PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 419

BrianTH · #**8361** Posted **May 21, 2014, 5:36 PM**

Random addendum--the Main Square in Krakow is apparently 200 meters by 200 meters. The area around the Produce Terminal is not, of course, a square. But if you define a more or less rectangular area from 16th to the far side of 21st, and between the far side of Smallman and the jersey barrier on the river side, I get about 470 meters by 85 meters--which is almost the exact same total area. The pictures below are reasonably close to the same scale:

Extremely crude rendering:

eschaton · #**8362** Posted **May 21, 2014, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

It is an intriguing idea in that it would do the most to turn the Produce Terminal into a public attraction. But I have concerns about the viability of that much new retail, and also about whether it would undermine the existing Strip business district.

I'm sorry, but the last point seems to me to be a feature, not a bug.

The core of the Strip's commercial district in Penn Avenue may be vibrant. But it's largely a collection of junk buildings with little architectural merit. For example, all but one building on the north side of the 1700 block are one-story warehouses with no windows and ugly facades. A block up from there, Stan's Market is essentially an uninsulated shack.

That's not to say I want to see the whole thing demolished. The street vitality is great, and there are a handful of nicer 2-4 story buildings on most blocks. But as real estate prices climb, it's inevitable (as long as the area doesn't get historic designation - and it shouldn't) that a lot of the junky, one-story buildings will get knocked down and replaced with mixed-use midrises. Exporting the street vitality to the Produce Terminal seems a great solution.

Evergrey · #**8363** Posted **May 21, 2014, 6:54 PM**

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

Quote:

Large-scale apartment development plan brewing for South Oakland

A development group called Oakland Gateway Ventures LP has assembled a block of 11 residential properties in South Oakland and is putting together a plan to redevelop the larger site into a new apartment project.

While the specifics of the size and the number of units for the project have yet to be revealed, Oakland Planning and Development Corp., a community nonprofit, has scheduled a public meeting in which Oakland Gateway Ventures will discuss its plan on Thursday, May 29.

Representatives for Oakland Gateway Ventures could not be reached for comment.

Based in Rankin, Oakland Gateway Ventures is lead by principals Bill Kane and Robert Dauer, a lawyer with Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP, along with other investors, said Wanda Wilson, executive director of Oakland Planning and Development.

“They’re planning a pretty significant-scale development,” said Wilson.
The plan comes after Oakland Gateway has acquired 11 neighboring properties comprising a small block bordered by Boulevard of the Allies as well as Bates, Zulema and Coltart streets, a rectangular stretch of properties that backs onto a small city park.

Wilson expects the houses may be worth replacing, given their current state, describing them as "definitely toward the end of their useful life."

Allegheny County real estate records indicate that Oakland Gateway Ventures bought 11 modust and mature rowhouses along Bates Street in the last three months for a total of nearly $2.6 million. As part of the larger assemblage, three of houses fetched $1.44 million.

Nathan Hart, president of the board for Oakland Planning and Development and an architect who lives a little more than five blocks away from the Bates Street site, said the amount of money Oakland Gateway Ventures has spent for the houses suggests something about the firm’s ambitions for the property.

...

markson33 · #**8364** Posted **May 21, 2014, 7:33 PM**

That is a great site for development. I've long thought that it was a ripe location for a larger scale project. The 60'-85' height requirement really limits what they can do there. Probably a maximum of six stories. I will be curious to see how they handle the parking.

eschaton · #**8365** Posted **May 21, 2014, 7:48 PM**

This is the row in question.

Honestly the city ought to offer to sell them Zulema Parklet as well. It's pretty much a junk park which hasn't been utilized well in decades, due to being surrounded by high-traffic roads (those rowhouses are the only dwellings with good access. I think eliminating the park wouldn't be a bad thing if it allowed for greater density.

Evergrey · #**8366** Posted **May 21, 2014, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

This is the row in question.

Honestly the city ought to offer to sell them Zulema Parklet as well. It's pretty much a junk park which hasn't been utilized well in decades, due to being surrounded by high-traffic roads (those rowhouses are the only dwellings with good access. I think eliminating the park wouldn't be a bad thing if it allowed for greater density.

I've always thought those particular rows were quite hideous.

Good point about Zulema Parket.

BrianTH · #**8367** Posted **May 21, 2014, 8:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Exporting the street vitality to the Produce Terminal seems a great solution.

That seems like something a lot easier said than done. New buildings usually means new tenants, and it is the mix of tenants in the existing Strip that makes it so vital and attractive.

I'm not against some redevelopment along Penn, but I think it will be a long time to come before we literally need that space for more room to develop, and I wouldn't want to speed the process along.

BrianTH · #**8368** Posted **May 21, 2014, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

I think eliminating the park wouldn't be a bad thing if it allowed for greater density.

I agree.

BrianTH · #**8369** Posted **May 21, 2014, 8:57 PM**

Confidential meetings about the fate of the AWC are occurring:

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/6...r-court-wilson

Quote:

No one would say what was discussed, but the receiver, Judith K. Fitzgerald, said she and the various parties, would make something public in court documents in the next two days.

It would be nice if they announced a reasonable compromise.

Jonboy1983 · #**8370** Posted **May 22, 2014, 12:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PghSH22

I always thought that this would be the ideal use of this space - the layout seems to lend itself so naturally to it, and if well done it could be pretty amazing (thinking of Pike Place in Seattle, Chelsea Market in NYC, Ferry Building Marketplace in San Fran, West Side Market in Cleveland, French Market in New Orleans, etc). As you said, I dont know about the viability of it in the current Pittsburgh market, but it seems that with all of the new residential construction going on in the Strip (including Buncher), the added permanent population to the area would be enough to make this work? Something like this also allows the space to be more of a community space and destination for those that dont live there, rather than just a residential area for those that do. Overall, I find this option to be by far the most appealing if executed well

I've been saying that for at least a few years, especially having been to Pikes Place. I have found myself comparing that building to Pikes Place. One fronts Puget Sound, and the other the Allegheny River.

I wonder if there would be another fish market, or perhaps the folks at Wholey's could throw the fish...

RED SNAPPERRRRR!!

I do love that idea as well as constructing a public square in the space around it to make it look more like a European market place.

Austinlee · #**8371** Posted **May 22, 2014, 3:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiaroscuro

I will defend (and have defended) to the death your right to say that.

Sorry to offend, if I did. And thank you for the right to bitch.
Sometimes I tend to fantasize about this country being more like the great cities of Europe or even Japan. The suburban car culture gets to my head....

Austinlee · #**8372** Posted **May 22, 2014, 3:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Random addendum--the Main Square in Krakow is apparently 200 meters by 200 meters. The area around the Produce Terminal is not, of course, a square. But if you define a more or less rectangular area from 16th to the far side of 21st, and between the far side of Smallman and the jersey barrier on the river side, I get about 470 meters by 85 meters--which is almost the exact same total area. The pictures below are reasonably close to the same scale:

Extremely crude rendering:

That old square is gorgeous. The more you pitch this idea Brian, the more I am buying into it. Let's do it! (The redesign a couple years ago of Market Square has made me a believer in the power of open pedestrian spaces)

BrianTH · #**8373** Posted **May 22, 2014, 10:41 AM**

Could be a problem that the Rubino group wants to lease rather than buy the building:

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/6...#axzz32RK5IPTR

Found5dollar · #**8374** Posted **May 22, 2014, 3:39 PM**

Megabus cuts more destinations .... down to 6

http://www.wfmj.com/story/25586999/m...rom-pittsburgh

Topher51 · #**8375** Posted **May 22, 2014, 3:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Honestly the city ought to offer to sell them Zulema Parklet as well. It's pretty much a junk park which hasn't been utilized well in decades, due to being surrounded by high-traffic roads (those rowhouses are the only dwellings with good access. I think eliminating the park wouldn't be a bad thing if it allowed for greater density.

I disagree. That strip is more than enough space to building an apartment building. Improving the park and making it a place resdients will enjoy going will make those apartmens much more desirable.

BrianTH · #**8376** Posted **May 22, 2014, 4:08 PM**

Schenley Park is right up the road and has a ton of great amenities. When you combine Zulema's small size with the fact it is along BoA, it is hard for me to see it becoming more than a lightly-used backyard-type space. And for what it is worth, there is yet another parklet right across BoA (the Bates Street Park):

http://goo.gl/maps/32BNr

So taking a fresh look at the entire plot, I doubt we would require a developer to devote so much of it to open space. So if they want it and would develop it, I would sell it to them.

Found5dollar · #**8377** Posted **May 22, 2014, 4:21 PM**

Apparently the Warhol is opening a satellite museum in the Lower East Side of NYC. It'll be 10,000 sq ft, opening in 2017, and the developers are paying for construction and any operating deficits for the first 5 years.

http://www.boweryboogie.com/2014/05/...oving-forward/

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-a...s/201405170178

photoLith · #**8378** Posted **May 22, 2014, 4:44 PM**

It was just announced this morning that the skinny building and the old bank it's attached to downtown are getting restored so that's pretty awesome news.

GeneW · #**8379** Posted **May 22, 2014, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

It was just announced this morning that the skinny building and the old bank it's attached to downtown are getting restored so that's pretty awesome news.

Here's a link for that.

Found5dollar · #**8380** Posted **May 22, 2014, 6:51 PM**

New planning board presentation is up:
http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/sch...ion-51-521.pdf

new stuff:
-223 fourth ave (Benedum trees building) roof deck renovation. tiny, no one will ever see it
-Northshore Place, 342 North Shore Drive. interior fit out of existing building. mixed restaurant and office use. Gonna be a Burgatory.
-Fort Pitt Holiday Inn. 435 Fort Pit Blvd. 8 story hotel with 99 rooms. They will knock down a 2 story building near/on firstside, but that building is from the 70s or something. Very tight/urban and will have a restaurant or bar. In general I give it a +.

the rest we have seen already.