PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by chucka

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

Originally Posted by highlander206

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

I don't remember the building looking like that but yeah, that must be it.

I was going to point out, but highlander beat me to it is that the McDonald's site is the only part of that 15 year old plan that hasn't been accomplished.



Part B became PNC 3, part C became the mixed use retail/residential redevelopment of the GC Murphy building, part D we really won out on; Instead of a Banana Republic & Border's (lol) we got a world class eco-friendly skyscraper (which was built 10 stories too short ), part E became Tower Two Sixty at The Gardens, & part F became the Point Park Unviersity Playhouse.

All we need is for that McDonald's to be leveled and IMO, a nice mixed use mid-rise project and that whole plan will have been fulfilled.
The 5th-Forbes plan that was talked about around the year 2000 always involved way too much emphasis on retail. Such as building that Lazarus department store. It was like 1950's thinking 50 years too late.

[Austinlee]

The article was right about what Market Square could be become. The re-design turned out great.

The plan for Market Square is to turn it into a "world-class, urban space," containing farmers markets, street vendors, entertainment, art shows, concerts and festivals.

http://old.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/20020308fifthforbes0308p2.asp

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by 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

Oh great, a ferris wheel. I am not a fan of those things near downtown's.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

How did The ParkLane in Highland Park ever get approved?

Originally Posted by 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.

I would encourage everyone to read this very interesting story about the difference between American and Japanese zoning. Warning: It will make you mad!
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=224477

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Oh great, a ferris wheel. I am not a fan of those things near downtown's.

It seems to be beyond the West End bridge? I think that's a pretty dope spot for it, personally!

[mikebarbaro]

Beer Museum in Pittsburgh? I'm for it!

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/drinks/...seum-for-Pittsburgh/stories/201608250008

[BrianTH]

A well-done beer museum would be fantastic. It is definitely complementary to Pittsburgh's new branding.

Millcraft's plan looks pretty exciting too. As we are the original home of the Ferris wheel (exhibited in Chicago, but made in Pittsburgh by Ferris, a Pittsburgh bridge builder), I think a Ferris wheel here would be pretty cool. And off hand, that looks like it is pretty close to a replica of the original.

[highlander206]

Allegiant Airlines has announced plans to offer non-stop flights to San Juan and Austin.

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...-to-Austin-San-Juan/stories/201608300073

Flights to Austin will be year round and run twice a week while the San Juan flight will be once a week through late April. They will also be basing a second plane here which will add an additional 30 jobs IIRC to the airport.

[BrianTH]

Cool. There was also an article about a week ago about Southwest continuing to look at new destinations, although nothing firm as I recall.

[highlander206]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Cool. There was also an article about a week ago about Southwest continuing to look at new destinations, although nothing firm as I recall.

You are correct, I read that article too and it said they were looking at a few destinations but have nothing official planned for now. PIT could really use a non stop to Seattle along with more non stop options to the West Coast in general IMO. This will be the first non stop flight to Austin since 1997 and San Juan since 2008.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by highlander206

Allegiant Airlines has announced plans to offer non-stop flights to San Juan and Austin.

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/pit...-to-Austin-San-Juan/stories/201608300073

Flights to Austin will be year round and run twice a week while the San Juan flight will be once a week through late April. They will also be basing a second plane here which will add an additional 30 jobs IIRC to the airport.

That's great news. Seeing more and more destinations for the airport is always good.

Is San Juan considered an international flight? Technically its not, but I'm not sure.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by mikebarbaro

Beer Museum in Pittsburgh? I'm for it!

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/drinks/...seum-for-Pittsburgh/stories/201608250008

They have yet to decide on a site. I think the old iron City Brewery would be great. But I think they are looking for something near downtown. So probably the strip. A Brewery Museum will go nicely with the new whiskey museum that Wiggle is planning. "Visit Pittsburgh and get 🞵🞵🞵🞵 faced."

[BrianTH]

Visit Pittsburgh for a truly historic bender!

[eschaton]

The Planning Commission's August break is over, but the first September report has little of interest.

1. New signs are going to be put on Four Gateway Center and 11 Stanwix Street. It's a shame that lil' Luke decided to start allowing these. Downtown is looking tackier and tackier.

2. UPMC is continuing to work on restoring the old Ford Motor Company building on Baum Boulevard. The renderings are crude, but it will certainly be an improvement.

3. There are plans for the new cigar bar on the North Shore.

That's it. Due to the light load, I'll link to some of the other recent reports as well.

Historic Review Commission - light load, mostly houses and projects which have been in the works for awhile. I notice that Carol Peterson is trying to get Bayard School in Lawrenceville designated as historic - probably to stop demolition.

Here's links to the last three zoning reports (1, 2, 3). Of some note are the following.

1. 2 new infill houses in Lower Lawrenceville on 38th Street.
2. A request for zoning change to build the planned "Craft Place" apartments in South Oakland.
3. 3 new infill houses in Upper Lawrenceville on Lotus Way.
4. A request to build a new "strip mall" in Lincoln Place at the site of The Scoop ice cream shop. Actually this might not be a true strip mall, as they're asking for only a five foot setback. It would be nice to add some commerce of any sort to Lincoln Place, which is among the most suburban Pittsburgh neighborhoods, but it needs a lot of variances to go forward, so I wouldn't be shocked if it was shot down.
5. A few South Side restaurants are looking to expand their seating, but will need variances to account for not having additional parking in order to go forward.
6. 5 infill homes in Lower Lawrenceville on 38th street (right across from the two above. These lots are more heavily sloped, and the variances being asked for are extensive.
7. 12 new detached single-family homes in Squirrel Hill, along Beechwood Boulevard. It looks like the developers are looking to demo an old mansion on a large plot and subdivide the property. I hope they can get away with it, as it would set a good precedent for the future.

[Private Dick]

Pittsburgh I see you just getting better and better... so sophisticated. Show it off!






When is Pittsburgh gonna get it together and put some block white lettering up on PPG, Oxford, Gulf, etc?? Hauscome we can't make this city high class, n'at?

[themaguffin]

I have an idea. Next time somebody wants to put a "tall" building outside of downtown (anything that massive like above 4 stories) just say that you want to put up a sign and you will get no push back.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Pittsburgh I see you just getting better and better... so sophisticated. Show it off!

When is Pittsburgh gonna get it together and put some block white lettering up on PPG, Oxford, Gulf, etc?? Hauscome we can't make this city high class, n'at?

That particular building in gateway center is really nice. Great design and classy architecture. Shame the sign will 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 it up.

[highlander206]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Pittsburgh I see you just getting better and better... so sophisticated. Show it off!






When is Pittsburgh gonna get it together and put some block white lettering up on PPG, Oxford, Gulf, etc?? Hauscome we can't make this city high class, n'at?

I admittedly don't mind some of the lettering on two or three select buildings, but this one looks awful.

[eschaton]

Eyeball report here after a ride down Centre Avenue.

The new student-focused highrise being built at Centre and Craig (is it The Empire or Park 7?) is past demo and into excavation for the foundation. Obviously it's a ginormous site and it's going to begin changing the street feel well before the building is completed.

I didn't go on Baum, but I saw the back side of the Vitmore building. The foundation work is done, and it looks like they're just about finished with the first two stories, which are concrete block. I had seen the crane before from a distance, so I knew it was moving along. Presumably soon the frame will go up and it will reach maximum height.

I was surprised to see that some work seems like it has started on the Emerald View Apartments (Centre roughly across from the Centre Commons building. So far they've just demoed the two old commercial buildings which were there. IIRC this is going to be an apartment building roughly in the 100 unit range.

[photoLith]

So, whats going on at Penn Ave and S. Euclid? Theyve pretty much torn down all that 🞵🞵🞵🞵 70's public housing that was there. Are there any plans for that huge lot? Would love to see some dense development there.