PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by down2earthguy76

Per the picture that Steel City Scotty posted, did the Highmark Building get a paint job?

Nope, just a cloud shadow.

[AaronPGH]

Anyone have those recent maps handy that show the dramatic drop in crime – especially in East Liberty? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to track it down and I MUST prove this point on Facebook!

[chucka]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

Anyone have those recent maps handy that show the dramatic drop in crime – especially in East Liberty? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to track it down and I MUST prove this point on Facebook!

http://www.eastliberty.org/community-planning/plans-and-studies/east-liberty-crime-data-analysis

"Within a span of five years (2008-2012), overall crime in the residential area of East Liberty has decreased by 49%, and residential property prices have doubled."



They also have a PDF of the crime data analysis.

[eschaton]

The last few weeks my daughter has been in a summer class at the Carnegie Science Center, so I've been biking around the North Shore a lot.

I have to say while I'm unimpressed with Continental's work, it is really starting to feel a bit more like a neighborhood down there (in the sterile South Side Works sort of way) and less like a few random buildings in a parking lot.

Even the underbuilding might not be the end of the world. The redevelopment of the Lidia's building (which is less than ten years old, IIRC) shows that wrong-scale buildings can be relatively quickly redeveloped now in Downtown and "Neartown" as long as market conditions are favorable.

It's also nice to see ground has broken on the new hotel on Federal Street, although it doesn't seem like much has been done yet.

An aside on the North Shore - I have dreams sometimes that someone will restore the Rosa Villa building. From what I can tell the left hand portion (with the pitched roof) is the oldest building remaining on the North Shore (Timber Court seems like it was built in the 1890s, but Rosa Villa is on the 1872 map). It's much more likely it will eventually get razed for a parking lot or new development though. Oh well, at least the 1920s Art Deco storefronts on Federal aren't going anywhere any time soon.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by chucka

http://www.eastliberty.org/community-planning/plans-and-studies/east-liberty-crime-data-analysis

Thanks!!

[BrianTH]

I agree it won't be too hard to redo the North Shore properly some day. Still a bummer, though, since we are wasting a lot of the potential of our shiny new NSC in the meantime.

A couple random observations--another level of steel is going up at BKSQ 2.0:

http://bakerysquare.no-ip.biz:8080/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=482

Maybe we discussed this before, but it looks like there is renovation work going on in the upper floors of the Stevenson Building (1896) at Highland and Center (adjacent to the ELTC):

http://goo.gl/maps/BZzOK

It is a handsome building in good shape on the exterior, and last I knew it was fully-leased, so I wonder what they are doing:


Pittsburgh - East Liberty: Stevenson Building by wallyg, on Flickr


Pittsburgh - East Liberty: Stevenson Building by wallyg, on Flickr

[Don't Be That Guy]

Originally Posted by DBR96A

Extend the T to somewhere in the vicinity of Ross Park Mall and the new apartment complex. BAM! Transit-oriented development and an actual downtown for Ross Township.

There aren't even sidewalks on McKnight Road. It takes a lot more to enable TOD than running light rail. Any expansion of light rail needs to be into dense neighborhoods that can support it or along existing right-of-way (East Busway).

I was just shocked by the rents. $1,300 and $1,700 a month with the closest amenity being a mall.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Don't Be That Guy

There aren't even sidewalks on McKnight Road. It takes a lot more to enable TOD than running light rail. Any expansion of light rail needs to be into dense neighborhoods that can support it or along existing right-of-way (East Busway).

I was just shocked by the rents. $1,300 and $1,700 a month with the closest amenity being a mall.

There's no accounting for taste but for some people having a mall outside your door is a good thing. I can't imagine wanting to live on McKnight Road but then I seem to have less tolerance for suburban traffic than most people do.

[Gee Whiz]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The last few weeks my daughter has been in a summer class at the Carnegie Science Center, so I've been biking around the North Shore a lot.

I have to say while I'm unimpressed with Continental's work, it is really starting to feel a bit more like a neighborhood down there (in the sterile South Side Works sort of way) and less like a few random buildings in a parking lot.

Even the underbuilding might not be the end of the world. The redevelopment of the Lidia's building (which is less than ten years old, IIRC) shows that wrong-scale buildings can be relatively quickly redeveloped now in Downtown and "Neartown" as long as market conditions are favorable.

It's also nice to see ground has broken on the new hotel on Federal Street, although it doesn't seem like much has been done yet.

An aside on the North Shore - I have dreams sometimes that someone will restore the Rosa Villa building. From what I can tell the left hand portion (with the pitched roof) is the oldest building remaining on the North Shore (Timber Court seems like it was built in the 1890s, but Rosa Villa is on the 1872 map). It's much more likely it will eventually get razed for a parking lot or new development though. Oh well, at least the 1920s Art Deco storefronts on Federal aren't going anywhere any time soon.

The Rosa Villa property is worth a mint. It has been vacant for a decade more or less and I'm surprised no restaurateur or developer acquired this property with all the activity to the west at PNC Park, Heinz Field, Federal Street, and the Warhol Museum across the street. Also just east of Rosa Villa is the George Wilson Construction Supply Company. This huge building is an eyesore given it's location. It is the only dumpy building left between the North Shore Expressway and the Allegheny River. I wish they would spruce up that building or move. That whole stretch of E. General Robinson with the businesses at the ground level of the parking garage needs work. Are any of those places still in business like Finnegan's Wake, Bru Lounge, etc.?

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Gee Whiz

The Rosa Villa property is worth a mint. It has been vacant for a decade more or less and I'm surprised no restaurateur or developer acquired this property with all the activity to the west at PNC Park, Heinz Field, Federal Street, and the Warhol Museum across the street. Also just east of Rosa Villa is the George Wilson Construction Supply Company. This huge building is an eyesore given it's location. It is the only dumpy building left between the North Shore Expressway and the Allegheny River. I wish they would spruce up that building or move. That whole stretch of E. General Robinson with the businesses at the ground level of the parking garage needs work. Are any of those places still in business like Finnegan's Wake, Bru Lounge, etc.?

It looks like the Carnegie Institute (e.g., the Warhol Museum) has owned Rosa Villa since 2006, when they bought the building from the owners for $360,000.

I can't say I understand why they have left it vacant for some time since then. One would presume they'd either knock it down to expand their small lot on the remainder of that block, or else refurbish it and make it an annex of the museum. I could see it being a cool little history museum of Allegheny City with a first-floor cafe.

Why does the Warhol need the surface lots anyway? I mean, it is literally kitty-corner to a city garage, which should have plenty of space in it on evenings and weekends there isn't a game (which is when most people would come anyway).

[Found5dollar]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It looks like the Carnegie Institute (e.g., the Warhol Museum) has owned Rosa Villa since 2006, when they bought the building from the owners for $360,000.

I can't say I understand why they have left it vacant for some time since then. One would presume they'd either knock it down to expand their small lot on the remainder of that block, or else refurbish it and make it an annex of the museum. I could see it being a cool little history museum of Allegheny City with a first-floor cafe.

Why does the Warhol need the surface lots anyway? I mean, it is literally kitty-corner to a city garage, which should have plenty of space in it on evenings and weekends there isn't a game (which is when most people would come anyway).

I have worked at plenty of museums and let me tell you, a museum needs its own parking. When guests come they expect free parking and the public wants to know where "your" parking is. Nearby public parking doesn't cut it because they can't get it validated and feel like they are saving money. If the Warhol owns a nearby building that appears vacant it probably isn't. I would bet they use it as storage for things like pedestals and podiums they use in exhibits, old advertizing materials, store merchandise, event seating, etc etc etc.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

Anyone have those recent maps handy that show the dramatic drop in crime – especially in East Liberty? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to track it down and I MUST prove this point on Facebook!

Here ya go Aaron.

[AaronPGH]

I have worked at plenty of museums and let me tell you, a museum needs its own parking. When guests come they expect free parking and the public wants to know where "your" parking is. Nearby public parking doesn't cut it because they can't get it validated and feel like they are saving money. If the Warhol owns a nearby building that appears vacant it probably isn't. I would bet they use it as storage for things like pedestals and podiums they use in exhibits, old advertizing materials, store merchandise, event seating, etc etc etc.

Huh? I have paid for parking every time I've gone to the Warhol or any of the Carnegie Museums. All of their lots are paid lots. Certainly not free.

[Austinlee]

Speaking of the North Side, I would like to say that the Federal St townhomes by S&A look SUPER nice. They are nearly built out now and look way better than I would've even guessed. The completed infill-ness of it is what makes the project.

[photoLith]

I never pay for parking, screw that, I would rather park half a mile away and then walk instead of paying for parking. Even in NYC you can find free parking somewhere most times of the day. I always think its hilarious when people pay for parking in the Strip, when you can just drive a couple more blocks away and park for free. Its usually ginormous suburbanites I see that do this.

Anyways, someone said they are building a hotel on Federal St on the Northside, where is that exactly? I didnt see any new construction and I just rode my bike over there yesterday.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I never pay for parking, screw that, I would rather park half a mile away and then walk instead of paying for parking. Even in NYC you can find free parking somewhere most times of the day. I always think its hilarious when people pay for parking in the Strip, when you can just drive a couple more blocks away and park for free. Its usually ginormous suburbanites I see that do this.

Agreed. I almost never pay for parking... unless it's like $1 at a meter. If my parents are visiting... and we're going somewhere like the Carnegie Museums in Oakland... I'll park in their pay lot (another museum without free parking).

Originally Posted by Gee Whiz

That whole stretch of E. General Robinson with the businesses at the ground level of the parking garage needs work. Are any of those places still in business like Finnegan's Wake, Bru Lounge, etc.?

They are all gone.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Anyways, someone said they are building a hotel on Federal St on the Northside, where is that exactly? I didnt see any new construction and I just rode my bike over there yesterday.

It's nestled between the highway and the 1920s storefronts here.

[Evergrey]

speaking of Michael Baker...

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2...of-Civic-Arena-site/stories/201407100268

Pittsburgh-Allegheny County SEA moves ahead on redevelopment of Civic Arena site

July 10, 2014 12:13 PM

By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority board has taken another step in preparing the former Civic Arena site for redevelopment.

Board members authorized a $555,685 contract with Michael Baker Jr. today to do final design work for four roads — Centre Avenue, Washington Place, Bedford Avenue, and Crawford Street — that border the 28-acre site in the lower Hill District.

Plans call for those existing roads to be repaved, with upgraded signals, intersections and sidewalks at an estimated cost of $12 million.

It is expected to take six months to complete the final design in preparation for construction.

The SEA also is planning to build five roads within the site for the office, residential and commercial development proposed by the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and to recreate part of the street grid that was destroyed when the arena was built more than 50 years ago. Final design already has been completed for the roads that will be closest to Crawford Square in the Hill.

...

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It's nestled between the highway and the 1920s storefronts here.

Oh yeah, I did see that, I was thinking of Federal St more around the Mexican War Streets. Are there any renders of that development or how many stories it will be?

[Evergrey]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...groups-crowd-fund-fight-against-new.html

Community groups crowd fund fight against new AutoZone store on Penn

Five East End community development organizations have launched a crowdfunding campaign to oppose zoning variances for a new AutoZone store at the corner of Penn and Negley avenues.

Downtown Pittsburgh-based LG Realty is pursuing the project, which would replace the closed Babyland store that had operated on the corner for more than 60 years.

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., East Liberty Development Inc., Friendship Community Group, Highland Park Community Development Corp. and Highland Park Community Council are listed as supporting the campaign on Indiegogo.
The campaign has raised nearly $1,000 of the $5,000 goal. The campaign seeks to generate $1,500 for a traffic study to oppose the plan and $3,500 in legal fees.

“Our neighborhoods are at a turning point, and this proposal is a step in the wrong direction,” reads the campaign. “If LG Realty’s big-box project is approved, it could set a dangerous precedent that could have a ripple effect on the rest of Penn Avenue and neighboring commercial districts.”

Opponents see the AutoZone as a suburban-style store for a gateway location of a rejuvenating Penn Avenue business district in Garfield, an intersection with thousands of cars passing every day.

...