PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown III - Page 67

highlander206 · #**1321** Posted **Aug 4, 2018, 6:58 PM**

It looks like this hasn't been posted here yet, but Pittsburgh's City Council has approved of UPMC's $400 million expansion of Mercy Hospital for a vision and rehabilitation hospital. The article doesn't seem to give info of what the next step or when construction could start however.

https://triblive.com/local/allegheny...mercy-hospital

BrianTH · #**1322** Posted **Aug 4, 2018, 7:34 PM**

For the Asiaburgh file:

https://triblive.com/local/allegheny...sburgh-airport

I'm more convinced than ever that the future winners among U.S. (and other) cities will be those with good network connections to cities in other countries, not least Asia.

Wave · #**1323** Posted **Aug 4, 2018, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

What Rite Aid are you talking about? The footprint for the one on Atwood looks too small for a new office building. Do you mean the one on Baum in Friendship? Even though it's a four-story building, it sits awkwardly on its parcel and wastes a lot of space. I could see a new development there, particularly if the long-delayed office expansion in the Aldi building across the street ever happens.

Meant the CVS in Oakland at Coltart and Forbes. Sorry, wrong pharmacy brand

So if the Murdoch Family already has plans for a development in the building where the CVS currently is, its news to me (The CVS is slated to move to their development on the other side of Coltart) in the building that is currently under construction (8 story Murland Office project).

At any rate, an unbelievable amount of development in a small corner of Oakland. Definitely one of the most transformative batch of projects in western PA in terms of rapidly and dramatically changing the urban landscape.

eschaton · #**1324** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 1:00 AM**

Speaking of development on Forbes,I noticed the other day a demolition permit has been requested for the Allegheny County Health Department building right next to the new apartment building. Pitt announced they were buying the building back in December, but at the time seemed to indicate they were going to be keeping the building. Note that Pitt already owned the dinky one-story building next to it, so there potentially could be a decent sized new office building there.

It's kinda a shame, because that building has a cool facade which deserves to be saved, but on the other hand a three-story building is out of scale for Forbes in Oakland these days.

BrianTH · #**1325** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 7:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

It's kinda a shame, because that building has a cool facade which deserves to be saved, but on the other hand a three-story building is out of scale for Forbes in Oakland these days.

That one will hurt, but at the same time I think it is important to allow that part of Oakland to get as dense as developers are willing to make it, not least because it is going to be fed by the entire new East End BRT system:

With the obvious exception of the East Busway, everything else feeds directly into that stretch between the Cathedral and Halket.

Wiz Khalifa · #**1326** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Speaking of development on Forbes,I noticed the other day a demolition permit has been requested for the Allegheny County Health Department building right next to the new apartment building. Pitt announced they were buying the building back in December, but at the time seemed to indicate they were going to be keeping the building. Note that Pitt already owned the dinky one-story building next to it, so there potentially could be a decent sized new office building there.

It's kinda a shame, because that building has a cool facade which deserves to be saved, but on the other hand a three-story building is out of scale for Forbes in Oakland these days.

This seems like a prime opportunity for a facade preservation. The old facade is really awesome looking and could even be used as an entrance into a new development built right behind it. Why isn't this being considered as an option?

eschaton · #**1327** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 2:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz Khalifa

This seems like a prime opportunity for a facade preservation. The old facade is really awesome looking and could even be used as an entrance into a new development built right behind it. Why isn't this being considered as an option?

To be perfectly honest, we don't know it's not. All we know is there's a demo permit for the building.

It's not part of the "Oakland Civic Center" Historic District (which doesn't go west of Thackeray) which means the building is not historically protected.

photoLith · #**1328** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 3:40 PM**

Dammit to hell, that sucks. I can't imagine Pitt would preserve the facade. Probably will get another orange sided tin clad piece of crap in its place. Hopefully whatever they put there will at least be like 12 stories tall or more.

eschaton · #**1329** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Dammit to hell, that sucks. I can't imagine Pitt would preserve the facade. Probably will get another orange sided tin clad piece of crap in its place. Hopefully whatever they put there will at least be like 12 stories tall or more.

I sent a message to Preservation Pittsburgh just in case they know more/have pull to stop it.

There apparently was an earlier permit to repair one parapet back in May, so it may be that this is only a partial demolition. Or perhaps once they got into the work they decided it wasn't worth saving the building. Bears more investigation.

photoLith · #**1330** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 3:57 PM**

If that facade would be restored to its original form, it would be gorgeous. Let's hope they preserve it.

Captain Crash · #**1331** Posted **Aug 6, 2018, 8:41 PM**

Dublin may be the next international destination to get nonstop service from Pittsburgh. No final decision yet, but could potentially happen in 2019:

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018...p-air-service/

photoLith · #**1332** Posted **Aug 7, 2018, 4:34 PM**

From downtown just a minute ago.

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr

photoLith · #**1333** Posted **Aug 7, 2018, 11:46 PM**

Some more photos from around downtown today.

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr
Does anyone actually know if they're still going to build the high-rise portion of this building?

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr
An abomination for historic preservation.

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr
The T's going to be closed forever.

Untitled by photolitherland, on Flickr

Austinlee · #**1334** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 1:54 PM**

Thanks for the photos 'Lith! We always appreciate your photo contributions for the thread.

Isn't that tower crane overtop of the Lumiere site to build the residential tower now?

The Penn Avenue building doesn't look like much yet but I am looking forward to the finished product.

And I know I am in the minority but although that was not the highest and best use of that prime land, those pics of the Point Park Playhouse look quite nice. I like the way it is turning out.

eschaton · #**1335** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 2:32 PM**

The Penguins have switched developers for the first phase of the Civic Arena buildout (250 units of housing). They believe that this will allow them to develop this first phase by 2020 as the deal reached in November requires, but they do think this could delay the start date, which was supposed to begin early next year.

eschaton · #**1336** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 3:19 PM**

The city decided to post all of the August ZBA agendas at once.

8/9:

1. New single-family home directly on Grandview in Mt. Washington (surprised it isn't going to the planning commission).
2. The Dahlem Place parking garage for Bakery Square. Seems to be a bit modified from before - now up to 1,029 spaces.
3. Planned conversion of some old multi-family structures in the Hill District into senior housing.

8/16:

1. New restaurant going in on Brownsville Road in Carrick.
2. Renovation of old prewar apartment building on Collins Street in East Liberty. Unclear what the unit count is now, but building to have 13 units.

8/23:

1. Variances requested for the conversion of the Woods House in Hazelwood into the Scottish pub (it's been covered extensively in the HRC presentations)
2. The biggest project by far is 620 Second Avenue. Formerly a Art Institute dorm with 150 units, the developer seeks to convert it into a 208-unit residential building.

There are other minor projects as well - mostly sign permits, house remodeling, and minor changes of use to existing buildings.

bmust71 · #**1337** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 4:38 PM**

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsbu...nt?oid=9812570

From the looks of the crude rendering the Smallman street improvements have been scaled back, of course :/

Drives me up a freaking wall how no cool project ever comes to full fruition in this city. Terrible

mikebarbaro · #**1338** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 5:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmust71

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsbu...nt?oid=9812570

From the looks of the crude rendering the Smallman street improvements have been scaled back, of course :/

Drives me up a freaking wall how no cool project ever comes to full fruition in this city. Terrible

This is one of the most horrible plans I've ever seen. It looks like 21st Street in South Side with the median parking.

New Waver · #**1339** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 5:59 PM**

[QUOTE=eschaton;8275332]The Penguins have switched developers for the first phase of the Civic Arena buildout (250 units of housing). They believe that this will allow them to develop this first phase by 2020 as the deal reached in November requires, but they do think this could delay the start date, which was supposed to begin early next year.[/QUOT. Surprise! Surprise! The Penguin's find yet another excuse to push their project back. Wasnt 2020 late enough considering by then it will have been ten years since Mellon Arena hosted it's last event. How the Penguins continue to dance between the raindrops without any repercussions is amazing.

photoLith · #**1340** Posted **Aug 8, 2018, 6:43 PM**

It will be 2067 before anything is done to that site.