[Brandon716]

BTW, in regards to the Birmingham Bridge, it happens to be a very funky interchange on the north shore of the Monongahela (did I spell that right?).

Pittsburgh does need a slightly modernized roadway system, but I'm not sure tearing through the heart of Oakland is the right method... I could see expanding the west parkway, maybe digging dual tunnel extensions for the Ft Pitt Tunnel to expand the Parkway West to 8 or 10 lanes from downtown all the way through Robinson Twp and to the airport and possibly doing the same for 279 north all the way to Cranberry as a possible highway expansion that makes sense.

Instead of building highways, they should consider upgrading the roadways near the river systems to wider parkways maybe with tree-lined medians and bike lanes and developed walkways beside the river itself to take advantage of the waterfront locations.

And of course build a center city circulator subway/LRT extension as proposed in another section.

[Gilamonster]

I'm gay, not lesbian nor transgender. ;) BUT, I'll visit! :cheers:

Not that there's anything wrong with that......

[themaguffin]

I have a request: Does anybody on here have photos (or directions to photos) of Carson St. from say 1975-1995? (Grego? Urbani?) I've never seen the "pre-revitalized" business district and have always wondered what it was like (first time I ever visited was maybe 2003 or so). I walked the full length of Carson St. twice tonight... and was blown away at its vibrancy (as always). Tonight seemed like it may have been the most packed with people walking around and dining outside and enjoying themselves that I have ever seen. I was especially impressed with how vibrant and busy the district remained east of the Birmingham Bridge... which had long been a bit weaker than the heart of the district. The stretch between Birmingham Bridge and SouthSide Works seems to be developing nicely. Hookah Bookah was overflowing onto the sidewalk with an interesting and diverse clientele. Double Wide Grille was bursting at the seems with people noshing on their succulent late night barbecue. Etc.

I can tell from my first days there as a Duquesne student (Southside was our Oakland essentially) as far back as '93 (sounds weird saying far back) it was pretty vibrant. From what I remember reading then, the beginning of the change from blue collar neighborhood began in the mid 80's with Mario's.

Of course this is also when steel was at peak collapse or ending so maybe with the people moving out, a natural change was destined to happen.

some other bars though, like Dee's and Jack's seem like they have been there forever (and were very very much still blue collar crowds, though had a mix of students and others too), but again, the area closer to 10th st seems less change then further down the road.. It was evolving then though it seemed a little less lively in the late 90's, which I had thought was due to the Strip peaking in clubs etc.

what's great is that the Southside continues to improve (and good things are happening in the Strip too).

My only complaint is a small one (sort of), the god awful Cheesecake Factory which I have commented on before and I suppose it's very appropriate that "cheese" would be in their name...

[PA Pride]

I took these photos yesterday while driving through Cranberry. I think it is the new Westinghouse complex. Can anyone confirm this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/DSC03498.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/DSC03501.jpg

[UrbaniDesDev]

I will search for some photos of "Old Carson Street" I have none at the moment. It actually wasn't, physically that different. Just very different people living there and business that supported them.

I've always believed the site East of the Hot Metal Bridge would be a magnificent place for a dense, urban riverfront neighborhood, complete with a commercial spine. As I understand it, to be a residential area it is too polluted. Commercial districts have less stringent codes for clean up. The ground is saturated with chemicals and, I've heard, has been deemed uncompatable for residential district...
or it would be hugely expensive to clean up. This is what I've heard.

[UrbaniDesDev]

looking through the web I cam across this site about the Hays "forest"

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

What is Hays Woods?
Hays Woods is a 635+ acre woodland on a hilltop overlooking the Monongahela River. This is the largest undeveloped tract of land in the City of Pittsburgh. It is located between the community of Hays and Becks Run Road, within 3 miles of the downtown area. It is larger than Frick Park, the largest of the city parks. The site contains more than 250 acres of mature interior hardwood forest patches, which support diverse communities of plants, birds and wildlife. Hays Woods has served as a de-facto recreational green space for the residents of the surrounding communities for more than 40 years. A network of trails has developed to support hiking, bird watching, trail biking, cross country skiing, hunting and more.

The forest is privately owned by Pittsburgh Development Group II who propose to develop Hays Woods as a horse-race track, retail and residential complex. Prior to construction, the forest will be logged and the underlying coal seams will be removed using mountaintop removal coal mining methods. To level the site for development, the overburden from the mining will be used to fill in 3 wetlands and 5 of the six streams.

Development Status
Hays Woods is privately owned by Pittsburgh Development Group II who proposes to develop the forest as a horse racetrack, retail and residential complex. Before development can begin, PDG II must receive permits from governmental agencies.

Federal

The developer seeks a permit to fill wetlands and streams. The federal Army Corps of Engineers cannot issue its permit until and unless a surface mining permit and the required state stream obstruction permit are granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
State

The Dept. of Environmental Protection is currently considering the developer's surface mining and stream obstruction permit application. The developer has received several deficiency notifications about the appliccation and the deadlines for his response have been extended.
The developer has not been granted the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission License.
The developer has withdrawn his casion application.
County

The Allegheny County Conservation District issued the developer violations of the Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law for erosion and sedimentation control problems on an access road to the site.
The Allegheny County Health Department issued an air permit for the mining operation on the site
City

The City of Pittsburgh granted a conditional use approval for excavation/grading/fill in 2003.
The City of Pittsburgh approved rezoning of the site to Special Planned District in 2003. Pittsburgh's Planning Commission has not yet approved the final development plan. The Commission must review a traffic impact analysis, which has not been conducted, before approving the development plan.
The City of Pittsburgh is awaiting submission of a traffic plan by the developer.

Impact of Mining and Development
Prior to 1930, extensive room and pillar underground coal mining took place in Hays Woods. Pittsburgh Development Group (PDG) II plans to remove all remaining coal using Mountain Top Removal strip mining before construction begins.

In PDG's plan, the site's forests, containing mature stands of oak, poplar, maple, cherry, walnut and other trees will be logged, resulting in loss of habitat and displacement of resident wildlife. As this island of forest in the urban landscape is destroyed, large numbers of wildlife will flee to adjacent neighborhoods.


example of a logging operation

After the forest is logged, overlaying rock strata will be blasted away to expose the coal seam. This blasting will occur within 1/2 mile of surrounding homes. The airborne particulates produced by blasting may create a serious health hazard, which will affect the communities of Baldwin, Hazelwood and Hays.

More than 13 million cubic yards of earth will be moved. The hills will be excavated to depths up to 200 feet and the excavated overburden will be used to fill in the stream valleys to produce a flat landscape for development. These valley fills will bury 3 wetlands and 6 streams. These watersheds, and their forests, mitigate storm run off into adjacent watersheds, which are prone to flooding.

This mining activity will reduce the overall elevation of the site by 90 feet. As much as 1,200,00 tons of coal could be removed from Hays Woods over an 18-month period, requiring some 60,000 truck trips along Glass Run Road and Carson Street to the Hot Metal Bridge and Parkway. Because of recent major commercial developments in the neighboring communities of Homestead and South Side, these routes are already overburdened with traffic. To date, PDF II has not submitted a traffic analysis to the City of Pittsburgh.

It is unprecedented that Mountain Top Removal methods of coal mining will be used in an urban setting.


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

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

http://www.savehayswoods.org/index.html

It is mostly from 2003 but there doesn't seem to have been any conclusion yet. The silence on a conclusion of such a massive project is suspicious...

[UrbaniDesDev]

OK
I found some historic pics that might astound you!

The South Side Works;

Description: Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation's South Side Works and the Brady Street Bridge as seen from an asphalt business near Second Avenue. The Brady Street Bridge, or the South Twenty-Second Street Bridge, opened to traffic in March 1896 and was demolished on May 29, 1978. Note the dump trucks in the center of the photograph waiting in line to be loaded.
Subjects: Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation.South Side Works.
The Brady Street Bridge is where the Burmingham Bridge is now. Note the same type of dredging structures still in the same place.
The South Side Works across the river!
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/SouthSideWorks4.jpg

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

Title: Bank of Open-hearth Furnaces under Construction on Carson Street at the South Side Plant of the Jones & Laughlin Pittsburgh Works
Date: 1953
Creator: Hare, Clyde
Description: Construction of open-hearth furnaces at the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation's South Side Works on Carson Street looking toward Pittsburgh's Soho neighborhood.
Subjects: Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation.South Side Works.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/SouthSideWorks.jpg

Title: Jones & Laughlin Steel Mill in Daylight
Date: c. 1951
Creator: Milmoe, James O.
Description: Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation's Soho Works (foreground) with its South Side Works on the left, and downtown Pittsburgh in the background. The Soho Works, employing over 5000 people at one time, closed in 1977 and its blast furnaces were demolished in the mid-1980s.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/SouthSideWorks2.jpg

Description: Night view of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation's Soho Works looking toward downtown Pittsburgh. The tall building under construction in the background is the Gulf Building. The building is forty-four stories (582 feet) in height and was the tallest building in Pittsburgh until 1970. The Gulf Building, built at a cost of $11 million, officially opened in 1932.

Note THE HOT METAL BRIDGE, silhouetted, connecting the massive factories that lined both sides of the Mon. It carried molten steel from one side to the other
Thus "HOT METAL"
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/SouthSideWorks3.jpg

Date: 1952
Creator: Corsini, Harold
Description: View of Pittsburgh's Soho section from the Boulevard of the Allies looking toward the South Side. Pictured in the foreground is Forbes Avenue along with the Monongahela River in the background.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/ForbesAvenue1952.jpg

to this...Now the South Side Works & The Technology Center
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/augflightl81-1.jpg

The TRUE Technology Center!!!
Construction of the Parkway East
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/ParkwayEast1951.jpg

Bates Street in foreground. Note the same bridge used today under RR tracks
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/ParkwayEast19513.jpg

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


The Homestead Waterfront
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/HomesteadWorks.jpg

Note the remaining smoke stacks in foreground
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/augflightl84.jpg

The UPS/Kinkos store on Carson
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/CarsonStreet-1.jpg

I realise these aren't what you were looking for, but I got caught up in the photos.
It is important to realise how far we have come.

[PA Pride]

Man, those steel mills were humongous. Each one was like their own little industrial city.

[Burgh15]

I like this website for histortic Pittsburgh images:

http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?g=imls;page=index;tpl=pghmap.tpl

[Johnland]

looking through the web I cam across this site about the Hays "forest"

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

What is Hays Woods?
Hays Woods is a 635+ acre woodland on a hilltop overlooking the Monongahela River. This is the largest undeveloped tract of land in the City of Pittsburgh. It is located between the community of Hays and Becks Run Road, within 3 miles of the downtown area. It is larger than Frick Park, the largest of the city parks. The site contains more than 250 acres of mature interior hardwood forest patches, which support diverse communities of plants, birds and wildlife. Hays Woods has served as a de-facto recreational green space for the residents of the surrounding communities for more than 40 years. A network of trails has developed to support hiking, bird watching, trail biking, cross country skiing, hunting and more.

The forest is privately owned by Pittsburgh Development Group II who propose to develop Hays Woods as a horse-race track, retail and residential complex. Prior to construction, the forest will be logged and the underlying coal seams will be removed using mountaintop removal coal mining methods. To level the site for development, the overburden from the mining will be used to fill in 3 wetlands and 5 of the six streams.



I'm aghast that the city ok'd a plan to destroy a remaining woodlands and wetlands at all. But for the sake of some racetrack is appalling. Hopefully the whole project will die and never happen.

[hyperion1110]

:previous: I agree about the destruction of the forest for a race track. I mean, isn't there enough gambling in the area??? Hopefully, this project is forever stalled, since the Pittsburgh gambling market (if you consider the West Virginia panhandle, as well) has GOT to be saturated!

What I would like to see is the city make about 450 acres protected land (though not a city park...I think it should be kept as forest). The remaining 200 acres, that to the west, adjacent to the surrounding neighborhoods, be given over to some sort of high density development. My preference would be for it to be heavily residential. I mean, think about it. How many places can offer urban living on one side, and a giant forest on the other??? But, I reinterate, the remaining forest should be kept forest, and given some kind of protected status, so it doesn't just become another city park.

UrbaniDesDev, those pictures are truly incredible. Thanks for sharing!

[PA Pride]

Anyone wanna see my pictures from the Pgh Vintage Grand Prix this weekend? I just made a photothread:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=154618

[Evergrey]

that Hays racetrack plan died a couple years ago

[JackStraw]

I took these photos yesterday while driving through Cranberry. I think it is the new Westinghouse complex. Can anyone confirm this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/DSC03498.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/DSC03501.jpg

Yes, that is PApride. I started a new company 2 months ago, and I am doing the electrical and lighting design to that project. It is a cool project, but what pisses me off is that it is in urban sprawlville-Cranberry. This may be the first project to have LED parking lot lights. It doesn't sound that important, but to lighting geeks it is. Pretty much you would be lighting this parking lot with 1/20th the amount of energy used to light a parking lot.

[PA Pride]

^Cool!

[cdc]

This may be the first project to have LED parking lot lights. It doesn't sound that important, but to lighting geeks it is. Pretty much you would be lighting this parking lot with 1/20th the amount of energy used to light a parking lot.

That's cool. I've been wondering if LEDs will displace CF
(which has that mercury in the bulbs).

Speaking of parking, I was at this cool new hi-tech parking garage
in Rockville MD recently and they've got overhead sensors
over each space to determine if it is occupied. The system
puts on green LEDs for open spaces, red for occupied spaces.
The electronic sign at the entrance keeps a running count
of how many free spaces are left. There's a picture on the
right side of the first page of this PDF:

http://www.rockvillemd.gov/towncenter/TownCenterParking02-08.pdf

haven't seen anything quite like that around here.

[Grego43]

Man, those steel mills were humongous. Each one was like their own little industrial city.

Even more amazing was that this type of factory could be found stretching all the down the Monongahela to Homestead, Duquesne, McKeepsort, Clairton, Monessen, and ending in Allenport, Washington County. All are gone except the Clairton Works.

[Evergrey]

Even more amazing was that this type of factory could be found stretching all the down the Monongahela to Homestead, Duquesne, McKeepsort, Clairton, Monessen, and ending in Allenport, Washington County. All are gone except the Clairton Works.

don't forget about the Edgar S. Thomson Works in Braddock! Still going strong 133 years later...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2686000187_a906c16327_b.jpg

[JackStraw]

That's cool. I've been wondering if LEDs will displace CF
(which has that mercury in the bulbs).

Speaking of parking, I was at this cool new hi-tech parking garage
in Rockville MD recently and they've got overhead sensors
over each space to determine if it is occupied. The system
puts on green LEDs for open spaces, red for occupied spaces.
The electronic sign at the entrance keeps a running count
of how many free spaces are left. There's a picture on the
right side of the first page of this PDF:

http://www.rockvillemd.gov/towncenter/TownCenterParking02-08.pdf

haven't seen anything quite like that around here.


Well, actually in parking lots and parking garges, metal Halide lights are used. Different then Compact Fluorescent (more efficent, and less color rendering).

That is a very interesting though. In all cities across the country there are lighting codes we have to follow now. They all have how many watts/sq. ft. you are allowed, and automatic shut off. Automatic shut off is having lights shut off when no occupant is there. Which if you work in a office you will notice that everything is on a timer, occupancy sensor, etc. I never heard of it on a parking garage though. Which is cool. This project was interesting.

LEDs are far from being able to make effective lighting for actual building use, but they are getting to the point where they can be used for outdoor step lighting, and area lighting, besides just decorative. That is why I am hoping to be the first lighting engineer to use LEDs on a large project for area lighting.....

But anyways, it use to be forest instead, and now it is a parking lot....................... No winner for me.:(

[Grego43]

don't forget about the Edgar S. Thomson Works in Braddock! Still going strong 133 years later...



Oops, good catch.

[JackStraw]

[QUOTE]=Evergrey;3684904]don't forget about the Edgar S. Thomson Works in Braddock! Still going strong 133 years later...
[QUOTE]

The mill my grandfather worked at in Brackenridge is still tickin too.

[fkohws]

Well, actually in parking lots and parking garges, metal Halide lights are used. Different then Compact Fluorescent (more efficent, and less color rendering).

That is a very interesting though. In all cities across the country there are lighting codes we have to follow now. They all have how many watts/sq. ft. you are allowed, and automatic shut off. Automatic shut off is having lights shut off when no occupant is there. Which if you work in a office you will notice that everything is on a timer, occupancy sensor, etc. I never heard of it on a parking garage though. Which is cool. This project was interesting.

LEDs are far from being able to make effective lighting for actual building use, but they are getting to the point where they can be used for outdoor step lighting, and area lighting, besides just decorative. That is why I am hoping to be the first lighting engineer to use LEDs on a large project for area lighting.....

But anyways, it use to be forest instead, and now it is a parking lot....................... No winner for me.:(

What are your thoughts on something like this for Pittsburgh?

http://www.raleigh-nc.org/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_210_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/news/public/News-PubAff-_LED_City__Results_In_Sa-20070710-09463246.html

[PA Pride]

Did anyone ever post the completed photos of the Metropolitan in Shadyside in this thread yet?

I think it turned out beautifully:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/met.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/rearmet.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/austindaniel/frontmet.jpg

[Burgh15]

Did anyone ever post the completed photos of the Metropolitan in Shadyside in this thread yet?

I think it turned out beautifully:


Absolutely! :tup:

[Evergrey]

more Mt. Washington news

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_578698.html


Chicago developer proposes hotel at Edge restaurant site

By Sam Spatter
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

A Chicago businessman wants to put a 140-room hotel, about 60 condominiums, a restaurant, a parking garage, a fitness center and a spa at the site of the former Edge restaurant atop Mt. Washington.

The multimillion-dollar proposal comes from Steven Beemsterboer, who hopes to succeed where a number of others have failed in developing the hillside property on Vinecliffe Street and adjacent to the Monongahela Incline.

"At this time, the layout of the site and the proposed uses are extremely conceptual, but we have been working with city planning and the neighborhood on the project," said Beemsterboer, who is one of three partners in Beemsterboer Slag Co. in Chicago.

Construction may not begin for up to two years and may take up to five years to complete, he said during a meeting with a number of neighborhood residents near the project site Sunday.

Beemsterboer declined to estimate the cost of the project. It is the latest in a series of proposals for the site that have been presented since The Edge closed in 1979.

Probably the most ambitious plan came from William Kershbaumer of Fox Chapel, who wanted to build a Ritz-Carlton Hotel with up to 350 rooms and a 1,000-seat ballroom. That project died for lack of funding plus neighborhood opposition.

Another plan proposed by late James Blandi, then owner of LeMont Restaurant, included a 100-room hotel, a 100-seat restaurant and a jazz club.

Also, a group of religions and business leaders proposed to build religious center featuring a statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city, and Dan Kesneck another developer, proposed putting 10 residential condominiums with a high-end day spa on the bottom floor there.

Beemsterboer is working with architect Luke Desmone of Desmone & Associates Architects of Lawrenceville. It was Desmone who first advanced a concept several years ago that is the basis of his development.

"I look on this development as a legacy for my children, who will be able to say their dad built it," said Beemsterboer. He is married to Cynthia Bognar, a Pittsburgh native, whose family still lives in the area.

He said he has a contract under the name Steven B. Beemsterboer Inc. to purchase the property from Dr. Francis Hurite, a Fox Chapel ophthalmologist who owns The Edge. Finalizing the deal depends on the results of further study and soil testing, he said.

The developer already reduced the size of the 14-story hotel from 200 rooms to its current 140 rooms after meetings with local residents.

To gain better access to the site, Beemsterboer has purchased a number of other properties along Vinecliffe Street, which is located directly behind the Edge property and south of East Sycamore Street.

To improve the traffic flow around and into the site, the development plan suggests widening Wyoming Street from Grandview Avenue to East Sycamore and providing new entrances into the site from Wyoming and East Sycamore Street.

"Although the developer has reduced the number of hotel rooms ... the project still is extremely dense," said Lynne Squilla, former president of the Mt. Washington Community Development Corp.

The project has the potential of creating "a monolithic wall between the neighborhood and the skyline," said Squilla, who remains a board member of the community group.

Diane Delmer has been among a number of neighborhood residents who have said they'd like to see the Edge demolished. She's a member of Citizens Against Irresponsible Property Management, another Mt. Washington group.

However, she declined comment on Beemsterboer's project until she has a chance to review his plans.

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

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08204/898525-155.stm

Midnight train to Cleveland? C'mon, get rail!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The recent boom in passenger and freight traffic, spurred as so many things are by the soaring price of diesel fuel and gasoline, makes me happy. I love trains.

My boyhood home was across the street from a Long Island Rail Road line. When cousins visited from out of state, they could never figure out how the O'Neills could sleep through the trains either roaring or rattling past, but they were lullabies to us.

And eight years ago, when I was taking a paternity leave after the birth of our second child, there seemed to be a long freight train going through West Park every time our stroller approached. Dot.com stocks were all the rage at the time, but I thought I'd let everyone else invest in 21st-century stock. I'd go with the 19th century.

I bought 100 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in February 2000. Through steady reinvestment of dividends, I now own 115 of its 379 million shares. That may not make me a magnate, but the value of my investment has more than quadrupled. It's nothing to walk through that park now and see as many as 50 UPS cars on a train because so many tractor-trailers have gotten off the roads.

Dotcom that.

I put that out in the interests of full disclosure because America needs to do what I did. We need to invest in more 19th-century technology as the age of cheap gasoline fades in the rear-view mirror. We need more rail capacity.

I'm back on this topic, and not for the last time, because of a little factoid I can't get out of my head: The only train from Pittsburgh to Cleveland leaves here at midnight and arrives there at 2 a.m.

If local leaders are serious about building a "Tech Belt'' to connect the high-tech research and work forces of these two regions, a little medium-tech railroad help would be a great start.

That idea doesn't originate with me. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column that touched on the national ridership of Amtrak trains rising for the sixth straight year despite the infrequent runs, and Pittsburgh City Controller Mike Lamb shared a letter he'd written to Amtrak President Alex Kummant.

Pittsburgh's location between Chicago and the East Coast megalopolis makes it vital to the rail network, Lamb wrote, but that Cleveland train (which goes on to Chicago) is "a terrible option.'' He wanted to know what we can do out here to mimic the success Amtrak has had increasing ridership between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

A few years ago, PennDOT and Amtrak went halfsies on a $145 million project to put high-speed electric train service between the state capital and Philly. There are now 14 daily departures Monday through Friday, and express trains reaching speeds up to 110 mph have turned the old two-hour trip into a 90-minute one. The Harrisburg station, which had 317,000 people board or get off in 2004, had almost 465,000 last year. Ridership on the Keystone Corridor is up another 19 percent this year.

Pittsburgh has only three Amtrak trains a day -- one to Chicago, one to Philadelphia-New York, and one to Washington, D.C. So there were just 120,000 boardings or exits here last year. Norfolk Southern owns the line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and its freight has the right of way, which makes Amtrak delays common.

Even with all those disadvantages, the trains frequently sell out. Ridership on The Pennsylvanian, our only train to Philadelphia, is up almost 13 percent over last year. The Capitol Limited, which runs through here between Washington and Chicago, is up more than 12 percent.

Lamb finds himself envying what Ohio has done. It doesn't yet have good Amtrak service but its Ohio Rail Development Commission has a grand plan to make Cleveland the hub of a rail network reaching five states.

"We're better situated than they are,'' Lamb says. "Cleveland can't go north; they've got the lake in the way. I hate to see Cleveland ahead of us on anything.''

U.S. Rep Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, recently secured a $500,000 federal grant to establish commuter rail from New Kensington to Pittsburgh. Its goal is to show there will be ridership enough to justify spending $140 million -- in federal, state and perhaps private money -- to put trains on existing track and relieve traffic on Route 28 by giving commuters a rail option on the opposite bank of the river.

Altmire, who serves on the House Transportation Committee, is working with U.S. Rep Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, to get the Cleveland-Pittsburgh corridor targeted for high-speed rail.

"I feel very good about our chances,'' Altmire said yesterday.

It's way too early to say "all aboard," but the train is headed in the right direction.
Brian O'Neill can be reached at boneill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1947.

[diesel21]

This sounds like exactly what Mt. Washington needs. Hopefully the NIMBYS won't keep it from getting off the ground like all the other projects that they have attempted there.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/s_578698.html

[themaguffin]

A different kind of development, but worth noting as I think it's a cool thing for the city considering this could have landed anywhere:

Pittsburgh bound
by kos
Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 07:20:10 PM PDT
I don't know if there's a consensus yet, but I heard plenty of people refer to Netroots Nation Austin the best ever, and I'm certainly in that camp. I may be biased -- my vastly reduced role meant I got to spent a lot more time attending sessions and hanging out with the crowd, and I had a blast despite battling a litany of illnesses.

The parties were out of control, and let me get provincial by claiming that the Daily Kos party at Maggie Mae's was the best of the lot, and perhaps the best party ever at a YearlyKos/Netroots Nation conference. I plan for an encore in 2009. Too many people whined about the 2006 Mark Warner party. Well, we were in Austin to prove that despite the best efforts of the killjoys, a good, lavish party was exactly what people demanded. Complete with chocolate fountains.

Several people with children, including my wife and I, were able to enjoy babysitting courtesy of sister site Mother Talkers, and we certainly plan on bringing that back next year as well, so keep that in mind if you want to bring the little ones along. I think the kids may have had more fun than us. My son is already asking when he can go back to Texas.

Next year, the party moves to Pittsburgh, August 13-16. Some of you may still remember the Pittsburgh of the 80s, which was a depressed steel town suffering the effects of globalization (and Japanese dumping). The Pittsburgh of the 00's is a story of dramatic urban renewal. It has wisely built itself as a hub for banking, medicine, and Green innovations, while Heinz foundation money has cleaned up and revitalized entire parts of town. I had heard the stories, but seeing the new Pittsburgh during my 2006 book tour was eye opening. You guys will be pleasantly surprised. It's a rocking city.

So who will speak in 2009? Who cares? Gore wasn't even on this year's agenda, so you never quite know who will decide at the last moment that yes, there is room on the schedule to squeeze in a visit. Really, if you're going for the speakers, you're going for the wrong reason. The community, the sessions, the parties -- that's what makes these events so damn fun. Everything else is gravy.

Reserve your spot. The current pricing of $175 per registration won't last forever. It won't even last long. It'll crawl up over time and get into the $300s and maybe even the $400s. So if you want to guarantee the lowest possible rate, now's the time to do it.



:)

[Evergrey]

what is NetRoots Nation?

[themaguffin]

what is NetRoots Nation?

It started as an organized gathering by liberal blog Dailykos, who worked with other bloggers, got speakers and of course whomever wanted to attend to hear the speakers as well as get involved in discussions etc.

Basically a convention for liberals. It started smallish, but in the last couple years more prominent Democrats have took part in it.

My politics aside, it might just another "convention" but I think that it's cool that Pittsburgh will get to host a contemporary gathering.

[Grego43]

Check out www.dailykos.com (http://www.dailykos.com) , there is more info there. Read Kos' post for Jul 21 at 7:20pm

[diesel21]

My politics aside, it might just another "convention" but I think that it's cool that Pittsburgh will get to host a contemporary gathering.

Agreed. While I may be at odds with with the messages of some contemporary style conventions, they do help to spread the word out about the 'burgh and what it has to offer.

[Evergrey]

http://www.netrootsnation.com/node/984


Netroots Nation 2009: Pittsburgh, Aug. 13-16

To our friends in Texas and our speakers, sponsors, attendees and volunteers, we can't thank you enough for helping make Netroots Nation 2008 a huge success. We're already in planning mode for our next gathering.

On Saturday night, we announced that Netroots Nation 2009 will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, August 13-16. Registration is already open, so reserve your spot now!.

We selected Pittsburgh for a lot of reasons. One of our primary goals in choosing a host city is to provide an opportunity to not only bring together existing local and regional progressive communities, but also help create new ones. And our choice allows us to bring in progressive communities from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and beyond.

A new priority in 2009 will be greening our convention, and Pittsburgh is the perfect city to kick off this initiative. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is the first and largest LEED certified in the country, and the city is a leader in green building, with more square footage than any other city in the country. In the coming weeks, we'll be rolling out our full plan to create a carbon-neutral event.

Plus, both the convention center and the official hotel are union venues. We're continually appreciative of the support we receive from our union partners like Change to Win, SEIU, Teamsters, UNITE HERE and United Healthcare Workers West and look forward to working with them in a city with such a rich union history.

Just like Austin, our 2009 host city is near a vibrant shopping and cultural district. There are nearly 100 restaurants within a few blocks of the convention center and a local farmers market. And Pittsburgh is conveniently accessible to large parts of the Northeast and Midwest by rail.

We've got about 100 tickets left at our lowest price ($175), so register now to get the best rate.

See you in Pittsburgh!

[themaguffin]

Agreed. While I may be at odds with with the messages of some contemporary style conventions, they do help to spread the word out about the 'burgh and what it has to offer.

I just meant that I am biased because it's the perfect marriage for me, a bunch of liberal political nerds like me in Pittsburgh which gets to show the city.

But that said, if you are a conservative, this kind of event demonstrates the viability of Pittsburgh etc.

[AaronPGH]

GREAT news! This is the type of convention that Pittsburgh should go after pretty hard. It's a convention full of plugged-in, hip younger people who make a lot of noise across the nation. It's exactly who we want to come visit and spread the word. :cool:

[qwho]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08204/898525-155.stm

Midnight train to Cleveland? C'mon, get rail!

-snipped from your post-

U.S. Rep Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, recently secured a $500,000 federal grant to establish commuter rail from New Kensington to Pittsburgh. Its goal is to show there will be ridership enough to justify spending $140 million -- in federal, state and perhaps private money -- to put trains on existing track and relieve traffic on Route 28 by giving commuters a rail option on the opposite bank of the river.



I hope that they are looking at this as a possible way of making the mills mall relevant... I guess they would use the rail lines that follow the Allegheny River from the north shore connector site all the way up to freeport. Here is a better idea, in my opinion: where freeport road arcs away from 28, rather than continue to follow the tracks, they should build rail in between the two sides of route 28, like the DC metro does in some places. Then make a final stop (for now hopefully) at the Pittsburgh Mills complex. They have tons of parking up there for commuters, and the mall and surroundings would certainly benefit from the increased traffic.

[JackStraw]

I was always hoping for them to use the existing rail along the allegheny river for commuter trains. There has been talk in the Valley new for doing this for some while, but people actually oppose it. Lets build more highways and clear land for huge shopping malls instead.

These old mill towns in the Allegheny valley would be perfect for TOD development. Most have existing old industrial spaces literally along the river next to tracks. This would be perfect for apartments, retail, offices, etc on a rail linked to the city. I would never see it in my life time though.

[PA Pride]

GREAT news! This is the type of convention that Pittsburgh should go after pretty hard. It's a convention full of plugged-in, hip younger people who make a lot of noise across the nation. It's exactly who we want to come visit and spread the word. :cool:

If we REALLY want to have a hip, cutting edge event, Pittsburgh should host a convention of gay EDM DJs!

[AaronPGH]

If we REALLY want to have a hip, cutting edge event, Pittsburgh should host a convention of gay EDM DJs!

And that's where I draw the line. Even *I* am not gay enough to take part in something like that. :haha:

[PA Pride]

And that's where I draw the line. Even *I* am not gay enough to take part in something like that. :haha:

Hmmm... I'm beginning to get suspicious of you; I think you might be undercover straight.

[Evergrey]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_579123.html

New York investor tastes yinzer life, brawls and all

By Ron DaParma
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 24, 2008

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2008-07-23/0723-stauber1-a.jpg
Rugby Realty Co. President Aaron Stauber uses his bike to commute to and from work from the North Shore.
Jasmine Gehris /Tribune-Review

New York investor Aaron Stauber will not allow a confrontation with union pickets outside one of his Downtown skyscrapers to spoil an extended stay here.

"I'd cross out (Tuesday) night as a good night, but only one night out of 13 was bad," said Stauber, president of Rugby Realty. "I'm not going to let this discourage me."

About 150 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 95 blocked the entry to the former Westinghouse Electric Corp. headquarters at 11 Stanwix St. Stauber said his wife, Aviva, was shoved as the couple tried to enter the building. The confrontation ended when police dispersed the pickets.

Union carpenters hired by Rugby Realty, which bought the building last month, replaced five workers who belong to the engineers union, which prompted the picketing. It also harkened back to Pittsburgh's past as a town with labor troubles.

No one was hurt or arrested in the incident, police said.

Bill Cagney, business agent for the union, blamed Aviva Stauber for initiating the contact.

Stauber's company filed a lawsuit yesterday asking a judge for an injunction to order pickets from the engineers union not to interfere with people entering or leaving the building.

Stauber recently rented a North Side apartment to get a better feel for Downtown and the region.

"With our daughter about to go to camp, I felt this was a good time for my wife to familiarize herself with the city, and quite frankly, for me to get a better feeling about the city from a living point of view," Stauber said.

Rugby Realty owns about 2.5 million square feet of commercial real estate here. Its holdings include the landmark Gulf Tower and Frick Building.

"I've always come into town, done my business and left town, but I never had the opportunity, except from a business situation, to really get to know the city, the people and what it had to offer," he said.

There also was a business "relevancy" to the decision, he said. Rugby is considering development of a 30-unit condominium complex at 925 Penn Ave., one of the more than 20 properties the firm owns in the city.

"I thought it would be a helpful exercise in planning our new project if my wife and I could live like somebody would live there to see what kind of features should be included," Stauber said.

So what has his stay been like so far?

"From the day we moved into the apartment, every day has been better than the next," Stauber said.

After a weekend stay at the posh Nemacolin Woodlands resort in Fayette County that included a side trip to nearby Ohiopyle for white water rafting, the couple has been spending leisure time visiting city restaurants, theaters and other points of interest.

"We were at the Benedum Center for the opening night of 'Mame,' and the next week, we saw 'Smoky Joe's Cafe' there," Stauber said. "The next night we went to 'Sheer Madness' at the Cabaret Theater, which is tremendous, and we already have tickets to 'West Side Story' in August."

Restaurant visits include venues along Penn Avenue in the Cultural District, where Rugby has made a number of its investments. Stauber raves about two rock bands that performed at the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville.

The Staubers have ridden bikes on a trail that leads to Washington's Landing and walked three blocks from their apartment to get a closer view of fireworks after a Pirates game.

"And this all has been since July 10," he said. "There just has been so much activity. When you don't have an hour commute in the morning and the evening, you've just added two hours to your life, basically, and it turns out that difference between that and a two-hour bike ride is dramatic."

"What I do now is that I wake up in the morning, I put my suit jacket in my backpack, my helmet and sunglasses on, get on my bike and it's 10 minutes door to door to my office," Stauber said.

Once at work, he gets to enjoy the panoramic view from his 14th-story office window, where he catches glimpses of the tour boats of the Gateway Clipper Fleet, jet skiers and river barges making their way along the Monongahela River.

"It just feels like you are in some resort area. You wouldn't believe that you are sitting here in Pittsburgh," he said.

Stauber says he plans to remain a Long Island resident. His 16-year-old daughter, the youngest of his three children, is still in school there.



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


...


TOD! TOD! TOD!

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_579101.html

Project financing advances

By staff and wire reports

Financing for the $30 million Shannon Station Transit Village development at the Port Authority's Castle Shannon station took another step Wednesday.

An application to the state for a $300,000 grant was approved by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, with only the approval of a tax increment financing plan for $3 million to $3.5 million by the municipality and school district needed for developer Jim Aiello of JRA Development Group Inc. to begin construction.

The project involves a nine-story apartment building with 99 units and two one-story retail buildings on a public plaza over the existing parking lot, plus 600 park-n-ride spaces and 315 residential/commercial spaces.
Thursday, July 24, 2008

[UrbaniDesDev]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08204/898525-155.stm

Midnight train to Cleveland? C'mon, get rail!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The recent boom in passenger and freight traffic, spurred as so many things are by the soaring price of diesel fuel and gasoline, makes me happy. I love trains.

My boyhood home was across the street from a Long Island Rail Road line. When cousins visited from out of state, they could never figure out how the O'Neills could sleep through the trains either roaring or rattling past, but they were lullabies to us.

And eight years ago, when I was taking a paternity leave after the birth of our second child, there seemed to be a long freight train going through West Park every time our stroller approached. Dot.com stocks were all the rage at the time, but I thought I'd let everyone else invest in 21st-century stock. I'd go with the 19th century.

I bought 100 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in February 2000. Through steady reinvestment of dividends, I now own 115 of its 379 million shares. That may not make me a magnate, but the value of my investment has more than quadrupled. It's nothing to walk through that park now and see as many as 50 UPS cars on a train because so many tractor-trailers have gotten off the roads.

Dotcom that.

I put that out in the interests of full disclosure because America needs to do what I did. We need to invest in more 19th-century technology as the age of cheap gasoline fades in the rear-view mirror. We need more rail capacity.

I'm back on this topic, and not for the last time, because of a little factoid I can't get out of my head: The only train from Pittsburgh to Cleveland leaves here at midnight and arrives there at 2 a.m.

If local leaders are serious about building a "Tech Belt'' to connect the high-tech research and work forces of these two regions, a little medium-tech railroad help would be a great start.

That idea doesn't originate with me. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column that touched on the national ridership of Amtrak trains rising for the sixth straight year despite the infrequent runs, and Pittsburgh City Controller Mike Lamb shared a letter he'd written to Amtrak President Alex Kummant.

Pittsburgh's location between Chicago and the East Coast megalopolis makes it vital to the rail network, Lamb wrote, but that Cleveland train (which goes on to Chicago) is "a terrible option.'' He wanted to know what we can do out here to mimic the success Amtrak has had increasing ridership between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

A few years ago, PennDOT and Amtrak went halfsies on a $145 million project to put high-speed electric train service between the state capital and Philly. There are now 14 daily departures Monday through Friday, and express trains reaching speeds up to 110 mph have turned the old two-hour trip into a 90-minute one. The Harrisburg station, which had 317,000 people board or get off in 2004, had almost 465,000 last year. Ridership on the Keystone Corridor is up another 19 percent this year.

Pittsburgh has only three Amtrak trains a day -- one to Chicago, one to Philadelphia-New York, and one to Washington, D.C. So there were just 120,000 boardings or exits here last year. Norfolk Southern owns the line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and its freight has the right of way, which makes Amtrak delays common.

Even with all those disadvantages, the trains frequently sell out. Ridership on The Pennsylvanian, our only train to Philadelphia, is up almost 13 percent over last year. The Capitol Limited, which runs through here between Washington and Chicago, is up more than 12 percent.

Lamb finds himself envying what Ohio has done. It doesn't yet have good Amtrak service but its Ohio Rail Development Commission has a grand plan to make Cleveland the hub of a rail network reaching five states.

"We're better situated than they are,'' Lamb says. "Cleveland can't go north; they've got the lake in the way. I hate to see Cleveland ahead of us on anything.''

U.S. Rep Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, recently secured a $500,000 federal grant to establish commuter rail from New Kensington to Pittsburgh. Its goal is to show there will be ridership enough to justify spending $140 million -- in federal, state and perhaps private money -- to put trains on existing track and relieve traffic on Route 28 by giving commuters a rail option on the opposite bank of the river.

Altmire, who serves on the House Transportation Committee, is working with U.S. Rep Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, to get the Cleveland-Pittsburgh corridor targeted for high-speed rail.

"I feel very good about our chances,'' Altmire said yesterday.

It's way too early to say "all aboard," but the train is headed in the right direction.
Brian O'Neill can be reached at boneill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1947.


Great article. I went to Philly last weekend (love Philly). The train was sold out! How ridiculous. I had to drive. Had a great time tho. Visited many great Pa cities. Bedford, Gettysburg, York, Lancaster! What a beautiful state. Who knew they spoke spanish in York... lol

It's $60 Pit to NYC if you can get a seat early enough!

[UrbaniDesDev]

more Mt. Washington news

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_578698.html


Chicago developer proposes hotel at Edge restaurant site

By Sam Spatter
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

A Chicago businessman wants to put a 140-room hotel, about 60 condominiums, a restaurant, a parking garage, a fitness center and a spa at the site of the former Edge restaurant atop Mt. Washington.

The multimillion-dollar proposal comes from Steven Beemsterboer, who hopes to succeed where a number of others have failed in developing the hillside property on Vinecliffe Street and adjacent to the Monongahela Incline.

"At this time, the layout of the site and the proposed uses are extremely conceptual, but we have been working with city planning and the neighborhood on the project," said Beemsterboer, who is one of three partners in Beemsterboer Slag Co. in Chicago.

Construction may not begin for up to two years and may take up to five years to complete, he said during a meeting with a number of neighborhood residents near the project site Sunday.

Beemsterboer declined to estimate the cost of the project. It is the latest in a series of proposals for the site that have been presented since The Edge closed in 1979.

Probably the most ambitious plan came from William Kershbaumer of Fox Chapel, who wanted to build a Ritz-Carlton Hotel with up to 350 rooms and a 1,000-seat ballroom. That project died for lack of funding plus neighborhood opposition.

Another plan proposed by late James Blandi, then owner of LeMont Restaurant, included a 100-room hotel, a 100-seat restaurant and a jazz club.

Also, a group of religions and business leaders proposed to build religious center featuring a statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city, and Dan Kesneck another developer, proposed putting 10 residential condominiums with a high-end day spa on the bottom floor there.

Beemsterboer is working with architect Luke Desmone of Desmone & Associates Architects of Lawrenceville. It was Desmone who first advanced a concept several years ago that is the basis of his development.

"I look on this development as a legacy for my children, who will be able to say their dad built it," said Beemsterboer. He is married to Cynthia Bognar, a Pittsburgh native, whose family still lives in the area.

He said he has a contract under the name Steven B. Beemsterboer Inc. to purchase the property from Dr. Francis Hurite, a Fox Chapel ophthalmologist who owns The Edge. Finalizing the deal depends on the results of further study and soil testing, he said.

The developer already reduced the size of the 14-story hotel from 200 rooms to its current 140 rooms after meetings with local residents.

To gain better access to the site, Beemsterboer has purchased a number of other properties along Vinecliffe Street, which is located directly behind the Edge property and south of East Sycamore Street.

To improve the traffic flow around and into the site, the development plan suggests widening Wyoming Street from Grandview Avenue to East Sycamore and providing new entrances into the site from Wyoming and East Sycamore Street.

"Although the developer has reduced the number of hotel rooms ... the project still is extremely dense," said Lynne Squilla, former president of the Mt. Washington Community Development Corp.

The project has the potential of creating "a monolithic wall between the neighborhood and the skyline," said Squilla, who remains a board member of the community group.

Diane Delmer has been among a number of neighborhood residents who have said they'd like to see the Edge demolished. She's a member of Citizens Against Irresponsible Property Management, another Mt. Washington group.

However, she declined comment on Beemsterboer's project until she has a chance to review his plans.

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


It is unbelievable to me that that site has sat there in that condition for so long. Perfect location for so many things.

[diesel21]

http://postgazette.com/pg/08206/899253-100.stm

Just when it seemed like the casino had hit rock bottom, things get worse...

[hyperion1110]

Someone may have posted about this in the past...my apologies if I missed it. Anyhow, it seems the county has put out a plan called Allegheny Places. It seems short on details to me, with an aweful lot of we must do x with no mention of how to pay for it.

Enjoy!

http://alleghenyplaces.com/plan/index.asp

[Evergrey]

It is unbelievable to me that that site has sat there in that condition for so long. Perfect location for so many things.

the NIMBYs would rather let their neighborhood rot in stasis than allow any "outsider" developer to realize the tax-revenue-bonanza potential of that view... maybe the obstructionists would have some legitimacy if it was say... the "Mexican War Streets" up there... but that neighborhood is so anonymous and bland... I don't want to attack a neighborhood... but Mt. Washington just asks for it

[chiaroscuro]

Apologies if it's been posted before, but here is a link to the new arena construction cam.

http://penguins.nhl.com/fanzone/arena_cam.htm

[Johnland]

the NIMBYs would rather let their neighborhood rot in stasis than allow any "outsider" developer to realize the tax-revenue-bonanza potential of that view... maybe the obstructionists would have some legitimacy if it was say... the "Mexican War Streets" up there... but that neighborhood is so anonymous and bland... I don't want to attack a neighborhood... but Mt. Washington just asks for it

Yeah, Mt. Washington is sort of a mystery in some respects. A few years ago I flew up to Pittsburgh and my parents picked me up at the airport. We decided to have lunch on Mt. Wash. Man, was I dissapointed. We parked in a large, barren paved car lot, which was convienent, but just so dismal looking. I left Pittsburgh in 1991, and I don't think Grandview Ave has changed one bit since then.

[Evergrey]

Yeah, Mt. Washington is sort of a mystery in some respects. A few years ago I flew up to Pittsburgh and my parents picked me up at the airport. We decided to have lunch on Mt. Wash. Man, was I dissapointed. We parked in a large, barren paved car lot, which was convienent, but just so dismal looking. I left Pittsburgh in 1991, and I don't think Grandview Ave has changed one bit since then.

the weeds are blocking the view now


there's a few empty dirt pits where condo project have died

Shiloh business district has improved slightly lately... you can get a coffee or an ice cream while straining to see the skyline through the weeds

[PA Pride]

The problem with Mt Washington is there is too many single family homes, including right on Grandview, which gives these homeowners too much sway over the development of the whole neighborhood.
Alot of those people are very selfish up there. They know that it was recently ranked #2 most scenic view in the US; Yet they won't let plans go forward to let other people enjoy the view and neighborhood. Only themselves. That is sad.

[JackStraw]

The problem with Mt Washington is there is too many single family homes, including right on Grandview, which gives these homeowners too much sway over the development of the whole neighborhood.
Alot of those people are very selfish up there. They know that it was recently ranked #2 most scenic view in the US; Yet they won't let plans go forward to let other people enjoy the view and neighborhood. Only themselves. That is sad.

But, couldn't they be priced out of their home? I am sure if they were asked so much money they would sell it and roll and buy a beach side property somewhere instead.

Can they be bought out enough for them to buy a beach front property?

[UrbaniDesDev]

Speaking of transit lines using rail lines

$30,000 walkway would eliminate safety concerns
By Bob Stiles
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Buzz up!
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/AMTRAK-a.jpg
Joe Kelly (left), senior director with Amtrak's Office of Security Strategy and Special Operations, and Michael Langer, president of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, walk up to the platform Monday at the train station in Greensburg during an event detailing plans to provide pedestrians with a safe way to cross the tracks.


Mike Langer says it's up to Amtrak.
The president of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust said Monday that getting approval from officials of the government-owned corporation that provides intercity passenger train service is the last step before construction of an enclosed walkway at the train station in Greensburg can begin.

The walkway would link the northern end of Greensburg with the city's downtown.

Langer said the Trust, which owns the station, has obtained verbal approvals from its own insurance company, Norfolk Southern, which owns the rail lines, the city, Seton Hill University and various solicitors.

"The only one we need now is Amtrak," he said.
Langer, Amtrak representatives, U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, an Upper St. Clair Republican, state, local and Seton Hill officials met at the train station on Monday to discuss the proposal.

It calls for a nearly 25-foot walkway that would be walled in plexiglass and lead off Seton Hill Drive. The walkway would lead either to the existing underground passage at The Train Station or an elevator, then into the city's downtown.

Langer told Amtrak officials -- Joe Kelly, director of corporate security, and Chuck McHugh, district manager of stations, Pittsburgh -- that pedestrians, including many Seton Hill students, are now jumping a nearby fence and putting themselves in danger by crossing railroad tracks. The walkway would stop that problem, he said.

"The biggest benefit is the safety for the students," Langer said.

Local officials believe the passage also would attract more people to the city's cultural district and businesses, as well as improve access to the downtown for people who park in the city's new lot on Seton Hill Drive.

"Right now they have no alternative," Langer said of direct access.

The passage carries an estimated $30,000 cost and would be funded by the Trust.

A closed tunnel once gave access.

Greensburg officials are considering putting up surveillance cameras that would allow monitoring of the newly created passage and surrounding areas 24 hours per day from the city police station.

Both Kelly and McHugh said they need to discuss the proposal with higher-ups in Amtrak.

"We're always looking to work with the communities, and I don't see this project as being any different," Kelly said.

A similar meeting was held last year with Norfolk Southern officials.


Bob Stiles can be reached at bstiles@tribweb.com or 724-836-6622.




http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_578770.html


This probably was posted earlier but in case not;

Westmoreland commuter rail service a priority
By Rich Cholodofsky
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, May 26, 2008

Buzz up!


With its buses full and demand for more commuter service skyrocketing, Westmoreland County transit officials say building commuter rail service between Greensburg and Arnold and downtown Pittsburgh is a priority for the public agency.
"I think the authority is ready to move forward with it. We have to have the funding in place," said state Rep. Tom Tangretti, D-Greensburg, a member of the transit authority board.

Commuter rail service has been on the authority's radar for more than a year. Late last year, it hired a Pittsburgh consulting company to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed trains.

That $500,000 study is expected to be completed late this year by HDR Engineer Inc.

The authority met last month with Norfolk Southern, the freight train operator that owns the tracks on which the passenger rail line would run. The railroad indicated it would be receptive to allowing the passenger service on its tracks as long as it did not interfere with existing freight service, authority Executive Director Larry Morris said.
The proposed commuter train system would have two rail corridors, one that would originate in either Latrobe or Greensburg and run through Jeannette, Irwin and Trafford, and eventually into downtown Pittsburgh.

Initial cost estimates ranged from $190 million for a limited-service system to a more ambitious $300 million line that would operate every 30 minutes during peak commuting times.

The second corridor could cost about $140 million to build and would start in Arnold and travel through the Allegheny River Valley and into Pittsburgh's Strip District.

"It's becoming a more realistic goal than it has been in the past. Every time gas goes up 20 cents it becomes more realistic," said authority Chairman Frank Tosto Jr.

Funding for the proposed trains is still an unanswered question. A transportation financing bill approved last summer by state lawmakers authorized up to $50 million a year for commuter rail projects. Officials said federal funding might be tapped.

Just how the trains will be paid for is another facet of the feasibility study.

Both train lines are considered crucial to handle overflow demand for the authority's daily commuter bus service into Pittsburgh.

Since 2003, the monthly number of commuters riding authority buses into Pittsburgh has jumped more than 163 percent.

In April 2003, there were 7,422 passengers on the Pittsburgh buses. The ridership numbers for April were 19,531.

The commuter service has become standing room only on some routes. Additional buses were put into service, and four new vehicles are expected to be added to its fleet later this summer.

Morris said that still might not ease the future demand as gasoline prices continue to spike.

That fact has authority members convinced that train service is the best answer to the meet the commuter demand.

"It's exactly where we need to be in order to catch the wave for ever expanding demand for public transit," Tangretti said.


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_569420.html

[tooluther]

Speaking of transit, I went to the CitiLive "salon" last night, it was pretty good. The finale of the event was the annoucement of a new wiki at www.pghwiki.org to "countinue the discussion."

[PA Pride]

But, couldn't they be priced out of their home? I am sure if they were asked so much money they would sell it and roll and buy a beach side property somewhere instead.

Can they be bought out enough for them to buy a beach front property?

I think the problem with buying them out would be: What develop would shell out big money for real estate in an area so notorious for fighting all devlopement? That sounds like a bad investment and developers don't like bad investments.

[edncc1701d]

I feel the need to more or less defend Mt. Washington…

1) The Mt. Washington NIMBYs
After living in Mt. Washington now for nearly two years and closely following community activities up here, I don’t believe the NIMBY issue is as simple as this board or the local media makes it sound.
It seems to me that most of the true NIMBY’s are a vocal and well funded minority. I have attended several MWCDC public meetings where these has been strong turnout supporting change and new development. I think a few “whiners” with money have been able to make themselves a permanent annoyance for the community and developers alike.

2) The View
I think there are really two issues here. One which is more “legitimate” than the other. I believe that concerns over large/tall construction on the southern/downtown side of Grandview Ave are legitimate. Think of the section of Grandview where all the nice restaurants are. To me, that area is really not that special. I think allowing continued construction such as that, would untimely hurt Grandview and Mt. Washington. However, I think the concerns over tall construction on the neighborhood side are largely unjustified. Again, it is the vocal well funded minority which always complains about this.

One thing the city could have done to address this issue was some creative zoning. I think the city should have zoned Mt Washington with “terraced” density/height requirements. For example, 3-4 stories along Grandview, 4-8 story structures behind that and 8-12 behind that. This could have spread the wealth of the view so to speak and encouraged a denser neighborhood. Instead, I think the current Map Pittsburgh plan actually has Mt Washington becoming a less dense neighborhood.


3) Big Buildings on Mt. Washington
While I think most on this board, including myself, would like to see tall towers on Mt. Washington; the reality is that such buildings are not economically feasible. One of my professors was heavily involved with the mayors office during Renaissance II. He described to me what happened with the Trimont. Basically, the Trimont was to be the grand center piece of a huge redevelopment of Grandview Ave. The redevelopment fell through and now we are left with parking lots and empty parcels along that end of Grandview. The Trimont ended up bankrupting the developer because of the hill. Mt Washington (Coal Hill) is really “Swiss cheese.” Hundreds of years of Coal Mining have made the Hill really unstable. The Trimont developer ended up spending all of his money on creating a suitable foundation for the building. The developer didn't foresee this. Now developers know of this cost and challenge. Unless technology changes or the economics of Pittsburgh change, building a structure over 4-5-6 stories on Mt. Washington is really not economically feasible. Besides, building of hilly or steep slope terrain is notoriously expensive as is. Add in the man made foundation issue and most big developments become a no go.

[Evergrey]

thank you for that excellent post, edncc

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_579493.html

KLM postpones decision on direct service from Pittsburgh

By Bonnie Pfister
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, July 26, 2008

To the list of casualties of record-high oil prices, add the prospect of restoring direct air service between Pittsburgh and Europe anytime soon.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines -- which local officials have been wooing for at least two years -- has indefinitely postponed a decision on establishing service between its Amsterdam base and Pittsburgh International Airport, officials confirmed. The service would have been in conjunction with its U.S. partner, Northwest Airlines.

Allegheny County Airport Authority Executive Director Brad Penrod said KLM officials called him with the news, citing the recent run-up in oil prices.

"The region wants, expects and some would say demands (direct air service), because we have such a large European-based corporate community," Penrod said. "We made a very compelling story. Short of fuel prices, we would have had a different announcement."

Pittsburgh's airport has not had direct service to Europe since November 2004, when US Airways canceled routes to London and Frankfurt. Since then, local leaders have lobbied several carriers -- including KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa -- to start service.

More than 200 foreign-based companies have a significant presence in Western Pennsylvania, and many companies based here have operations in Europe. In December, KLM put Pittsburgh on short list of possible destinations.

In a trade mission to Europe a month later, executives from Westinghouse Electric Co., Medrad Inc., Lanxess Corp. and H. J. Heinz Co. met with KLM's chief executive CEO, pledging to book all their Pittsburgh-originating travel to Europe on KLM/Northwest, should the service be offered.

KLM's decision was disappointing to top staffers from nuclear engineering company Westinghouse, about 30 of whom are making their way back to Pittsburgh this weekend from an annual meeting in Manchester, England. Spokesman Vaughn Gilbert said he arrived at the meeting a day late, when his July 20 flight to Philadelphia was delayed beyond the time he could catch his London-bound connection. Other colleagues had to fly two hours south, to Atlanta, for a transatlantic connection.

"We would have been very happy to have a direct link," Gilbert said. "Our business is growing significantly in Europe. From Amsterdam you can easily make easy connections to the UK, France, Germany, Sweden."

Northwest/KLM announced that as of Oct. 1, they will cancel once-daily flights between Hartford and Amsterdam -- initiated a year ago. It will cancel its flights between Dusseldorf and Detroit, and suspend Paris to Minneapolis/St. Paul service until March 2009.

"The longer-haul flights are suffering disproportionately from higher fuel prices," said Gabor Kovacs, a former Federal Aviation Administration economist who is an airline consultant for Morten Beyer & Agnew in Arlington, Va. "(Fuel) makes up a large portion of their flight operating expenses."

Penrod, as well as officials with Allegheny Conference on Community Development and County Executive Dan Onorato's office, said they would continue to lobby for Pittsburgh International to international carriers before an economic rebound. Gabor said the scenario may not change soon.

"U.S. carriers and to some extent European carriers are restructuring all of their operations, and applying a much stricter profit threshold than before," he said. "Even if fuel prices come down somewhat in the next six months, that does not automatically mean services will be introduced."



Bonnie Pfister can be reached at bpfister@tribweb.com or 412-320-7886.

[PA Pride]

Thanks for the big post edncc, but who is this well funded minority you speak of? Do you mean certain wealthy individual residents or orgainzed groups who raise money?

[Gilamonster]

I was out driving today and wanted to comment on two views I had while going over bridges. Coming into town through the Liberty Tunnels, Three PNC can be seen rising over the existing buildings and it's a good angle. I think it actually looks better than the view coming from the Fort Pitt Tunnels. I'll try to take a picture soon but It will be difficult to take a still shot. Perhaps I'll fake a breakdown.
The other view that really caught my attention was of the new Children's Hospital Complex. It is just massive when viewed from a distance. I drive on Penn often and can see the hospital and corollary buildings up close, but to get a full appreciation of the size of this new campus it needs to be seen from afar. I think there is also a good view from Liberty Ave. after you get past the Amtrak Station. I don't really have a problem with the hospital being that size or in that Neighborhood, but it's quite a contrast to see all of the small houses, and hence very small and relatively flat skyline, with this huge complex plopped right in the middle.

[Evergrey]

article on booming restaurant development in East Liberty area

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08209/899389-46.stm

On the Menu: Feast in the East

Sunday, July 27, 2008
By China Millman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200807/rombach_mag_shadyside_3_500.jpg
Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette
Diners enjoy an elegant lunch at Casbah in Shadyside.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200807/20080727rrshadyside_6_500.jpg
Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette
Robert Russell serves pizza at Pizza Sola, which sells New York-style pizza on Penn Circle South.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200807/20080727rr_shadyside_2_500.jpg
Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette
The busy parking lot of Whole Foods Market, which opened in 2002 and may have been the catalyst for other development.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/images/200807/heller_mag_chen_500.jpg
John Heller/Post-Gazette
The sleek lines of Richard Chen's restaurant at Penn Circle South in East Liberty.

For the past five months the windows of an Eastside Development space at South Highland Avenue and Penn Circle South have been hidden behind brown paper. Only a small banner reading "Richard Chen Modern Asian Cuisine" and a bright orange liquor license application indicated that a restaurant would open there.

Days ago, the paper was pulled away to reveal a lustrous, modern dining room with wide expanses of wood and pale golden accents gleaming in the plentiful natural light. Like most high-end restaurants, the doors will open gradually, at first to invited guests for practice dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday, then to a more public audience Friday. The restaurant will celebrate its grand opening Aug. 12, an important day not just for the restaurant, but also for the area.

Richard Chen is not the most famous chef in Pittsburgh -- Lidia Bastianich, with a mini-empire of restaurants, cookbooks and a TV show probably deserves that honor. But with his resume graced by a Michelin star, Mr. Chen and his restaurant are likely to create ripples in the national food scene of the kind that rarely emanate from Pittsburgh.

Just as the opening of this restaurant has been both slow and quick, so has the altering face of East Liberty; progress has occurred over several years, but suddenly seems to have come together with remarkable coherence. Through the combined efforts of large-scale developers and independent small businesses, the neighborhood has attracted exciting projects, with a heavy emphasis on food. The opening of Whole Foods Market in 2002 was probably the catalyst, but a slow build of quality restaurants played a role as well.

A circle of restaurants, bars and other food shops with its center at Highland and Penn Circle South seem capable of satisfying any appetite for almost any price.

Walk to the east and you'll pass the new Pizza Sola, which sells New York-style pizza by the slice. Next, you'll pass Kelly's Bar and Lounge, known for its comfort food, classic cocktails and art deco atmosphere, which it comes by honestly because it's been around since the 1940s.

Next door is April Gruver's Vanilla Pastry Studio, which recently moved from the West End. Ms. Gruver is probably best known for her fantastic cupcakes, which won the Post-Gazette's cupcake taste-off in March 2007. She also makes wedding cakes, cookies and a wide variety of other sweet treats, and her new storefront is as sleek and pretty as any of her sugar-spun concoctions.

Head north of Penn Circle South on Highland and you'll pass the Red Room Cafe on the corner, followed by Abay Ethiopian Cuisine and Royal Caribbean. Kevin Sousa, the Red Room's new executive chef, has won critical praise for bringing ultra-modern techniques to the Pittsburgh culinary scene. Abay and Royal Caribbean add excellent options for sit-down meals at a very reasonable price. It's no wonder that both BYOB establishments are favorites among students, young professionals and every diner looking for variety in a sea of Italian and American restaurants.

The Eastside development extends to the west of Richard Chen's to include a premium Wine and Spirits store, a Starbucks and Whole Foods.

And soon there will be Dinette, an upscale cafe serving a seasonally based menu of salads and neapolitan-style pizzas, that is scheduled to open Oct. 1 on the second level of the Eastside development between Borders and the T-Mobile store.

Aside from the opening of Whole Foods, other important characteristics probably played a role in the neighborhood's renaissance. East Liberty is situated at the center of the East End, only a short drive from a dozen neighborhoods, and easily accessible by public transportation. This area is so close to Shadyside that businesses are often creative in describing their location. Vanilla Pastry Studio puts its location in the "Shadyside area," and Ethan Clay, owner of Oh Yeah! Ice Cream and Coffee, likes to call the shop a part of the "Eastside" neighborhood.

For 10 years, Casbah on Highland Avenue has been drawing crowds with its enclosed patio and elegant Mediterranean menu, while Buffalo Blues, known for its barbecue and ribs, has drawn students and sports lovers. In 2004, Typhoon opened just across the street from Casbah. It quickly became a hot spot both for its beautiful dining room beloved by the "see and be seen" crowd, and for its upscale interpretations of Thai flavors.

The most recent addition to the street, Oh Yeah! Ice Cream and Coffee, is quirky, fun and open late -- until 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The variety and overall quality of the restaurants and food establishments in this area help perpetuate their own success. Stop in for a cupcake at Vanilla and you may decide to go to Kelly's for happy hour later in the week. BYOB restaurants Abay and Royal Caribbean consistently send last-minute customers over to the Specialty Wine and Liquor store in Eastside. Take a stroll while you wait for a table at one restaurant and you're likely to start planning your next dinner out.

With so many high-end establishments in such a small area, could there be too many restaurants? Economic news seems to grow gloomier every day, restaurants continue to bemoan Allegheny County's 10 percent drink tax, and there must be concern over market saturation. But so far, that doesn't seem to have curbed the enthusiasm for expansions or new restaurants.

Typhoon recently added outdoor seating and started serving lunch again. Co-owner Michael Johnson noted, "There's more liveliness in the whole area," and the wall of flowers that shields the outdoor dining from the sidewalk allows Typhoon to have a greater street presence.

The Red Room also is expanding. The Red Room Lounge, 2RED, will soon open in a fully renovated space on Penn Circle South, next door to the main dining room. The lounge, which includes a new rooftop deck, will have an invitation-only soft opening the first week of August, with a grand opening the second week.

Dinette's owner Sonja Finn was particularly excited to open in the Eastside complex: "First of all, just to be in East Liberty, and second of all, to be a local business owner in these developments so they can have a connection to the surrounding community," she said.

A Pittsburgh native who got her first culinary job at Toni Pais' beloved restaurant Baum Vivant, Ms. Finn has a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America. She spent two years at the San Francisco institution, the Zuni Cafe, then became the acting chef at the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus. She returned to Pittsburgh in April.

Ms. Finn is devoted to serving local or organic food and to making her restaurant as sustainable as possible. A summer sample menu listed dishes such as "Grilled Figs and Rocket with Raw Milk Feta, Champagne Vinaigrette, Cracked Pepper," and pizza with "Fontina, Sage, Caramelized Onions, Guanciale, Mozzarella."

Still think there aren't enough customers to support so many restaurants? Consider this idea: Some Pittsburghers may find themselves spending more on local luxuries as rising fuel prices and fewer flights out of Pittsburgh International Airport are forcing them to cut down on air travel. Compared to a $500 round-trip ticket for one to San Francisco, dinner out in Pittsburgh begins to seem downright thrifty.

http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20080727map_eastliberty_500.png


Restaurant critic China Millman can be reached at cmillman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1198.

[AaronPGH]

I've never been so excited about Pittsburgh's dining scene than I am right now. It's nice to see people truly pushing into new territories around here....I would say it's actually a pretty good indicator of the shifting demographics of PGH. Hope this wave keeps going!

Also - can't WAIT for Red Room's rooftop deck. It's about fucking time a nice bar around here put in a good roof deck. I think that is one of the biggest un-tapped markets in our nightlife scene currently.

[Johnland]

I've never been so excited about Pittsburgh's dining scene than I am right now. It's nice to see people truly pushing into new territories around here....I would say it's actually a pretty good indicator of the shifting demographics of PGH. Hope this wave keeps going!



When I had an apartment on S. Highland (between Alder and Elwood) a long time ago, one would've never ventured to Penn Circle on foot. Shadyside clearly ended at the train tracks, and all within Penn Circle was a dead zone.

Now, it appears there's an entire new area in that former ghost town.

[edncc1701d]

Thanks for the big post edncc, but who is this well funded minority you speak of? Do you mean certain wealthy individual residents or orgainzed groups who raise money?


Certain wealthy individual residents. I do not believe there are any organized "anti-development" groups raising money. It seems like most of the stuff in the papers are quotes from crazy old people...

Actually, it seems like a good number of the "worst" high impact problems have been caused by either (1) people hording property - i.e. owner of the property next to the Monongahela Incline, the Edge and (2) bad/unexperienced developers - i.e. Cozza enterprises.

For more info read here... http://15211.org/

More on Cozza. Cozza is the developer of the two infamous projects along Grandview that haven't moved. I think he is one to think big but who does not have the resources to pull projects of and untimely blames others in the media. I took at look at the civil dockets and he has not faced any litigation in connection with these properties for several years now. He buys up buildings, knocks them down, throws out some splashy images and can't move on them. He has had the same issues with other properties in the region. The only thing he has ever really finished is the Rite Aid building in Sq. Hill.

[cdc]

a bit more on LED lighting... it would be interesting to see more of
this in PGH beyond JackStraw's parking lot lighting project.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/technology/28led.html?pagewanted=1
(related photo gallery here:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/28/technology/20080728_LED_SLIDESHOW_index.html)


...

What Mr. Farrell found was a light source that many of the biggest
bulb manufacturers are now convinced will supplant incandescent bulbs
and compact fluorescent bulbs.
...

[PA Pride]

Here is the map of the trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC:

http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20080727map_alleghenypassage_835x735.jpg

[Evergrey]

I wonder how successful this will be considering Pittsburgh already has so many excellent local pancake restaurants. Pittsburgh is definately a pancake town.

I'm more interested in the larger development Walnut Capital is doing along that barren stretch of Browns Hill Road. I have also wondered if Summerset at Frick Park is supposed to link up with Browns Hill at build-out.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_578706.html

IHOP to open in Squirrel Hill

By Staff and wire reports
Monday, July 21, 2008

The International House of Pancakes, also known as IHop, will open a restaurant on Browns Hill Road in Squirrel Hill.

The outlet is expected to open in early 2009 as part of a development under construction by Walnut Capital Partners of Shadyside. It is the company's fourth restaurant opened or planned to date in southwestern Pennsylvania. A site in Robinson is open, a second is under construction near Uniontown, and a third is planned for the Cedarwood project in Butler Township.

Steve Esposito, commercial real estate broker with CB Richard Ellis/Pittsburgh, negotiated IHop's purchase of the Squirrel Hill site from Walnut Capital for $1.05 million. He said the traditional IHop restaurant is about 5,000 square feet.


...



here's the info on this development from Walnut Capital's website

http://www.walnutcapital.com/commercial_summerset.html

Walnut Place
Browns Hill Road
Pittsburgh, PA

New Construction in Premier Urban Neighborhood Location

Walnut Place is a new construction project offering neighborhood and specialty retailers a tremendous location in an upscale, dynamic and rapidly expanding urban neighborhood.

The location is less than a mile from the region's largest new development, The Waterfront, an enormously popular retail, dining and residential complex that houses over 60 local and national retailers.

The shopping plaza also rests at the entrance to Summerset at Frick, a new upscale residential development with 700 residential units slated for completion by late 2006.

The East End Pittsburgh communities of Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are in close proximity, and Walnut Place will offer ample parking, be pedestrian-friendly and be easily accessible by public transportation.

http://www.walnutcapital.com/commercial/images/brownsHillArial.jpg

flyer
http://www.walnutcapital.com/commercial/images/brownsHillArial.jpg

demographics
http://www.walnutcapital.com/commercial/images/Walnut_Place_(418).pdf

site plan
http://www.walnutcapital.com/commercial/images/summersetSitePlan2_10_06.pdf

[UrbaniDesDev]

I feel the need to more or less defend Mt. Washington…

1) The Mt. Washington NIMBYs
After living in Mt. Washington now for nearly two years and closely following community activities up here, I don’t believe the NIMBY issue is as simple as this board or the local media makes it sound.
It seems to me that most of the true NIMBY’s are a vocal and well funded minority. I have attended several MWCDC public meetings where these has been strong turnout supporting change and new development. I think a few “whiners” with money have been able to make themselves a permanent annoyance for the community and developers alike.

2) The View
I think there are really two issues here. One which is more “legitimate” than the other. I believe that concerns over large/tall construction on the southern/downtown side of Grandview Ave are legitimate. Think of the section of Grandview where all the nice restaurants are. To me, that area is really not that special. I think allowing continued construction such as that, would untimely hurt Grandview and Mt. Washington. However, I think the concerns over tall construction on the neighborhood side are largely unjustified. Again, it is the vocal well funded minority which always complains about this.

One thing the city could have done to address this issue was some creative zoning. I think the city should have zoned Mt Washington with “terraced” density/height requirements. For example, 3-4 stories along Grandview, 4-8 story structures behind that and 8-12 behind that. This could have spread the wealth of the view so to speak and encouraged a denser neighborhood. Instead, I think the current Map Pittsburgh plan actually has Mt Washington becoming a less dense neighborhood.


3) Big Buildings on Mt. Washington
While I think most on this board, including myself, would like to see tall towers on Mt. Washington; the reality is that such buildings are not economically feasible. One of my professors was heavily involved with the mayors office during Renaissance II. He described to me what happened with the Trimont. Basically, the Trimont was to be the grand center piece of a huge redevelopment of Grandview Ave. The redevelopment fell through and now we are left with parking lots and empty parcels along that end of Grandview. The Trimont ended up bankrupting the developer because of the hill. Mt Washington (Coal Hill) is really “Swiss cheese.” Hundreds of years of Coal Mining have made the Hill really unstable. The Trimont developer ended up spending all of his money on creating a suitable foundation for the building. The developer didn't foresee this. Now developers know of this cost and challenge. Unless technology changes or the economics of Pittsburgh change, building a structure over 4-5-6 stories on Mt. Washington is really not economically feasible. Besides, building of hilly or steep slope terrain is notoriously expensive as is. Add in the man made foundation issue and most big developments become a no go.

Well thought. I agree with your approach to development there. If I remember tho. the developer did want to proceed with the second tower but the neighborhood shot it down. They seemed willing to spend the money to build it.
There always seems to be this argument of traffic with development, but there has never been a plan, that I know of, to remedy this.

[Evergrey]

I love that this place is open 24hr

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/seate/s_579901.html

Downtown: Take a page from bigger newsstand

By Mike Seate
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Last winter, my weekend carrier forgot to drop off our Sunday New York Times, so I'd promised my wife I'd return from work the following day with a copy.

I'd forgotten that the Barnes & Noble bookstore had closed its doors a few months earlier, so I hit the streets searching for a place Downtown where shoppers could buy out-of-town newspapers. Unfortunately, it was tough to find not only newspapers in the Golden Triangle, but magazines. Well, at least magazines not featuring plastic covers or stories about Britney's latest breakdown.

It seemed odd for there to be no large, comprehensive magazine stands in a Downtown with a rapidly expanding residential core, but there we were. My search eventually led me to Smithfield News near the south end of that Downtown street, where owner Brian Weiss was just beginning an extensive remodeling effort he says will revolutionize the way Pittsburghers shopped for printed matter.

That was a fairly bold claim, but I got a call from Weiss recently, inviting me to visit the nearly completed store, and I'm glad to report that the man has more than delivered.

The previous store was well-stocked but tightly cramped. By more than doubling its 1,900 square-foot size, Weiss has turned Smithfield News into the sort of place Downtown's growing residential population craves. The broadened aisles now offer fresh produce, sundries, convenience foods, as well as fresh deli sandwiches and salads that are restocked twice daily.

During a recent lunch hour rush, the store was abuzz with Grant Street types in Brooks Brothers suits who were perusing a wall of high-end cigars. A full-service Kiva Han coffee bar has been installed along one wall.

Newshounds have their choice of the New York Post, New York Times, Washington Post, several local publications and even The Daily Racing Form for serious horse race gamblers. And there are now around 1,500 magazines in stock, covering a plethora of tastes from X-Men comics to Harpers to The New Yorker and even to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

Weiss spent nearly a half million on the nine-month makeover, but he's so convinced that Downtown will respond to his concept that he's opening a second location in Warner Centre on Fifth Avenue next month.

"We're excited at how busy we've been since we opened up about three weeks ago. I kind of suspected the people living and working or going to school down here wanted a place where they could grab something fresh to eat and something to read. And I was right," said Weiss, who was busy performing about three jobs at once.

In a perfect world, more local entrepreneurs will follow Weiss' lead and bring some of the bare necessities back to Downtown. No matter how many $300,000 condominiums are erected in the Golden Triangle, if residents can't get what they need nearby, they're just living in overpriced motels.


...


btw, this was demolished yesterday
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/76529035.jpg

[DBR96A]

Here's some video (http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoID=100795) of the Auburn Towers (pictured above) collapsing. The towers were a senior housing facility in Larimer.

Now if only they can bring down that really tall tower in East Liberty...

[Evergrey]

Now if only they can bring down that really tall tower in East Liberty...

It will be demolished in time... and replaced by a Target

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/65537564.jpg

[AaronPGH]

Pittsburgh: The Turkish Television Show :haha:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shQ7khDn6ns

[themaguffin]

As unattractive as the towers were, I like to see different eras represented.

[edncc1701d]

I have also wondered if Summerset at Frick Park is supposed to link up with Browns Hill at build-out.

Yes it will...
http://www.summersetatfrickpark.com/images/img_masterPlan.jpg

[edncc1701d]

As unattractive as the towers were, I like to see different eras represented.

I actually also agree. I wouldn't mind seeing the last tower standing remain. I think it could be thoughtfully integrated into the great transformation occurring in E. Liberty.

[Grego43]

Keep the tower, bury the power lines.

[PA Pride]

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 9:08 AM EDT
U.S. Steel hits sales, profit record
http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/07/28/daily12.html

“We recorded the highest quarterly sales and net income in U.S. Steel’s history during the second quarter as all three reportable segments posted record results, reflecting strong operating performance and favorable global pricing dynamics,” U.S. Steel Chairman and CEO John Surma said in a statement.


To anyone who doubts US Steel's relevancy to Pittsburgh's modern day economy; Even with the UPMC signage on their tower as a symbol of economic importance, US Steel is still a dominant company in it's own right. (Although not the leader on a global level)

[Evergrey]

As unattractive as the towers were, I like to see different eras represented.

even if that era represented the nadir of urban design? it's a terrifying monolith representing the death of East Liberty... structures like this have no future

[themaguffin]

structures like this have no future

Exactly my point.

that era represented the nadir of urban design?

It's history and for better or worse reflects part of the post war years, pre late 20th Century bright shiny glass etc.

It's why I think Gateway Center has its place.

Does anyone think that the (old) ALCOA building is very attractive. Nothing says 1955 like that building and for that, I say it needs to be there.

Now on its own, that you all see and it reflects poorly, but in a body of work per se, it's character.

East Liberty didn't have a cluster of buildings to filter those towers, so they inturn defined the neighborhood to an extent, but if others had been built later on (or now) it would work much better.

[Evergrey]

The Alcoa Building might be ugly... but it didn't destroy Old Allegheny city and permenantly eliminate connectivity between the North Side and North Shore / Downtown with an idiotic traffic scheme and soulless, lifeless mid-century suburban architecture and design. You can't compare the Alcoa Building, which functions as an office tower in a high-density downtown district to major "urban renewal" failures like the East Liberty poverty-concentration public high-rise warrens or the North Side's neighborhood-obliterating Allegheny Center. The elimination of many of the East Liberty high-rises have represented both symbolic and practical progress as the neighborhood rises from the ashes of mid-century disinvestment, crime, drugs, decay and social malfunction. It's not just that these high-rises were hideous, hideous monoliths representing everything wrong with mid-century modernism... they functioned in a manner that accelerated the neighborhood's decline. They never were designed to be livable, and their design and construction was never intended to be anything more than ephemeral in the grand scheme of things. Today the last high-rise exists as an anathema, soon to meet its fate in the dust bin of urban renewal history... replaced by something yet to be determined... but which will surely enhance the functionality of East Liberty. The last vestiges of an East Liberty that was brutally assaulted mid-century... are fading away.

[AaronPGH]

I personally think the Alcoa building is sexy.

[trainiac]

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/65537564.jpg

Geez. Park anywhere you like!

BTW, I've only been to Pittsburgh once for a wedding -- and we had a blast. Great people, great city.

[Evergrey]

Geez. Park anywhere you like!

BTW, I've only been to Pittsburgh once for a wedding -- and we had a blast. Great people, great city.

that's what you do when you don't live in a driveway city

[UrbaniDesDev]

I actually also agree. I wouldn't mind seeing the last tower standing remain. I think it could be thoughtfully integrated into the great transformation occurring in E. Liberty.

I agree with you. Im always for reuse. The problem with this tower is the ceilings are very low, the structure was built sub-standard and all the utilities will need to be replaced because of the originla shoddy construction (pipes wires etc)

[DBR96A]

Those residential towers were nothing but a compromise from the beginning. They had to be built as cheaply as possible, and Lord knows they weren't maintained properly after they were built. Furthermore, they don't meet today's standards in terms of residential or commercial use. Implode it. We have plenty of interesting '50s and '60s architecture downtown anyway -- stuff that didn't have to be built on the cheap.

[Evergrey]

Those residential towers were nothing but a compromise from the beginning. They had to be built as cheaply as possible, and Lord knows they weren't maintained properly after they were built. Furthermore, they don't meet today's standards in terms of residential or commercial use. Implode it. We have plenty of interesting '50s and '60s architecture downtown anyway -- stuff that didn't have to be built on the cheap.

:tup:


...


more on the Richard Chen restaurant...

http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/richardchen072408.aspx

New Richard Chen restaurant adds flair to East Liberty dining scene

http://www.popcitymedia.com/galleries/Default/Dev%20News/Issue%20120/richardchen2_300.jpg

Richard Chen Pan Asian Cuisine, a new upscale restaurant with a high profile name is opening soon in Eastside, adding an unmistakable cache to an already vibrant dining scene in the East Liberty neighborhood. Richard Chen will launch a soft opening on August 1st with a grand opening scheduled for August 12th. This is a private venture for Chen who is the noted executive chef for the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Simon Lewis, who works with Chen, moved to Pittsburgh from the U.K. a month ago to assume his position as executive chef. “There are very good chefs here,” he says. “We want to be part of Pittsburgh’s restaurant scene.”

Richard Chen will bring a different flavor to that scene that includes Pan Asian dishes such as five-spice duck (salt-cured for 10 hours minimum), Berkshire pork imported from England, and rib eye steak with soy garlic glaze--along with plenty of options for vegetarians. Pan Asian, says Lewis, combines western and Asian style ingredients and techniques.

Jen Bee, AIA and Amada Base of Edge Studio designed the 120 seat, 4600 square foot restaurant that features warm wood, plentiful natural light and three distinct spaces including a bar/lounge area. A large backlit wine wall becomes sculpture in the modern space that is beautifully designed.

The high-end restaurant is at 5996 Penn Circle in Eastside, built by Mosites and located adjacent to Whole Foods. Richard Chen's joins neighboring dining spots including the Red Room, Abay, Pizza Solo and Kelly’s that, along with Whole Foods and Eastside, are credited with revitalizing the area.

Writer: Tracy Certo
Source: Simon Lewis, Richard Chen's Pan Asian Cuisine, Anne Chen of Edge Studio

Image courtesy EDGE Studio

[Evergrey]

I personally think the Alcoa building is sexy.

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/83917052.jpg

[Grego43]

I personally think the Alcoa building is sexy.


...and a great history, not the least of which includes being the world's first multi-story building built with aluminum curtain walls (and only 1/8" thick)...a real leap for its time.

[GeneW]

...and a great history, not the least of which includes being the world's first multi-story building built with aluminum curtain walls (and only 1/8" thick)...a real leap for its time.

I always liked the fact that the Alcoa Building, The USX Tower and PPG place were built out of each company's respective material. That seems so "Pittsburgh" to me to be so proud of your product that you'd build your headquarters out of it.

[themaguffin]

I'm sorry. I thought that I mentioned that the towers would have been better if part of a collection of buildings (better buildings) where they wouldn't be the symbolic of East Liberty, but an older part of its urban fabric.

The other affects of those buildings and their current (well current before recent days) state is irrelevant to my point.



A real waste - a real eyesore - is Allegheny Center. That needs to go.

The entire damn thing. All of it. The "mall" the office, the apartments. All of it.

It must go. One can only imagine the incredible use of that current wasteland could be.

Jesus, its footprint is a massive chunk of the North Side and it's entirely wasted.

[UrbaniDesDev]

Keep the tower, bury the power lines.


Exactly!
This is a big pet peeve for me. All streets have to be rebuilt eventually. When they do this, a part of the reconstruction should be that the power/cable lines should be run under ground. This is not partyicularly a Pittsburgh problem, but the impact on our tightly built neighborhoods are severe. I would love to know how much money is spent on replacing wires, telephone poles etc. after storms. How much is spent on normal up-keep on these lines. How much is spent on trimming/cutting down trees around the lines and the aesthetically crippled look of streets where the trees were gouged out. How much is lost due to power outtages that could be avoided if lines were run under the streets?
This is a problem that can be solved, and I think in the end save money. Im sure there is a lot of money being made, with crews out there making time and half (atleast) after every storm. I mean, Im sure there are multitudes of govt agencies and contractors making millions on this each year. Tax payer money hard at work!

Like I said...
a pet peeve
:rolleyes:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/Lawrenceville2.jpg

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

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

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/UrbaniDesDev/ChestnutStreet2.jpg
I have better pics of this eyesore but Im late

[PA Pride]

I always liked the fact that the Alcoa Building, The USX Tower and PPG place were built out of each company's respective material. That seems so "Pittsburgh" to me to be so proud of your product that you'd build your headquarters out of it.

ABSOLUTELY! I always felt the same way.


But let's be honest; The original Heinz skyscraper was doomed to fail: We should've all known that a 50 story stack of pickles was not gonna work.

[PA Pride]

Yeah urbandes, I agree: Those lines detract from the beautiful architecture of our area. Where was that last photo taken of the neat townhomes?

[PA Pride]

even if that era represented the nadir of urban design? it's a terrifying monolith representing the death of East Liberty... structures like this have no future

I was showing houses last weekend in Sewickley to an executive moving here from Georgia, and she specifically asked if there were any large public housing complexes or towers in Pittsburgh. I proudly told her we have almost none, and that the most infamous set of public towers which were in East Liberty were torn down or soon to be torn down.

She was happy!

Apparently those high density cesspools are an epidemic in Georgia....

[Steel Boy]

Hi, I'm new to this board, and I wanted to comment on Allegheny Center. What a waste.

However, I believe that the Children's Museum has done a study and come up with a plan to re-open East Ohio Street through Allegheny Center to at least try and start putting the street grid back. A north/south re-opening of Federal Street would be more difficult, since it would involve major demolition of the underground garage.

But it's nice to see that it's at least being considered.

And I believe that the city is trying to put two-way traffic back on Penn Circle in East Liberty. It's already been done between Highland and Euclid in front of the Eastside development.

[Tombstoner]

But let's be honest; The original Heinz skyscraper was doomed to fail: We should've all known that a 50 story stack of pickles was not gonna work.

Oh yeah...hindsight is always 20/20. :D

[Grego43]

Oh yeah...hindsight is always 20/20. :D

Don't you mean heinzsight? ;)

[cdc]

Exactly!
This is a big pet peeve for me. All streets have to be rebuilt eventually. When they do this, a part of the reconstruction should be that the power/cable lines should be run under ground. This is not partyicularly a Pittsburgh problem, but the impact on our tightly built neighborhoods are severe. I would love to know how much money is spent on replacing wires, telephone poles etc. after storms. How much is spent on normal up-keep on these lines. How much is spent on trimming/cutting down trees around the lines and the aesthetically crippled look of streets where the trees were gouged out. How much is lost due to power outtages that could be avoided if lines were run under the streets?
This is a problem that can be solved, and I think in the end save money. Im sure there is a lot of money being made, with crews out there making time and half (atleast) after every storm. I mean, Im sure there are multitudes of govt agencies and contractors making millions on this each year. Tax payer money hard at work!


I agree that the overhead lines are ugly, but the costs to change this
seem too great to me. This article has some discussion and estimates:

http://www.electricityforum.com/news/mar06/Costskeeplinesoverhead.html

and that article focuses just on power. You would also have to get
property owners plus the power, phone, and cables companies to
cooperate with each other on the digging part.

If we are going to spend that kind of money on digging, it should be
directed at environmental issues like fixing combined sewer overflows
rather than aesthetic issues like ugly power lines.


On a related note, I have noticed that the folks who live in the
Bennington/Inverness area of Sq. Hill have buried services. I wonder
how that came about?

[cdc]

And I believe that the city is trying to put two-way traffic back on Penn Circle in East Liberty. It's already been done between Highland and Euclid in front of the Eastside development.


Yup, this project is described here:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08026/852422-53.stm

There is construction currently in this area. The concrete of Penn
Ave is currently being redone (Penn Ave westbound is close to done,
eastbound is next).

They also have recently finished demolishing the old bank building
near the busway loop... I think this is part of the reconfiguration
described in the PG article above. So progress is being made!

[GeneW]

I agree that the overhead lines are ugly, but the costs to change this
seem too great to me. This article has some discussion and estimates:

http://www.electricityforum.com/news/mar06/Costskeeplinesoverhead.html

and that article focuses just on power. You would also have to get
property owners plus the power, phone, and cables companies to
cooperate with each other on the digging part.

If we are going to spend that kind of money on digging, it should be
directed at environmental issues like fixing combined sewer overflows
rather than aesthetic issues like ugly power lines.


On a related note, I have noticed that the folks who live in the
Bennington/Inverness area of Sq. Hill have buried services. I wonder
how that came about?

A reasonable compromise that has been done in my neighborhood on the Northside is to move the power/phone/cable poles into the alley ways behind the houses and businesses. It's a lot cheaper than burying them but moves them away from the view of the streets.

[Tombstoner]

A reasonable compromise that has been done in my neighborhood on the Northside is to move the power/phone/cable poles into the alley ways behind the houses and businesses. It's a lot cheaper than burying them but moves them away from the view of the streets.

I've not heard of that--it does seem like a decent compromise. Pittsburgh is lucky to have alleys--cities like Atlanta (with just as much ugly overhead power line) don't.

[Evergrey]

Don't you mean heinzsight? ;)

:haha: :tup: