PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Ahh yes, I see it now on streetview. Ironically we're by that apartment building all the time when we go to Mad Mex and get valet parking, but it's just out of view from that lot.

In general, I think those blocks of Shadyside right around East Liberty Station are prime areas for new apartment construction of moderate size. I wouldn't lament the loss of Shadyside Plaza, for example. I'd say the same about Negley Station as well - the 5700 block of Pierce is just so underbuilt - it's like half vacant lots. Two of the houses have been knocked down on the north side of the block fairly recently. I think someone is land banking.

I like that new building on Carron - Nice!

IDK about any plans for Shadyside Plaza but I know there is strong interest from LG Realty (Larry Gumberg) in buying and razing/redeveloping the Giant Eagle plaza next to the new transit station into presumably very dense new mixed use development which I think would be great.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

IDK about any plans for Shadyside Plaza but I know there is strong interest from LG Realty (Larry Gumberg) in buying and razing/redeveloping the Giant Eagle plaza next to the new transit station into presumably very dense new mixed use development which I think would be great.

I've been hearing about this for awhile, but I didn't know the Gumbergs were involved.

The rumors I have heard are they want to include a movie theater on site.

I hope "The Village of Eastside" gets redeveloped at some point too. The historic building on the west side of the shopping center is getting rehabbed right now, with new windows being put in on the upper floors. There's no problem with old post office building Trader Joe's is in as well. If only the demolished the back side of the shopping center, where Staples is, and built new structures near the street. It would help tie Bakery Square and East Liberty together so much more.

It's funny to think even with how much development has happened in "Greater East Liberty" there's still so many more pieces of the puzzle to put together.

[BrianTH]

I'd definitely love to see both those shopping plazas redone.

We also chatted at one point about re-introducing some streets. Extending Shady along the Busway to intersect with E Liberty Boulevard would be nice, and you could maybe incorporate a couple levels of parking along the Busway ala the East Liberty Transit Station. Extending Dahlem into the site could also be nice, and you could maybe even continue Dahlem from around where it could intersect Shady over a new bridge to Broad Street. Add in a couple cross streets from Penn to the new Dahlem and Shady, and you have a nice little grid to work with.

[eschaton]

Still waiting on the new planning commission presentation, but the agenda is up, and it looks like it's going to be thin this week. Four "properties" are up for historic designation, but three of them are not buildings, but springs (I didn't realize natural features could be nominated). The last is the Bayard School in Lawrenceville, which is (IIRC) being nominated by Carol Peterson to stop it from being razed and redeveloped. I'm not sure it's worth saving, as the facade has been horribly compromised over the years.

The only other new thing on the agenda appears to be an expansion of a city park in Banksville. The Planning Commission will vote this week on whether to declare the Murray/Forward zone of Squirrel Hill and parts of Deutschtown and Spring Garden blighted, but has delayed the vote on the Hill District/Uptown till November.

Also, a new zoning board schedule is up. Not much of notice. Two small apartment projects are being proposed in the Strip and Shadyside. Perhaps the biggest possibility is what might not get approved. Sal Williams, who has with his family methodically bought out much of Uptown and knocked it down for parking lots, is looking for re-authorization to continue to use two large vacant lots along Fifth as parking. I'm hoping the zoning board rejects one or both - maybe it will provide some incentive for him to sell to a developer.

[eschaton]

Presentation is now up. Apparently the "springs" in question are actually old public basins fed by natural springs, which makes a lot more sense when it comes to historic preservation. There's a ridiculous amount of information about each of the springs, as is required under the City's guidelines for historic structures.

Some other things I saw today on Pittsburgh Business Times. First, there's a paywalled article about a new eight-story office building soon to be proposed on Forbes in Oakland. There's not even a rendering, so I'm not going to link to the teaser. This article covers a number of recent URA transactions however. The headline and much of the article cover the sale of the Detectives Building to Schoolhouse Electric. But the URA also voted to sell property at the PTC to the firm building the 111 room Hotel Indigo there, along with furthering smaller projects for senior housing in Morningside and a mixed-use development in Beechview.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Presentation is now up. Apparently the "springs" in question are actually old public basins fed by natural springs, which makes a lot more sense when it comes to historic preservation. There's a ridiculous amount of information about each of the springs, as is required under the City's guidelines for historic structures.

As a resident of Spring Hill which was named as such because of an abundance of natural springs, I can tell you that the local resident historians are very proud of these features. I have read at least one story in my neighborhood news letter (The venerable Spring Hill-City View Times). I like the history of the springs because it adds another dimension of history to the city experience. While walking with my gf, we see people pull up in cars and jump out to fill empty gallon jugs with the stuff.
Never knew that was a thing until recently.

[Private D]

Anyone know what's going on (actually, not going on) with the new Walnut apartment building on Penn & Highland in E Liberty?

The ground floor has been boarded up with plywood for months now. I think it's been that way since the spring. I thought at first that maybe they were finishing the interior spaces, but that can't be... it's been way too long. I imagine Walnut is waiting for a potential tenant to show solid interest/commitment before building the spaces out...?

It's a bad look regardless.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Anyone know what's going on (actually, not going on) with the new Walnut apartment building on Penn & Highland in E Liberty?

The ground floor has been boarded up with plywood for months now. I think it's been that way since the spring. I thought at first that maybe they were finishing the interior spaces, but that can't be... it's been way too long. I imagine Walnut is waiting for a potential tenant to show solid interest/commitment before building the spaces out...?

It's a bad look regardless.

They just recently applied for building permits to fit out the first floor of the building, so presumably it will start being finished sometime soon. Hopefully before the winter.

[GeneW]

This is just a little thing but symbolic of the changes in character to both Carson Street and Garfield/Friendship/Bloomfield in the last decade or so.

Pittsburgh’s Silver Eye Photography Gallery Moving to Bloomfield

Silver Eye executive director David Oresick says he’s been pursuing the move since he took the job about two years ago. Penn Avenue was always high on the list of possible new locations, and a good opportunity finally arose, he says.

So this Saturday, Silver Eye is simultaneously closing its current exhibit, Materials & Processes, several weeks early, and holding its farewell reception in its South Side headquarters. The gallery will then begin the process of moving into a leased space in a brand-new building at the corner of Penn and Mathilda, in Bloomfield. (Silver Eye will sell the South Side building, Oresick says.)

[Brentsters]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Some other things I saw today on Pittsburgh Business Times. First, there's a paywalled article about a new eight-story office building soon to be proposed on Forbes in Oakland. There's not even a rendering, so I'm not going to link to the teaser.

I think this is for the surface lot on Forbes at Coltart, across from the proposed Arby's apartments.

[BenM]

Long time lurker who really appreciates the work done here to track the progress of my favorite city.

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a couple of questions. Has the conversion of Schenley started/been completed? I love that building. And is there any hope for the New Granada Theater on The Hill? I seems like it has been slated for restoration for over two decades and the last time I visited it looked the same as it did two decades ago.

And how the hell did noted property developer Mario Lemieux get the rights to the old Civic Arena site? A shiny new stadium wasn't enough?

[Private D]

Originally Posted by BenM

And how the hell did noted property developer Mario Lemieux get the rights to the old Civic Arena site? A shiny new stadium wasn't enough?

It's part of the culture in Pittsburgh... they'll bend over/drop to their knees for a big guy who can handle balls or a stick.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by BenM

Long time lurker who really appreciates the work done here to track the progress of my favorite city.

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a couple of questions. Has the conversion of Schenley started/been completed? I love that building. And is there any hope for the New Granada Theater on The Hill? I seems like it has been slated for restoration for over two decades and the last time I visited it looked the same as it did two decades ago.

And how the hell did noted property developer Mario Lemieux get the rights to the old Civic Arena site? A shiny new stadium wasn't enough?

Welcome!

I don't know about your first two questions. As for the civic arena site, this country seems to have a bad habit of paying way too much in public subsidies to sports teams and throwing in prime real estate development rights as icing on the cake. It's — to be honest.

[eschaton]

I'm pretty sure the Penguins threatened to leave Pittsburgh if they weren't given development rights over the Civic Arena site among other state/local kickbacks. IIRC Kansas City was seriously mooted. It might have been a mostly toothless threat, but it was out there.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm pretty sure the Penguins threatened to leave Pittsburgh if they weren't given development rights over the Civic Arena site among other state/local kickbacks. IIRC Kansas City was seriously mooted. It might have been a mostly toothless threat, but it was out there.

It's such a common negotiating tactic that The Onion lampooned it.

http://www.theonion.com/article/congress-threatens-to-leave-dc-unless-new-capitol--98

[EventHorizon]

Carnegie Science Center expansion adds a new riverfront...

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-desig...t-space-whole-new-riverfront-experience/



Images courtesy of Carnegie Science Center

It kinda has that "hidden" parking garage look, like at Rivers. Perhaps it's just these renderings though. We'll see.

[daviderik]

No, You're right. The lower portion is fabricated metal mesh like the cladding on most parking decks. It's called sci-fi chic. Inspired from all those mesh walls in star trek. (That's total Bull — btw)

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

It's part of the culture in Pittsburgh... they'll bend over/drop to their knees for a big guy who can handle balls or a stick.

Am I the only one that doesn't like Mario? Great Hockey player? Yes. Slimy Smug — hole? Yep!
I read in the comment section of the PG someone advocating we should re name the arena after Lemieux. Although he would probably love that.
I don't get the god status he receives.
You're a former athlete. Not a business man. Go back to Montreal and take your ego with you.

[themaguffin]

I'm pretty sure the Penguins threatened to leave Pittsburgh if they weren't given development rights over the Civic Arena site among other state/local kickbacks. IIRC Kansas City was seriously mooted. It might have been a mostly toothless threat, but it was out there.

That's the odd thing though - you would think that developing the land is a burden to them as they seem to be dragging their feet to do something.

[Johnland]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Ahh yes, I see it now on streetview. Ironically we're by that apartment building all the time when we go to Mad Mex and get valet parking, but it's just out of view from that lot.

In general, I think those blocks of Shadyside right around East Liberty Station are prime areas for new apartment construction of moderate size. I wouldn't lament the loss of Shadyside Plaza, for example. I'd say the same about Negley Station as well - the 5700 block of Pierce is just so underbuilt - it's like half vacant lots. Two of the houses have been knocked down on the north side of the block fairly recently. I think someone is land banking.

After looking around street view of carron St and then along Ellsworth, I see Shadyside Detailing is still on that prime corner of Ellsworth and Maryland. Talk about potential for redevelopment. I also noticed what looks like a recent building at 5730 Ellsworth (not sure how post the google street view). Pretty nice. That block of Ellsworth has really held its own and keeps improving.