[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07315/832966-147.stm

Getting Around: Transportation wish list would cost billions

Sunday, November 11, 2007
By Joe Grata, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

If you missed the Nov. 1 Post-Gazette article headlined "Transportation Wish List: County panel recommends light rail to Oakland and airport," you didn't miss much.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato held a news conference to announce the study results, which included reviving plans to establish rapid transit between Downtown and Oakland and creating an "Oakland Circulator System" to link Pitt and Carnegie Mellon to the Pittsburgh Technology Center, possibly with people movers reminiscent of the old Skybus system that politicians scuttled in the early 1970s.

Those two projects may be plausible and realistic to pursue again, ASAP, although neither one has gotten very far in the past.

But the wish list didn't stop there. It ended up being a pipe dream, recommending a laundry list of concepts and ideas, some with improbable outcomes.

Additional strategies included expanding an Oakland Circulator System to Shadyside, Lawrenceville and the South Side; building a rapid transit system between Downtown and Pittsburgh International Airport; converting busways into high occupancy toll lanes for cars; establishing commuter rail service; creating an "Airport Area Circulator System" fed by trolleys; and advancing transit-oriented development in locations such as Castle Shannon and East Liberty.

Gulp!

That's at least five times more public transportation than Allegheny County has been able to develop in the past century.

Mr. Onorato didn't say how much all of this would cost, but undoubtedly it would be many billions of dollars. He suggested that "public-private partnerships and innovative funding approaches could make these linkages a reality," an interesting thought from the man having trouble finding $27 million in his 2008 budget just to keep the Port Authority afloat this year.

To be fair, the recommendations announced by Mr. Onorato were not necessarily all his. They were drawn up by a Transportation Action Team that he appointed in March 2006, with help from a consultant, Lea-Elliott, hired by the Allegheny Conference of business bigwigs.

The team consisted of 15 members (one died), including political supporters and a few people with transportation backgrounds. It was chaired by Dave Hickton, a partner at Burns White & Hickton LLC, a Pittsburgh law firm.

The Port Authority had one representative, Richard Taylor, of Forest Hills, a three-year authority board member. And although the authority would be the agency charged with building and lining up federal and state funding for any project, none of its planning or engineering people was sought to provide input for the Transportation Action Team study.

"Getting Around" has a few more observations, such as:

• If TAT wants to charge cars to use the West Busway as a "HOT Lane" to bypass Parkway West congestion "to generate revenue for priority capital projects identified in this report," the county better be prepared to reimburse the Federal Transit Administration about $200 million for the federal share of busway costs. The FTA does not permit general traffic to use exclusive busways that it funds;

• The study does not mention the little-used Wabash HOV Tunnel and how this waste of money could somehow be salvaged. It ignores -- rightfully so, probably -- the highly unlikely prospect but still active effort of building a high-speed maglev line between the airport and Downtown;

• The study does not consider ideas as simple, practical and affordable as re-establishing streetcars in the Strip District and on the South Side as useful local public transportation and a visitor attraction;

• If light rail were extended to the airport as the study recommends, who would ride? Downtown and Oakland account for less than 20 percent of airport passengers and employees. The Parkway West will soon be three lanes in each direction between the airport and Carnegie, at the junction of the West Busway that provides a transit alternative to traffic. And a significant number of cars will be removed from the Parkway West when the next section of the Southern Beltway is built between I-79 and the Findlay Connector.

The bottom line: Unless it was for political reasons, Mr. Onorato didn't need to create a Transportation Action Team.

He has me.

[Evergrey]

Brian O'Neill has an excellent piece on the political dysfunction of Pittsburgh... noting that the city is a tenent of the state and plays by the state's rules. The state has denied Pittsburgh many of the powers that cities in other states have... such as annexation. Pennsylvania's hyper-fragmented system of local governance is a failure and cannot cope with modern economic realities. What kind of crisis does this state need to endure to address this fundamental problem?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07315/832686-155.stm

Can mere mortals fix Pittsburgh?

Sunday, November 11, 2007
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two days after 68,500 Pittsburghers voted to determine who gets to be mayor, four guys who hold real power sat behind a table in City Council chambers.

The four state senators from Allegheny County do not, by themselves, hold enough power to turn the city around. There are 249 other lawmakers in the state Legislature with something to say, too. But as the hearing by the state Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee made clear, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is not entirely the master of his own fate.

Do you think the hospitals and universities should be kicking in more to pay for cops, firefighters, ambulances and such?

That would require changing a 10-year-old state law that stripped away the leverage the cities had to get payments from non-profits in lieu of taxes.

Since the city has cut 1,000 jobs, about a quarter of its work force, since 2002, is it time to tighten workers' compensation payments that cost millions?

However you answer that loaded question, workers' compensation is in the hands of Harrisburg lawmakers, too.

The relative inconsequence of any mayor compared with the state was the background noise of this hearing on Act 47, the state system that is supposed to stop Pennsylvania cities from circling the drain.

That system is looking like the Roach Motel: Cities check in but they don't check out. Nine cities and boroughs have been flying the Act 47 distress flag for at least 15 years -- Scranton, the state's sixth-largest city, among them.

No city has ever escaped the designation, though six boroughs have. Homestead emerged last spring after 14 years of official distress. (For policy wonks scoring at home, Ambridge has the record for shortest stretch, spending only three years in fiscal palookaville in the early '90s.)

The wonder is that more Pennsylvania cities don't topple because their set-up has been exactly wrong for a half-century. Even the city's fiercest critics unintentionally show that when they make comparisons.

Jake Haulk, president of the Allegheny Insitute for Public Policy, testified that Pittsburgh doesn't compare well with cities such as Omaha, Charlotte, Columbus and Salt Lake City.

But the smallest of those cities covers twice as much land as Pittsburgh's 55.5 square miles. Columbus and Charlotte have four and five times Pittsburgh's footprint. That's the key to survival in a commuter age: A city must capture where citizens make money and spend money for a stable tax base.

That's why Charlotte has annexed almost 250 square miles around it since 1950, making it nothing like the 30-square-mile city it once was. Omaha has annexed aggressively, too, while Columbus has quintupled its spread. Salt Lake City has merely doubled its land area, but the look of these auto-centric places is more like Allegheny County than the crowded city in its belly.

Pittsburgh, the city that has lost more than half its population since 1950, crowded? Well, Pittsburgh still has about 5,600 residents per square mile. That makes it more densely packed than the most crowded of the other four, Columbus and Omaha, which have but 3,400 per square mile. Pittsburgh would have more people per square mile even if it lost another 100,000 residents.

That seems to be the plan.

Those statistics didn't come up at the hearing. I got them when I Googled around later at the office, then pulled out a calculator. We should have no illusions that Pittsburgh will annex anything because not only is it too late, Pennsylvania law and politics make it impossible. The clout is in the suburbs, so the only response can be getting the county to start assuming more of the metropolitan load.

A shift from a city to a county police force seems a good bet at some point this century, but it's hardly on the radar now. There's a lot of fiddling around the edges of reform because the city's massive debt and pension burdens means any city-county marriage would come with an anti-dowry.

That won't be easy to figure out. Meantime, though, the state should realize that some of Pittsburgh's big non-profits are gold mines and their employees pay millions in state income taxes. It's time that Pennsylvania, like Connecticut and Rhode Island, reimburse cities for some of the property and business taxes they don't get for hosting the economic engines of the modern economy. Or get hospitals and universities to pony up as much as they do in Massachusetts cities.

It's either that or wait for $4-a-gallon gasoline to get commuters back to living close to where they work. Don't bet your Giant Eagle fuelperks on that.

Brian O'Neill can be reached at boneill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1947.

[BMikeSci]

Getting Around: Transportation wish list would cost billions

It would be great to have rail between Oakland and the Downtown. On the other hand, it's really easy to get from one to the other by bus.

[xyagentguy]

It would be great to have rail between Oakland and the Downtown. On the other hand, it's really easy to get from one to the other by bus.
I know a TON of people who won't use the bus but would easily use the light rail. Of course, I guess that's there problem, though.

[BMikeSci]

Convention center getting more work & latest news on the Penguins Arena

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_535839.html

[hyperion1110]

Getting Around: Transportation wish list would cost billions

It would be great to have rail between Oakland and the Downtown. On the other hand, it's really easy to get from one to the other by bus.

Bus transportation between Downtown and Oakland is NOT easy for quick. During rush hour, when most of us are moving between the two, it takes half an hour to travel 2 miles by bus. If there were to be light rail, with its own right of way, it would become a 5 minute commute, regardless of time. And that would be awesome :)

Regarding the state of the city, it's in sad shape, but it's not too late for Pittsburgh. Things will turn around, though it will take a lot of years still, and a lot more decline. It will be economics that drive it, too, not legislation from Harrisburg. The most optimistic new forecasts put geological peak oil production at 2012. Political peak, however, when petroleum exporting countries start hording their resources, will come much sooner, if not already.

Cities will be coming back in a big way, very soon.

[BMikeSci]

Bus transportation between Downtown and Oakland is NOT easy for quick. During rush hour, when most of us are moving between the two, it takes half an hour to travel 2 miles by bus. If there were to be light rail, with its own right of way, it would become a 5 minute commute, regardless of time. And that would be awesome :)

Regarding the state of the city, it's in sad shape, but it's not too late for Pittsburgh. Things will turn around, though it will take a lot of years still, and a lot more decline. It will be economics that drive it, too, not legislation from Harrisburg. The most optimistic new forecasts put geological peak oil production at 2012. Political peak, however, when petroleum exporting countries start hording their resources, will come much sooner, if not already.

Cities will be coming back in a big way, very soon.

I don't take the bus during rush hour; so I will defer to your experience. I do really like light rail, and I would love to see it between the downtown and Oakland.

[Johnland]

I've yet to hear anyone say "there should not be light rail between Downtown and Oakland". Seems almost everyone agrees that it's a logical decision. Doesn't it make you wonder why it has never come to pass?

[xyagentguy]

I've yet to hear anyone say "there should not be light rail between Downtown and Oakland". Seems almost everyone agrees that it's a logical decision. Doesn't it make you wonder why it has never come to pass?
Money.

[Johnland]

Money.

Riiiiiight. They built the Civic Arena, a couple of stadiums, a light rail 'connector' to those stadiums and a now empty airport. They have somehow funded parking for three thousand eight hundred slot machine players.

[hyperion1110]

I like the idea someone had a few posts back about just ripping up the street to uncover the street car tracks (it may have been a news article, not sure). All the track is still there, and, in some place, it's even still on the surface. It wouldn't be too expensive to restore rail service that way, I should think.

[Johnland]

I like the idea someone had a few posts back about just ripping up the street to uncover the street car tracks (it may have been a news article, not sure). All the track is still there, and, in some place, it's even still on the surface. It wouldn't be too expensive to restore rail service that way, I should think.

Exactly!! That's one practical, expedient and affordable solution to a transportation need.

[xyagentguy]

After reading the two good articles, Getting Around: Transportation wish list would cost billions and Can mere mortals fix Pittsburgh, it seems to me that at least the city is aware of the problems and even has ideas to fix them.

So why aren't wheels in motion to do just this?? I just don't understand, it's like Pittsburgh is now clearly aware of it's own doom (which is an EXCELLENT thing, after all, you can't fix something if you are in denial about it), but nothing seems to happen or is done about it!!

I'm so frustrated. It's been like this for decades. I just don't get it, it's like Pennsylvania WANTS to fail at progress.

[PA Pride]

^I think you are really going overboard and/or catastrophising about Pittsburgh's downsides. In the last few years, the city has lured a bunch of new company R&D centers: Intel, Apple, Seagate, Google, etc... We built a great new convention center that gets a lot of use; Built riverfront parks on both sides of the Allegheny so far at least; The cultural district is single handedly bringing downtown alive one block at a time; The southside has been gentrified; The northshore parking lot is being developed...

There is a TON of progress. All out of town people I bring to the city have their jaws on the floor. Even my sisters Japanese friend from Tokyo thought Pgh was one of the most beautiful cities she had ever seen and had a blast going clubbing and touring the old historic buildings (Oakland).

I just feel there has been a ton of progress made in the last 10 yrs and while there still is plenty of room for improvement, this city is well on the right path.

[Johnland]

After reading the two good articles, Getting Around: Transportation wish list would cost billions and Can mere mortals fix Pittsburgh, it seems to me that at least the city is aware of the problems and even has ideas to fix them.

So why aren't wheels in motion to do just this?? I just don't understand, it's like Pittsburgh is now clearly aware of it's own doom (which is an EXCELLENT thing, after all, you can't fix something if you are in denial about it), but nothing seems to happen or is done about it!!

I'm so frustrated. It's been like this for decades. I just don't get it, it's like Pennsylvania WANTS to fail at progress.

I think it partly due to a negative mindset of some sort. Both on the third-rate government leaders who retard growth at seemingly every turn, and the citizens who don't demand more of thier 'leaders' or settle complacently for the lacklustre results of non-progress and regression.

Regarding rail, Pittsburgh has a the tiniest little system now for decades. And it only runs to a few select places. yet, Pittsburgh with its small, compact nature and rather high densities as pointed out above, even with massive population declines, make it a conducive environment for rail. Why Oakland, the powerhouse of job creation for the city, was constantly shunned is stupid. Getting people around more efficiently would improve the economics, the image, th equality of life, give people hope that the city can improve. These are valuable intrinsic assets that would accrue from the physical infrastructure improvements.

Here in Tampa, we have no rail. The metro layout is far-flung across two counties. We have really 4 distinct major urban cores, in order of size: Westshore District near Tampa Airport, Downtown Tampa, Downtown St Pete and Downtown Clearwater. The are separated by low density areas. It's very difficult to connect all of these areas logically and economically feasibly. We are just in the phase (again) of putting it to referendum for a vote if taxes should be increased to pay for an inital system. A system is years away if it happens. My point is that Pittsburgh has a system, the compact layout, and the need to reach more areas of the city. The fact that the little system has remained frozen in it's early 80's layout is shameful. Tampa would love to have what Pittsburgh has. But Pittsburgh doesn't seem to appreciate what it has, or the fact that it needs to keep moving on and up to survive.

[Evergrey]

You're right, PA Pride. The story of Pittsburgh is quite nuanced and complicated in the wake of the steel collapse. On one hand, we have had very weak rates of net job growth in the past 5 years... but the types of jobs we have been creating tend to be in high-wage professional sectors. The metro has experienced one of the greatest increases in per capita income in the country, increases in college-educated people... and the city itself has gained young adult population this decade... counter to the incessant whining about losing young people. But we need to do better. We need more balanced growth across all sectors... and the State government is not helping us any with the dysfunctional system of municipal governance, high corporate taxes, sprawl subsidies, weak urban agenda, inadequate mass transit funding, etc etc. It also doesn't help that city residents keep electing bozos to mayor and city council. The "cult of personality" and party allegiance always seems to trump sound policy, transparant government and fiscal recovery.

I'm really proud of what Pittsburgh has accomplished in recent years in spite of terrible leadership at state and local levels.

[Wheelingman04]

^ I agree. It is not all doom and gloom by any means.

[xyagentguy]

I'm really proud of what Pittsburgh has accomplished in recent years in spite of terrible leadership at state and local levels.
I am, too, believe me! I think Pittsburgh is almost the perfect city except for probably the most fundamental part of a city, job growth and economy and thus population decline (minus the death factor).

I just wish there was more encouragement in terms of job and economy growth. There is no reason Pittsburgh can't be a growing city. We have SO much going for us, especially in all the development and revitalization that was mentioned.

It just seems that no matter how beautiful, clean, safe, fun, inexpensive, and unique the city will be or will rank nationally, it doesn't matter if people can't come here and find good work.

I don't mean to sound doom and gloom, I have a fierce love of the city, I just want to see it succeed and get so frustrated.

[Evergrey]

You're right, xyagentman. We can create the most beautiful, exciting, livable city in America (and the media often makes note of this)... but people can't live here if they don't have a job. And we aren't creating jobs due to poor state economic policies (coupled with weak and hyper-fragmented local government). Look across the entire state... all across Pennsylvania, economic and population growth is either relatively stagnant or in decline. Even gigantic BosWash-corridor Philly has had very weak growth over the past few decades... most of its growth actually takes place in New Jersey and Delaware. The York/Lancaster area has the most robust growth due to its new-found status as long-distance exurbia for DC/Baltimore. That type of sprawl-economy is certainly nothing to be proud of.

Pittsburgh is really at a crossroads now. We're a couple decades removed from steel... we have great educational and research institutions in place to take advantage of the post-industrial high-tech economy. We have a relatively strong urban core that has been reviving itself. We have unique assets found nowhere else in the U.S. But we need a lot of help from the state government. The state stripped away the city's power to leverage "payments in lieu of taxes" from non-profits. The state keeps Pittsburgh at a puny under-bounded extent of 55 sq. miles while its peers expand into the hundreds of square miles to capture tax base and economic growth. The state puts the city at the mercy of arbitration process that has resulted in the ever-expanding wages of the 6-figure firefighter lords. The state engineered the municipal pension crisis... something that cities across the state are facing. This state is blind to its local government crisis... and I have little hope they will address this antiquated system. There are powerful people who profit from the status quo... to the detriment of the state.

[xyagentguy]

Pittsburgh is really at a crossroads now. We're a couple decades removed from steel... we have great educational and research institutions in place to take advantage of the post-industrial high-tech economy. We have a relatively strong urban core that has been reviving itself. We have unique assets found nowhere else in the U.S. But we need a lot of help from the state government. The state stripped away the city's power to leverage "payments in lieu of taxes" from non-profits. The state keeps Pittsburgh at a puny under-bounded extent of 55 sq. miles while its peers expand into the hundreds of square miles to capture tax base and economic growth. The state puts the city at the mercy of arbitration process that has resulted in the ever-expanding wages of the 6-figure firefighter lords. The state engineered the municipal pension crisis... something that cities across the state are facing. This state is blind to its local government crisis... and I have little hope they will address this antiquated system. There are powerful people who profit from the status quo... to the detriment of the state.
You seem to know to intimates of the situation far more than I do. However, even you say you don't think the antiquated system will be addressed. How does that bode for Pittsburgh? Will Pittsburgh EVER get out of this "good in every way except the most important: JOBS" situation??

It doesn't help that institutions that are non-profit and pay no taxes to the city are starting to make up a large bulk of our industry, LOL. I know it seems sort of cold to suggest taxing hospitals and universities, but can you imagine what extra revenue the city would acquire??? Point Park alone owns like almost 15% of downtown property, no??

[PA Pride]

Good post Evergrey. I do think the fragmented governement, high CNI tax coupled with other bad state economic policies and also the lack of unity among municipalities to attract growth since they are competing among themselves, are the bulk of whats killing us right now.

Hopefully these large issues will become more prominent and urgent in the minds of those who matter. I think it already is with Dan Onorato and former governer Dick Thornburg recently bringing the issue to light and getting good publicity on the subject.

[xyagentguy]

Hopefully these large issues will become more prominent and urgent in the minds of those who matter. I think it already is with Dan Onorato and former governer Dick Thornburg recently bringing the issue to light and getting good publicity on the subject.
Maybe Mark DeSantis also put the squeeze on in a good way a little bit??

[PA Pride]

^I'm really not sure the amount of influence he has, but he seems to be a pretty level headed guy.

In my personal opinion, Dan Onorato seems to always be on the up and up about what needs to be done. I think he could be a powerful force for change.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07316/833115-52.stm

Tax break working well for new housing

Downtown, for which program was designed, stymied

Monday, November 12, 2007
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A city of Pittsburgh tax break for new housing approved in June is working where it seemed least likely, but not yet in the neighborhood for which it was really written: Downtown.

Developers of housing in East Allegheny, Elliott and Hazelwood have applied for waivers of as much as $6,200 a year in city and school property taxes for 10 years. Downtown home builders, though, have been stymied by technicalities.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration has responded by introducing amendments to the ordinance passed in June. Council is set to debate and tentatively vote on the changes Wednesday.

"We knew there were some ambiguities and some issues that should be clarified," said city Finance Director Scott Kunka.

It's unclear, though, whether the proposed changes would help two key condo builders avail themselves of the tax break.

Mr. Ravenstahl's legislation, which won council approval over a competing plan by Councilman William Peduto, applies to Downtown and 28 neighborhoods that have seen little new construction or face socioeconomic problems.

So far, all eight of the applications the administration has received for the tax break are in the distressed neighborhoods.

One is the Deutschtown section of East Allegheny. October Development has applied for the break on an Avery Street property it is rehabilitating, and plans to seek the exemption for five more properties on James, Tripoli and Suismon streets.

The firm intends to sell the homes for $100,000 to $220,000, and since the tax break applies to the first $250,000 of a new home's value, they will be free of city and school property taxes for 10 years if his applications are granted.

"We decided that we're going to concentrate on Deutschtown because of the abatement" and the neighborhood's amenities, said Al DePasquale, owner of October Development. "This could become a very, very strong neighborhood."

A prime target of Mr. Ravenstahl's tax break, though, was Downtown, where multi-million-dollar condominium and apartment projects are under way and more are sought. A handful of provisions in the legislation seem to be blunting its impact.

The ordinance, for instance, bars any properties that are in tax-increment financing districts from getting the new tax break. In TIFs, the city borrows millions of dollars to help a development, then pays off the debt using most of the future tax dollars created by the new construction.

The former Lazarus department store was aided by a TIF. Developer Millcraft industries wants to build housing atop it, but would be barred from the new tax break because of the TIF district.

The amendments would change that, by allowing new properties built atop old ones to get the break, even if they're in a TIF district.

Another provision holds that a development must apply for the tax break "at the time" when they get their building permit. That means anyone who got their building permit before the passage of the legislation, including developers of new condos at the Carlyle and 151 First Side, Downtown, could not pass the tax break on to their buyers.

That threatens to "create islands Downtown of the haves and the have-nots," said David W. Bishoff, developer of the 60-condo Carlyle. Some will have the tax breaks, but many -- including his buyers -- will not.

"The goal in Pittsburgh is to bring in 2,000 new residents," he said. "The exact date of the permit should be the least of everybody's worries. ... You can't let every piece of housing ever built become part of it. But there is a fairly easily defined period when the housing boom began."

That date would probably be in late 2005, when developer Ralph Falbo began work on 151 First Side. He, too, has had talks with the administration about changing the legislation.

The proposed amendments would allow builders to apply for the tax break within 180 days of getting their initial building permit.

"I don't see any sense where that helps anybody," said Mr. Falbo, who believes he got his first building permit in 2005.

Mr. Kunka said the administration is reviewing whether the Carlyle or 151 First Side could be eligible. "Right now, their timing is not within the parameters," he said. "We are re-examining some of the paperwork that may be there" in the building inspection files.

Another amendment, requested by the Pittsburgh Public Schools board, would bar property owners who are delinquent on property taxes from getting the break. Yet another would allow properties where less than half the space is being converted from industrial to residential uses to get partial tax breaks.

"They're working hard with the legislation," said Mr. Bishoff, "and I believe they will succeed."

Rich Lord can be reached at rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.

[BMikeSci]

Riiiiiight. They built the Civic Arena, a couple of stadiums, a light rail 'connector' to those stadiums and a now empty airport. They have somehow funded parking for three thousand eight hundred slot machine players.

I think the problem is that no one has figured out how to make a ton of pork money on the Oakland to Downtown Light rail line. Buying-up property in the hill is guaranteed to end up in protests, etc. Of course, the Oakland Downtown line is the logical thing to build. Find out who bought up most of the land on the North Shore and you'll probably find out who has pushed for that stupid North Shore connector.

The argument is that because it's federal funding, the money can't be moved to a rational project. This is true, but why was this project submitted over the Oakland Downtown project in the first place? Follow the money.

[BMikeSci]

^I think you are really going overboard and/or catastrophising about Pittsburgh's downsides. In the last few years, the city has lured a bunch of new company R&D centers: Intel, Apple, Seagate, Google, etc... We built a great new convention center that gets a lot of use; Built riverfront parks on both sides of the Allegheny so far at least; The cultural district is single handedly bringing downtown alive one block at a time; The southside has been gentrified; The northshore parking lot is being developed...

There is a TON of progress. All out of town people I bring to the city have their jaws on the floor. Even my sisters Japanese friend from Tokyo thought Pgh was one of the most beautiful cities she had ever seen and had a blast going clubbing and touring the old historic buildings (Oakland).

I just feel there has been a ton of progress made in the last 10 yrs and while there still is plenty of room for improvement, this city is well on the right path.

Yes, of course you are right about this, but there are some underlying problems too. If you want them fixed, maybe we need to discuss them and help each other understand them a little. PGH has done some really smart things and some things that look strange - like the North Shore Connector. Lately the tone of this board has gotten a bit negative. I think that US Air puts everyone in a funk. Anyway, PGH is still a great city with a lot of exciting things going on now.

[xyagentguy]

Lately the tone of this board has gotten a bit negative. I think that US Air puts everyone in a funk. Anyway, PGH is still a great city with a lot of exciting things going on now.
For sure!! It just still gets so discouraging when now all you hear about is "Pittsburgh has the second highest population decline after New Orleans" or from the past years job and economy growth.

That should undoubtedly be a top priority for the mayor and council. I imagine all these condo's and apartments opening up downtown could really spur some good growth. If we get enough affluent people living downtown I imagine good retail will follow, office space will continue to get used up, and jobs will be created in a round-about-way. I am really excited about all these openings!!

[Black-n-Gold]

Update on the development at Craig and Centre:

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/11/12/story1.html

Summary if you can't read the article:

17 Stories of apartment / retail / office
Parking to replace existing lot and serve new uses
Architect to be MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni (oldest firm in Pittsburgh) - replacing previous architect from Indianapolis.
Currently in schematic design, preliminary approvals

[PA Pride]

Black & Gold: that'll be interesting to see what the rendering looks like...

[Johnland]

Pittsburgh is really at a crossroads now. We're a couple decades removed from steel... we have great educational and research institutions in place to take advantage of the post-industrial high-tech economy. We have a relatively strong urban core that has been reviving itself. We have unique assets found nowhere else in the U.S. But we need a lot of help from the state government. The state stripped away the city's power to leverage "payments in lieu of taxes" from non-profits. The state keeps Pittsburgh at a puny under-bounded extent of 55 sq. miles while its peers expand into the hundreds of square miles to capture tax base and economic growth. The state puts the city at the mercy of arbitration process that has resulted in the ever-expanding wages of the 6-figure firefighter lords. The state engineered the municipal pension crisis... something that cities across the state are facing. This state is blind to its local government crisis... and I have little hope they will address this antiquated system. There are powerful people who profit from the status quo... to the detriment of the state.

It's becoming more clear that the State is among Pittsburgh's largest problems. Why in hell would it strip the city's ability to leverage payments in lieu of taxes? It just defies logic beyond words. Pittsburgh is in the freaking state!! Do they not understand that? Put Pittsburgh on a tough financial road, and the state feels the pain as well. My God. What is so pathetic, is that Pittsburgh, the city, has endured floods, epic air pollution, deadly labor strikes, fires, financial panics, cholera, urban 'renewal', you name it. But it will finally be done in by morons and idiots in the state capital. To me, that is the most reprehensible aspect. The city will be literally legislated into ruin.

[Evergrey]

Oakland Skyscraper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_537650.html

Mixed space planned for Oakland

By Sam Spatter
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, November 13, 2007


Ex-Pittsburgh developer Guy Tutino of Cleveland-based Polaris Real Estate Equities, has acquired a site in Oakland to build a 17-story residential/commercial building.
Tutino, a former resident of Brookline, said once he closes on a 26-space surface parking lot at the corner of Centre Avenue and North Craig Street, he plans to seek Pittsburgh Planning Commission approval for the project.

The lot is owned by the Pittsburgh Parking Authority. Officials could not be reached from comment.

His plan is to go before the commission in December -- tentatively scheduled for the 11th -- and if the commission and city council approve the project, begin construction in June 2008.

He gave no estimate on the development cost for The Chelsea, the name of the project.
"We believe we will be filling a need for housing that will support the development activities already under way or to start soon by the universities and the medical center," he said.

His plan is to provide about 300 rental units, atop first floor retail and four levels of indoor parking starting on the second floor, and containing about 400 to 450 spaces.

The site has a 20-foot drop from Centre to the Craig boundary. Most of the retail will be on the Centre side although additional sites may be located along Craig, he said.

Tutino said there is a river that runs beneath Oakland, which creates a water problem for developers who want to build below surface parking.

"It has taken us three years to put together this site," Tutino said.

Two weeks ago he spoke at a meeting of the Bellefield Area Citizens Association, which represents that section of Oakland and announced he had obtained an agreement on the lot.

Tutino said his partner in the development is Longboat Capital, a Pittsburgh-based investment group. He declined to identify the principals.



Sam Spatter can be reached at sspatter@tribweb.com or 412-320-7843.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07317/833343-53.stm

Bicycle-pedestrian bridge over Mon to open Nov. 28

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
By Joe Grata, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The invitations have been sent: The Hot Metal Bridge for bikers and pedestrians will officially be opened following a Nov. 28 noon ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will lead participants in the first trip across the Monongahela River on the $10 million, rehabilitated steel bridge that parallels its old industrial twin that was converted in 2000 into a two-lane bridge for cars and trucks.

The symbolic short journey will begin on the Second Avenue side, near the Pittsburgh Technology Center, and end up at the SouthSide Works, where participants will be treated to hot chocolate, coffee and cookies in the lobby of the REI outdoors gear and recreation outlet.

The bridge links up on one side with the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and on the other with the Eliza Furnace Trail, also called the "Jail Trail," to Downtown and Oakland.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority has been working on the project since 2003 with project advocates, including the Allegheny Trail Alliance, state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Friends of the Riverfront.

The Hot Metal Bridge that was built for the exclusive use of bikers, runners and walkers is regarded as a key link in the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail which, when the last short pieces are finished, will connect Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md. From there, people can take the C&O Canal Towpath to Washington, D.C.

Scott Bricker, executive director of Bike Pittsburgh, characterized the opening of the Hot Metal Bridge as "momentous."

"We're trying to get as many people out as possible to ride and walk it and all kinds of stuff," he said. "It'll be a great day for the city."

The event also is significant because the city that Bicycling Magazine ranked as one of the worst places to ride a bicycle in 1991 has evolved into one of the nation's best. Next June, Tour Pennsylvania, a USA Cycling-sanctioned event, will begin in Philadelphia and finish in Pittsburgh to help the city celebrate its 250th anniversary.

Both Hot Metal bridges were used to shuttle molten iron and materials between former Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. plants on both sides of the rivers. All but a few buildings near Hazelwood have been demolished and the huge sites have become "brownfield sites" being aggressively redeveloped.

Converting the second bridge for biking and hiking was in question for a while when bids came in about $3 million over budget. But the URA secured an extra $2.2 million in federal funding and about $500,000 from the state.

Joe Grata can be reached at jgrata@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1985.


from a couple months ago
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/86450613.jpg

[UrbaniDesDev]

^I think you are really going overboard and/or catastrophising about Pittsburgh's downsides. In the last few years, the city has lured a bunch of new company R&D centers: Intel, Apple, Seagate, Google, etc... We built a great new convention center that gets a lot of use; Built riverfront parks on both sides of the Allegheny so far at least; The cultural district is single handedly bringing downtown alive one block at a time; The southside has been gentrified; The northshore parking lot is being developed...

There is a TON of progress. All out of town people I bring to the city have their jaws on the floor. Even my sisters Japanese friend from Tokyo thought Pgh was one of the most beautiful cities she had ever seen and had a blast going clubbing and touring the old historic buildings (Oakland).

I just feel there has been a ton of progress made in the last 10 yrs and while there still is plenty of room for improvement, this city is well on the right path.


Good points Pa Pride. I think there is a bit of perspective thats missing. Most of these comparisons are relative. Pittsburgh is not in the same boat as Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix or Seattle. We are in the same boat as Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo and Cleveland. Having recently been to these cities, Pittsburgh is, by far, ahead of the game. All of these cities are suffering from a loss of population and jobs. Pittsburgh has held together quite well, from what Ive seen. I truly believe that a foundation has been set and the rest will follow. It is already begun.

One of the most important of the changes that has taken place here, and the importance often overlooked, is the conversion of the riverfronts to parks. This has laid a good foundation for a future of inner city neighborhoods. The South Side Works, The North Shore, Downtown residential towers would not be happening if it werent for the beautification of the rivers, tho not finished, it is the commitment that is evident and developers see this commitment. Transportation, jobs and sluggish politicians are a common problem in most cities, even booming ones. They are not unique to Pittsburgh.

The problem with the job market is a circular argument. Yes there might be more job opportunities in Phoenix, but the population there is swelling, creating more jobs and attracting more employers. It is far more than just having better tax climate and more to the sun. The communities there are battling each other as far as tax incentives, like everywhere else. Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale and Tempe are all pulling jobs from Phoenix, same battle, different players. From what Ive seen, Phoenix is struggling to keep it's more affluent population from leaving to it's neighbors. Even the boom cities have their battles. Pittsburgh's battle with the loss of industry has been far more critical, which makes me so impressed on how it has stood it's ground.

Las Vegas, the fastest growing city, has no city amenities. There were billions being spent on the strip. Huge decadent hotels going up, likely with huge subsidies, while the rest of the city off the strip it is a dismal spread of cheap strip malls melting into an endless sea of generic neighborhoods, rich and poor.

It is going to be hard to stay afloat in the job market, especially the climate that I believe is coming nationally. It will not be unique to Pittsburgh. We may not have the transportation system that we want, or maybe need. Most cities don't. We do have a stong infrastructure for good urban neighborhoods and most cities don't have that. The sprawling boom towns are going to be hit hard with gasoline crunch that is coming. I believe the future will hold alot more federal funds available for mass transit as the country will finally come to grips with it's love affair with the automoble, highways, traffic and oil. Pittsburgh is uniquely positioned to accomodate a region better served by mass transit than overcrowded freeways.

With all the complaints of transportation here, Pittsburgh has one of the shortest commute times and still has one of the strongest Downtowns in the country.

All the complaints of the current condition of downtown Pittsburgh. You'd be hard pressed to find a downtown Phoenix, or shops in downtown St Louis, LA, Atlanta or Miami...

This doomsday scenerio that plagues Pittsburgh is one of the unique problems to Pittsburgh. It's always the end of the world here. This is like a virus that infects people here.

This may be a morbid thought, but the changing climate will prove to be beneficial to this area. There will be a great battle for water in the future. My theory is, the same way people have fled to the sun in the 80s and the 90s, they will begin a search of water and a more sustainable lifestyle in the future. Atlanta is dying of thirst. These "Sun Belt" cities will soon be clammering for the waters of the Great Lakes. The talks of pipelines have already begun. Im hoping we have the proper politicians to protect them. Miami has a jungle of empty condo towers, built on speculation. Atlanta has a great subway system that no one uses, (atleast thats how it appears sitting in traffic), traffic that will choke this city. This system of moving farther and farther from city centers is becoming unmanageable

The migration has already begun in my eyes, as so many friends and family, long lost to the "affluent" sunny spots are planning to return here. Not because of taxes, jobs or water, but quite simply it is so affordable and sustainable here. Pittsburgh has largely been spared the great mortgage collapse that has happened out west or down south. This won't show as a great population swell here, as most are singles or empty nesters, but they are affluent, and they are coming. 50% of my clients have moved here from out of state, 60% of them are returning with spouse in tow.

[PittPenn 03]

So is this the one we already knew about from a year ago, or is it another? It would be great if there were high-rises on the two vacant corners at that intersection.



[QUOTE=Evergrey;3163563]Oakland Skyscraper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_537650.html

[cdc]

(quoting Brian O'Neill)

Those statistics didn't come up at the hearing. I got them when I Googled around later at the office, then pulled out a calculator. We should have no illusions that Pittsburgh will annex anything because not only is it too late, Pennsylvania law and politics make it impossible.


Didn't Pittsburgh forcibly annex Allegheny City in 1907? Was there
any annexation attempts after that? When did the laws change?

[cdc]

Good points Pa Pride. I think there is a bit of perspective thats missing. Most of these comparisons are relative. Pittsburgh is not in the same boat as Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix or Seattle. We are in the same boat as Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo and Cleveland. Having recently been to these cities, Pittsburgh is, by far, ahead of the game. All of these cities are suffering from a loss of population and jobs.


Pittsburgh is not "far ahead" of St. Louis. Pittsburgh and St. Louis
have a fair bit in common: big rivers, empty airports, two main
business areas (downtowns, Oakland/Clayton MO), large parks (schenley,
forest park), 3 new sports stadiums (but no NBA team), casinos,
universities (cmu/pitt, wustl/slu), big hospitals (upmc, barnes/jewish
in the CWE), Inclines vs Arch, etc.

Pittsburgh's transportation infrastructure is in worse shape (St Louis
has better highways and actually has light rail service from
downtown/Clayton to the airport, our airport is a long drive out
parkway west).

[Evergrey]

Didn't Pittsburgh forcibly annex Allegheny City in 1907? Was there
any annexation attempts after that? When did the laws change?

The laws changed right after Allegheny City was forcibly annexed.

[tooluther]

The major problem with Annexation by Pittsburgh isn't just that its hard to do (although it is as a result of the Allegheny City debacle) Its that there is no where to annex. Sun belt cities don't expand by annexing existing municipalities, they do so by annexing unincorporated land...mostly commercial developments. They will go so far as to annex 6 inches along a highway to avoid residential development (residents cost a lot of money to service while commercial land has a higher taxable value) and then absorb a shopping center.

This is why if you were to lay out a map of Dallas corp. limits over Pittsburgh you would be picking up parts of Ohio and West Virginia.

Pittsburgh doesn't have any unincorporated land, just the strangling mass of tiny municipalities. Someone should do a study of exactly what it costs to maintain 113 municipal manager salaries...ridiculous.

[hyperion1110]

Pittsburgh is not "far ahead" of St. Louis. Pittsburgh and St. Louis
have a fair bit in common: big rivers, empty airports, two main
business areas (downtowns, Oakland/Clayton MO), large parks (schenley,
forest park), 3 new sports stadiums (but no NBA team), casinos,
universities (cmu/pitt, wustl/slu), big hospitals (upmc, barnes/jewish
in the CWE), Inclines vs Arch, etc.

Pittsburgh's transportation infrastructure is in worse shape (St Louis
has better highways and actually has light rail service from
downtown/Clayton to the airport, our airport is a long drive out
parkway west).

I don't think you make a fair comparison between Pgh and St. Louis. While I will defer to your understanding of traffic infrastructure, I have to take issue with your other comparisons. Pitt/CMU/UPMC/CHP are MUCH more prestigious than their equivalents in St. Louis (with the notable exception being Washington University). Pgh several very large parks, not one. Our togography makes us an outdoorsman's dream. St Louis sits in the middle of the continent, whereas Pgh is close enough to the Atlantic to make non-stop European flights.

Pretty much the only thing St Louis has on Pgh is Nelly, and I wouldn't exactly call that a plus for them.

[Evergrey]

Let's not get into a Pittsburgh vs. St. Louis pissing match.

anyways..... here's some good news on the wage front

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/11/12/daily11.html?surround=lfn

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 10:20 AM EST

Allegheny County wages with biggest increase statewide

Pittsburgh Business Times

The average weekly wage increased 8.1 percent in Allegheny County in the first quarter of 2007 from the previous year, the largest advance in the commonwealth, the U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday.

Among Pennsylvania's 19 large counties, three had average weekly wages exceeding $1,000 in the first quarter of 2007 -- Montgomery ($1,176), Chester ($1,117), and Philadelphia ($1,038). Allegheny County was next in the commonwealth, averaging $946.

Westmoreland County had the second-lowest average wage ($659) in the commonwealth, ahead of only Lackawanna County ($634).

The average weekly wage in Pennsylvania was $849, $36 below the nationwide level, ranking 16th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.



All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

[PA Pride]

Good points Pa Pride. I think there is a bit of perspective thats missing. Most of these comparisons are relative. Pittsburgh is not in the same boat as Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix or Seattle. We are in the same boat as Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo and Cleveland. Having recently been to these cities, Pittsburgh is, by far, ahead of the game. All of these cities are suffering from a loss of population and jobs. Pittsburgh has held together quite well, from what Ive seen. I truly believe that a foundation has been set and the rest will follow. It is already begun.

One of the most important of the changes that has taken place here, and the importance often overlooked, is the conversion of the riverfronts to parks. This has laid a good foundation for a future of inner city neighborhoods. The South Side Works, The North Shore, Downtown residential towers would not be happening if it werent for the beautification of the rivers, tho not finished, it is the commitment that is evident and developers see this commitment. Transportation, jobs and sluggish politicians are a common problem in most cities, even booming ones. They are not unique to Pittsburgh.

The problem with the job market is a circular argument. Yes there might be more job opportunities in Phoenix, but the population there is swelling, creating more jobs and attracting more employers. It is far more than just having better tax climate and more to the sun. The communities there are battling each other as far as tax incentives, like everywhere else. Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale and Tempe are all pulling jobs from Phoenix, same battle, different players. From what Ive seen, Phoenix is struggling to keep it's more affluent population from leaving to it's neighbors. Even the boom cities have their battles. Pittsburgh's battle with the loss of industry has been far more critical, which makes me so impressed on how it has stood it's ground.

Las Vegas, the fastest growing city, has no city amenities. There were billions being spent on the strip. Huge decadent hotels going up, likely with huge subsidies, while the rest of the city off the strip it is a dismal spread of cheap strip malls melting into an endless sea of generic neighborhoods, rich and poor.

It is going to be hard to stay afloat in the job market, especially the climate that I believe is coming nationally. It will not be unique to Pittsburgh. We may not have the transportation system that we want, or maybe need. Most cities don't. We do have a stong infrastructure for good urban neighborhoods and most cities don't have that. The sprawling boom towns are going to be hit hard with gasoline crunch that is coming. I believe the future will hold alot more federal funds available for mass transit as the country will finally come to grips with it's love affair with the automoble, highways, traffic and oil. Pittsburgh is uniquely positioned to accomodate a region better served by mass transit than overcrowded freeways.

With all the complaints of transportation here, Pittsburgh has one of the shortest commute times and still has one of the strongest Downtowns in the country.

All the complaints of the current condition of downtown Pittsburgh. You'd be hard pressed to find a downtown Phoenix, or shops in downtown St Louis, LA, Atlanta or Miami...

This doomsday scenerio that plagues Pittsburgh is one of the unique problems to Pittsburgh. It's always the end of the world here. This is like a virus that infects people here.

This may be a morbid thought, but the changing climate will prove to be beneficial to this area. There will be a great battle for water in the future. My theory is, the same way people have fled to the sun in the 80s and the 90s, they will begin a search of water and a more sustainable lifestyle in the future. Atlanta is dying of thirst. These "Sun Belt" cities will soon be clammering for the waters of the Great Lakes. The talks of pipelines have already begun. Im hoping we have the proper politicians to protect them. Miami has a jungle of empty condo towers, built on speculation. Atlanta has a great subway system that no one uses, (atleast thats how it appears sitting in traffic), traffic that will choke this city. This system of moving farther and farther from city centers is becoming unmanageable

The migration has already begun in my eyes, as so many friends and family, long lost to the "affluent" sunny spots are planning to return here. Not because of taxes, jobs or water, but quite simply it is so affordable and sustainable here. Pittsburgh has largely been spared the great mortgage collapse that has happened out west or down south. This won't show as a great population swell here, as most are singles or empty nesters, but they are affluent, and they are coming. 50% of my clients have moved here from out of state, 60% of them are returning with spouse in tow.



Hell yeah, man. I agree with most of what you say and I think you have it pretty well thought out.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[cdc]

I don't think you make a fair comparison between Pgh and St. Louis.


My main point here was to disagree with the OP who stated that PGH was
"far ahead" of a number of places, including STL. I've lived in PGH
for 4 years now, and I lived in STL for 8 years and I'm telling you
from personal experience that it is not true. (I cannot speak for
Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland -- never been there.)

It probably isn't worthwhile to start going into detailed comparisons
on this forum, so i'll leave it at that.

[mind field]

time for some pittsburgh lovin' from an outsider who seriously considered making Pittsburgh his new home. I think that locals tend to put more weight on negative news in this era, where it seems we are all bombarded with negative news on a daily basis. It's almost natural to view almost everything with a pessimistic and cynical view nowadays. This is speaking generally, not only in Pittsburgh, but in nearly every major city across the US, people tend to overlook the positive developments and focus on negative ones.

Pittsburgh is an incredible city. How it overcame the collapse of the domestic steel industry to become a high tech city is miraculous. Your downtown is a mini-Manhattan, ultra dense, and framed in one of the best natural settings you could ask for. The inclines are sooo unique and add an exciting character to the city. The bridges in the aptly named "city of bridges" also add tons of character. Your housing market is in great shape, crime is very low for a major city, and you have urban neighborhoods that would be the envy of cities anywhere. Pittsburgh will continue to succeed as an emerging high tech metropolis.

[Evergrey]

http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/totino1114.aspx

$60M Chelsea moves forward on Centre, to bring Oakland's first rental units in 30 years

The Chelsea, a $60 million mixed-use project planned for the corner of Center Ave. and Craig St. in Oakland, is moving forward. Located on a 1.4-acre site that currently houses a Pittsburgh Parking Authority lot, the 17-story project will feature 300 rental units, commercial space and parking for 450 cars.

Project developer Guy Totino of Polaris Real Estate Equities is in the process of resolving zoning issues and variances with the city. “The city is very supportive. We’ve met with both neighborhood groups in Oakland and they’re both very supportive. It’s a question of how it’s going to get done, not whether it’s going to get done,” says Totino.

Units will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as loft-style studios. “The last new rental project built in Oakland was probably thirty-plus years ago. It’s an excellent site for mixed-use. The city has targeted it for residential. Oakland is vibrant, very dense and growing. The use complements the area,” adds Totino. “We've designed it to be very respectful of the streetscape, to make the retail fit the area. We’d love to attract some grocery use and a coffee shop—it’s a destination neighborhood.”

The project, which will have a Centre Ave. entrance, will continue onto N. Dithridge and Craig Sts. “It’s a corridor experiencing tremendous commercial growth, with everything that UPMC and CMU are doing. It’s taken us three years; we've had a lot of stamina. It fills a tremendous need,” adds Totino, who says that The Chelsea will be designed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects. Contractor is Massaro Corporation. The 24-month project is expected to break ground during the summer of 2008.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Guy Totino, Polaris Real Estate Equities



Photo courtesy of Polaris Real Estate Equities

http://www.popcitymedia.com/galleries/Default/Dev%20News/Issue%2086/oaklanddev_300.jpg

[AaronPGH]

Very promising looking!

[EventHorizon]

Penguins Officials Debut New Sketches Of Arena

http://kdka.com/sports/Penguins.arena.sketches.2.566854.html

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―

Officials with the Pittsburgh Penguins have unveiled updated sketches of the new arena in the city's Uptown neighborhood.

The arena will include all of the best features from arenas around the country and will seat more than 18,000 fans. It will also have a glass atrium and open-air concourses so fans won't miss any part of the games.

The outside of the structure will be designed to blend in with existing buildings on Centre Avenue.

The arena is slated to open in 2010.

http://image.cbslocal.com/320x240/arena1.gif
http://image.cbslocal.com/320x240/arena3.gif
http://image.cbslocal.com/320x240/arena2.gif

Be sure to watch the video report on the linked page ... they mention a potential hotel! :)

[PA Pride]

I don't know about the Chelsea... It doesn't look bad; But it isn't that intriguing either.

Maybe the 1 sq inch picture just doesn't show the details well enough. Hehe...


As for new arena: I love this modern style of arena that is designed to meld into the environment it's built... Like PNC park also. I hate the old style arenas built in the middle of an ocean of parking (mellon arena is a perfect example). The design looks modern and interesting enough i suppose. It will be an interesting contrast to see such a large modern structure, built next to that large, ancient church. Both architecturally interesting in their own ways!!

[PA Pride]

time for some pittsburgh lovin' from an outsider who seriously considered making Pittsburgh his new home. I think that locals tend to put more weight on negative news in this era, where it seems we are all bombarded with negative news on a daily basis. It's almost natural to view almost everything with a pessimistic and cynical view nowadays. This is speaking generally, not only in Pittsburgh, but in nearly every major city across the US, people tend to overlook the positive developments and focus on negative ones.

Pittsburgh is an incredible city. How it overcame the collapse of the domestic steel industry to become a high tech city is miraculous. Your downtown is a mini-Manhattan, ultra dense, and framed in one of the best natural settings you could ask for. The inclines are sooo unique and add an exciting character to the city. The bridges in the aptly named "city of bridges" also add tons of character. Your housing market is in great shape, crime is very low for a major city, and you have urban neighborhoods that would be the envy of cities anywhere. Pittsburgh will continue to succeed as an emerging high tech metropolis.


Thank you!!! good assessment. And you are right. Pittsburgh is awesome. you have good taste!

[Johnland]

http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/totino1114.aspx

$60M Chelsea moves forward on Centre, to bring Oakland's first rental units in 30 years

The Chelsea, a $60 million mixed-use project planned for the corner of Center Ave. and Craig St. in Oakland, is moving forward. Located on a 1.4-acre site that currently houses a Pittsburgh Parking Authority lot, the 17-story project will feature 300 rental units, commercial space and parking for 450 cars.

Project developer Guy Totino of Polaris Real Estate Equities is in the process of resolving zoning issues and variances with the city. “The city is very supportive. We’ve met with both neighborhood groups in Oakland and they’re both very supportive. It’s a question of how it’s going to get done, not whether it’s going to get done,” says Totino.

Units will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as loft-style studios. “The last new rental project built in Oakland was probably thirty-plus years ago. It’s an excellent site for mixed-use. The city has targeted it for residential. Oakland is vibrant, very dense and growing. The use complements the area,” adds Totino. “We've designed it to be very respectful of the streetscape, to make the retail fit the area. We’d love to attract some grocery use and a coffee shop—it’s a destination neighborhood.”

The project, which will have a Centre Ave. entrance, will continue onto N. Dithridge and Craig Sts. “It’s a corridor experiencing tremendous commercial growth, with everything that UPMC and CMU are doing. It’s taken us three years; we've had a lot of stamina. It fills a tremendous need,” adds Totino, who says that The Chelsea will be designed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects. Contractor is Massaro Corporation. The 24-month project is expected to break ground during the summer of 2008.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Guy Totino, Polaris Real Estate Equities



Photo courtesy of Polaris Real Estate Equities

http://www.popcitymedia.com/galleries/Default/Dev%20News/Issue%2086/oaklanddev_300.jpg

I glad to see this one moving forward. As PA Pride said, the rendering is ok, not great. But still, I'm so glad to see that gravel parking lot finally replaced.

[Wheelingman04]

I really like the new renderings of the arena.

[Evergrey]

more on the arena

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07318/833624-52.stm

New Penguins arena design unveiled

The team's design firm says the facility incorporates elements from nearly every major hockey venue in the nation

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Penguins unveiled their master plan for the new arena yesterday, one that will feature retail space on Fifth Avenue and a 500-space parking garage for fans and commuters as well as a state-of-the art 18,500-seat venue for hockey games and other events.

The signature piece of the $290 million building will be a glass atrium that will stretch between Fifth and Centre avenues and run from 40 to 80 feet high, offering sweeping views of the Downtown skyline. An outdoor plaza will overlook the city on the Fifh Avenue side, some 80 feet above ground.

"The site is absolutely the best in Pittsburgh," Penguins Chief Executive Officer Ken Sawyer said yesterday.

Inside, the arena will offer the cream of the crop in terms of amenities, including a high-definition video scoreboard, wider and more comfortable seats, and more spacious concourses.

Parts of the building also will feature "open" concourses, where fans will be able to grab a hot dog or a drink while watching the action unfold on the ice below.

"We are picking the best of the best and putting it in this building," said Wayne C. London, principal for HOK Sport, the arena designer.

Mr. Sawyer said the Penguins visited virtually every National Hockey League arena in the country, some more than once, in gathering ideas for their new home. They've incorporated elements from venues in Minnesota, Boston, Phoenix and North Carolina.

"No one arena is the absolute. We've looked at them all. We liked elements of every one," he said.

The Penguins discussed the details yesterday in submitting a master development plan for the arena to the city planning commission for approval. It includes not only the arena itself, but also a four-level, 500-space parking garage to be built adjacent to it, a 150-space parking lot and staging area for events, 2.5 acres of green space, and the former St. Francis Central Hospital site, which is being reserved for future development.

Mr. Sawyer said one potential use for the St. Francis site, along Centre Avenue, could be a hotel.

The garage, which will be attached to the arena, will be open to commuters during the day. It will be reserved for season ticket holders, suite holders and sponsors during events.

The Penguins are planning to add retail space along Fifth Avenue to blend with the commercial, office and restaurant uses on the opposite side of the street.

The main entrance to the new arena will be a plaza at Washington Place and Centre Avenue. There also will be an entrance on Centre, and a third at Washington Place and Fifth Avenue, where fans will enter at street level and take escalators to the main concourse.

While the Penguins considered a number of different schemes for the arena, they eventually settled on a more traditional design that looks a bit like a cross between PNC Park and the proposed North Shore casino.

The building ended up being mostly rectangular.

Along with the wall of glass on the west side of the building will be a mostly brick facade on the south side, facing Fifth Avenue, as architects tried to create a design "that fits in with the neighborhood," Mr. Sawyer said. He believes the overall effect will be "exceptional."

Mr. Sawyer said the team is still trying to keep the cost of the arena at $290 million without sacrificing quality. It is on pace to get into the heart of the construction by next summer, with earth and foundation work expected to start in the spring. The arena is on target to be completed by the start of the 2010-11 hockey season.

The arena master plan will be the subject of a briefing before the planning commission Nov. 27. That will be followed by a public hearing Dec . 11, with a vote set for Jan. 11.

Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.





...


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_537817.html

Penguins say arena will fit in

By Andrew Conte
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, November 14, 2007


The new Uptown arena will help make the Penguins better neighbors this time around, officials said Tuesday.
Despite having 18,500 seats and an eight-story glass wall facing the city, the arena should look like it fits with the buildings around it, team CEO Ken Sawyer said.

"What we're trying to do is match the character of the neighborhood," he said.

The team submitted its arena designs yesterday to the city Planning Commission, which is expected to hear a briefing Nov. 27, take a preliminary vote next month and consider final approval in January.

Team officials hope to break ground before summer and open for the 2010 season.
Surrounded by parking lots, Mellon Arena has a more suburban design, said Don Carter, president of Urban Design Associates, a Downtown-based consulting group hired by the team and city. The new arena will fit into an urban plan.

The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority plans to raze Mellon Arena for a 28-acre neighborhood development after the new building opens.

"A lot of people have had some input," Carter said. "This is the (design) most people were comfortable with."

After meetings with residents, public officials and other stakeholders, the arena designs changed from a contemporary river theme to a more traditional look, said Wayne London, an architect with HOK Sport of Kansas City.

The proposed arena would have more brick on its exterior and fewer contemporary metal panels. It would have 2.5 acres of green space, with outdoor plazas for community events. Along Fifth Avenue, the facade would be broken up to look more like nearby buildings.

A glass atrium facing Downtown would stretch along Washington Avenue and be topped by an outdoor balcony with restaurants.

A four-story, 500-space parking garage would sit on the opposite side of the arena with a surface parking lot and space for a hotel.

Penguins officials traveled around the league to see what they wanted inside the building.

They picked the top-down entry points from Minnesota, open lounges in North Carolina, the larger seat sizes in Phoenix and Boston's high-definition electronic screen, Sawyer said.

The arena would have wider interior concourses than Mellon Arena, as well as places where fans could access concession stands and still be able to watch the action on the ice.

"We are picking the best of the best and putting it in this building," London said.

While the team is trying to stick to a $290 million budget, Sawyer said the price could go up before construction managers set a guaranteed maximum price next summer.

The public would share in cost increases up to $310 million. After that, the Penguins will pick up any cost overruns.

The state is paying $8.5 million upfront and $7.5 million a year for 30 years. Majestic Star Casino agreed to pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years. The team is paying $4.2 million a year toward the arena and $500,000 a year for the parking garage.



Andrew Conte can be reached at andrewconte@tribweb.com or 412-320-7835.

[themaguffin]

It's an apartment building. As long as it looks nice/decent that's fine. Oakland should have more of this size. Take Oakland out of Pittsburgh and people would talk about that job engine fast growing city of Oakland. The city really needs to use Oakland's strength's to build in itself and the city.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07318/833570-35.stm

Deal or no deal: Barden's behemoth leaves much to be desired

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"It's got to fit into the landscape." That's what Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said in September of the proposed parking garage for the Majestic Star Casino on the North Side.

Early last week, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl asked for changes to the massive garage and a commitment to an environmentally friendly green casino with a prohibition on smoking in at least part of it.

How, then, were Mr. Onorato and Mr. Ravenstahl able to smile so broadly Friday when they announced a deal with casino owner Don Barden that accomplishes so little?

Mr. Barden has agreed to add decorative screening to the Allegheny River side of the parking garage, which will sit behind the casino. He previously had agreed to have screening on other sides of the garage, a device that improves the structure's appearance. But Mr. Barden continues to reject more drastic modifications to his 119-foot garage, which on the North Shore will be dwarfed only by the highest point of Heinz Field, which is 156 feet.

The city's Contextual Design Advisory Panel suggested Mr. Barden increase the atrium at the front of the casino, and the Pittsburgh Civic Design Coalition, a consortium of seven organizations that advocate for quality design, questions why the structure needs to be so large. Rebecca Flora, executive director of the Green Building Alliance, said the 3,800-space garage is akin to a suburban shopping mall that builds parking based on the number of spaces needed the day after Thanksgiving, typically the busiest shopping day of the year.

As for smoking, it is encouraging that Mr. Barden, who has said before that he would have nonsmoking sections in his bars and restaurants, now says the restaurants and meeting spaces will be smoke-free. So far, though, he has not committed to any nonsmoking sections on the gambling floor.

Pittsburghers want a successful casino, but not one whose facilities foul their lungs or mar the look of their spectacular riverfront. We're anxious to learn more details about the agreement worked out with Mr. Barden. We're not smiling yet.

[PA Pride]

Evergrey: You are slacking!!

You didn't post the best Post-Gazette article from today:

http://post-gazette.com/pg/07318/833766-100.stm

Council supports bigger 'green' buildings
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Green buildings would be allowed to be larger than less environmentally friendly structures under legislation tentatively approved by Pittsburgh City Council today.

Council unanimously backed member William Peduto's legislation, which the city Planning Commission had recommended against.

Under the legislation, buildings certified as "green" under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program of the United States Green Building Council could be as much as 20 percent higher, and have 20 percent more floor space, than non-certified new buildings in their zoning areas. In neighborhood commercial districts, a public hearing and Planning Commission vote would be required before the extra height and floor plate would be allowed.

First published on November 14, 2007 at 11:29 am


This has cleared the way for any future high-rise buildings in downtown to be 20% taller and 20% larger per floor if they go green!

[PittPenn 03]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_537939.html

Allegheny General to renovate historic Aeberli House
By Ron DaParma
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Allegheny General Hospital today announced plans to begin a $2.5 million renovation of the Aeberli House, a landmark North Side structure adjacent to the hospital on North Avenue that has been vacant for more than two decades.

Located at the corner of North Avenue and Sandusky Street, the near 150 year-old building was purchased in 1909 by William Aeberli and served as a funeral home for most of the 20th century. It has been designated as an historic structure by the City of Pittsburgh.

"Renovation of the Aeberli building is an important investment in the future of this community and another tangible expression of AGH's deep and long-standing commitment to the North Side's vitality and progress," said Connie Cibrone, AGH president and chief executive officer.

The first phase of renovations will be funded jointly by AGH and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, which awarded a charitable grant in support of the project.

Scheduled to begin in November, the project will involve exterior work on the structure, including foundation stabilization, re-pointing of the entire exterior brick surface, replacement of the roof, reconstruction of the porch and replacement of other period details such as railings, door and window hardware and decorative wood moldings.

Potential uses for the restored building includes additional space for Allegheny General administrative offices as well as space for possible retail use, the hospital said.

[PA Pride]

^I know that building; I've always thought that would be a great place to live; or have a nightclub or something... I suppose it will make a nice historic renovation too.

[Evergrey]

This medical office buildling proposal for Bigelow and Bayard in Oakland is a dead project... the NIMBYs of Schenley Farms won... it shall remain a parking lot

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/ActureCareMedicalFacility.jpg

[PA Pride]

By the way, did everyone see the humongous news in Erie? I will post this in this thread since Pittsburgh is Erie's big brother, being the only other sizable city in Western PA:

'Anonymous Friend' gives $100 million to [Erie, PA] town

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/12/million.mystery.ap/index.html

ERIE, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Mike Batchelor invited the heads of 46 charities into his downtown office for one-on-one meetings to personally deliver the news. Nearby, on a small table, sat a box of tissues.


Mike Batchelor accepted a $100 million donation from an "Anonymous Friend" to benefit Erie charities.

And then he proceeded: A donor had given a staggering $100 million to the Erie Community Foundation, and all of the charities would receive a share.

That was when the tears began to flow -- and the mystery began -- in this struggling old industrial city of 102,000 on Lake Erie, where the donor is known only as "Anonymous Friend."

Batchelor, president of the Erie Community Foundation, has been sworn to secrecy and will allow only that the donor worked with the organization for years to identify deserving recipients before the announcement over the summer.

Is the donor dead or alive? No comment, Batchelor says. What is the donor's connection to Erie? No comment.

The talk about the gift has taken an interesting turn in recent weeks. As much as everyone here would like to know their benefactor's identity, many are also reluctant to pry.

"My feeling is that we're not honoring the donor if we spend time speculating about it," says Rebecca Brumagin, executive director at the Achievement Center, which provides physical therapy and other services to children. The center, which serves 3,200 children a year, will get $2 million.

"The needs are really great. So we will be able to help more children because of this," Brumagin says.

Kitty Cancilla cried when she learned the homeless shelter where she is executive director will get $2 million. Its previous largest donation was $25,000. Even now, Cancilla clutches a balled-up tissue and fights back tears as she talks about the gift.

Cancilla says she is unable even to speculate who the donor could be.

"We don't really travel in a community that knows the wealth of people," she says. And she prefers not to even try.

"It's disrespectful to the friend. To me, that's a spiritual thing."

Each of the charities will get about $1 million to $2 million. The recipients include a food bank, a women's center, a group for the blind and three universities.

The city -- and the entire county of 280,000 -- could clearly use the money.

Erie was once a bustling iron and steel town, and later also made machinery, plastics, paper and furniture. But many factories eventually closed or moved overseas. The paper mill, which employed more than 2,000 people in the 1950s, shut down in 2002 after more than 100 years in business.

The city has a growing service industry and has tried to remake itself as a tourist destination with a new slots casino. But its poverty rate is about 19 percent, or twice the national average, median household income is $31,196, versus $48,451 nationally, and as of 2006, it had an estimated 400 homeless people.

"What a godsend for some of these agencies, because I know a lot of them struggle," says Pam VanHorn, as her 5-year-old autistic daughter, Abigail, rides a scooter-like contraption at a playroom at the Achievement Center.

Some charity officials fear that other people will see the large donation and decide their small contributions aren't needed.

But Batchelor says that's not what Anonymous Friend intended at all.

"I know that the donor hopes this will inspire others to give within their means," he said.





The only logical choice i can think of as to who the "Mystery Donation" is, is John Petersen. He is a Univ. of Pittsburgh grad who gave a 10 million check to Pitt in 2000 for the Peterson events center, the largest gift in Pitt history. he was the CEO of Erie Insurance Co. and is very rich.

Here's a really good article about it:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/20021108pcpetersen1108nP9.asp

[Johnland]

This medical office buildling proposal for Bigelow and Bayard in Oakland is a dead project... the NIMBYs of Schenley Farms won... it shall remain a parking lot

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/ActureCareMedicalFacility.jpg

Well that's a shame. While that building is not stunning, I think it would blended in perfectly with that neighborhood in an utmost respectable manner. I cannot understand why the neighbors would rather have a parking lot.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07319/834028-52.stm

URA in final review of plans for North Side corridor

Thursday, November 15, 2007
By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Urban Redevelopment Authority is close to finishing a review of its A-list of proposals for development of the North Side's Federal Street-North Avenue corridor.

Two of five proposals would focus on the Garden Theater as part of a larger vision for the block, and one covets only the theater, the last nickelodeon-style specimen in the city with an intact interior and one of the last in the country.

The theater is considered by some to be the linchpin in the success of the corridor. Craig Dunham, a principal at the Rubinoff Co., said he would want to get the theater up and running first, "as the anchor" to generate leverage for other buildings.

The URA requested proposals in the spring for a dozen blighted properties. Kyra Straussman, the URA's director of real estate, said the board will be told of a decision at its meeting next month.

A final feasibility review is ongoing, she said. Parties will be called in for a final round of questioning after that, she said.

A committee that included neighborhood residents has studied the plans and interviewed the developers in recent months.

"We were looking at proposals from experienced groups and people who just have a real heart for the neighborhood, and we were intrigued by both," Ms. Straussman said. Among them are large and small pieces, "and we're looking at ways to partner up some of these."

The authority is also helping former Steeler Franco Harris with his interest in transforming a small building on the north-east corner into a restaurant, she said.

A large building on North Avenue sustained extensive fire damage years ago and will likely be razed, she said. Otherwise, the plan has been to save the structures. Most date to the 19th century.

The Garden was built in 1915 with terra cotta detailing and a copper canopy, which has not survived. It was a first-run movie house before it became a porn theater in 1972. The URA bought and closed it in February amid news that a new plan for housing and a Carnegie Library branch would be coming in the future to Federal.

Rebecca Davidson-Wagner, project development specialist for the URA, said all 12 buildings were addressed in the proposals, some as part of large proposals, a few as individual, small ventures.

Mr. Dunham said a multi-building plan is "extraordinary challenging. The buildings are in terrible shape and the neighborhood is definitely transitional. It's going to require lots of capital investment just to get to the point where they are useful."

For this reason, one suitor may seem a long shot, but his vision got the URA neighborhood committee's nod for consideration.

Aaron Stubna, a barber from Bellevue who has studied filmmaking, seeks only the theater. He is trying to form a board to run a nonprofit 350-seat movie theater and live-music venue that would occupy most of the main floor. An art gallery would be the other piece, and a wine bar would fill one of two small storefronts within the building.

"I'm a 36-year-old with a fresh idea," said Mr. Stubna, who estimated needing $1.2 million to develop the Garden, adding, "My partner is doing the construction at cost."

He foresees combining some movie nights with a pre-movie concert in the theater.

"A ton of people with talent are dying for stage time," he said. "It would be maybe 15 minutes before a 7:30 movie."

The movie theater in his plan also would serve as an after-school training venue for neighborhood children to learn how to make movies.

The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation wants to guide its art-related vision of the entire block, said its president, Arthur Ziegler.

"We feel the entire block [that includes the Garden] should be one project," he said. "We see it as a place for film, lectures and other events, with some of the overflow from the Hazlett [Theater].

"We would like to unite the theater and the Masonic Hall in some synergistic way."

Mr. Dunham, who said he had no price tag yet, put together an all-star team that includes loft developer Eve Picker; Sara Radelet, director of the New Hazlett Theater; Charlie Humphrey, the director of Pittsburgh Filmmakers; architect Rob Pfaffmann and Ernie Sota, a developer of green buildings.

"We'd like to have people working there, living there, singing and dancing and showing movies there," Mr. Dunham said of the Garden. "Performance venues are becoming transformative elements within communities.

"We want to do the whole block. We think it has a synergy that would allow for a higher level investment. But not today."

Diana Nelson Jones can be reached at djones@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1626.



...


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07319/834056-53.stm

After years of neglect, house to get makeover by hospital

Thursday, November 15, 2007
By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200711/20071115rdaeberli02_500.jpg
Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette
Allegheny General Hospital will spend $2 million to renovate the former Aeberli building on the North Side.Allegheny General Hospital yesterday announced plans to restore the Aeberli building, a property that many North Siders had given up hope for after years of pleading on its behalf.

As a grand period structure anchoring a key corner across from the hospital, its survival was a neighborhood cause that got snagged in the financial disaster of the Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation. After a titanic expansion through the 1990s, AHERF capsized in 1998, and the resultant bankruptcy left the hospital "without funds to invest" in the Aeberli, said hospital spokesman Tom Chakurda.

The hospital has owned the former house-turned-funeral-home on North Avenue and Sandusky Street since the mid-1970s. It was two row homes joined in the 1920s by a wrap-around porch.

In 2000, the Mexican War Streets Society spared it from the wrecking ball by securing historic designation from the city, but by then, trees were growing from the gutters and part of the roof had fallen into the basement.

"It was such a degrading thing to see it like that, especially when such a large entity owned it," said David McMunn, a board member of the Mexican War Streets Society and the Central Northside Neighborhood Council.

He said various neighborhood groups united to prevail upon the hospital in an October letter.

Exterior renovation is expected to begin this month, said hospital spokesman Dan Laurent.

The entire renovation is estimated to cost $2.5 million, with some first-phase funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Many period details will be saved or restored, including railings, doors, window hardware and moldings.

The hospital may use the building for administrative offices and possibly retail space, such as a coffee shop, said Mr. Laurent.

Built during the Civil War in the Second Empire style, it got its name when William Aeberli bought it in 1909. It was the family home, and then its funeral home business for most of that century.

"Renovation of the Aeberli building is a significant investment in the future of this community and another tangible expression of AGH's deep and long-standing commitment to the North Side's vitality and progress," said Connie Cibrone, AGH president and chief executive officer.

Some of the building's value is attached to its location, said Ellis Schmidlapp, the principal architect on the first phase.

"A corner property is always a bit more significant than ones inside, and porches provide visual interest," he said.

The restoration will give each of the homes its own porch. The Second Empire half will keep its wrap-around porch and the mate will get to keep the brick pillars and heavier cornice, he said.

Diana Nelson Jones can be reached at djones@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1626.

[hyperion1110]

It's wonderful to see some good going to happen in old Allegheny City. The only real question is why did it take so long for the momentum to build there (yes, I know about the legal fight over the theater)? From North Avenue, you have the most spectacular view of Downtown rising over West Park. That view alone should make this area an urban paradise, once all the blight has been dealt with.

[UrbaniDesDev]

http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/totino1114.aspx

$60M Chelsea moves forward on Centre, to bring Oakland's first rental units in 30 years

The Chelsea, a $60 million mixed-use project planned for the corner of Center Ave. and Craig St. in Oakland, is moving forward. Located on a 1.4-acre site that currently houses a Pittsburgh Parking Authority lot, the 17-story project will feature 300 rental units, commercial space and parking for 450 cars.

Project developer Guy Totino of Polaris Real Estate Equities is in the process of resolving zoning issues and variances with the city. “The city is very supportive. We’ve met with both neighborhood groups in Oakland and they’re both very supportive. It’s a question of how it’s going to get done, not whether it’s going to get done,” says Totino.

Units will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as loft-style studios. “The last new rental project built in Oakland was probably thirty-plus years ago. It’s an excellent site for mixed-use. The city has targeted it for residential. Oakland is vibrant, very dense and growing. The use complements the area,” adds Totino. “We've designed it to be very respectful of the streetscape, to make the retail fit the area. We’d love to attract some grocery use and a coffee shop—it’s a destination neighborhood.”

The project, which will have a Centre Ave. entrance, will continue onto N. Dithridge and Craig Sts. “It’s a corridor experiencing tremendous commercial growth, with everything that UPMC and CMU are doing. It’s taken us three years; we've had a lot of stamina. It fills a tremendous need,” adds Totino, who says that The Chelsea will be designed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects. Contractor is Massaro Corporation. The 24-month project is expected to break ground during the summer of 2008.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Guy Totino, Polaris Real Estate Equities



Photo courtesy of Polaris Real Estate Equities

http://www.popcitymedia.com/galleries/Default/Dev%20News/Issue%2086/oaklanddev_300.jpg



AAAH
This is great. A very urban, dense building will finally take over this major intersection. This will undoubtedly impose a standard on the future of this neighborhood. I believe this will establish North Oakland as a real player in the continued advancement of the entire "East Side". It looks great, atleast as a far as it's density and keeping the street face, the facade looks a little cliche, but it does seem to pay homage to the older large residential building near by. This intersection has long been an eyesore. Hell, face it, it's a pit. This will tie a lot of the disjointed neighborhoods in the the East Side tighter together. Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Shadyside and oakland seem to becoming a seamless urban region, each with their own identity but will nolonger have the gaps that are now between their centers. Center Avenue is becoming a real gem of a destination after long being a rather dismal drive. This is where that filthy old Giant Eagle was, right?

[UrbaniDesDev]

Penguins Officials Debut New Sketches Of Arena

http://kdka.com/sports/Penguins.arena.sketches.2.566854.html

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―

Officials with the Pittsburgh Penguins have unveiled updated sketches of the new arena in the city's Uptown neighborhood.

The arena will include all of the best features from arenas around the country and will seat more than 18,000 fans. It will also have a glass atrium and open-air concourses so fans won't miss any part of the games.

The outside of the structure will be designed to blend in with existing buildings on Centre Avenue.

The arena is slated to open in 2010.

http://image.cbslocal.com/320x240/arena1.gif
http://image.cbslocal.com/320x240/arena3.gif
http://image.cbslocal.com/320x240/arena2.gif

Be sure to watch the video report on the linked page ... they mention a potential hotel! :)

I am sorry, but this building just appears to me to be very unispired. The Fifth Avenue facade is particularly bland. I hope they do better

[UrbaniDesDev]

The laws changed right after Allegheny City was forcibly annexed.

What did Philly do to impose itself on it's region? Didn't they incorporate their region as Philadelphia County in some way and was it a beneficial move to their area?

[UrbaniDesDev]

Did we change formats a bit here? It seems we jumped to 149 pages. Pittsburgh is one of the most active in the City Compilations thread :banana:

[UrbaniDesDev]

Everyone's favorite developer!


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/search/s_538158.html

Hidden Valley expansion cost pegged at $1 billion
By Joe Napsha
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 15, 2007


SOMERSET -- The Buncher Co. today unveiled a 30-year, $1 billion master plan designed to improve and substantially expand the Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort in Somerset County.
The Squirrel Hill-based developer's plans call for the addition of up to 1,800 units of new housing, including single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses.

About 600 of those units would be in a planned new gated community called Paradise Springs.

The company also is planning shorter-term improvements to Hidden Valley's ski slopes and ski lodge that it hopes to complete before reopening the resort for the upcoming ski season on Dec. 15, said Thomas J. Balestrieri, its CEO, at a morning news conference.

[Evergrey]

updates from the Biz Times:

1. Westinghouse has increased the square footage of its new Cranberry HQ from 775,000 to 915,000 sq. ft. That's bigger than One PPG Place, Fifth Avenue Place and Dominion Tower. Westinghouse plans on hiring 1,300 people this fiscal year after adding 800 each of the last two years.

[Evergrey]

Western Pennsylvania
Reaps Rewards of
Nuclear Power Renaissance

A huge Westinghouse campus may grow larger in scope.

http://www.siteselection.com/features/2007/sep/pennsylvania/images/pg778a.jpg
Westinghouse Electric's projected growth is the driver for the company's huge new corporate campus to be developed in Cranberry Woods, north of Pittsburgh.

by JOHN W. McCURRY,
john.mccurry bounce@conway.com

The pending rebirth of the U.S. nuclear power sector has its leading supplier in all-out expansion mode. Westinghouse Electric Co., which has built 62 of the country's 104 nuclear power plants and about 40 percent of the approximately 440 around the globe, needs a much bigger headquarters campus to accommodate projected growth. Westinghouse, which delivered the first full-scale nuclear power plant in Shippingport, Pa., in 1957, will benefit in a major way from the U.S. industry's expansion: Utility companies have chosen Westinghouse to build 12 of the 28 plants now in the application process.
Westinghouse's global reach is expanding, too. The company signed multi-billion-dollar contracts on July 24 to provide four nuclear power plants in China, the first-ever deployment of advanced U.S. nuclear technology in that country. Westinghouse, which was acquired last year by Toshiba Corp., says the China projects will create or sustain at least 5,000 jobs for it and its consortium partner, The Shaw Group.

Expansion Need Sparks Seven-State Search

When Westinghouse realized its projected growth would exceed the capacity of its current 550,000-sq.-ft. (51,000-sq.-m.) headquarters in Monroeville, Pa., it embarked on a quest to find the right site with two main criteria in mind:

"We first had to decide if we would stay or relocate, and we looked first to the areas where we had existing sites," says Russ Bussard, Westinghouse's facility manager for the project. "That meant Pennsylvania, Connecticut, the Carolinas, Maryland, Georgia and Virginia. These were states with existing operations or we felt that with our potential new customers we would benefit from having a presence nearby."
Bussard says Pennsylvania became the state of choice following the passage of legislation last November allowing for special strategic development areas (SDA). These areas qualify for tax breaks for companies committing to create or maintain 500 or more jobs or making an investment of at least $45 million within three years.
"The legislation narrowed it to Pennsylvania," Bussard says. "Then we had to decide whether to remain in our existing location and expand or move and build a new facility."
Westinghouse selected the Cranberry Woods office park for its new campus. The site is full of logistical advantages. Cranberry Woods is a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, about 15 miles (24 km.) north of downtown and about 10 miles (16 km.) from Pittsburgh International Airport. The business park is adjacent to I-79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Site Offers Flexibility For Future Growth

Westinghouse's new headquarters campus will be a three-building, 772,000-sq.-ft. (72,000-sq.-m.) office complex that will be owned by Wells Real Estate Investment Trust II and will be developed by Trammell Crow Real Estate Development & Investment. CB Richard Ellis/Pittsburgh represented Wells in the deal.
"There is significantly more space to expand and most importantly, it gives us the option to expand in phases," Bussard says. "We are able to go a little longer for the second construction phase and that allows us to understand how many people we will build for here."
The first phase is a five-story, 410,000-sq.-ft. (38,000-sq.-m.) office building that will house 1,600 employees. That building is due to open in April 2009. Bussard says planning for the second phase will begin near the end of this year or in early 2008. That phase, which involves two smaller buildings to be connected to the larger main building, is slated for completion in June 2010.
Westinghouse has an option on a 25-acre (10-hectare) adjacent parcel to construct a fourth building if necessary. Following completion, Westinghouse will occupy the property under a 15-year lease with Wells. The new campus could ultimately swell to 1.2 million sq. ft. (111,500 sq. m.)
The complex will likely be designed to achieve LEED certification as a green development project, making it one of the largest private-sector green properties in the U.S. The project is also believed to be the largest Class-A suburban office built-to-suit project in Pennsylvania history.
"The facility is designed for approximately 3,200 people," Bussard says. "We have the opportunity to expand to 3,600 people and we currently have 1,900 at our present location."
Westinghouse has hired 800 people in the last two years and will hire 1,300 this year. A third of these will be moving into the company's Pittsburgh-area operations. Most of these positions are engineering jobs, some are in procurement and others are in project management.

HR Aspect Provided Interesting Challenges

Staying in Western Pennsylvania also avoided the colossal disruption that would have come in moving to another state. The Staubach Company advised Westinghouse during its search, which began in late 2005. Staubach's Drew Saunders, senior managing director in the firm's New York office, says the search was an unusually interesting project. Saunders was the lead Westinghouse liaison for Staubach and project coordinator.
"Westinghouse is expecting 30 percent attrition over the next several years and is going to hire a ton of people."
Another issue for Westinghouse was whether to keep its operations at one site, or to develop a dual hub, with some of the functions moving to another location, possibly out of state. Saunders says Westinghouse never considered moving all of its operations from the Pittsburgh area. The apt code name for the undertaking was "Project Growth."
"It quickly became apparent that if we were going to keep everything in one place, Pittsburgh was the place to do it," Saunders says. "Westinghouse couldn't risk losing the expertise of the Pittsburgh area."
Westinghouse's projected attrition is a legacy of the last major hiring surge in the 1970s during the last major period of nuclear power plant construction. Many of those hires are at or near retirement age. These employees were retained during subsequent downsizings to keep their experience and expertise, Saunders says.
"We did look at seven states, but the decision came down to keeping everything in Pittsburgh or to creating a second hub in the Charlotte area and moving 1,000 to 1,500 employees there and keeping 2,000 in Pittsburgh," Saunders says. "A division headquarters would have been moved to Charlotte. We priced the full occupancy cost analysis of relocating those employees, training new employees, incentives and capital costs and at the end of the day, Pittsburgh was very competitive. It wasn't the cheapest – it was slightly more expensive than Charlotte – but the executives at Westinghouse ultimately made the decision that the business disruption of moving to Charlotte wasn't worth the risk."
When Pittsburgh became the choice, it was a matter of either expanding its current facility at Monroeville or moving up to Cranberry Woods, Saunders says. Infrastructure constraints eliminated a Monroeville expansion.
"There is a need for deck parking and to get that many people in and out of the site," Saunders says. "Really, that's why we ended up in Cranberry."
Project Growth presented a variety of challenges, which made the effort especially interesting, Saunders says.
"We were driving off of headcount projections and there was the acquisition by Toshiba during the middle of the process. Toshiba was a new ownership we needed to get updated and to explain what we were trying to accomplish. Westinghouse still doesn't know exactly how many people they are going to hire. I wouldn't be surprised if these buildings grow before they are completed. It teeters on how many nuclear plant orders they get."
The Staubach effort was directed by two other key people in addition to Saunders. Jay Koster, a Staubach senior managing director who heads the firm's financial services arm, led the real estate negotiations, and Ann Woessner, a senior vice president in Staubach's Dallas office, led the incentive negotiations with the involved states.
Joe Oglesby, a Wells senior vice president, was Wells' lead in the deal, which adds significantly to the company's growing Pennsylvania presence.
"This is our third asset in the Greater Pittsburgh area and our first build-to-suit," Oglesby says. "Westinghouse is a global name and we're glad to be involved with them in meeting their expansion needs by building a first class campus for them."

[Johnland]

AAAH
This is great. A very urban, dense building will finally take over this major intersection. This will undoubtedly impose a standard on the future of this neighborhood. I believe this will establish North Oakland as a real player in the continued advancement of the entire "East Side". It looks great, atleast as a far as it's density and keeping the street face, the facade looks a little cliche, but it does seem to pay homage to the older large residential building near by. This intersection has long been an eyesore. Hell, face it, it's a pit. This will tie a lot of the disjointed neighborhoods in the the East Side tighter together. Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Shadyside and oakland seem to becoming a seamless urban region, each with their own identity but will nolonger have the gaps that are now between their centers. Center Avenue is becoming a real gem of a destination after long being a rather dismal drive. This is where that filthy old Giant Eagle was, right?


I couldn't have summed it up better myself. You hit all the points well. This project will fill a hole along Centre Ave that was there for waaaay tooo long. And it does seem to pay homage to some of the grand old apartment buildings of this neighborhood, which is sort of like Pittsburgh's little chunk of pre-War Manhattan in that respect. Regarding replacing the old Giant Eagle, it actually will sit across Craig St from that former store.

[UrbaniDesDev]

Regarding replacing the old Giant Eagle, it actually will sit across Craig St from that former store.

Ok that makes sense. I now wish I owned that lot where the GE was

[Evergrey]

This link has renderings of the Glass Lofts at Penn and Fairmount. They're too big to post here. It's an 18-unit green development. I noticed demolition of the existing crappy structures on the site has begun.

http://friendship-pgh.org/classified/view/id/417

[UrbaniDesDev]

The Glass Lofts

18 Loft Condominiums For Sale

A new ‘green’ building in Pittsburgh in the heart of the Penn Avenue Arts District. Located at Penn Avenue and Fairmount Street with parking in the rear and private internal garages are available.

Lofts range from 845 sq. ft. to 1,873 sq. ft. Many lofts are two stories.
Price ranges from $180,000 to $330,000. Special financing available for qualified buyers

NO TAXES! Byers pay no local or state income and real estate taxes through 2010! Property is in a K02 zone. See K02.newpa.com for more information.

Lofts available in Summer 2008

Lofts Feature:


Balconies
Full Baths
Full Kitchen
Laundry Hook-ups
Many lofts feature two-stories
Many lofts feature skylights
Every unit is visitable


Project Features:

Parking and Indoor Private Garages Available
Flexible Common Room Available
‘Green’ building features high efficiency heating and cooling and environmental low-impact materials.
Modern architecture by Arthur Lubetz Associates Architects
Restaurant on ground floor
Artist studios on ground floor
Located near Pittsburgh Glass Center, Dance Alloy Theater, Quiet Storm Coffeehouse, Whole Foods, Borders, Trek, Giant Eagle Market District, Shadyside Hospital, West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh Montessori School, Waldorf School, Children’s Home and the new Children’s Hospital.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/GlassHouse.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/GlassHouse2.jpg

[Evergrey]

cool... maybe we can go another decade without anything built on those parking lots... some development "boom" these stadiums have generated (the half-billion dollar garage/casino does not count)

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_538772.html

Rendell says amphitheater funding for Steelers could be lost

By Sam Spatter
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, November 19, 2007


Since the Pittsburgh Steelers have abandoned a plan for a proposed amphitheater and a companion entertainment complex on the North Shore, $10 million in state funds for infrastructure improvements there may be directed to other purposes, Gov. Ed Rendell said today.
The team and Columbus-based developer Continental Real Estate Cos. had been working with Cordish Co. of Baltimore to develop the project that was to be known as to be known as North Shore Live!

However, officials said in October they now were looking toward alternative development plans for the property involved, currently a parking lot near Heinz Field.

"As with our Capital Redevelopment Assistance Grants, the grantee has a certain amount of time to use it or lose it," Rendell said when asked about the project.

"They are precariously close to losing it," he said of the capital budget funding request.
So far, neither the team or Continental have asked for an alternative use for the funds, Rendell said.

If they don't, he said, "It will be taken back and used for other projects."


Sam Spatter can be reached at sspatter@tribweb.com or 412-320-7843.

[PA Pride]

^I wonder what they are waiting for?

[cdc]

As I was going to see the new dino exhibit at the natural history
museum yesterday I noticed a legal notice for a second hearing posted
at the old Exxon station next to the bridge over Boundary Street.

I didn't have time to read it in detail, but it basically said that
the property owner is working on getting a zoning variance to build an
eleven story hotel on that site. So it looks like the owner is slowly
making progress on the legal issues relating to this:

Upscale hotel in works for busy Oakland university, museum corridor
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2006/09/18/story3.html

Seems like a good spot for a hotel (to capture CMU and museum business).

[PittPenn 03]

As I was going to see the new dino exhibit at the natural history
museum yesterday I noticed a legal notice for a second hearing posted
at the old Exxon station next to the bridge over Boundary Street.

I didn't have time to read it in detail, but it basically said that
the property owner is working on getting a zoning variance to build an
eleven story hotel on that site. So it looks like the owner is slowly
making progress on the legal issues relating to this:

Upscale hotel in works for busy Oakland university, museum corridor
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2006/09/18/story3.html

Seems like a good spot for a hotel (to capture CMU and museum business).

This is great! I either totally forgot about it, or totally missed this project. I love seeing the fringes of Oakland filling up and going vertical.

[Evergrey]

11 stories... up from the initial 6 stories in the article...

let's just hope the architectural design standards are a little bit higher than the usual Marriott or Hampton that gets plopped down around here... and let's hope that the Schenley Farms NIMBY coalition doesn't come down the hill to kill this project lol

[PA Pride]

This is great! I either totally forgot about it, or totally missed this project. I love seeing the fringes of Oakland filling up and going vertical.

Amen brother!

[Evergrey]

Charlie Batch gets $480k in state aid for redevelopment of Homestead Bakery. It will include residential and retail.

WYkySwXqZi4

[JackStraw]

11 stories... up from the initial 6 stories in the article...

let's just hope the architectural design standards are a little bit higher than the usual Marriott or Hampton that gets plopped down around here... and let's hope that the Schenley Farms NIMBY coalition doesn't come down the hill to kill this project lol

Very true, No reason to have the average marriot that sprout around the airport or Moronville added to Oakland. 11 stories sound excellent. I would love to see Oakland go more verticle and feel more urban than it is now.

[Evergrey]

btw, JackStraw... I am very disappointed at the absence of exterior lighting on the Cathedral of Learning... most days it's totally dark... but if the football team wins (a rare occurance)... they'll light the top of the building in gold... it's still quite minimal... I would love to see this landmark get a good lighting treatment... what do you think?

these are flickr photos (not mine)

football win lighting scheme
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/269763487_9b183c42cd.jpg

[JackStraw]

I am sorry, but this building just appears to me to be very unispired. The Fifth Avenue facade is particularly bland. I hope they do better

I kind of agree with you. I am more interested in the projects that will be going around uptown and the hill after the Arena gets going. This is a great project to get the ripple of redevelopment started in some of the worse areas. I hope this does the same to these areas that Coors field did to Lodo in Denver.

Also, word on the street is the project is probably going for LEED certification.

[JackStraw]

btw, JackStraw... I am very disappointed at the absence of exterior lighting on the Cathedral of Learning... most days it's totally dark... but if the football team wins (a rare occurance)... they'll light the top of the building in gold... it's still quite minimal... I would love to see this landmark get a good lighting treatment... what do you think?

these are flickr photos (not mine)

football win lighting scheme
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/269763487_9b183c42cd.jpg

I think the lighting of the Cathedral is dull and unimaginative. There is so much gothic architectural elements that can be brought out, and arn't.

[Evergrey]

I kind of agree with you. I am more interested in the projects that will be going around uptown and the hill after the Arena gets going. This is a great project to get the ripple of redevelopment started in some of the worse areas. I hope this does the same to these areas that Coors field did to Lodo in Denver.

Also, word on the street is the project is probably going for LEED certification.

I'm not holding my breath. The North Shore stadia were supposed to usher in a development boom... and what do we have after 6 years? Calico Jack's Cantina... one hotel... the death of Hi-Tops... a couple bland office buildings that relocated jobs from downtown...

[Evergrey]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_538812.html

Change in plans could cost Steelers $10M

By Ron DaParma
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, November 20, 2007


The Steelers are working on alternative ideas for development on the North Shore now that they have scrapped plans for a proposed amphitheater and a companion entertainment complex adjacent to Heinz Field.
But they may have to seek other sources for state funding to replace the $10 million in infrastructure improvements originally sought for the project, Gov. Ed Rendell said Monday.

The team and Columbus-based developer Continental Real Estate Cos. had been working with Cordish Co. of Baltimore to develop the project that was to be known as North Shore Live!

As envisioned, the amphitheater -- topped by an open, glass roof -- would have been ringed by night clubs and other entertainment-themed outlets, and built on vacant land serving as the Gold parking lot near Heinz Field.

In October, the Steelers said they were withdrawing an application for the $10 million in funding under a state Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program, now that those plans have changed.
Mike Hart, the team's director of business, said that PSSI Stadium Corp., the company that operates Heinz Field, advised the Pittsburgh Stadium Authority and the state that discussions are under way with other developers for the site.

The Stadium Authority owns the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park, and Continental was selected by the Pirates and Steelers to be the master developer there.

"We have withdrawn the original request for funding under the IFIP program as we re-evaluate our plans for developing an entertainment venue on the North Shore adjacent to Heinz Field," said Barry Ford, president of development at Continental, in a statement Monday.

"We are currently working with HOK (the architect for Heinz Field) and PSSI Stadium Corp. to develop an outline for a year-round multipurpose entertainment facility.

"We are pleased with our progress to date and intend to present a new version of our plan by year's end," Ford said.

When asked about the project funds yesterday, Rendell said, "... The grantee has a certain amount of time to use it or lose it."

So far, neither the team nor Continental have asked to use the funds for an alternative project, Rendell said.

If they don't, he said, "It will be taken back and used for other projects."




Ron DaParma can be reached at rdaparma@tribweb.com or 412-320-7907.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07324/835308-55.stm

Steelers' Batch plans housing at old bakery in Homestead

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200711/20071120ds_batch_330.jpg
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch and Gov. Ed Rendell pose for pictures after yesterday's announcement in Homestead.

Charlie Batch called it a dream come true. Only this time he wasn't talking about quarterbacking the hometown Steelers at Heinz Field.

Instead, Mr. Batch was fired up about converting a historic bakery in his hometown of Homestead into loft apartments and commercial and office space with the help of a $480,000 state grant.

Gov. Ed Rendell was in Homestead yesterday to award $4.8 million in state Housing Finance Agency Homeownership Choice Program grants for Mr. Batch's project and six others in Allegheny, Westmoreland and Butler counties.

At a news conference, Mr. Rendell said the state funding will leverage almost $30 million in private investment in the projects, five of which are in Allegheny County and one each in Westmoreland and Butler counties.

In Homestead, Mr. Batch is planning to convert the former Homestead Bakery into 16 loft apartments and six commercial spaces -- two for restaurants, three for retail and one for office.

Plans call for nine one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom apartments with rents ranging from $1,000 to $1,375 a month. Mr. Batch's company, Batch Development Co. Inc., already has secured a letter of interest from one company to lease 1,000 square feet of retail space.

Mr. Batch hopes to get started on the redevelopment soon. It will be his first commercial venture. Until this time, he has worked on rehabbing housing in other parts of Homestead.

He said he sees the project as a way of giving back to his hometown while building off the success of The Waterfront mixed-use development adjacent to the old bakery. One bakery building dates to the 1880s.

"This is first and foremost my hometown so this is exciting for me," he said. "But I think that The Waterfront has been so great to this area. This is a way for the next phase of it to tie the local community into The Waterfront. This is a great project to be able to make that happen."

While Mr. Batch is concentrating on the bakery project at this point, he's not ruling out more development ventures.

"Anything's a possibility," he said. "I'm excited to get this piece going and then we'll see what happens."

Other state housing grants announced yesterday were:

• $1 million for construction of more than 30 single-family houses over three phases on Wylie Avenue in the Hill District. The two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses will range in price from $135,000 to $180,000. The total development cost is $7.7 million.

• $1.3 million for construction of 18 houses in Homestead and seven in Munhall. The two-, three- and four-bedroom homes will cost from $55,000 to $130,000. Total development cost is $6 million.

• $1 million for construction of 22 three-bedroom houses and three four-bedroom houses on South Sixth Street in Jeannette. The houses will be built over three phases with all completed by December 2010. Total development cost is $8.2 million.

• $250,000 to help convert the Beneficial Building on Carson Street on the South Side into six studio apartments and commercial and office space. Total project cost is estimated at $3.3 million.

• $260,500 to rehabilitate two residential and commercial buildings on Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills. Total renovation costs are estimated at $875,060.

• $335,000 to build six homes in Butler as part of a larger project that also involves renovation of 46 apartments. Total costs are expected to reach $900,000. The new homes should be finished by next summer.

Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07324/835306-53.stm

Roosevelt details why Schenley may close

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Saying he wants others "to wrestle with the same facts I'm wrestling with," Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt yesterday released hundreds of pages of documents to support his recommendation to close the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building.

Joining Mr. Roosevelt at a morning news conference were architects, engineers and environmental specialists whose firms had produced some of the reports detailing problems at the Oakland school. Mr. Roosevelt invited them to the microphone to answer questions.

Mr. Roosevelt and the consultants said the building is filled with asbestos, the mechanical systems obsolete and the problems intertwined; the systems can't be repaired without addressing the asbestos, used as a binding agent, insulator and fire retardant. In an Oct. 19 letter to Mr. Roosevelt, the Downtown architectural firm Astorino urged the district to make a speedy decision about what to do with the school, students and 91-year-old historic building.

"These particular issues that we have addressed are causing safety hazards for the students and because of that, we do not recommend that you go beyond this current school year without doing extensive renovations to the building," wrote Dennis L. Astorino, the firm's chief executive officer and one of the consultants who attended the news conference.

A week after Mr. Astorino wrote that letter, Mr. Roosevelt told school board members in closed-door meetings that he wanted to close the building at the end of the school year and send the 1,100 students to three other locations, including two new, themed schools configured for grades six through 12.

He publicly announced the plans Oct. 31, saying the district couldn't afford $64 million -- mid-range of six estimates the district received since 2003 -- to overhaul the school. The news touched off a firestorm.

Critics have questioned Mr. Roosevelt's renovation estimates and the speed with which he's moving, expressed doubt about the district's efforts to find money to repair the building and called the asbestos issue a smokescreen for plans to sell the building to the University of Pittsburgh or UPMC, something the district denies.

By the end of last week, Mr. Roosevelt had proposed moving Schenley's current students to a single location in Shadyside in fall 2008 and letting them stay together until graduation. That would allow him to close Schenley's building at the end of this school year, phase out the school over three more school years and gradually build the new themed schools.

If Mr. Roosevelt hoped to calm the waters by releasing documents to show he's acting on the advice of outside experts and been left with few options, the critics weren't immediately ceding any ground.

Nick Lardas, a Schenley graduate whose Oakland contracting company works on historic buildings, said the building's fate is just one issue. He said Schenley supporters are upset that Mr. Roosevelt has proposed dismantling one of the city's best-performing high schools for an "experiment" in 6-12 schools.

Mr. Roosevelt said the documents would be provided to leaders of the "Save Schenley" movement. Some documents were posted on the district's Web site at www.pps.k12.pa.us.

One diagram of Schenley's third floor showed dozens of red marks where asbestos was found during a 2002 survey by AGX Inc., an environmental consulting firm in McCandless.

"It's in every wall, in every ceiling, on every floor," and more prevalent in Schenley than other district schools, the district's chief operations officer, Richard Fellers, said yesterday.

As far back as November 2005, Mr. Fellers said in a report that "ceiling and wall plaster (particularly on the upper floors) is falling away from surfaces on a recurring basis" and warned that the problem could worsen.

As officials tell it, that's what happened. After a ceiling collapse in a stairwell last summer, the district spent $750,000 to repair 10,000 worn areas of plaster building-wide.

The district yesterday said the installation of new windows in 2005 has reduced ventilation, contributed to humidity and weakened the plaster. Mr. Fellers said the city's Historic Review Commission insisted on that type of window to preserve Schenley's appearance, a point the commission wasn't able to address yesterday.

Mr. Roosevelt yesterday released six renovation cost estimates, the highest an $86.9 million proposal from L. Robert Kimball & Associates in 2005. That proposal included $500,000 for refurbishing an organ. Ryan M. Pierce, the Downtown firm's vice president and market sector leader, said the proposal was not only a renovation but a "restoration" of the building.

Astorino last year proposed $64.4 million for various work, including new mechanical systems and removal of asbestos. But the firm said it could do a more limited project, encapsulating asbestos rather than removing it, for $42.4 million or $37.8 million, depending on whether air-conditioning was included.

Documents showed the $42.4 million option was endorsed by the Schenley task force Mr. Roosevelt established in 2005. The group said the district could push the bottom line lower by selling the former Reizenstein Middle school building in Shadyside and leveraging $1.5 million in historic tax credits.

In another document, however, the district says it didn't want to sell Reizenstein and found the historic tax credits unfeasible. The document said the district also considered and rejected the idea of letting a developer build offices or residential units atop the school.

Mr. Roosevelt said he fears that a partial renovation merely would mean doing more work down the road. Two Kimball executives said they doubted a partial project would be feasible now anyway because the falling plaster would prevent the asbestos from being encapsulated.

The district is spending $10,000 a month to inspect the building and check the air for asbestos.

So far, Mr. Roosevelt said, the air quality is fine and the building safe for students.

Joe Smydo can be reached at jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.

[Evergrey]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_538806.html

Tunnel digger assembly begins today

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2007-11-19/1120pbore-a.jpg
Workers prepare a tunnel-boring machine that will carve the first of two tunnels connecting Downtown with the North Shore.
Philip G. Pavely/Tribune-Review

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/images/video/2007_pdfs/GX-Northshore4-11-20.pdf

By Jim Ritchie
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, November 20, 2007


A 1.2 million pound machine that will bore a tunnel beneath the Allegheny River is expected to be lowered today 55 feet below the surface of the North Shore near PNC Park.
The three sections of the tunnel-boring machine will be linked and then tested before it begins carving out the first of two tunnels connecting Downtown with the North Shore, as part of Port Authority's $435 million T subway extension.

"They'll do some test-boring and try to advance the machine about 60 feet," said Winston Simmonds, the authority's rail operations-engineering manager. "They'll stop through the holidays, and in the new year they'll advance the machine another 150 feet, install the rest of the trailing gear and in mid-January, that's when mining in earnest will start."

When completed, sometime in 2011, the 2,400-foot twin tunnels will extend the transit agency's T light rail system from Gateway Station Downtown to the developing North Shore, adding two stations near PNC Park and Heinz Field.

The tunneling project, publicly derided amid concerns about cost and safety, will not start with the fanfare of a major regional improvement project.
"Hopefully, the concern would be turned into responsible response and management by the entity building it," said Peter Tarkoy, a tunneling expert who owns GeoConSol, a Sherborn, Mass., consulting firm.

"Underground projects are at the mercy of the natural conditions, and you can't define them 100 percent. You can only do some borings in the ground and test those ... and if there's a lot of loopholes in the contract, then of course the contractor is going to take advantage of it."

Port Authority has cut the project's size because of rising costs. To address safety issues, the authority has inspectors to monitor the work.

Pushed by previous generations of politicians, those in office now acknowledge they'd rather extend the T to Oakland or Pittsburgh International Airport. They chose not to halt the work for fear of losing federal money, which accounts for 80 percent of the $435 million projected cost.

"If Dan (Onorato) had been county executive at the time, he might have selected a different project," said Kevin Evanto, spokesman for the Allegheny County chief executive. "Yet this project can be something very positive and successful for the region."

Port Authority awarded a $156.5 million first-phase contract to build the tunnels to North Shore Constructors, a joint venture of West Mifflin-based Trumbull Corp. and Obayashi Corp. of San Francisco.

This leg of the T is projected to serve more than 14,000 passengers a day, or more than 4 million a year. The agency serves about 240,000 riders on an average day.

The tunnel-boring machine is expected to cut through about 20 to 30 feet of dirt and rock daily.

The starting pit is at the intersection of Reedsdale Street and Mazeroski Way. The tunneling will end beneath Stanwix Street, not far from Fort Duquesne Boulevard. The machine will make a U-turn and dig a second tunnel back to the North Shore.



Jim Ritchie can be reached at jritchie@tribweb.com or 412-320-7933.

[JackStraw]

I'm not holding my breath. The North Shore stadia were supposed to usher in a development boom... and what do we have after 6 years? Calico Jack's Cantina... one hotel... the death of Hi-Tops... a couple bland office buildings that relocated jobs from downtown...

I hate our north shore planning. I for one think that Heinz field could have been put in a different location. I compare a lot to Denver since I lived there for a while. They had Invesco about 2 miles from downtown. Why take up valuable space with acres full of parking next to the city center. It could have been built on a brownfield somewhere and had the exact same benefits. You bring 60,000 people down to an area 8 times a year, maybe a couple more times with big concerts. This space could be used for other redevelpoment projects to help bring in more office space, apartments, lofts, and retail on the north shore. I like baseball parks near the city center and PNC was perfect. However it didn't help at all in revitalizing the north shore. If you look at Coors field in Denver, Lodo (lower downtown) was a old run down area. Once Coors field came in everybody wanted to be in Lower Downtown, and now it is trendy and nice.

I still think the Pen's arena will help out more. One since the pens are planning to contribute to redevelopment around the new arena in a hotel, residential buildings, and retail. It seems as if Pittsburgh is trying to capitalize of this project. The one problem with the north shore is they just pretty much took a existing stadium and put in two newer ones not thinking about anything further from that. It seems (as of now) that the redevelopment of uptown will be largely considered in this project.

[JackStraw]

It would be great if they could save Shenley highschool, but asbestos can cause a major problem with doing renovation projects. The cost alone of demolishing the asbestos laced areas is real high.

The cheapest way would be to conceal the asbestos. Just leave it where it is and figure out innovative ways to update the mechanical/electrical systems without touching the asbestos laced areas.

[JackStraw]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_538812.html

Change in plans could cost Steelers $10M

By Ron DaParma
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, November 20, 2007


The Steelers are working on alternative ideas for development on the North Shore now that they have scrapped plans for a proposed amphitheater and a companion entertainment complex adjacent to Heinz Field.
But they may have to seek other sources for state funding to replace the $10 million in infrastructure improvements originally sought for the project, Gov. Ed Rendell said Monday.

The team and Columbus-based developer Continental Real Estate Cos. had been working with Cordish Co. of Baltimore to develop the project that was to be known as North Shore Live!

As envisioned, the amphitheater -- topped by an open, glass roof -- would have been ringed by night clubs and other entertainment-themed outlets, and built on vacant land serving as the Gold parking lot near Heinz Field.

In October, the Steelers said they were withdrawing an application for the $10 million in funding under a state Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program, now that those plans have changed.
Mike Hart, the team's director of business, said that PSSI Stadium Corp., the company that operates Heinz Field, advised the Pittsburgh Stadium Authority and the state that discussions are under way with other developers for the site.

The Stadium Authority owns the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park, and Continental was selected by the Pirates and Steelers to be the master developer there.

"We have withdrawn the original request for funding under the IFIP program as we re-evaluate our plans for developing an entertainment venue on the North Shore adjacent to Heinz Field," said Barry Ford, president of development at Continental, in a statement Monday.

"We are currently working with HOK (the architect for Heinz Field) and PSSI Stadium Corp. to develop an outline for a year-round multipurpose entertainment facility.

"We are pleased with our progress to date and intend to present a new version of our plan by year's end," Ford said.

When asked about the project funds yesterday, Rendell said, "... The grantee has a certain amount of time to use it or lose it."

So far, neither the team nor Continental have asked to use the funds for an alternative project, Rendell said.

If they don't, he said, "It will be taken back and used for other projects."




Ron DaParma can be reached at rdaparma@tribweb.com or 412-320-7907.

I was actually going to post a question if anybody has ever heard about what was happening with North Shore Live. Thanks for the article. I am really hoping for a entertainment center like this. We need something that can host good bands in venues that need to be 5 thousand or so. I read an article when I moved back about how bands like the Decembrants, Modest Mouse, the Shins, and so many more skip Pittsburgh because we don't offer venues for these kind of shows.We can get Def Leopard to Star Lake though!


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/music/pop/s_502573.html

There is the article I was talking about. It is kind of old, but atleast I am not mentioning articles with no back up.

[Evergrey]

I hate our north shore planning. I for one think that Heinz field could have been put in a different location. I compare a lot to Denver since I lived there for a while. They had Invesco about 2 miles from downtown. Why take up valuable space with acres full of parking next to the city center. It could have been built on a brownfield somewhere and had the exact same benefits. You bring 60,000 people down to an area 8 times a year, maybe a couple more times with big concerts. This space could be used for other redevelpoment projects to help bring in more office space, apartments, lofts, and retail on the north shore. I like baseball parks near the city center and PNC was perfect. However it didn't help at all in revitalizing the north shore. If you look at Coors field in Denver, Lodo (lower downtown) was a old run down area. Once Coors field came in everybody wanted to be in Lower Downtown, and now it is trendy and nice.

I still think the Pen's arena will help out more. One since the pens are planning to contribute to redevelopment around the new arena in a hotel, residential buildings, and retail. It seems as if Pittsburgh is trying to capitalize of this project. The one problem with the north shore is they just pretty much took a existing stadium and put in two newer ones not thinking about anything further from that. It seems (as of now) that the redevelopment of uptown will be largely considered in this project.

That's exactly the way I feel. A baseball stadium is great for an urban environment; a football stadium is not. Baseball stadiums have sporting events 81 days a year (and almost half the days from April through September). The architecture of PNC Park fits better into the urban context as well.

Heinz Field actually is used about 17 days a year if you count Steelers preseason and the small crowds that turn out for the pitiful Pittsburgh Panthers. Add in a couple Kenny Chesney concerts and it's still a gigantic empty monolith 99% of the time. It's basically a huge dead zone in the urban core. Go over to the area around there most days.. not a soul in sight... just vast desolate parking lots (that the Steelers' are failing to develop).

Also, I think PNC Park is not living up to its potential as a "development-generator" due to the eternal ineptitude of the Pirates organization. Some might say that's crazy... but think about this.... The Pirates bring out like 18,000 masochistic idiots every game to watch their inferior product... if you gave Pittsburgh hope of competitiveness... even just a .500 team for the first time in generations... you could probably increase the average attendance by at least 50%. If you had a perennial contender... you could possibly run a sell-out streak like the Indians did in Cleveland back in the 90s (especially since PNC Park is so small). Considering how starved Pirates fans are for anything resembling quality baseball... I think fans would turn out in droves. So you put a decent product in PNC Park... and that increases the number of people who visit the North Shore dramatically. This helps support existing and future businesses in that area. Hi-Tops even came out and blamed the Pirates' poor performance for their closure (though they did have an exorbitant lease).

Considering Pennsylvania's taxpayers shelled out hundreds of millions of dollars for PNC Park, I think it's really repulsive that the Nuttings have not reciprocated this generous corporate welfare with an attempt at competitiveness.

To be honest about the North Shore though... despite the missed opportunity with Heinz Field and parking lots... that key area was already severely limited by the web of elevated expressways that crisscross the North Shore and divide it from the rest of the North Side. The area between the riverfront and the east-west expressways is very very tiny. And then you have 279 slicing between the stadiums. I fear that the presence of these superhighways may be a deterrent to high-quality development there... especially the proposed residential elements.

[Evergrey]

I was actually going to post a question if anybody has ever heard about what was happening with North Shore Live. Thanks for the article. I am really hoping for a entertainment center like this. We need something that can host good bands in venues that need to be 5 thousand or so. I read an article when I moved back about how bands like the Decembrants, Modest Mouse, the Shins, and so many more skip Pittsburgh because we don't offer venues for these kind of shows.We can get Def Leopard to Star Lake though!


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/music/pop/s_502573.html

There is the article I was talking about. It is kind of old, but atleast I am not mentioning articles with no back up.

Re: Cordish Entertainment Center. Although details were vague, I was not terribly excited by the Steelers' initial plans. I thought it seemed to be too much like a Station Square... which we have across the river... basically a bland corporate chain entertainment complex (Cordish is famous for these in Baltimore, Louisville, etc). It was also supposed to include a Nascar-themed restaurant. However, i was excited about the possibility of a desperately-needed 5,000 seat music venue.. until I read it was going to be 95% FREE programming... meaning Modest Mouse wouldn't be playing there.

Basically the decline of Pittsburgh's ability to attract national touring acts stems from the lack of quality mid-sized venues, lack of LiveNation-owned venues (they prefer to promote at their own places so they can make more money, i.e. Cleveland's House of Blues), lack of a LiveNation office (we've been consolidated into the Cleveland office, which is headed by a guy who is openly hostile to Pittsburgh), etc. Despite the common whining about population decline and old people... there still are a lot of young people here (100,000 or more college students in the metro)... and I'm quite sure there's more young people here than in concert-mecca Austin... which is half our size... so I believe the market exists. Cleveland is lucky to have relatively large cities like Akron and Canton nearby to draw from for its concert market power. Pittsburgh is instead encircled by very small cities like Wheeling and Johnstown.



BTW, the Decemberists were supposed to play Pittsburgh but cancelled their entire tour due to an illness.

[JackStraw]

I have no doubt that the market exist. With the amount of college students we have here, and our metro area is still very large we would easily fill up venues for the average popular "real" quality band.

I feel that a quality venue would not cost as much as a project such as North Shore live was proposed. If you look at the electric factory in Philly this was a old factory turned into a 5000 or so seat venue for these type of bands. When I lived there many good quality bands came through to that venue.

Now, A few questions since I am ignorant to the whole concert venue booking:

I was on Live Nation's website, and it list the Benedum Center, Peterson Event center, and more. Now I now they don't own these as Pitt owns the Peterson. Are there theaters they completely own in other cities that help bring these bands in that we don't have? I always thought the Benedum would make a great venue for bands. I never been in there (and It sucks to admit), but I figured Tori Amos, or Ben Harper would have been great to see in that venue.

Also, is the guy who heads live nation for our region really screwing us over that bad?

I was just disappointed in coming back to the Burgh and missing out on Modest Mouse, the shins, and more. I use to live a block from the fillmore in Denver and would pick up tickets for bands like this all the time. I know we do well with our Orchestra, Theater, Museums, and local art scene, but bringing in a good music scene must be an issue in keeping young people here and a good quality of entertainment. I don't like to drive to the Electric Factory every Modest Mouse tour.

[cdc]

11 stories... up from the initial 6 stories in the article...


11 stories... but, one thing to keep in mind is that the ground is not
level there. Boundary Street is far below Forbes Ave. For example,
the newish CMU Collaborative Innovation Center building across the
street from the proposed hotel site is 9 stories tall from Boundary
Street, but only 4 stories tall from Forbes Ave (4 levels of parking
and 1 level of office space are below Forbes).


At any rate, I went back and took a closer look at the hearing notice
sign. Here is a bit more info I transcribed:

City of Pittsburgh
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Zone Case No. 214-2007; Nov 14, 2007

Hearing Notice
Museum Park Hotel has filed an application to
construct an eleven-story structure for use
as Hotel/Motel (general) with 190 space
sub-level valet parking
at 4655 Forbes Ave Ward 4

This appeal does not conform to the "Height"/"Area" provisions of
the PGH Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Board of
Adjustment, which is empowered to either grant or deny
said request, will hold a public hearing on the first floor of
the John P Robin Civic Building, 200 Ross St., PGH.
This hearing will take place on Dec 6th, 2007 at 9:10am.
Anyone in favor of or opposed to this application is invited
to attend. Testimony and presentations must be done
in person. The plans and applications are on file at the
Board of Adjustment counter located on the third floor of
the John P Robin Civic Building. Files may be examined
before the scheduled hearing date between the hours of 8am and
3pm.

[PA Pride]

It certainly is a shame that Pittsburgh has a venue shortage right now for local concertgoers. I used to be one of the biggest patrons of Club Laga from 1997 till it closed. It was one of the best mid sized venues in the country in my opinon after going to shows in lots of other cities.

I would like to point out that Pittsburgh does have a strong genre for a city our size that alot of people don't even know: Electronic Music.

Thanks to concert promoter Steve Simpson and also DJ Aaron Clark (forumer here) and his crew of Humanaut DJs, some of the worlds best Djs have been playing in Pittsburgh for the last couple of years. Here's a quick list off the top of my head of great Dj's that have some through recently:

1. Luke Fair - Toronto (playing tomorrow night Wed 11/21 at Privilege)
2. DJ T - Berlin
3. Marco Carola - Naples, Italy
4. People NYC - New York
5. DJ Three - New York
6. Doc Martin - San Francisco
7. Habersham - Atlanta
8. Pig & Dan - New York
9. Steve Porter - New York
10. DJ Dan - Los Angeles (was ranked as #1 DJ in the world at the time)
11. Donald Glaude - Seattle
12. Charles Feelgood - Washington DC
13. Paolo Mojo - London

^Anyone who knows electronic music would look at that list and be impressed that Pittsburgh has hosted all that in the last year.

One impressive thing about these shows is that they tend to draw a more educated, sophisticated crowd as opposed to rock shows that draw alot of teenie boppers. So this is a very good thing for Pittsburgh.

Anyone on here interested in going to any of these great events should go to Aaron Clark's Pittsburgh electronic music event website: www.humanaut.net and check the events calendar from time to time to see what's coming.

[JackStraw]

It certainly is a shame that Pittsburgh has a venue shortage right now for local concertgoers. I used to be one of the biggest patrons of Club Laga from 1997 till it closed. It was one of the best mid sized venues in the country in my opinon after going to shows in lots of other cities.

I would like to point out that Pittsburgh does have a strong genre for a city our size that alot of people don't even know: Electronic Music.

Thanks to concert promoter Steve Simpson and also DJ Aaron Clark (forumer here) and his crew of Humanaut DJs, some of the worlds best Djs have been playing in Pittsburgh for the last couple of years. Here's a quick list off the top of my head of great Dj's that have some through recently:

1. Luke Fair - Toronto (playing tomorrow night Wed 11/21 at Privilege)
2. DJ T - Berlin
3. Marco Carola - Naples, Italy
4. People NYC - New York
5. DJ Three - New York
6. Doc Martin - San Francisco
7. Habersham - Atlanta
8. Pig & Dan - New York
9. Steve Porter - New York
10. DJ Dan - Los Angeles (was ranked as #1 DJ in the world at the time)
11. Donald Glaude - Seattle
12. Charles Feelgood - Washington DC
13. Paolo Mojo - London

^Anyone who knows electronic music would look at that list and be impressed that Pittsburgh has hosted all that in the last year.

One impressive thing about these shows is that they tend to draw a more educated, sophisticated crowd as opposed to rock shows that draw alot of teenie boppers. So this is a very good thing for Pittsburgh.

Anyone on here interested in going to any of these great events should go to Aaron Clark's Pittsburgh electronic music event website: www.humanaut.net and check the events calendar from time to time to see what's coming.

I am not into electronic music, but it is good to hear about Pittsburgh having a good local scene for it. I will admit, that I use to visit a venue in Denver that brought in a good underground scene, and I see in the City Paper many of these bands that went to the place I went to in Denver visit Mr. Smalls also in Millvale.

Some of those rock shows do contribute to the teenie boppers. However, many mentioned at a time were underground Alternative music such as Modest Mouse. They came into Philly well before they had their "float on" song out and got popular by the mainstream.

I personally don't know much about the local Pittsburgh music scene and venues. I was raised in the burbs, then spent college and a few years after in other places.

[hyperion1110]

I understand people's concerns about needing a medium-sized venue for Pittsburgh; I think it is something that will be good for 20-somethings. If all it really takes is to convert a an old warehouse, though, I don't know what all the trouble is...we've got bunches of em in the city.

[AaronPGH]

It's a little more difficult than just renovating a warehouse. Sound/light systems, and hiring proper crews to run things correctly is also required. It takes a lot of planning and design to get it right. Acoustics, etc. It's also extremely risky. If LiveNation (or another large entity) doesn't want to do it themselves, then it's really hard to get off the ground by anyone else. 2/3rds of clubs fail within 2 years. A 5000 person venue is even harder to make successful. Another issue I have is that the clubs/venues we have are already competing for the same small pie of people. Do you know what would happen if a 5000 person venue opened? A lot of the little guys would go under. That's a couple thousand people each night that wouldn't be frequenting their places of business anymore. Promoters like us are terrified of a venue that big opening. We already have enough competition from sports teams, events at the Mellon Arena/PG Pavilion as it is. While you would be gaining a lot of bands that you would love to see here, it would definitely take a bite out of the awesome underground scenes that we have here. Is that something worth trading? I'm not sure.

And thanks Austin for the plug. Our events really are good and are worthy of checking out (here comes the horn toot). We've really been able to put Pittsburgh on the national dance music map (and even a bit international sometimes) because of the events we've been able to bring. Even if you don't like electronic, they are worthy of checking out. The style of music we book is pretty different than stereotypes most Pittsburghers have ingrained in their heads when they hear the words "techno". It's complex, well thought out music that's not abrasive. It always moves the dance floor. Very tasteful stuff produced and DJed by headliners that you've probably heard their music before but didn't even realize it.

[hyperion1110]

It's a little more difficult than just renovating a warehouse. Sound/light systems, and hiring proper crews to run things correctly is also required. It takes a lot of planning and design to get it right. Acoustics, etc. It's also extremely risky. If LiveNation (or another large entity) doesn't want to do it themselves, then it's really hard to get off the ground by anyone else. 2/3rds of clubs fail within 2 years. A 5000 person venue is even harder to make successful. Another issue I have is that the clubs/venues we have are already competing for the same small pie of people. Do you know what would happen if a 5000 person venue opened? A lot of the little guys would go under. That's a couple thousand people each night that wouldn't be frequenting their places of business anymore. Promoters like us are terrified of a venue that big opening. We already have enough competition from sports teams, events at the Mellon Arena/PG Pavilion as it is. While you would be gaining a lot of bands that you would love to see here, it would definitely take a bite out of the awesome underground scenes that we have here. Is that something worth trading? I'm not sure.

And thanks Austin for the plug. Our events really are good and are worthy of checking out (here comes the horn toot). We've really been able to put Pittsburgh on the national dance music map (and even a bit international sometimes) because of the events we've been able to bring. Even if you don't like electronic, they are worthy of checking out. The style of music we book is pretty different than stereotypes most Pittsburghers have ingrained in their heads when they hear the words "techno". It's complex, well thought out music that's not abrasive. It always moves the dance floor. Very tasteful stuff produced and DJed by headliners that you've probably heard their music before but didn't even realize it.

It's good to know there are more things coming out a Pittsburgh than the Clarks and Rusted Root :banana: