PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[photoLith]

So they arent preserving them? This city still is stuck in the 80s.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Point Park, city plan to preserve historic facades at new playhouse

Which is a pretty deceptive headline.

It's obvious that they just don't get it. It's not about preserving the materials, its about preserving the street wall and the history... ugh.

[Jonboy1983]

I don't know if this was mentioned in any of the Lawrenceville projects, but here's a little link about Graham's Barbershop. Ryan Graham, the owner, is actually my cousin.

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-d...istrict-lofts/

[BrianTH]

Hopefully someone actually nominates the Playhouse buildings for historic status, because it appears that is their only hope.

An update on the first waves of new housing coming to Larimer:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/ci...s/201411210205

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Point Park, city plan to preserve historic facades at new playhouse

Which is a pretty deceptive headline.

Agreed that the headline is inaccurate. It's interesting that Acklin is quoted so extensively and there's nothing directly from the mayor. As someone pointed out here a while back, Peduto had been strangely silent on the Playhouse project since becoming mayor. He was the project's biggest supporter on City Council. He seems to be keeping his distance so he doesn't upset either side.

I had to chuckle at Rob Pfaffmann's comments. Recently a friend, who is an architect in Pittsburgh, told me that Pfaffmann is known to rally to the support of any threatened old building...unless he is in consideration to design the replacement. In those cases he keeps his mouth shut. So clearly Point Park did not consider his firm to design the new Playhouse. Maybe it should have to keep him quiet...

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

Recently a friend, who is an architect in Pittsburgh, told me that Pfaffmann is known to rally to the support of any threatened old building...unless he is in consideration to design the replacement. In those cases he keeps his mouth shut.

That seems like a rather serious smear to repeat as simply "a friend told me . . ." sort of rumor.

Regardless, his views in this case should be considered on their merits, neither granted extra weight because of his professional background, nor given less weight because of such ad hominem attacks.

[SkyPittsburgh]

I was doing some digging for my Pittsburgh City limits development map, and I found more information about the new apartment building at the corner of Penn and Matilda Avenue. It will be 3 stories, with one floor of retail space, and 39 apartments. More information, including a picture here: http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/ura-fil...n_Mathilda.pdf

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by SkyPittsburgh

I was doing some digging for my Pittsburgh City limits development map, and I found more information about the new apartment building at the corner of Penn and Matilda Avenue. It will be 3 stories, with one floor of retail space, and 39 apartments.

Nice! Combined with the existing buildings across the street, that should make for a cool "gateway" into that portion of Penn:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4654...Akia0mqFaQ!2e0

[SkyPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by eschaton

(FWIW, something big is going to be announced regarding ALMONO soon too).

Now you've piqued my interest, what kind of announcement should we expect? A building? A park? Are there any details you can give us without having to be "silenced?"

[MattofSloppyVariety]

I don't know if this has been brought up here yet or not. I was complaining about how many Family Dollars there were in the East Liberty area and a friend just happened to be very forthcoming with some information about the Shakespeare shopping plaza.

To keep it shore, he said, "The owner of the center has a master-plan to terminate the lease of everyone in there, demo the building, and build a theater complex."

Makes me a little sad that I'll be moving from that area of the city here soon.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MattofSloppyVariety

"The owner of the center has a master-plan to terminate the lease of everyone in there, demo the building, and build a theater complex."

I hope that is part of a mixed-use project (it would be a shame, and probably not economically viable, to have it be ONLY a theater complex).

[Gilamonster]

USX to build world headquarters at former Civic Arena site:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/...in-pittsburgh/

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by Gilamonster

USX to build world headquarters at former Civic Arena site:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/...in-pittsburgh/

This is big! Anyone have any idea how many sqft they currently take up?

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by Gilamonster

USX to build world headquarters at former Civic Arena site:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/...in-pittsburgh/

That is exciting news. I cant wait to see the rendering.

[BrianTH]

Anchor tenant in new high rise would be the best case scenario. Make it so!

[Gilamonster]

I'm looking forward to this afternoon's press conference. Hopefully, there will be lots of details and a preliminary rendering released. I'm guessing the building will be proposed at somewhere between 15 and 25 stories. I also wouldn't be surprised if they announce 2 or 3 total buildings, going for the "campus" set up, which would likely keep the max. height of any building under 20 stories.

[Urbana]

Motivated by the US Steel news (and insomnia) I took a second look at the latest planning presentation. They seem to have added some new renderings of the lower hill after the fact.







I must admit, I was a skeptic of the Penguins from day one. But they seem to be doing something right.

source: http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/sch...ion-51-645.pdf

[BrianTH]

Another article on the Simakas site:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/ci...s/201411240032

Mr. Simakas said he was attached to the old relic and had read up on its history before meeting the neighbors. He proposed preserving the interior skeleton of Bay No. 4, which was built in the 1930s on top of the portion of 41st Street that had extended to the Allegheny River. The city vacated it for the Pittsburgh Rolls Corp. to build that bay, which made the rolls used in rolling mills.

Mr. Simakas said he wants to re-establish 41st Street as a pedestrian thoroughfare, removing the skin of Bay No. 4 and leaving the skeleton, with its mammoth steel columns, crossbeams and catwalks. He said he would like to use the lamps affixed to the columns to light the thoroughfare. The roof might be removed or a portion retained, he said. “The plan is to use Bay No. 4 as a space that could be a farmers or artisans market and for small performances,” he said. He envisions using part of the space behind the machine shop as an open public courtyard, possibly keeping a big blue planer mill as a relic.

[Minivan Werner]

Wow, that is a pretty big deal. I don't recall how much square footage they're looking for, but they currently have about 1,000 employees in the USX building and I think there's some type of call center on the south side they wanted to consolidate into their new HQ.

[photoLith]

Wow is that an actual skyscraper planned for the lower hill in that rendering?