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Originally Posted by Evergrey
I think Pittsburgh... from an urban development standpoint... is still traumatized by the steel collapse... and this is another example of a safe, unimaginative project that aims to appeal to mid-20th century suburban sensibilities... squandering the massive potential of the site.
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I can dig it.
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Originally Posted by themaguffin
Downtown has a bookstore again?
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Cool. Great to see stuff like this going back downtown.
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Originally Posted by markson33
I don't know... the scale of the proposed development fits within the context of the Strip District. A larger more modern development might not look appropriate next to all the other brick warehouse buildings.
Buncher has never really been about great design or cutting edge development. They are a very steak & potatoes developer that is mostly concerned with return on investment.
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I'm not suggesting 30+ story condo towers for the site (considering that it's not realistic for the Pittsburgh market anyway), but a couple of residential buildings the height of the Cork Factory would be preferable, if you ask me. And "larger more modern development next to all the other brick warehouse buildings" sure works superbly well in any number of other cities. In fact, that option is WAY better than putting up fake brick generic apartment buildings and offices made to look like old brick warehouse buildings.
Instead, it appears that we have Southside Worksy "architecture" to look forward to and what we will get looks to be far too similar to Pittsburgh's current lone waterfront living option -- the lovely, contextual Motel 6 Northshore... sorry, I mean Lincoln at the Northshore.
Also, Buncher blows (and licks my nuts too). It's a shame that they own so much riverfront land in the Pittsburgh area.
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Originally Posted by glowrock
Look, that master plan is taking up many, many solid blocks of surface parking, and is going to greatly improve overall density of both office and residential in the Strip District. While I of course agree that too much surface parking will remain, it's so much better than the wasteland of asphalt that's there right now it's not even funny. And remember, this is a master plan that I'm sure is open to some revision. Perhaps if Buncher feels that additional density can add to their bottom line, they'll do just that?
Aaron (Glowrock)
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You're right, glowrock. But this is the attitude that has plagued so many of the redevelopment efforts in the former industrial cities for decades now. The idea and acceptance that "it's better than what's there now"... and "let's take what we can get"...
The fact that this plan is "taking up many, many solid blocks of surface parking" makes it all the worse, in my opinion. I'd much prefer just one of those blocks taken up with a cool project that Pittsburgh can be proud of, than having many, many blocks taken up by what amounts to cookie-cutter junk. What a waste. But that's become the status quo here -- just look at the relatively recent redevelopment projects around here.
We have these wonderful blank urban canvases begging for something great, and instead of stimulating fresh, creative, inspiring plans for redevelopment, we get this kind of boring, anyplace USA crap. But still, we see the plans and we say,
hey, it's better than what is there now.
It seems that has become the collective thinking here and it stifles the demand for truly innovative redevelopment efforts. I think what I'm ranting about is what Evergrey probably better stated above. Just tired of the same old, same old in Pittsburgh.
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Originally Posted by themaguffin
I think that the development would be particularly good further down (east) the Strip.
As mentioned, adjacent to downtown should use the space better. It's largely a blank slate as close to downtown as one could get. At least one apartment building of some moderate height should be part of the plan. Ideally on the scale of the newer apartment building a few blocks up in the Cultural District, even if smaller something that helps scale downtown to the Strip.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBone7281
Having anything there is better
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Again, there is that disturbing acceptance that Pittsburgh really can't do any better.
And we wonder why we get the tacky and generic Southside Works, Northshore highway exit looking motels and office park, drastically out of place and underutilized Pittsburgh Technology Park, and the pathetic crapalicious proposal for the Civic Arena site...
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better than what's there now, indeed.
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Originally Posted by AaronPGH
I don't necessarily care about the density as much as I do the creativity of that project. It's so BLAND. If we are really going to develop something this large, do it right! This is suburban looking garbage.
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Bingo