PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 895

BrianTH · #**17881** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 3:45 PM**

By the way, I've sort of bought into Private 🞵🞵🞵🞵's vision of buildings around 7 stories right along the river, with another layer or two of taller buildings behind. Which could be done in this area too since there is still a layer of surface parking lots available, and that would also put the biggest buildings closest to the T Station.

Generally, if that vision actually came to pass, you could have a pretty cool, dense, walkable, transit-oriented midrise zone all the way from the Rachel Carson Bridge to the West End Bridge (and maybe beyond). Whether we can trust the powers-that-be to execute on such a vision is a different matter . . .

BrianTH · #**17882** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 4:12 PM**

I'm not sure I had heard this before:

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/dining/...eback-in-Pittsburgh/stories/201701190012

Quote:

Andrew Garbarino is bullish on French fare and puts it bluntly: “French food will be the exciting cuisine for the next few years.” The executive chef and owner of The Twisted Frenchman is betting la maison on it. His small restaurant on Highland Avenue will move around the corner into a new space later this year in the former Royal York Auction Gallery. The upstairs will remain his flagship fine-dining restaurant, the downstairs a casual traditional French bistro, Bar Frenchman.

Nice!

I note Royal York is one of the buildings which also has a back door on Tamello Way. It sure would be nice if that parking lot back there could eventually become a place suitable for outdoor dining--a place like Bar Frenchman could have a seasonal outdoor cafe served by the same bar/kitchen.

BrianTH · #**17883** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 4:31 PM**

The Drury in the former Federal Reserve building is officially open, and here is a slideshow:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...drury-plaza-hotel-opens-in-downtown.html

It looks like the public spaces do a nice job showcasing the building's history.

BrianTH · #**17884** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 4:32 PM**

It's official--the federal DOT has designated the City of Pittsburgh as an autonomous vehicle testing ground. We're one of ten in the country, out of an original application pool of over 60, although I think the track in Penn State is counted as part of the Pittsburgh designation:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...ving-ground-for-autonomous-vehicles.html

https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/19/here-a...-grounds-for-autonomous-vehicle-testing/

Austinlee · #**17885** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 4:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I pretty much hate the Liberty retail development--it is basically just a reversed strip mall:

Where is this exactly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Part of me wishes the Rivers hotel was more vertical, but I think the continuity with the casino could be nice. Pretty boring, however:

I don't hate it! I mean, I hate casinos and believe they just 🞵🞵🞵🞵 money from people who shouldn't be wasting their money but in terms of filling out the Northshore "building wall" this is going to make a big difference.

So there will be this hotel, then the extended add-on to the Carnegie Science Center, then the new SAP building and you have pretty much a built out riverfront from the West End Bridge to the Alcoa building. And with the continued renovation/build out into lofts and office of the Heinz complex, all that's left is to renovate those few huge, empty contiguous parcels (Attractive to developers to have flat, open land) in the former Schweicher Loch neighborhood.

TBone7281 · #**17886** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 5:11 PM**

When they first proposed the casino hotel they said it would be $50 million and up to 250 rooms. I swear it was going to be a little taller than 7 stories, but it looks like they are keeping the first two floors glass, per the original proposal.

AaronPGH · #**17887** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The Drury in the former Federal Reserve building is officially open, and here is a slideshow:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...drury-plaza-hotel-opens-in-downtown.html

It looks like they public spaces do a nice job showcasing the building's history.

they did a great job making it look like a hotel

eschaton · #**17888** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 5:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Where is this exactly?

Here.

BrianTH · #**17889** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 5:31 PM**

Somewhat randomly, and not at all timely, I just came across this aerial photo of the original Hornbostel CMU campus. I definitely think it looks better today:

BrianTH · #**17890** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Where is this exactly?

Just a couple upper floors with offices or apartments would make this look like a real city intersection. But no:

Quote:

I mean, I hate casinos and believe they just 🞵🞵🞵🞵 money from people who shouldn't be wasting their money but in terms of filling out the Northshore "building wall" this is going to make a big difference.

Agreed on both ends.

Austinlee · #**17891** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

A couple more floors would be great & look more urban but that still looks like it will be a better filled out crossroads.

Austinlee · #**17892** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

they did a great job making it look like a hotel

That is a cool building and they DID do a nice job converting it. Unfortunately, in my opinion that block of Grant Street is a bit of a pedestrian dead zone due to lack of any retail or restaurants - Just bollards and large blank masonry walls on either side of the street.

Austinlee · #**17893** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Somewhat randomly, and not at all timely, I just came across this aerial photo of the original Hornbostel CMU campus. I definitely think it looks better today:

Wean Hall ruined the aesthetics of that campus.

BrianTH · #**17894** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 7:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

A couple more floors would be great & look more urban but that still looks like it will be a better filled out crossroads.

It is an empty lot today, so it would definitely be an improvement. But seeing as how that corner is basically on Baum, I will view it as a lost opportunity if this is all we get there.

BrianTH · #**17895** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

That is a cool building and they DID do a nice job converting it. Unfortunately, in my opinion that block of Grant Street is a bit of a pedestrian dead zone due to lack of any retail or restaurants - Just bollards and large blank masonry walls on either side of the street.

Yeah, being in the federal government zone is not necessarily ideal for street presence.

Fortunately, our federal government zone is tiny, so you just have to get over to Liberty and 10th and you are entering the Cultural District. I wonder if they have a back door on William Penn Place they can direct guests through.

eschaton · #**17896** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 8:49 PM**

Regarding the Liberty Avenue "reverse strip mall" at least it's probably a cheap enough investment to be potentially knocked down and replaced with something higher density in a decade or two. The more I think about it, the more sure I am that the parking minimums were what doomed the density to be relatively low. Adding another 2 stories of something would have required more parking than could be provided in the rear, necessitating some kind of podium structure, if not a parking garage, which could easily double the cost for a development.

I'm really wondering who they have in mind for tenants. I'm guessing chains, as rental prices for new construction retail seem to be beyond local businesses. My hope is some of the chains on nearby blocks of Centre and Baum will relocate there, maybe opening up those areas to secondary development.

BrianTH · #**17897** Posted **Jan 20, 2017, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Regarding the Liberty Avenue "reverse strip mall" at least it's probably a cheap enough investment to be potentially knocked down and replaced with something higher density in a decade or two.

True, and a lot of recent stuff in this corridor that I don't like fits the same description.

akPITT207 · #**17898** Posted **Jan 21, 2017, 7:37 PM**

Not technically Pittsburgh news, but Peters Township, one of our least urban suburbs has proposed a number of zoning districts that would allow for decidedly more urban development, focusing on creating town center style areas built around existing commercial and civic structures, as well as preserving the character of certain residential areas, while promoting pedestrian orientation and connectivity. As someone who grew up in the South Hills, this is pretty interesting, and it would be great to see some of the other suburban areas move in this direction as well.
http://www.observer-reporter.com/20170117/peters_township_meetings_to_address_mcmurray_town_center

The township website has links to the pdf documents.
http://www.peterstownship.com/

In other news, I've heard recently that Carson St. will soon be receiving some streetscape enhancements including additional crosswalks, and sidewalk bumpouts.

daviderik · #**17899** Posted **Jan 22, 2017, 4:41 PM**

I too grew up in the south hills. Encouraging news. People are seemingly unaware that this area of the county has remained almost unchanged for decades. But with the increase of development in the city center the south hills is posed for growth. And having the only T line has to help.
Speaking of Carson street. Is there any news on the hotel that was to be build near the Duquesne Incline?

BrianTH · #**17900** Posted **Jan 23, 2017, 2:48 PM**

Pittsburgh Business Times has confirmation about the sale of the Frank & Seder building from Oxford to Stark:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/ne...ys-former-downtown-department-store.html

Quote:

Stark plans to keep to the nearly 100-year-old building’s roots in retailing, indicating that its current plan is to lease 30,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet to retail tenants with the upper floors slated to be used as office space in the six-story, 203,643-square-foot building. . . . Stark expects to announce the project’s first tenants in the next few months and begin construction by the summer of 2018. “I cannot think of a more exciting project to take on as our first development in Pittsburgh," COO Ezra Stark said in a prepared statement. "What an honor it is to help preserve a piece of the city’s history while at the same time creating a state-of-the-art retail and office experience that can be enjoyed by generations to come.”

Sounds good so far!

I note that 30-50,000 sqft would be a good amount of space for something like an urban-format Target. Other retail uses would be fine too, but that would be a pretty appropriate re-use for that particular building.