PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 893

eschaton · #**17841** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 1:08 AM**

In terms of good news downtown, it seems like the preliminary work on the Penn/Eighth residential project has begun. No excavation or anything as of yet, but they appear to be gutting the two existing buildings, and have entirely removed the glass windows (which were in sorry shape) from 713 Penn Avenue.

photoLith · #**17842** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 1:10 AM**

Thats fucking fantastic news that they will be restoring that building instead of building another generic glass skyscraper that won't even make an impact on the skyline. Theres some empty lots that need to be filled before any historic buildings should ever be torn down. Already last an entire block of historic buildings with the PNC Tower. I really like the white color too, will help spruce up that street a lot, a lot more than a glass building.

Austinlee · #**17843** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 1:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Thats fucking fantastic news that they will be restoring that building instead of building another generic glass skyscraper that won't even make an impact on the skyline. Theres some empty lots that need to be filled before any historic buildings should ever be torn down. Already last an entire block of historic buildings with the PNC Tower. I really like the white color too, will help spruce up that street a lot, a lot more than a glass building.

If you recall though, the new PNC tower did not really remove anything of value. They were super shitty 2 story buildings or whatever with no architectural features. Now the Point Park Playhouse is the one that should have been stopped from removing several great buildings and facades.

WillyC · #**17844** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 1:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I hear it was their T-800 concept design that really sold the DOD.

Probably not that far from the truth, lol.

Not sure if you ever saw the movie Pacific Rim, a so-so robots vs giant monsters summer event movie that flopped. They released a prequel comic book prior to the movie release that took place partially in Pittsburgh at CMU, evidently the source in the breakthrough for building giant robots to fight the giant monsters.

WillyC · #**17845** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 1:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

Has the downtown office market softened so much that virtually nothing significant is happening? Granted, it wasn't really hot, but a few years ago, it seemed like a few moderate towers were in discussion, including the Oxford one and all the talked has died... or is this case, the actual plans.

Can't even begin to express how depressing it is drinking coffee this morning and staring out my Bangkok hotel window at all the 30-40 story towers plus the six cranes constructing new towers in my immediate view.

I had such hope a few years ago when several towers were announced, but much like Austin mentioned, the lack of anchor tenants has pretty much squashed any new large developments in downtown.

BrianTH · #**17846** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 2:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

If you recall though, the new PNC tower did not really remove anything of value. They were super shitty 2 story buildings or whatever with no architectural features.

The buildings along Forbes were actually quite nice, particularly the corner building (the Bolan's Candy building):

photoLith · #**17847** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 2:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

If you recall though, the new PNC tower did not really remove anything of value. They were super shitty 2 story buildings or whatever with no architectural features. Now the Point Park Playhouse is the one that should have been stopped from removing several great buildings and facades.

Those buildings did have pretty facades at one point that were mostly just covered by 1960s Bullshit screens.

photoLith · #**17848** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 2:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillyC

Probably not that far from the truth, lol.

Not sure if you ever saw the movie Pacific Rim, a so-so robots vs giant monsters summer event movie that flopped. They released a prequel comic book prior to the movie release that took place partially in Pittsburgh at CMU, evidently the source in the breakthrough for building giant robots to fight the giant monsters.

Pacific Rim is one of the greatest sci fi movies that have come out in the last decade.

Austinlee · #**17849** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 6:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Those buildings did have pretty facades at one point that were mostly just covered by 1960s Bullshit screens.

Ehh, I guess you guys are right.

Austinlee · #**17850** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 6:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillyC

Can't even begin to express how depressing it is drinking coffee this morning and staring out my Bangkok hotel window at all the 30-40 story towers plus the six cranes constructing new towers in my immediate view.

I had such hope a few years ago when several towers were announced, but much like Austin mentioned, the lack of anchor tenants has pretty much squashed any new large developments in downtown.

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Pacific Rim is one of the greatest sci fi movies that have come out in the last decade.

Just the other day I watched a new documentary that came out from legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog called "Lo & Behold" about how technology is changing humanity. There were at least 3 main cities he focuses on with anecdotal stories and interviews: UCLA: Birthplace of Arpanet; Pittsburgh and Seattle. You guys should watch it. It was very fascinating and interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo_and_Behold,_Reveries_of_the_Connected_World

TBone7281 · #**17851** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 11:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Nice roundup of activity in The Strip, with lots of cool photos:

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/current-fe...-and-developments-in-the-strip-district/

Supposedly the Produce Terminal and facing warehouse project might begin in the third quarter of this year.

So Oxford bought the old Spaghetti Warehouse/Artistry building to make room for a tequila distillery? That's random.

TBone7281 · #**17852** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 11:40 AM**

By the way, anyone know what's going on HERE?

The little lot that borders Smallman/11th/Mulberry Way. Those excavators have been there for months but in the last couple weeks they demo'd that little crap building. Just wondering if there are any particular plans they have in mind for it.

Austinlee · #**17853** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 12:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBone7281

By the way, anyone know what's going on HERE?

The little lot that borders Smallman/11th/Mulberry Way. Those excavators have been there for months but in the last couple weeks they demo'd that little crap building. Just wondering if there are any particular plans they have in mind for it.

AC Hotel. Decent design.

Austinlee · #**17854** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 12:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBone7281

So Oxford bought the old Spaghetti Warehouse/Artistry building to make room for a tequila distillery? That's random.

Porque?

BrianTH · #**17855** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 12:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBone7281

Just wondering if there are any particular plans they have in mind for it.

I believe you are referring to the AC Hotel project:

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article92114.html

I'm actually really looking forward to this one. I like the design, it is a good new brand for Pittsburgh, and it should help create more Downtown/Strip continuity.

Edit: Hah, too slow.

TBone7281 · #**17856** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 12:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

AC Hotel. Decent design.

Wow, that's a lot more substantial than I expected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Porque?

offices
apartments
parking garage
tequila distillery

Of of these is not like the others...

BrianTH · #**17857** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 12:57 PM**

Tequila is a "hot" alcohol, with people getting into upscale tequilas and cocktails.

eschaton · #**17858** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 2:04 PM**

Allegheny County is moving several departments out of a complex in North Point Breeze to other places in the County.

I find this interesting, because it frees up a large amount of space for potential redevelopment right near Homewood Station on the East Busway. The location is here. The buildings in question are part of a massive URA-owned complex, which includes everything behind Construction Junction, the long parking lot beside it, the small warehouse building to its immediate east, the surface lot bounded by N Lexington and N Homewood, and empty undeveloped land on the other side of the weird curve in N Lexington. There are other tenants in some of the buildings as well, but in total we're talking about 12 acres of land which could be opened up to higher and better uses.

Speaking of North Point Breeze, since I shop at the East End Co-Op a lot, I've noticed that this building is being rehabbed into some sort of office space. I'll try to remember to take some pictures the next time I'm that way.

themaguffin · #**17859** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 2:18 PM**

The proposed buildings for downtown from the last few years fit what I think would look great on the North Shore - these are not huge buildings, but still a much a better use for the limited land on the North Shore than what's there.

eschaton · #**17860** Posted **Jan 19, 2017, 2:22 PM**

Unfortunately, commercial rents are at this odd price point now in the city. Certainly there is demand for new space - just in the past few weeks we've had the SAP and Amazon announcements. But the rental rates don't warrant steel-frame highrise structures, so instead we're getting more and more mid/lowrise buildings on the North Shore, Strip, Southside Works, etc. Meaning the city is becoming more polycentric, and transit planning is becoming more difficult.