PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown III

[Tim32269]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/J2BxAeZ1VzavFobn6

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Tim32269

I am new to this thread and I have spent so much time trying to figure out how to post pictures from my cell phone that I am ready to just give up and throw myself off a bridge.

Imgur is what I use to post these days. Although it's a laborious process to get a photo online, since I have to take it, then upload it to google drive, then download it onto my computer to crop and resize for sharing on imgur.

[eschaton]

Carlow is seeking a developer in the next month to help design a new 100,000+ square foot extension to the campus. The new building is supposed to front on Fifth Avenue near the intersection with Craft - right where the surface parking lot is now. The project may include the demolition of St. Agnes Church - they haven't decided yet. No height is given, but they appear to be looking at a fairly tall building, considering they want a skybridge to connect it to the upper campus. The building will house its health service department, food service, labs, conference rooms, private commercial space, and a 300-space garage. They hope to have it under construction by 2020.

[eschaton]

URA agenda up. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for the URA, because it plans to reveal how it's going to allocate the Housing Opportunity Fund - the special fund created by the city via a higher property transfer tax (ugh) to pay for affordable housing.

[bossride]

Originally Posted by eschaton

URA agenda up. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for the URA, because it plans to reveal how it's going to allocate the Housing Opportunity Fund - the special fund created by the city via a higher property transfer tax (ugh) to pay for affordable housing.

3. Housing Opportunity Fund
a. Presentation and approval of the 2018 Housing Opportunity Fund Annual
Allocation Plan.
b. Amendment of Agreement with HR&A Advisors, Inc., dated June 25, 2018 to assist the Authority draft the policies and procedures for the HOF, for an increase not to exceed $62,000.00, for a total Agreement amount not to exceed $138,000.00.

So, the URA wants to spend an additional $62,000 for someone to tell them how to spend the the new transfer tax increase? Efficient use of tax dollars!

[Urbanthusiat]

Originally Posted by bossride

So, the URA wants to spend an additional $62,000 for someone to tell them how to spend the the new transfer tax increase? Efficient use of tax dollars!

Would you really rather they relied on themselves and didn't consider the effects of their policies on the private sector? It's a relatively modest amount to get it right. Turns out you have to spend money to do things well, who would have thought? HR&A is well respected in urban planning policy.

[Don't Be That Guy]

Delete

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Would you really rather they relied on themselves and didn't consider the effects of their policies on the private sector? It's a relatively modest amount to get it right. Turns out you have to spend money to do things well, who would have thought? HR&A is well respected in urban planning policy.

Basically this comes down to whether you want to fund permanent staff to handle this sort of task, or whether you want to use consultants only when necessary. And that really depends on things like the frequency and predictability of the tasks in question, their scale and how much specialized expertise they require, and so on.

Generally, though, I think it is a good thing more local agencies have been using consultants for more one-off projects, as opposed to do just hoping permanent staff can handle those projects efficiently and well.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Carlow is seeking a developer in the next month to help design a new 100,000+ square foot extension to the campus. The new building is supposed to front on Fifth Avenue near the intersection with Craft - right where the surface parking lot is now. The project may include the demolition of St. Agnes Church - they haven't decided yet. No height is given, but they appear to be looking at a fairly tall building, considering they want a skybridge to connect it to the upper campus. The building will house its health service department, food service, labs, conference rooms, private commercial space, and a 300-space garage. They hope to have it under construction by 2020.

I want to say there was some prior news on this project, but I forget the details.

Anyway, it would be nice to get a decent-looking, decent-scale, building in that spot (I mean I would always say that, but that spot in particular is pretty strategic in that it is a gateway to Oakland, and also visible from quite a distance).

[BrianTH]

PAT has submitted the revised East End BRT project for federal funding (which could cover up to about half the total costs):

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/tra...s/201809110143

It has gotten encouraging feedback in prior rounds so should have a very good chance this time, but it is a competitive program with limited funding and therefore there are no guarantees.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

PAT has submitted the revised East End BRT project for federal funding (which could cover up to about half the total costs):

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/tra...s/201809110143

It has gotten encouraging feedback in prior rounds so should have a very good chance this time, but it is a competitive program with limited funding and therefore there are no guarantees.

In case anyone is curious, here is the grant application. Looks skimpy for asking for nearly $100 million, but I am guessing that is due to government demand, since I know way more material has been created.

I don't think I've seen the map before, which shows the actual locations of the future stops, rather than the approximate T-style map that has been distributed previously.

I'm still not sure it's the best idea to route the "Highland Park line" on Fifth. Baum seems like a better idea to me, because it's wide enough, Centre is right next to it to take on more car traffic, and it would help to replace the 71 buses more completely.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

In case anyone is curious, here is the grant application. Looks skimpy

I think that may just be what is called the Project Profile. If I am not mistaken, the actual application is considerably longer.

[BrianTH]

I sometimes wonder if Millcraft is just making this stuff up to troll us:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201809130179

Millcraft Investments has reached a deal to build a man-made lagoon on the Ohio riverfront on the North Side as part of an ambitious mixed-use development in Chateau known as the Esplanade. The two-acre lagoon with “paradise-like turquoise water,” to be built by Dallas- and Miami-based Crystal Lagoons, will be the first of its kind in a cold weather climate, according to Millcraft. In the summer, part of the lagoon will feature a white sandy beach area for lounging and sun bathing. It also will be a place where visitors will be able to swim, kayak, paddle board, and even take scuba diving lessons. For children, there will be a splash pool. A fountain is planned for light shows at night. During the winter, part of the lagoon will be converted into an ice skating rink. Another lagoon amenity, thermal baths, will be available year round. . . . The lagoon will overlook the Ohio River but will not be part of it.

Lucas Piatt, Millcraft’s president and chief operating officer, described the amenity as a “small version” of Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon. . . . Mr. Piatt said the genesis of the 12-foot-deep lagoon, which will cost as much as $6 million to build, came from the idea of “doing things that really aren’t here in Pittsburgh yet.” . . . The lagoon, he said, only made sense for Pittsburgh if it could be used year round given the limited summer season. Out of that came the idea for the ice rink and thermal baths. . . . Among the activities, he envisions a floating screen in the middle of the lagoon for movies and perhaps even a floating stage for musical performances. Admission fees have yet to be determined, he said. According to Millcraft, the lagoon will be the first in the world in an urban environment capable of being converted from a paradise-like body of water in the summer to an ice skating rink in the winter.
. . .
Mr. Piatt estimated the start of the project is about 18 months away. The old steel site and the adjacent former Eles Concrete Facility are owned by the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, which has authorized exclusive negotiations with Millcraft. The developer has negotiated control over other adjacent privately-owned parcels needed for the redevelopment.

[BrianTH]

The URA is issuing an RFP for a strategic Uptown location (total of 1.8 acres):

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/ci...s/201809130156

The available land is made up of city- and URA-owned parcels located along Fifth Avenue, Our Way, Dinwiddie Street and Colwell Street.

That would be here, right across from the redeveloped Fifth Avenue school.

[mikebarbaro]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I sometimes wonder if Millcraft is just making this stuff up to troll us:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201809130179

If anyone actually comes through and actually makes development happen, Millcraft Investments does.

[highlander206]

Originally Posted by mikebarbaro

If anyone actually comes through and actually makes development happen, Millcraft Investments does.

I was going to say the same. They're generally stick to things they propose so I have hope it will come, would be a very cool and unique thing.

[photoLith]

The guy in that render looks very worried that his date isn't going well and that he'll yet again not get laid after his 4th attempt at a Tindr date and will have to yet again go home to his fleshlight; wherein hell contemplate life after jerking it to Eastern European harem porn.

[Jonboy1983]

Originally Posted by highlander206

I was going to say the same. They're generally stick to things they propose so I have hope it will come, would be a very cool and unique thing.

I shared that on my Facebook page. When I first saw these renderings I thought they were from one of my connections who is a landscape architect/planner in Montgomery County. He would share some news and insights on outside-the-box urban planning and development around the world. Lo and behold, it was a PG article illustrating such a development for CHATEAU. A development like this will surely transform the Chateau neighborhood - or at least this section of it - from a run-down old industrial site into a destination for the city and surrounding region!

Given that this is Millcraft, I have a great deal of faith that this will pan out. They transformed the Fifth-Forbes corridor 10 years ago. It's too bad the late Bob O'Connor left us when he did. I think he'd be happy with where Pittsburgh is going. A 200-ft ferris wheel AND a man-made beach/lagoon? YES PLEASE!

I wonder who will run the hotel. I'm thinking it's going to be something high-end or full service given the scope of the development.

[Steel City Scotty]

The giant Ferris wheel had already made Esplanade the development project in the city that I was most looking forward to, but this talk of the man-made lagoon that becomes an ice skating rink in the winter only adds to it. I really hope that all of this comes together.

I will say the last project that I got this excited about was the massive "One Grandview" hotel rendering on Mount Washington, and we know that hasn't happened...yet, but the highline project on the South Side, which is underway, ranks high on my list as well.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Steel City Scotty

The giant Ferris wheel had already made Esplanade the development project in the city that I was most looking forward to, but this talk of the man-made lagoon that becomes an ice skating rink in the winter only adds to it. I really hope that all of this comes together.

I will say the last project that I got this excited about was the massive "One Grandview" hotel rendering on Mount Washington, and we know that hasn't happened...yet, but the highline project on the South Side, which is underway, ranks high on my list as well.

This was posted in the PG back in March: http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201803140057
Developer awarded grant to build Grandview Avenue hotel in Mount Washington

Grandview Realty LLC has been awarded a $1 million state redevelopment assistance capital grant to support the construction of a $95 million hotel and conference center with a spa, fitness center, ballroom, parking garage, and public grand plaza with an outdoor dining area.
Mr. Beemsterboer told him that he was still working through the financing and design for the project.

Once the developer has completed both, it intends to present a plan to the community, Mr. Grande said.
...the developer spent $1.7 million to buy nine parcels near the Edge site in December. Mr. Grande said they include abandoned houses that will be remediated and demolished and become part of the footprint for the development.

But this too may have stalled because of lack of financial backing. I have not heard a thing since.