PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Johnland]

I was in the Strip District Sat afternoon and was amazed by the crowds. The sidewalks were packed. I haven't been there in a few years and it really seems to have changed. Smallman has so many new apartments.

[BrianTH]

I was in the Strip with an out-of-town guest on Friday, and I agree it is really humming. Hopefully all the new developments in the works continue to add and not subtract.

[AFW523]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I was in the Strip with an out-of-town guest on Friday, and I agree it is really humming. Hopefully all the new developments in the works continue to add and not subtract.

Do you have any particular reservations about anything on the drawing board? Man I wish the Yards was better integrated with the water but they are boned with the ROW there. I just ran through there this morning and it looked like the Buncher site is starting to mobilize. Once that gets going and the terminal rehab proceeds, it's going to be very transformative for that northwest portion of the strip. Especially if their reach eventually crosses Smallman.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by AFW523

Do you have any particular reservations about anything on the drawing board?

Mostly no, although I never much liked Buncher's plans for the Downtown-side of the 16th Street bridge (too much surface parking and an office-parky feel). Otherwise, I've been pretty happy with the stuff done so far (aesthetically I might have a qualm here or there, but in turns of density and mix of use it has been fine), and I am very much looking forward to a transformation of the area around the Produce Terminal.

But that was an off hand reference to the common concern that eventually the thriving Penn Avenue commercial district might be adversely affected by all this development activity--something like that escalating property values and rents could drive out the cool mix of ethnic, historic, and otherwise quirky merchants and cause them to be replaced by more generic contemporary businesses.

I've never been preoccupied with that concern myself, but I take it seriously to the extent I think that would be a bad outcome. Fortunately, at least from my casual perspective, that doesn't seem to be happening yet. I know on the wholesale side some people have had to relocate, but retail wise a lot of the old favorites seem to be thriving, and meanwhile all sorts of new restaurants and shops seem to be adding in to the mix and not taking away.

[photoLith]

Just drove past the Iroquois Building, at least I think thats what its called and they have pretty much finished up the restoration and it looks amazing.

IMG_6771 by photolitherland, on Flickr

IMG_6775 by photolitherland, on Flickr

Before the restoration you couldnt even see the places that are now white, it was all covered in black soot pretty much.

[daviderik]

[QUOTE=Wally G;7567210]

Originally Posted by daviderik

The latest design of the expansion is a disappointment. Some kind of aluminum grating or mesh instead of glass. That new space could have been a nice vantage point to view downtown. The original design was inspired and then it was downgraded and now it looks like the cladding developers put on parking garages. Shame.[/QUOTE


I hope they didn't change their design. Where did you see the new renderings at?

http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/schedule70/presentation-70-780.pdf

[photoLith]

Was driving through Wilkinsburg today too, and a bunch of stuff has recently been restored there.

IMG_6782 by photolitherland, on Flickr
I remember about a year ago getting into this beautiful apartment building before the restoration started and it was completely falling apart inside. Glad they restored it.

What this building looked like two years ago
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4388107,...FMjDG4D1lRz6Rq1fio1HA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

IMG_6779 by photolitherland, on Flickr
The most incredible restoration job that Ive seen in the city would have to go to the restoration of these buildings, also in Wilkinsburg. This time last year, they had all completely collapsed inside, the one on the far left had even collapsed out into the street, and now theyre brand new again. Theyre right next to the also recently restored Crescent Apartments.

IMG_6778 by photolitherland, on Flickr
This is the one that collapsed out into the street.

What they looked like two years ago.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4396978,...77Nvk1YIgeh5NQXkZ4c_g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Steel City Scotty]

This probably should have been shared a few pages ago when the topic was being discussed, but I've been away from this board for a while and just got caught up on the past month's worth of posts.

Anyway, here is the view from my office window of the roof work being done on the Town Place building.

[highlander206]

New Post Gazette article on the expansion plans for the Carnegie Science Center.

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...sion-plans-detailed/stories/201609210091

The expansion design in itself doesn't really bother me, but coupled with the rest of the building I don't think it meshes too well. It will be nice though to finally have exhibition space so Pittsburgh can join in on getting certain traveling exhibits once again.

[themaguffin]

I'm all for being grounded and constructive criticism, but this piece was a bit much and also the very nature of it was odd.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/...seems-cool-but-its-numbers-aren-t-so-hot

Thought this was funny... and a sign of the times in western PA.

Erie's Jerry Uht Park becomes UPMC Park

http://www.goerie.com/news/20160919/eries-jerry-uht-park-becomes-upmc-park




Aaannnddd..... in true "non-profit" healthcare competition... Erie's Liberty Park Amphitheater on the West Bayfront becomes Highmark Amphitheater!

http://www.goerie.com/news/20160921/highmark-amphitheater-coming-to-liberty-park

[themaguffin]

Looks like with U.S. Steel locked in and the building at high occupancy, the U.S. Steel Tower owners look to capitalize on it..

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburg...-for-sale.html

[themaguffin]

This probably should have been shared a few pages ago when the topic was being discussed, but I've been away from this board for a while and just got caught up on the past month's worth of posts.

Anyway, here is the view from my office window of the roof work being done on the Town Place building.l

Thanks for the update.

[eschaton]

I saw yesterday that at that "mystery" location on the 3500 block of Butler Street there is finally a crude rendering. It's going to be a small office building which has a planned completion date of Spring 2017. It will be a three-story building with a pretty historically-minded facade. Excavation work seems to be done, and they are building the forms to cast the foundation. I would have preferred apartments, but at least some of the last major gaps in Lower Lawrenceville are filling in. It's a shame they couldn't get further site control. The Nesi family owns the next three parcels down the street, which include two vacant lots and one wood-frame walkup.

In other office news in Lawrenceville, this building on the 3900 block, which is mostly vacant, will be turned into commercial space. Botero Development formerly tried to develop this property as a 32-unit apartment building, but something must not have panned out, so they're falling back on offices. Still planning to add a 4th story to the structure however.

[Brentsters]

The packaging corp plant on 28th street is closing. Combined with the 2 blocks the city is marketing, a big chunk of riverfront property from 28th to the 31st st bridge could all be up for sale.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Brentsters

The packaging corp plant on 28th street is closing. Combined with the 2 blocks the city is marketing, a big chunk of riverfront property from 28th to the 31st st bridge could all be up for sale.

Hell, considering those parcels, I think the Consumers Produce building between 21st and 23rd will be the only thing left by the river below 31st Street which hasn't been either redeveloped or is in the process of redevelopment.

[AFW523]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I saw yesterday that at that "mystery" location on the 3500 block of Butler Street there is finally a crude rendering. It's going to be a small office building which has a planned completion date of Spring 2017. It will be a three-story building with a pretty historically-minded facade. Excavation work seems to be done, and they are building the forms to cast the foundation. I would have preferred apartments, but at least some of the last major gaps in Lower Lawrenceville are filling in. It's a shame they couldn't get further site control. The Nesi family owns the next three parcels down the street, which include two vacant lots and one wood-frame walkup.

In other office news in Lawrenceville, this building on the 3900 block, which is mostly vacant, will be turned into commercial space. Botero Development formerly tried to develop this property as a 32-unit apartment building, but something must not have panned out, so they're falling back on offices. Still planning to add a 4th story to the structure however.

And on a strictly eyeball-report level, it looks like a few of the long-vacant buildings on the southern side of Butler St around the mystery plot are getting worked on.

Also, speaking of gaps...the Bargain Auto Mart on 45th Street just had a meeting this week for a proposal to turn it into some sort of BBQ joint. I don't know if that means just using the existing building for kitchen/interior purposes (a la doublewide in southside) or actually demo'ing the parcel and moving out towards the street. Would be nice to button that side up, although for a used car dealer/garage, that guy has always been a pretty good neighbor. LU hasn't sent out the meeting notes yet, but if anything of interest was discussed, I'll chime in.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by AFW523

And on a strictly eyeball-report level, it looks like a few of the long-vacant buildings on the southern side of Butler St around the mystery plot are getting worked on.

Yeah, I've noticed such too. I mean, there is a tremendous amount going on on Butler Street now, particularly in Lower Lawrenceville, where there are at least eight projects under construction or in development. Even one of the Nese buildings was sold (to a holding company of Sota Construction) and now has a dumpster in front of it. Hopefully it's a sign that the other properties will also be sold off soon.

Originally Posted by AFW523

Also, speaking of gaps...the Bargain Auto Mart on 45th Street just had a meeting this week for a proposal to turn it into some sort of BBQ joint. I don't know if that means just using the existing building for kitchen/interior purposes (a la doublewide in southside) or actually demo'ing the parcel and moving out towards the street. Would be nice to button that side up, although for a used car dealer/garage, that guy has always been a pretty good neighbor. LU hasn't sent out the meeting notes yet, but if anything of interest was discussed, I'll chime in.

I still kind of miss living in Central Lawrenceville, although it was getting a bit insufferably yuppie for me. Still, as a fan of redevelopment, it was such an exciting place to live.

[Dr. Avis 3]

Originally Posted by Brentsters

The packaging corp plant on 28th street is closing. Combined with the 2 blocks the city is marketing, a big chunk of riverfront property from 28th to the 31st st bridge could all be up for sale.

Wow that's terrible news but not surprising that this would happen under an ultra left wing mayor who cares about bike lanes more than middle class jobs. It just keeps getting worse. Up here in Hampton, we put jobs ahead of bikes for many reasons.

[themaguffin]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2016/09/15/peoples-latest-to-make-new-downtown-home.html