PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[daviderik]

Oh you guys didn't hear? Bentley Automobile has moved their design and engineering dept to Greentree. But whatever. So where we at on that new dollar general going up in East Liberty?

[photoLith]

Photos of SkyVue from tonight.

DSC_9723 by photolitherland, on Flickr

DSC_9729 by photolitherland, on Flickr

[Steel City Scotty]

I'm certainly not the photographer that PhotoLith is, but I wanted to share a couple of photos of the Tower at PNC Plaza and Tower Two-Sixty that I took from my office window inside of Fifth Avenue Place. Thought these might be from an angle that hasn't been shared on this page before.

[eschaton]

Skyvue is turning out to to be a real beast of a building. I have had to take the 67 to my daughter's school lately and pass by it frequently. It feels from street level like a skyscraper which has had the top two thirds chopped off due to its massive base.

In the latest zoning agenda, there is some news. Oxford is putting in for another apartment building in the Strip on 26th, which isn't too surprising. What is is the four-story apartment building being proposed by them on Boulevard of the Allies in Oakland. It seems to be replacing this old vacant industrial building.. There's also small developments in Central Lawrenceville and Manchester being proposed.

There's also a new planning commission presentation. There's only one bit of new business: A facade restoration of a small building Downtown at 409 Smithfield. The building looks to be an ugly mid-century remuddle, and they aren't restoring the facade to anything more appropriate, merely cleaning it up. They appear to be going for an "all mid-century" look, since they'll be covering up the first-story brick storefront with ceramic tile.

Originally Posted by eschaton

What is is the four-story apartment building being proposed by them on Boulevard of the Allies in Oakland. It seems to be replacing this old vacant industrial building..

I think that building was an auto dealership long ago. There's a Chevrolet "ghost sign" on the west side, and I remember that there used to be a Peugeot sign on the vacant building for years... not sure if it's still there.

It's good to see a proposal for this parcel. I've always thought it would be a great conversion to loft residential, but at this point, they may just take it all down. It seems to be a prime location, but like the rest of this "entrance" to Oakland, it's sat blighted for as long as I can remember. That area (Blvd of Allies/Craft Ave/Craft Pl) is one of least favorite areas of Pittsburgh and one of the most under/poorly utilized corridors in the city.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Perch

That area (Blvd of Allies/Craft Ave/Craft Pl) is one of least favorite areas of Pittsburgh and one of the most under/poorly utilized corridors in the city.

I agree, but for the same reason there is also so much potential to turn that into a new high-density, high-quality corridor.

And I wonder what happened to some of the other possible projects along there.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

A facade restoration of a small building Downtown at 409 Smithfield. The building looks to be an ugly mid-century remuddle, and they aren't restoring the facade to anything more appropriate, merely cleaning it up. They appear to be going for an "all mid-century" look, since they'll be covering up the first-story brick storefront with ceramic tile.

Not my favorite approach, but it will definitely be nice to have it cleaned up and repaired with a decent awning.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I agree, but for the same reason there is also so much potential to turn that into a new high-density, high-quality corridor.

Obviously since the area is sort of a blank canvas there is huge potential for improvement. I feel like serious work needs to be done on improving that segment of Boulevard of the Allies from a pedestrian perspective. I know I wouldn't want to cross that street on foot on a daily basis.

Originally Posted by BrianTH

And I wonder what happened to some of the other possible projects along there.

It does seem to be where projects go to die, doesn't it? Well, Skyvue isn't far off from the area. The additional pedestrian density should make further new developments in the "greater portal" area more feasible.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I feel like serious work needs to be done on improving that segment of Boulevard of the Allies from a pedestrian perspective. I know I wouldn't want to cross that street on foot on a daily basis.

I agree, and there was a good bit of attention paid to this issue in the Oakland 2025 Master Plan. See pages 45-47, 50, and 59:

http://www.pfaffmann.com/documents/Oakland%202025%20Master%20Plan.pdf

I particularly like Option 2 (the roundabout plan), and in general they recommend planted medians and upgraded pedestrian-friendly intersections.

It does seem to be where projects go to die, doesn't it? Well, Skyvue isn't far off from the area. The additional pedestrian density should make further new developments in the "greater portal" area more feasible.

Yeah, it is interesting that despite all the prior talk, it is the projects right in the core Fifth/Forbes corridor that are moving along first. But as you note, hopefully that will still spark a spread into that "greater" area, and this new project is a promising sign.

[DKNewYork]

The lawn on the green roof of Scott Hall was installed yesterday. The project came out nicely---surely an improvement over the sunken parking lot/storage area that used to be there. The lawn is a great continuation of the Mall and will eventually lead to the pedestrian bridge that crosses Junction Hollow to the proposed development beside the Carnegie.

http://camera.cit.cmu.edu/bldgcam1.ece.cmu.edu_latest.jpg

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Perch

I think that building was an auto dealership long ago. There's a Chevrolet "ghost sign" on the west side, and I remember that there used to be a Peugeot sign on the vacant building for years... not sure if it's still there.

It's good to see a proposal for this parcel. I've always thought it would be a great conversion to loft residential, but at this point, they may just take it all down. It seems to be a prime location, but like the rest of this "entrance" to Oakland, it's sat blighted for as long as I can remember. That area (Blvd of Allies/Craft Ave/Craft Pl) is one of least favorite areas of Pittsburgh and one of the most under/poorly utilized corridors in the city.

I'm pretty sure that the last thing that occupied that space was a Peugeot dealership which would have been 25 years ago as the internet tells me that they pulled out of the US market in 1991.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Obviously since the area is sort of a blank canvas there is huge potential for improvement. I feel like serious work needs to be done on improving that segment of Boulevard of the Allies from a pedestrian perspective. I know I wouldn't want to cross that street on foot on a daily basis.



It does seem to be where projects go to die, doesn't it? Well, Skyvue isn't far off from the area. The additional pedestrian density should make further new developments in the "greater portal" area more feasible.

Speaking of this area, does anyone know what is happening with the 8 story hotel and apartments that were proposed at Allies and Bates St?

[Nitwit]

New renderings of the project on the Former Saks site at Smithfield & Oliver. Ten stories above a 7-story parking structure. I've heard that part of the building will still be apartments while a portion of it will now be hotel, but I can't say for sure how much truth there is to that. Total height in the ballpark of 205'.





http://www.indovina.net/#!350-oliver/asxvi

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

The lawn on the green roof of Scott Hall was installed yesterday. The project came out nicely---surely an improvement over the sunken parking lot/storage area that used to be there. The lawn is a great continuation of the Mall and will eventually lead to the pedestrian bridge that crosses Junction Hollow to the proposed development beside the Carnegie.

http://camera.cit.cmu.edu/bldgcam1.ece.cmu.edu_latest.jpg

Kind of minimalist but better than nothing.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Photos of SkyVue from tonight.

DSC_9723 by photolitherland, on Flickr

DSC_9729 by photolitherland, on Flickr

I've said it before but i love the massing of this building. IMO, oakland could use about 20 more buildings of this size and quality sprinkled throughout.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

I'm certainly not the photographer that PhotoLith is, but I wanted to share a couple of photos of the Tower at PNC Plaza and Tower Two-Sixty that I took from my office window inside of Fifth Avenue Place. Thought these might be from an angle that hasn't been shared on this page before.

Both of those towers look wonderful. Great shots.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Nitwit

New renderings of the project on the Former Saks site at Smithfield & Oliver. Ten stories above a 7-story parking structure. I've heard that part of the building will still be apartments while a portion of it will now be hotel, but I can't say for sure how much truth there is to that. Total height in the ballpark of 205'.





http://www.indovina.net/#!350-oliver/asxvi

Sweet! The renderings look marginally better each time they are revised.

[Wave]

According to someone who was at the coalition sponsored public meeting about the location, the former Poli site developer (Action Housing) presented renderings of their proposed development which is residential and institutional in nature and will match the height of the next door Morrowfield apartments. On the opposite adjacent Sq. Hill Theater site, retail & apartments are being proposed, but few details are available about that development.

Originally Posted by haimon

http://shuc.org/2016/02/23/murray-and-forward-theres-a-lot-going-on/?platform=hootsuite
From the Sq. Hill Urban Coalition. Anyone know anything?

"The former Squirrel Hill Theater and the former karate building at Murray remain under agreement to buyers who appear to be moving forward with a substantial commercial development. No details are available yet. We look forward to working with them."

[TBone7281]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

I'm certainly not the photographer that PhotoLith is, but I wanted to share a couple of photos of the Tower at PNC Plaza and Tower Two-Sixty that I took from my office window inside of Fifth Avenue Place. Thought these might be from an angle that hasn't been shared on this page before.

Beautiful vantage point, thanks for sharing. What floor are you on? My wife was up on the 24th until a few weeks ago when she changed jobs and moved across the street. I've been a bit jealous of her views, working downtown.

[Private Dick]

What is the proposed height on this project? Looks like it's going to be at least 1,100'... so glad that Pittsburgh is getting a supertall!