PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 548

Evergrey · #**10941** Posted **Jan 15, 2015, 5:35 PM**

Thanks for keeping us abreast of Strip developments, TBone.

BrianTH · #**10942** Posted **Jan 15, 2015, 5:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Thanks for keeping us abreast of Strip developments, TBone.

Ditto!

JVC · #**10943** Posted **Jan 15, 2015, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Words cannot express how much I detest that Pribanic proposal.

that's too funny - fisher is a talented architect but i agree with you that court place downtown is not a good site for deconstructivist design

funky modernism works well in the middle of nowhere like fallingwater or villa savoye - not so well in a dense historical urban fabric

BrianTH · #**10944** Posted **Jan 15, 2015, 6:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVC

funky modernism works well in the middle of nowhere like fallingwater or villa savoye - not so well in a dense historical urban fabric

Interestingly I generally like that sort of thing, so you are undoubtedly correct my reaction was driven by context.

Evergrey · #**10945** Posted **Jan 15, 2015, 6:41 PM**

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...strict-improvements/stories/201501150181

Quote:

Former Civic Arena site developers tapped to fund Hill District improvements

...

One exception to the rule is U.S. Steel, which will be building its new headquarters on the site across from the Consol Energy Center.

The company will contribute a payment equal to half of its total abatement to the reinvestment fund, an amount estimated at $3 million. But it will be able to keep the rest of the tax break to subsidize its new building. And it will not have to contribute to the infrastructure fund.

U.S. Steel was able to get that deal in the negotiations over the project, Mr. Rubinstein said.

“Part of that was given because of the significance and magnitude of the development and who they are and as the first developer into the site to kick it off,” he said.

Mr. Rubinstein acknowledged that others may bargain for the same arrangement but added “that would be a pretty hard case to make.”

“I would characterize this as a one-time special negotiation,” he said of U.S. Steel.

But at the same time, he would not rule out future subsidies altogether, noting that if a developer came in with another project of the “size and scale and significance” of U.S. Steel, it might be considered.

...

AaronPGH · #**10946** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 1:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The Standard Life building has been bought with plans to upgrade it:

That sequence of changes is very indicative of how things have been trending Downtown, as is the fact they are going to be investing in a building with 97-percent occupancy because they think they can do even better on rent.

Honestly I find this a little sad. It's a bummer to see real, affordable $800-1200 apartments downtown bite the dust for more high-end units. It's getting harder and harder to find those.

BrianTH · #**10947** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 12:38 PM**

Definitely not great to see, but the only way to preserve any sort of affordability Downtown would be building micro units Downtown, and a lot more luxury units in Downtown-convenient locations (Lower Hill, North Side, Strip, Station Square, etc.).

Austinlee · #**10948** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 3:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Definitely not great to see, but the only way to preserve any sort of affordability Downtown would be building micro units Downtown, and a lot more luxury units in Downtown-convenient locations (Lower Hill, North Side, Strip, Station Square, etc.).

I've thought this for years; The only way you could keep an apartment or condo affordable even on the resale market would be to make it small enough where it would never warrant being a luxury unit. I think this could be a profitable niche market and a developer should jump on this.

BrianTH · #**10949** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 3:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I've thought this for years; The only way you could keep an apartment or condo affordable even on the resale market would be to make it small enough where it would never warrant being a luxury unit. I think this could be a profitable niche market and a developer should jump on this.

Last I heard they were looking at doing some projects like this in the First Side area. That really seems like a great idea--it is unlikely to be a true low-rent district, but it would be nice if that was developed as the more affordable side of Downtown. I'd even like to see that approach up around the former Chinatown and behind the Grant Building--there are some big lots up there. In addition to being good for diversifying Downtown in general, all that would be conveniently located for students at Point Park and Duquesne.

Unfortunately, though, I have not heard much about any of that lately--hopefully those efforts are not stalled out.

eschaton · #**10950** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 4:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

The author writes...

I knew that Allegheny City (particularly modern-day Allegheny West/Manchester) had developed into Pittsburgh's first horsecar suburb. And there was already some concentration of wealth in/around modern North Oakland (Bellefield at the time), Shadyside, and East Liberty (although they didn't really take off until 1890 or so). I have no idea what the wealthy section of Herron Hill was. Herron Hill is what is called the Upper Hill/Sugar Top today. I don't think that entire area had more than 30 houses back in 1868.

Topher51 · #**10951** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 4:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

$10 million investment... and the result is a 'public space' that's off-limits for half the year... a depressing no-man's land... a block-sized void in the urban fabric.

De-icing salts are the single biggest contributor to structural deterioration. I didn't know why the park was closed, but now that I do, I think it is a smart thing to do. It's not like there are an abundance of people wanting to sit outside and eat lunch in January and no longer can use the plaza. Is the biggest impact having a two minute longer walk to have to use the sidewalk around the park?

pghaedesign · #**10952** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 5:56 PM**

Developers met with community members last night to show an updated plan for One Grandview. Plans call for 287 apartments and a 125 room boutique hotel. With 570 parking spaces on site.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/01/15/new-mt-washington-development-plan-discussed/

Austinlee · #**10953** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Last I heard they were looking at doing some projects like this in the First Side area. That really seems like a great idea--it is unlikely to be a true low-rent district, but it would be nice if that was developed as the more affordable side of Downtown. I'd even like to see that approach up around the former Chinatown and behind the Grant Building--there are some big lots up there. In addition to being good for diversifying Downtown in general, all that would be conveniently located for students at Point Park and Duquesne.

Unfortunately, though, I have not heard much about any of that lately--hopefully those efforts are not stalled out.

What happened to PMC developing the former J & L hq building? I love that building. Such great potential.

BrianTH · #**10954** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 6:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

What happened to PMC developing the former J & L hq building? I love that building. Such great potential.

I often wonder that myself. As I recall Dowd raised some issues with it, and I don't know if the sale ever closed.

Edit: Here you go. But this is two years ago now:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/bus...obin-Civic-Building/stories/201301300195

BrianTH · #**10955** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 6:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pghaedesign

Developers met with community members last night to show an updated plan for One Grandview. Plans call for 287 apartments and a 125 room boutique hotel. With 570 parking spaces on site.

Sounds nice, but at this point I am looking for more than just another community meeting (not your fault, of course--I'm just frustrated with the developers).

Evergrey · #**10956** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Sounds nice, but at this point I am looking for more than just another community meeting (not your fault, of course--I'm just frustrated with the developers).

Seems like a lot of parking.

eschaton · #**10957** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Seems like a lot of parking.

158 beyond what you'd assume just from the unit-bedroom count.

Pittsburgh only requires under zoning code one parking space per unit. For hotels, there don't appear to be any set parking requirements, which makes sense, given the parking needs of a hotel Downtown are different from one elsewhere.

Regardless, I agree this seems like too much parking. While hotel employees might need to have cars on a daily basis, not everyone staying at the hotel will bring a car, if they are flying in from out of town. Certainly it's unlikely that one room would need two spaces. Which means it must be presumed that the additional spaces are for the residential component. I'm guessing NIMBYs are to blame here, but not certain.

pghaedesign · #**10958** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Sounds nice, but at this point I am looking for more than just another community meeting (not your fault, of course--I'm just frustrated with the developers).

You'd think with all the other announcements regarding other projects, this one would move a little quicker. Considering how long its been in limbo.

BrianTH · #**10959** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 10:12 PM**

It does seem like a lot of parking, but as I recall there is not much public parking up there--like maybe one very small structure on Virginia. And with luck, between this and redoing the base/Station Square, this will become a much more active area.

So I am OK with extra parking as long as it is available to the public.

Austinlee · #**10960** Posted **Jan 16, 2015, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I often wonder that myself. As I recall Dowd raised some issues with it, and I don't know if the sale ever closed.

Edit: Here you go. But this is two years ago now:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/bus...obin-Civic-Building/stories/201301300195

Such a nice building.