PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[eschaton]

An interview with the head of Trek Development. The only new news was this:

The Garden Theater Block: This important block cannot be redeveloped in its current form under the current zoning classification. The height limitation is significantly lower than the 120-year-old structures that are currently on the site. We remain committed to finding a solution, working diligently with the URA and neighborhood, particularly the Allegheny Central City Association, to find a path forward. I am confident we will find a way forward on a portion of the block within the next 30 days.

This seems to suggest that whatever happens it will be a scaled-back version of the previous project in some aspect. Hopefully at least some of the buildings can be saved.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by qwho

Has anyone heard if there is anything new on the proposed double high rise on the back side of PNC Park?

Nope.
And if they do build it I hope they don't use that Clipart design that came with Windows '95.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

...
This seems to suggest that whatever happens it will be a scaled-back version of the previous project in some aspect. Hopefully at least some of the buildings can be saved.

Minutes of the last ACCA meeting:

Garden Theater Block Update: Bill Gatti of Trek Development continues to explore options for moving project forward presented at previous meetings. An appeal hearing for previous zoning appeal decision is scheduled for November in Commonwealth Court. Trek has explored a zoning change but has not gotten traction. Recent meeting with Mayor, Councilwoman Harris and URA resulted in a requested for Trek to reduce height as much as feasible. Trek’s proposed new plan maintains height of existing tallest building, but has received no response from appellant. Trek is working on agreement to move forward with Bradbury, Garden Theater and plaza in time for City of Asylum opening this Fall. Sidewalks along block are responsibility of DPW and they should be contacted with issues. One appellant was in attendance but chose not to comment. Trek is committed to continuing funding of legal battle but cannot guarantee duration.

[AFW523]

So the Town Place building down on Stanwix and Forbes had a pretty big rooftop crane installed recently. I know they were talking about flipping to residential units and got that funky video mesh idea NIMBY'd out. Anyone know what the final plans call for? No way that crane is just there to pull up new rooftop air handlers...I'm surprised they are already moving this quick. Between that and a potential redo of the Post Gazette building, that would be a nice upgrade of two past-due parcels in that part of the triangle.

[mikebarbaro]

Originally Posted by AFW523

So the Town Place building down on Stanwix and Forbes had a pretty big rooftop crane installed recently. I know they were talking about flipping to residential units and got that funky video mesh idea NIMBY'd out. Anyone know what the final plans call for? No way that crane is just there to pull up new rooftop air handlers...I'm surprised they are already moving this quick. Between that and a potential redo of the Post Gazette building, that would be a nice upgrade of two past-due parcels in that part of the triangle.

I live across the street. Right now they are just using it to take down the roof supports. They will then be adding another level which is going to be corporate apartments. They are adding a sports (tennis court) deck on the roof as well.

[photoLith]

^
That building and the mcdonalds across the street are embarrassing and ugly as hell. They pretty much form the gateway to downtown which is ridiculous. Hope they get that video screen, that would be super cool. And I hope at some point that ugly Brutalist McDonalds gets torn down.

[mikebarbaro]

Originally Posted by photoLith

^
That building and the mcdonalds across the street are embarrassing and ugly as hell. They pretty much form the gateway to downtown which is ridiculous. Hope they get that video screen, that would be super cool. And I hope at some point that ugly Brutalist McDonalds gets torn down.

It would make sense for that Mcdonald's to be the Visit Pittsburgh Welcome Center building. Instead they are hidden in Fifth Avenue Place.

[WillyC]

Originally Posted by photoLith

^
That building and the mcdonalds across the street are embarrassing and ugly as hell. They pretty much form the gateway to downtown which is ridiculous. Hope they get that video screen, that would be super cool. And I hope at some point that ugly Brutalist McDonalds gets torn down.

I'm for the video screen as well. Some day that McDonald's is going to be turned into a better building with a McDonald's in it. I'd like to see that said building have a video screen too. With Market Sq. up the street, it would make that intersection interesting.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by WillyC

I'm for the video screen as well. Some day that McDonald's is going to be turned into a better building with a McDonald's in it. I'd like to see that said building have a video screen too. With Market Sq. up the street, it would make that intersection interesting.

I've mentioned this before but I swear I remember a news article from around the year 2000 give or take a couple years that described a proposal for tearing down that McDonald's and building a 13 story triangle shaped mid rise. I cannot find any mention of it online however.

I didn't even follow real estate development back then but I still remember it being an exciting idea to me.

[Wave]

According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, due to the initial denial of the scope of his plans for his 18-story high rise residential project in the Strip District, and the delays in the appeal process, Francois Bitz has decided to consider adjusting his plans and possibly pursue a 2-3 story low rise office project.

According to the Business Times he would be:

"pursuing a possible new office building for the site. The early stage proposal is for a two- or three-story building of between 30,000 and 45,000 square feet, with parking for 60 cars or more, depending on the final project size".

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Wave

According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, due to the initial denial of the scope of his plans for his 18-story high rise residential project in the Strip District, and the delays in the appeal process, Francois Bitz has decided to consider adjusting his plans and possibly pursue a 2-3 story low rise office project.

According to the Business Times he would be:

"pursuing a possible new office building for the site. The early stage proposal is for a two- or three-story building of between 30,000 and 45,000 square feet, with parking for 60 cars or more, depending on the final project size".

What a downgrade!

[chucka]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I've mentioned this before but I swear I remember a news article from around the year 2000 give or take a couple years that described a proposal for tearing down that McDonald's and building a 13 story triangle shaped mid rise. I cannot find any mention of it online however.

I didn't even follow real estate development back then but I still remember it being an exciting idea to me.

This might be what you are referring to from 2002: Task force unveils new plan for Pittsburgh's Fifth/Forbes

[Brentsters]

Millcraft tweeted a picture with a few renderings of the chateau site. I’m not posting the picture because it’s mostly just a picture of a kid, but here’s the link. Maybe some small mid-rises.

https://twitter.com/MillcraftInv/status/766767873385717760

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by chucka

This might be what you are referring to from 2002: Task force unveils new plan for Pittsburgh's Fifth/Forbes

That was such an old-school urban renewal style plan. "Let's tear everything down all at once and build new stuff!" Also Borders and Virgin Records! There's a plan for the future.

[highlander206]

Originally Posted by GeneW

That was such an old-school urban renewal style plan. "Let's tear everything down all at once and build new stuff!" Also Borders and Virgin Records! There's a plan for the future.

It is interesting though thankfully that what went over sections B and D ended up being of much larger scale than what was proposed back in 2002. With the exception of area A, all six sections noted have now been redeveloped though F where the new playhouse is being built, is underwhelming compared to their proposal. Does anyone have an idea of what the $522 million Market Place proposal mentioned in the article from around 2000 would have looked like and entailed as well?

http://old.post-gazette.com/popup.asp?img=/images2/20020308fifthforbeshilitemap.gif

[themaguffin]

the developer for the Strip building should have submitted a building that was like 30 or 32 stories and that way, he could get the 18 that he wanted.

[Minivan Werner]

How did The ParkLane in Highland Park ever get approved?

[Wave]

Or the Imperial House and Maxon Towers in Squirrel Hill. I think the Nimby phenomenon movement is partially responsible and zoning variances at one time seem to have been much more malleable. I don't think you could ever do the Park Lane or Imperial House in 2016.

The rejection of the Bitz project is a real head scratcher because that area has virtually zero residential until you get into Lawrenceville and the Strip District in general is as perfectly primed as any (along with the North Shore) for a Pittsburgh neighborhood to go vertical.

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

How did The ParkLane in Highland Park ever get approved?

[Wave]

Speaking of Squirrel Hill: There is a 39 Unit condo project proposed in Squirrel Hill by the Otto Milk developer (Solara Ventures). From the Business Times, (most of the article is behind the paywall):

"On the verge of completing a second sold-out condo project in the Strip District, Benoff’s Solara Ventures has two parcels under agreement at 2170 Murray Ave. on which he is proposing to build a five-story residential building of about 39 units with 50 to 60 parking spaces".

This is across the street from two other projects in planning at Forward & Murray: The Action Housing mid rise project (formerly Poli's) and the corner/Sq. Hill Theater location. That makes three decent projects in one cluster at that intersection.

[Private D]

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

How did The ParkLane in Highland Park ever get approved?

$