PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Nomad Bryce]

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-design/proposals-hunt-armory-reuse-unveiled-shadyside/

Walnut Capital, which was behind the Bakery Square developments, would convert the building into an apartment complex with more than 100 units, and create a landscaped courtyard that could be used by students at Sacred Heart Elementary School. They are working with Strada Architecture and Massaro Corp on its plan. (See top photo)

...

The McKnight and Mosites team would put a business incubator with coworking office space in the building. Their plan also includes a climbing wall inside the building and it would seek to close Emerson Street to most traffic, making it a pedestrian boulevard similar to Market Square. Architects for the McKnight Mosites plan are Pfaffmann + Associates.

...

The third proposal, by Kratsa Properties, would be called the Hunt Armory Ice Center. It would not alter the facade or roof of the building but would house a single sheet ice skating rink, a pro shop and community rooms.

As a Friendship resident, the business incubator is the most interesting to me, although the renderings are a bit confusing as to what exactly is going on in the building, mostly because the colorful climbing wall renderings block out the other aspects of their plan.

The Walnut capital apartment/park rendering looks really cool! Although I am not that into the idea of it becoming simply residential.

As for the ice rink, it's not for me, but I guess that might please some residents?

It's nice to post something! I'm usually just a reader.

[Austinlee]

I also like the first idea better than the ice arena. Ice skating rinks are extremely limiting to one purpose. I would think any multi-use plan would be preferable for such a prime, centralized location. Just my .


That first pic started to remind me of the newish Rotterdam Market. I think the market is an amazing, world class design. I also for a split second thought those were the renderings for the new Allegheny Mall Innovation hall idea. Much like the Energy Innovation Center that was very nicely rehabbed in the Hill District.

Rotterdam Market



Hunt Armory Rendering




Energy Innovation Center




Allegheny Center Innovation Works

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

What's your point?!

She even looks like an obstructionist.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by JVC

here's the move - build the crosstown deck

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...c-Arena-development/stories/201510290214

and then convince kennemetal to build a corporate tower on the former civic arena site



having a tall corporate headquarters on that site would "feel like an extension of our downtown"

I'm kind of worried that being denied for that federal TIGER grant might have killed the awesome highway cap portion of the project. I would LOVE to see the new US Steel HQ built right next to a new Kennemetal HQ. That would be a badass grouping of highend metals companies.
However, if i'm not mistaken Kennemetal seems somewhat set on choosing ALMONO.
Either way, it's not looking good that we will see much height at all for anything to be built on the arena site. I think we're going to see a few 5-6 story buildings and then some apartment buildings that tall or lower.

[Brentsters]

Both of those companies are in steep cost-cutting mode. Don't expect either of them to build a skyscraper. It's questionable right now if US Steel is in a position to build at all.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Voting straight Democratic if you live in the North Side also means voting for Darlene Harris.

I happily voted for Ms. Harris today. She's not always the most progressive politician but I've found her and her staff to be very responsive and and effective at a local level.

[BrianTH]

The residential option reminds me of a cruise ship--those interior courtyards are popular these days--which is cool:



Personally, I would also prefer development in the Lower Hill site to go slower if that means higher density and quality in the long run. In particular I would love for the Penguins to give up the rights, and for the US Steel project to get cancelled. I'm also very interested to see what BIG comes up with.

Incidentally, they have in fact been doing lots of site prep in the Lower Hill site.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by GeneW

I happily voted for Ms. Harris today. She's not always the most progressive politician but I've found her and her staff to be very responsive and and effective at a local level.

Scary

[Private Dick]

It's a no-brainer. Ice arena for the Hunt Armory. It's the best use of the space and keeps with the original intent of the building's design and function. Go with the tried and true option. Armories have always had an arena purpose... because that's what they were designed for. Keep it as an arena.

An ice rink is much needed in the east end and would be well used; not only for hockey and skating, but as a multiuse center in a booming (for Pittsburgh) part of town.

The others are gimmicky -- trying way too hard to repurpose an old functional building into something that its structure is not suited for without a massive amount of alteration. "Coworking space with a climbing wall"... I'd like to bitch slap whoever came up with that idea when they visited the building.

And this is just plain vomit:


Who the hell wants to step out of the living room onto your balcony that's in what appears to be a goddamn office building's lobby? Except for the Catholic school kids running around in it... WTF? Another bitchslap is well-deserved here.

Fucking Zeppelin played the Hunt Armory. Don't fuck it up.

[markson33]

All three seem ok to me.

I think I like the apartment idea the best. I'm also ok with the ice arena, although parking could be a huge issue. My least favorite is the co-working space.

It doesn't look like US Steel will be going through with their planned HQ - they are in deep doo-doo financially. Now is not the time to be building crappy HQ buildings.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Who the hell wants to step out of the living room onto your balcony that's in what appears to be a goddamn office building's lobby? Except for the Catholic school kids running around in it... WTF? Another bitchslap is well-deserved here.

So when I first saw those interior cabins on cruise ships with balconies/windows facing into an interior courtyard, I didn't really get it either. But then someone pointed out to me it is really no different than facing onto an outdoor town square sort of space--which is something we actually enjoy--and of course at night there wouldn't be much activity anyway.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

So when I first saw those interior cabins on cruise ships with balconies/windows facing into an interior courtyard, I didn't really get it either. But then someone pointed out to me it is really no different than facing onto an outdoor town square sort of space--which is something we actually enjoy--and of course at night there wouldn't be much activity anyway.

I get that. But an outdoor town square is... outdoor.

This is rekindled crap "design" that serves to severely limit the utility of a perfectly functional space.

Chain hotels have even gotten away from the atrium balcony design.

[eschaton]

I actually like the apartment rendering a lot. I had forgotten how much the roof of the Hunt Armory rises above two stories in the center. It's impressive they can fit a four-story building in there. I think the amenity of a large indoor public space will be a big selling point for some people - particularly if it's kept climate controlled in the winter.

I'm still not clear how Walnut Capital is going to get around the parking minimums required under zoning however.

[Minivan Werner]

As someone that's played ice hockey for a long time I'd love to see the rink idea but don't think it'd be financially viable. Hockey rinks barely turn a profit even in the best of scenarios and I can only imagine that an old building built for a completely different purpose would have even higher energy and maintenance costs than a purpose-built rink. The city could use an ice rink (all are in the suburbs, Schenley is only open in the winter and is more for just ice skating) but I don't think this is the best location.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I actually like the apartment rendering a lot. I had forgotten how much the roof of the Hunt Armory rises above two stories in the center. It's impressive they can fit a four-story building in there. I think the amenity of a large indoor public space will be a big selling point for some people - particularly if it's kept climate controlled in the winter.

I'm still not clear how Walnut Capital is going to get around the parking minimums required under zoning however.

That's too bad. Unfortunately, people often see stuff like this and think it's "creative". These types of residential redos of older institutional/industrial buildings with the interior courtyard/marketplace/etc treatment have failed time and time again since the 1980s when they first started this crap. That's why I say it's reinkindled crap. We've done this and seen it for the mistake it is. Stop trying to "creatively" fit something where it doesn't belong.

Respect the existing space of a structure. That's one of the core tenets to abide by if you're going to attempt adaptive reuse.

We went through this 30 years ago with Motor Square Garden/East Liberty Market House. Except there, they at least decided against doing residential and went with the 80s specialty shopping center treatment... which also failed... and we still see the clumsy, completely useless interior space as a result of such "creative" reuse.

Four stories is pretty unrealistic here too... unless we're talking about cruise ship cabin sized apartments... or housing for little persons.

I've never heard about a large indoor public space being a "big selling point" for anyone. I, for one, really can't think of anything worse in terms of what I would want to open my door to... or really just in general. Outdoor public space is a completely different story.

And why wouldn't an indoor space be kept climate controlled in the winter?

[Evergrey]

yet another boutique hotel brand coming to Pittsburgh...

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...t-to-get-pittsburghs-first-ac-hotel.html

Strip District to get Pittsburgh's first AC Hotel by Marriott

Nov 4, 2015, 12:48pm EST

Concord Hospitality will debut what’s expected to be Pittsburgh’s first AC Hotel as it pushes forward with a new project on Smallman Street in the Strip District.

After announcing the company was going to develop a new boutique hotel at 1100 Smallman in September, Concord partner Keith McGraw confirmed the company has been awarded approval to develop the new property under the AC Hotel flag, a European brand established by Marriott as a joint venture in 2011.

McGraw said to expect “a global international boutique brand” different from other local hotels that is able to leverage Marriott Corp’s marketing, franchise network, and reservation system.

The hotel is expected to be a newly built seven-story property with 131 guest rooms in a brand Marriott characterizes as a “design hotel” that is upscale and urban-inspired.

The new hotel project, which will be built next door to the restaurant Eleven and across the street from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, still needs to pursue its approvals from the city. McGraw said the goal is to begin construction on the new AC Hotel next year and open in 2017, just a few blocks from where Concord is set to open a new Homewood Suites at 1400 Smallman.

...

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

As someone that's played ice hockey for a long time I'd love to see the rink idea but don't think it'd be financially viable. Hockey rinks barely turn a profit even in the best of scenarios and I can only imagine that an old building built for a completely different purpose would have even higher energy and maintenance costs than a purpose-built rink. The city could use an ice rink (all are in the suburbs, Schenley is only open in the winter and is more for just ice skating) but I don't think this is the best location.

Hrrm...I was just thinking, with the rink idea, they still have the same issue I pointed out for the housing - where do you put the parking? Honestly, it's worse in this case, because people might rent apartments without a car, but there aren't enough people within walking distance to utilize the rink, and plenty of people will want to visit it from outside the area.

Originally Posted by Private Dick

And why wouldn't an indoor space be kept climate controlled in the winter?

It's not clear from the rendering if the sky showing on the ceiling is from a large window or an opening to the outside.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Respect the existing space of a structure. That's one of the core tenets to abide by if you're going to attempt adaptive reuse. We went through this 30 years ago with Motor Square Garden/East Liberty Market House. Except there, they at least decided against doing residential and went with the 80s specialty shopping center treatment... which also failed... and we still see the clumsy, completely useless interior space as a result of such "creative" reuse.

Are you saying existing interior spaces can never be successfully subdivided?

[BrianTH]

AC is another hotel brand that probably should not be called boutique, but is still a neat addition because it is mostly known (at least for now) as a European brand with an urban focus, much like TRYP in fact.

[East Edge]

I absolutely feel the crosstown deck should be built one day. Even if it cant be don't now who is to say that 25 years from now it really makes sense. I think more corporate towers are ideal thats why i think we wait until the right project comes along OR anything that gets built there could accommodate additional stories in the future.

Also with the significant elevation change a building may only have to be 20 stories to complement the Grant Street towers and the skyline not fall off so abruptly. Something noteworthy with an iconic skyline feature could be the cap stone of that site as well and again play with the geometry of USS Tower.

Originally Posted by JVC

here's the move - build the crosstown deck

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...c-Arena-development/stories/201510290214

and then convince kennemetal to build a corporate tower on the former civic arena site



having a tall corporate headquarters on that site would "feel like an extension of our downtown"