital has acquired the Pitt Building at the corner of the Boulevard of the Allies and Smithfield Street with plans to convert the two upper floors to high-tech office space and add more retail on the boulevard and Third Avenue. It will be Hippeus’ first investment in the city.

...

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by Captain Crash

I would really love to see them make Strawberry Way not just more pedestrian friendly but pedestrian only. Or at least from Grant to Smithfield. What a cool narrow street with interesting buildings along it! They could encourage building owners to put some cafes in there with plenty of street seating-- Hotel Monaco already has its restaurant fronting Strawberry, so they could be the first to jump in with an outdoor seating area. With some businesses and better lighting this could be a high energy area as it connects the plaza at the US Steel building to Smithfield and on to Liberty (though that last block would be much tougher to convert).

That's a great suggestion. The buildings between Smithfield and Grant are not only interesting, as you point out, but the old Bell Telephone building has that wonderful covered arcade. It could be a really cool pedestrian passage (it kinda acts like that already, if memory serves---I don't recall ever seeing a vehicle on Strawberry during my time downtown).

[eschaton]

Two things of interest in the new zoning commission hearing.

First, there is a new six-story hotel on East Carson near the intersection with Sarah Street. Looks like a lot of variances are being asked for in terms of FAR, setbacks, and building height, so hopefully we're looking at a pretty sizable urban building.

Second, four new-construction homes in Elliott, right by the West End Overlook. I realize that great views often get high-cost new construction houses built in areas which are otherwise pretty meh in Pittsburgh, but this is still hopefully a good sign for the neighborhood.

[photoLith]

Just got some photos of them blowing up the Hulton Bridge in Oakmont this morning.

DSC_6085 by photolitherland, on Flickr

DSC_6084 by photolitherland, on Flickr

[BrianTH]

Nice to see the Pitt Building getting some TLC. It is a relatively unusual facade for Downtown Pittsburgh and adding retail to the BOA side (currently just a big blank brick wall at street level) would be welcome:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4378213,...w%3D339.82758%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

The sale actually involved three properties: The Pitt Building; an adjacent structure at 343 Boulevard of the Allies that houses Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh offices; and a small warehouse-type building at 340 Third Ave. Mr. Blum said Hippeus hopes to convert the latter building into a two-story space featuring a high-end restaurant or some other type of retail. It also plans to reconfigure some of the existing street level space on Smithfield “to create better retail spaces in the building.” “We think there’s a great opportunity to open up the storefront there and integrate it with Point Park [University] and that corridor,” he noted.

That's actually great news too about 340 Third Avenue:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4383679,...nqTTimu1WAkaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

That block of Third Avenue is pretty neglected at the moment but I think it has real potential. There are several cool historic buildings and also some potential infill opportunities, and as a lightly-used, narrow street, it could be a pretty intimate space, perhaps even a place you could close at night to car traffic for outdoor dining or market purposes.

Edit:

332 Third Avenue apparently used to be the place to go for whips . . .

https://books.google.com/books?id=QA4EAA...32%20third%20avenue%20pittsburgh&f=false

That company grew into the Family Toy Warehouse chain, which had a good run for a while:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2002/02/11/story6.html?page=all

[BrianTH]

Those Hulton Bridge photos are great (as usual). I particularly like the second one, including the neat mix of silvers and grays and the broken reflection in the icy water.