Whatever happened to The Chelsea in Oakland? Dead?

Agree with what everyone said above. Very disappointing. The corridors leading into and out of Oakland (Forbes, 5th, Blvd) have been embarrassing as "entrances" to Pittsburgh's educational and cultural hub for a very long time.

Again, there was a blank slate opportunity to erect something with a fresh design, or at least something of quality and attractive appearance (like the East Liberty North or Lot 24 projects as BrianTH brought up)... but we get a 1990s-era assisted living complex instead.

I drove by the site yesterday for the first time and the first thing I noticed was that they were using that cheap, awful red and pinkish concrete block for the base of the building -- the kind they use on crappy suburban schools and municipal buildings and landscaping walls, instead of real brick. I hope that doesn't mean the top is going to get a similar shitty treatment with junk siding.

Ugh, sorry I asked about the portal design... looks like the typical suburban
90's apartment complex.

It actually reminds me of the Oak Hill apartments up the hill -- but those actually look better.

Those look kinda cool from a distance... like when you're viewing Oak Hill from the South Side Slopes... but up close those buildings look junky and short-term.

The Chelsea is dead - at least as it was originally proposed. They might be able to revive it as a much smaller four story concept. They couldn't make the numbers and financing work.

I'm really disappointed that a pharmacy is being built on the lot across the street. That's a real travesty.

Yes, that truly is the kiss of death. Nothing says suburban like a stand alone pharmacy. To think a few blocks away stand the Carnegie Institute, Mellon Institute, St Paul, St Nicholas, etc. Kind of a straight shot downward.

Oh wait, what? The old Giant Eagle is going to be torn down? Link please?

Amazing... that despite strategic proximity to all those assets and populations... the Centre-Craig intersection remains a little slice of hell.

Yeah, what's the deal with that?

I'm sure the Rite-Aid or Walgreens are well aware of all those assets and populations in the immediate area. Too bad. This neighborhood begs for revitalization.

Maybe the proposed renovation of Schenley HS to residential (which kinda sucks because the building is a masterpiece) will help give the area the kick in pants it needs.

My cousin who is a systems engineer for BNY Mellon and went to Pitt for his batchelor and master degrees lived in a victorian house on the corner of N. Dithridge and Centre. I have some of the best memories of my life in that "little slice of hell"! He was there for like 8 years and threw epic house parties. So epic, they had a very popular website for many years oaklandpartyhouse.com It was a bit of a Pitt legend!
His old house was one of the ones slated for demolition for the Chelsea. But yeah, i cant disagree with the sentiment that single level structures in the most dense neighborhood of the city does suck.

I know this isn't development in the sense of what we usually discuss, but this is a BIG deal:


4-star film studio coming to Strip District

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12059/1213070-53-0.stm

That is big news. Lets keep our fingers crossed that it could be the start of a new industry in Pittsburgh.

No link about the pharmacy on Centre avenue (guess its not news worthy).

^^^
Additionally...

http://popcitymedia.com/innovationne...fex022212.aspx

That Portal building is indeed a crap design, what a shame.


However, in more uplifting news:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12059/1213042-53.stm

This is an interesting quote:

Hmmm... I wonder what they are planning to do with those?

I think PNC is going to use the materials recovered from the demolition efforts. This is going to be a green building and the idea is recycling as much building material as possible.

In any event, I am very excited about this massive filming effort coming to the Burgh! As that article stated, it does mean jobs -- Paramount along with CMU, let's see: students go to CMU, take up courses in computer technology and entertainment, and then go to work for Paramount On Location up in the Strip! Great way to keep some of our most talented younger people here in the Burgh! KUDOS!:D:D

Agreed, the new film consortium announcement is very, very big news for the Pittsburgh area! :yes:

Looks like the barriers are all up for the demolition of the buildings on the PNC tower site, too.

Aaron (Glowrock)

Designs for Point State Park portal project
 

Check these out -- pretty cool


http://www.portaltothepoint.org/designs/

Yes they are, but the way that the article mentioned this in an completely seperate section leads me to believe that they have something a bit more grand in mind for these particular facades.

^ Integrating them into the base somehow could be cool