PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[MattofSloppyVariety]

I live blocks from that hotel. It's the Penn Lincoln hotel and it's about time they did something about it. It's a beautiful old building in dire need of some loving.

And leave my ghetto alone.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by Johnland

I always forget about Wilkinsburg's little 'downtown'. Too bad it is a ghetto. If revilatized, it could be a great little urban village of sorts with compact development close to a bigger city. But, then, it is a ghetto, so, I guess not.

Wilkinsburg has an awesome built environment and a great East End location. It could've been a Mt. Lebanon type of place.

[BrianTH]

"Ghetto" may be a little strong for the commercial area in Wilkinsburg, which in fact is not necessarily in much different shape from East Liberty not too long ago.

[photoLith]

It's pretty ghetto, no denying that. If wilkensburghs downtown ain't ghetto than I don't know what is.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Wilkinsburg has an awesome built environment and a great East End location. It could've been a Mt. Lebanon type of place.

It does. I wonder if anyone could put together a master plan for a revitalization district or something; anything to make this into a more desirable neighborhood.

Perhaps as soon as they're able to bring back Homewood and get that neighborhood back on its feet. I know there's a master plan in place for Homewood. Maybe reps of both Homewood and Wilkinsburg could collaborate on a joint effort to revitalize their "downtowns..."

[popstar]

http://triblive.com/aande/moreaande/...#axzz2WwiVHe83

With all of the positive East Liberty news out there here's a bit of bad news

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Grego43

You nailed it, Evergrey. Market Square is vastly improved over its former self, very European.

We had dinner in Market Square last night and the place was jumping. Tons of people out eating and drinking or just hanging out. It felt like I was living in a real city. Compared to how dead the plaza was a few years back before they leveled it out and encouraged the restaurants to open up their fronts to the street, I'd say that the renovations are a success.

Oh and there's horse and carriage rides, when did that start?

[Wheelingman04]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

I'm fascinated by the North Side of the city as well, although I'll admit that I've rarely ventured any farther north than Allegheny Center. I really like the North Shore area, but that's obviously a lot more commercialized and vibrant than the neighborhoods that have the bad reputations.

I will say that I recently got lost in Perry North while looking for the Allegheny Observatory, and it was a little scary. I think I saw a drug deal or two go down right in the middle of the street just shortly after noon.

That's not good. I have been hesitant to venture up past Allegheny center as well. In the past I would do it anytime because I was so short sighted but now I am real cautious about that stuff.

[Wheelingman04]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

Wow... Lot 24 looks awesome!

I applied for a city planning position with the City of Pittsburgh, and I reaally hope I get it! I would love to move back home! I feel such a tug to move back it's not even remotely funny...

I hope you do. Good luck!

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by photoLith

It's pretty ghetto, no denying that. If wilkensburghs downtown ain't ghetto than I don't know what is.

For future reference, it is "Wilkinsburg".

Anyway, the main commercial area still has a large number of active businesses, including a grocery store, drug store, bank branches, and so on. The local CDC has been doing a facade-improvement program, and there have been other related efforts including new street lights, signage, and so on. I might also note that while Wilkinsburg is majority-black, it has a large non-black minority (mostly white but also a bit Asian and Hispanic), and that is in evidence if you walk around the main area or visit the stores.

Anyway, I don't think much depends on whether you consider a commercial area like that "pretty ghetto" or not, but I think it was worth noting that while there are certainly many local neighborhood commercial areas in better shape, there are also a good number in considerably worse shape, and there are in fact some improvements in progress.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

I wonder if anyone could put together a master plan for a revitalization district or something; anything to make this into a more desirable neighborhood.

Wilkinsburg has done a lot of planning lately, including (in 2010) a comprehensive Community Plan and a related Business District Revitalization Plan:

http://wilkinsburgpa.gov/pdf/WILKINS...inal_2010.pdf#
http://wilkinsburgpa.gov/pdf/FINALBu...trictPlan.pdf#

As I previously noted, the CDC has been heavily involved in improving the business district:

http://www.wilkinsburgcdc.org/programs-and-projects

Perhaps as soon as they're able to bring back Homewood and get that neighborhood back on its feet.

I think it is fair to say that Wilkinsburg is actually considerably ahead of Homewood along the redevelopment track at this point. But certainly I think there is a sense in which all the East Busway-connected communities mutually benefit from development anywhere along it, and at some point it might make sense to do more coordinated planning and marketing.

[Austinlee]

Half-decent shots ( ) of the re-introduction of the point state fountain! HDR Photography by Dave DiCello https://www.facebook.com/DaveDiCelloPhotography









Wow, this dude is good. Like his facebook page and tell him he is skilled! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...inoverhaul.jpg

[photoLith]

Manchester is going to be the next hot neighborhood, I was talking to a developer today whose doing work in Manchester and he thinks in 5 years it will be like larwencville. Lots of homes are being restored and new ones built in traditional styles are going up now.

[Johnland]

I hope that pans out for Manchester. It has the most amazing houses. Those late 1800's townhomes have windows 12' tall - so awesome.

[Found5dollar]

I was at Mad Mex last night and saw that the girders for the Highand Ave bridge are up.

[photoLith]

^
What are you talking about

[daviderik]

[QUOTE=Austinlee;6174255]Half-decent shots ( ) of the re-introduction of the point state fountain! HDR Photography by Dave DiCello https://www.facebook.com/DaveDiCelloPhotography

Love the new LED lighting, new resurfacing, infinity water feature. The only non-improvement I believe are the peacock sprays. They seem very weak compared to before. Maybe less volume of water? Very transparent. But overall I am so glad it's back.

[BrianTH]

Article reviewing the recent boom in outside investors looking at Downtown properties:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...-sites-692796/

[Found5dollar]

Originally Posted by photoLith

^
What are you talking about

The bridge they are rebuilding over the busway and train tracks on S Highland. It is progressing. They now have steal girders spanning the transit corridor.

[Minivan Werner]

Has there ever been any consideration with building another bridge into the city on the 1st Ave side of downtown across the Mon? I keep thinking that the under-utilized Wabash tunnels would really help alleviate at least some traffic issues in the other tunnels if it were connected right into downtown say around Stanwix St.

I guess since there isn't enough money to repair existing bridges let alone build new ones that's not something that's going to happen anytime soon.