PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II - Page 28

Jonboy1983 · #**541** Posted: **Mar 20, 2012, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

it's that a two-story building is a complete waste of space on that property.

Aaron (Glowrock)

If you go back a reread some of my posts, you'll find that I agree with you. It's prime real estate between the two stadiums, and they're going to waste everyone's time with this debacle. A development offering two floors of space just doesn't fly in a central business district like Pittsburgh. Zelienople, perhaps, but not in a space of land adjacent to Downtown...

Evergrey · #**542** Posted: **Mar 20, 2012, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

If you go back a reread some of my posts, you'll find that I agree with you. It's prime real estate between the two stadiums, and they're going to waste everyone's time with this debacle. A development offering two floors of space just doesn't fly in a central business district like Pittsburgh. Zelienople, perhaps, but not in a space of land adjacent to Downtown...

Not only is this two-story Toby Keith redneck haven a pathetic proposal... but this is the culmination of over 10 years of North Shore planning by Continental and its partners!

Wiz Khalifa · #**543** Posted: **Mar 20, 2012, 6:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Not only is this two-story Toby Keith redneck haven a pathetic proposal... but this is the culmination of over 10 years of North Shore planning by Continental and its partners!

Just embarrassing...

Captain Crash · #**544** Posted: **Mar 20, 2012, 7:03 PM**

Some notes on the park and greenspace development front:

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy announced via Twitter that it expects to have at least some of the renovated Mellon Square Park reopened to the public by May.

Also, River Life Pittsburgh unveiled plans with Point Park University to create a "riverfront portal" to connect Wood Street to the parklet on the Mon Wharf.
Some renderings and details here: http://www.riverlifepgh.org/news/pre...wharf_landing/

Quote:

PITTSBURGH – Riverlife and Point Park University revealed design concepts for a portal connecting Downtown’s Wood Street corridor to the Mon Wharf riverfront today during a public presentation on Point Park’s campus. The designs are the result of a collaborative partnership between New York City-based artist Nobuho Nagasawa and Fred Bonci and Natalie Byrd of local landscape architecture firm LaQuatra Bonci Associates.

The design team was tasked with creating a stronger pedestrian connection between Point Park’s Academic Village and the recently constructed Mon Wharf Landing linear park. The design team commission was funded by a grant from The Heinz Endowments and administered by the Office of Public Art.

The design concepts were developed by the artist and landscape architects to create a welcoming pedestrian experience that draws visitors, fosters activity and grants access from Point Park’s bustling campus down to the lower riverfront park. Nagasawa worked with LaQuatra Bonci to complete an extensive site study and conduct feasibility meetings with project stakeholders and the public over the past several months.

According to Nagasawa’s artist statement, the proposed Wood Street/Mon Wharf connection is inspired by the interplay of traffic and the movement of the Monongahela River and has a nautical theme. The design features a connected series of sculptural and lighting elements that will guide pedestrians from Wood Street to the Mon Wharf Landing linear park.

In the design concept, a 40 foot mast and stay cable structure topped with an LED beacon is positioned over the parking access stairway on the traffic island at the end of Wood Street, signaling pedestrian access to a lighted pathway that ends at a shore-side floating pier. As pedestrians descend the stairs beneath the mast to get to the parking lot, they encounter a “jointed skeletal spine, suspended by cables from the Parkway support beams, reminiscent of the bones of a whale and the ribs and keel of a long boat. The spine follows the lighted path from above and extends beyond the Parkway to the river side floating pier. The pier, planted with three planted eastern hemlock trees, provides a stage for performance as well as contemplative seating for viewing the river and water traffic,” according to Nagasawa’s statement.

“The collaboration between an internationally known artist like Nobuho Nagasawa and a top Pittsburgh firm like LaQuatra Bonci represents the best kind of problem solving and planning that allows Downtown to blossom,” said Point Park University president Dr. Paul Hennigan. “Point Park is pleased to work with Riverlife and the design team to establish this important riverfront connection to our campus. In addition to extending the Academic Village, these compelling designs open up the entire Wood Street corridor to the Monongahela River.”

Access to the Mon Wharf Landing is currently limited by a network of roadway and highway ramps at the intersection of Wood Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. Street-level improvements at the intersection are included in the design to provide clear and direct crosswalks. “The small islands at the entry to the Mon Wharf Parking are consolidated to provide a larger and safer landing for those headed to the water,” explained Fred Bonci, founding partner at LaQuatra Bonci Associates. “[In the new design,] the existing stairs that lead down to the Mon Wharf are reconfigured to provide a more inviting pedestrian experience, and surface planters and decorative barriers help to control views and pedestrian movements.”

“Point Park has been a revitalizing force in Downtown Pittsburgh and the new Wood Street-Mon Wharf project builds on that energy, drawing students and visitors to the river using art and landscape design to make the experience of getting there enjoyable,” said Lisa Schroeder, Riverlife President and CEO. “With this portal, we see the importance of reconnecting Pittsburgh’s riverfronts to its interior neighborhoods, and the challenges of overcoming urban infrastructure like roads and highways to get people to the water,” Schroeder said. “The portal will breathe new life into the Mon Wharf Landing and serve as another fabulous entrance to Three Rivers Park, Downtown’s riverfront park system.”

Nobuho Nagasawa was chosen to work on the design team with LaQuatra Bonci Associates last June after more than 50 local, national and international artists submitted their qualifications for consideration. Nagasawa was selected by a committee comprised of representatives from the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, City of Pittsburgh, PennDOT, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Mellon University School of Art, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Riverlife and Point Park University in addition to downtown residents and business owners. The artist selection and design development processes were organized by the Office of Public Art, a public-private partnership between the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning.

Fundraising for final design and construction of the Wood Street-Mon Wharf portal will begin this spring, led by Point Park University and Riverlife.

Evergrey · #**545** Posted: **Mar 20, 2012, 9:06 PM**

Way to go, Riverlife! You guys do some awesome work!

Minivan Werner · #**546** Posted: **Mar 20, 2012, 10:57 PM**

Does anyone know exactly which spot this 2 story building is going to be occupying on the North Shore?

Evergrey · #**547** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 1:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

Does anyone know exactly which spot this 2 story building is going to be occupying on the North Shore?

I don't know if it's the same footprint... but the Toby Keith development will be located at building 7.2 on the North Shore master plan... next to Stage AE.

Here's a couple more fleshed-out articles concerning the Toby Keith project:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_787010.html

Quote:

Building with restaurants, taverns coming to North Shore

...

The city Stadium Authority board unanimously approved the $20 million proposal by Continental Real Estate and agreed to sell the developer the land it needs to proceed -- currently used for about 150 parking spaces -- for $900,000, the appraised price for the property, said Barry Ford, Continental's director of development.

The 80,000-square-foot building will be next to Stage AE and across North Shore Drive from the Del Monte Foods building. Continental is partnering with the Pirates and the Steelers on the project.

Herky Pollock, a vice president of CB Richard Ellis, which will lease space in the building, described the project as "the crown jewel" of the retail component of North Shore development. That began in 1991 with then-Mayor Sophie Masloff's announcement of a plan to replace Three Rivers Stadium with PNC Park and Heinz Field.

...

http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12077/1217397-28.stm

Quote:

Project OK'd for North Shore

...

The project is the first one advanced by developer Continental Real Estate Companies and the Steelers and the Pirates since the board voted last fall to amend a 9-year-old option agreement with the teams and extend the deadlines they had missed for developing land between the stadiums.

Under the new timetable, Continental and the teams will have until next March to begin development on the parcels sold Friday, although they hope to get started by this fall.

...

Herky Pollock, the CB Richard Ellis executive vice president who is marketing the first floor space, said the goal is "not to cannibalize but to complement" the restaurant and entertainment development happening in other parts of the city, including Downtown and the South Side.

...

The $900,000 sales price for the 1.3 acres of land was based on an appraisal by Integra Realty Resources, which had questioned whether the proposed office and retail project was the best use of the property.

However, in a report to the board in December, Douglas Herold, an Integra director, said the project was the only one that was "marginally financially feasible" at this time given market conditions.

Parking magnate Merrill Stabile last year offered $10 million for a 3.3-acre North Shore site that included the subject properties to build what he called a "signature office tower." That would translate into about $4.8 million for the 1.3 acres, Mr. Herold said.

...

So Herky Pollock is calling the 2-story Toby Keith project "the crown jewel" of the North Shore... yet Integra Realty is calling this "the only project marginally financially feasible given market conditions".

Minivan Werner · #**548** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 3:57 AM**

I see.. I was wondering if maybe it was going to be an area close to, or partially obstructed by, some of the overpasses. Nope. That is a very large and very prime spot. I'm fairly certain the parking structure behind it will be well above 2 stories.. which will make this building stand out in a negative way even more.

Evergrey · #**549** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 1:05 PM**

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_787495.html

Quote:

6-story hotel in Bloomfield planned

By Sam Spatter, FOR THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A year ago, it looked as if the former Don Allen Auto City site at Baum Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield would be the site for a new, unidentified hotel.

On Tuesday, officials provided details of a $23 million, six-story, 130-unit hotel -- Hilton Homewood Suites at Baum -- planned for the site. Members of the Baum Centre Initiative -- an umbrella group for about six neighborhood organizations -- reviewed details of the project at a meeting yesterday.

"This project will attract more quality development to the Bloomfield area," said Keith McGraw of Sewickley, a partner in developer Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, N.C., which has developed 14 other hotels in the Pittsburgh area since 1995.

The project will be privately funded and employ 33, McGraw said. The plan requires city planning and zoning approvals. Construction could begin this fall, and the hotel would open in 2014.

The hotel will have 80,000 square feet of space, including 5,500 square feet of retail space. Plans call for the hotel drop-off location to be in the back of the building, adjacent to a 105-vehicle parking lot that will also have space for 48 bicycles. The hotel will include a swimming pool, exercise facility, restaurant and corporate and banquet meeting rooms.

The former Don Allen Auto City site is owned by the Voelker family. A year ago, Richard Voelker said that an LA Fitness center was one of two projects that he expected would start at the site last year; he declined to identify the second project. Voelker could not be reached for comment.

Since then, the LA Fitness development has been bogged down by legal matters, despite approvals from the city and the neighborhood groups.

The hotel's drop-off zone had been a concern of neighborhood groups about five years ago, when another developer, Doc-Economou, and the Voelker family, through DA Diversified Inc., initially proposed a hotel as part of a $230 million Baum Liberty Crossing hotel and retail complex.

That development, consisting of retail and a parking garage, plus the hotel and offices, eventually was discarded. Since then, the only change has been the proposed LA Fitness facility in a building, bounded by Liberty and South Atlantic and South Pacific avenues.

Evergrey · #**550** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 1:13 PM**

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...te-627216/?p=0

Quote:

Penguins take first step toward rebirth of arena site

By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette /

With the demolition of the Civic Arena close to completion, the Penguins are gearing up to market the 28-acre site for redevelopment.

The team has hired global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle to begin marketing the land to prospective developers and tenants, the first tangible step in its bid to transform the site into a residential, office and commercial development.

Jones Lang LaSalle will serve as the Penguins' representative on the project. In addition to marketing the property, it will help the team to select one or multiple developers for the redevelopment; update the market analysis to determine the right mix of office, residential and commercial space; and assist in discussions with the city and stakeholders in the Hill District, Uptown and Downtown in the planning for the site.

Penguins officials said the hiring of Jones Lang LaSalle shows their commitment to redeveloping the land after the lengthy battle over the future of the Civic Arena, which is being demolished to clear the path for their project.

With the firm on board, the team plans to begin discussions immediately with prospective developers and anchor tenants, including possible retailers, although it likely will be months before anyone is selected. It is considering whether to use one master developer for all 28 acres or separate office, residential and commercial developers.

With the economy showing signs of a comeback, David Morehouse, the Penguins' CEO, said it is a good time to begin marketing the site.

"This is a rare opportunity for a city of this size to have 28 acres of developable land adjacent to its central business district. It's happening in Pittsburgh at a time when the economy is moving forward. So it's a perfect storm of opportunity if done in the right way. We're committed to doing our part to make sure that it happens," he said.

The Penguins are proposing 1,200 units of housing, 600,000 square feet of office space and 200,000 square feet of commercial space at the site, which borders Crawford Square in the Hill District and Uptown and sits across the street from the Consol Energy Center.

But with Downtown Class A office space at a premium and high demand for Downtown housing, Travis Williams, the Penguins' chief operating officer, said the team may boost the amount of square footage devoted to both.

"Because of the recent upsurge in office occupancy associated with the Marcellus Shale industry, there is more of a demand than we had a couple of years ago," Mr. Morehouse noted.

Team officials also will be seeking a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Neighborhood Development rating for the project. They are considering an on-site plant to generate power for the development and construction materials that will help buildings achieve LEED certifications. The Consol Energy Center received a LEED Gold rating, the first National Hockey League arena to achieve that distinction.

Mr. Williams said the goal is to make the 28 acres a "marquee green sustainable development."

While hiring an owner's representative and marketing the land are key steps for the Penguins, much work still remains.

The city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority has yet to raise the estimated $40 million needed to add infrastructure to the site, most of which it owns. It recently hired Moon engineering company Michael Baker Jr. Inc. to begin design work for the infrastructure, but it still needs millions of dollars to pay for the final design.

The Penguins won the development rights to the property as part of the 2007 agreement with state and local leaders to build the Consol Energy Center and stay in Pittsburgh. Under that agreement, the team must begin developing the land a year after the Civic Arena demolition ends. The arena is expected to be down by the end of May.

As part of the 2007 deal, the Penguins have the option of using the land on which the arena sits for parking until it is developed. Critics have pointed to that provision to claim that the team has no intention of developing the property, given how lucrative parking revenue can be.

But Penguins officials insisted again Tuesday that parking is but an "interim" use before the land is developed. They said they never would have hired Jones Lang LaSalle if they were going to keep it as a parking lot.

"We have a track record of having done what we said we were going to do. And we're going to continue to do that. It's important to our ownership group, it's important to us, and it's important to the city that we develop this site," Mr. Morehouse said.

Jones Lang LaSalle has more than 200 corporate offices worldwide and 45,500 employees. It serves as real estate adviser to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on the World Trade Center redevelopment. It also has been involved in the planning for the reuse of Olympic facilities in London after the 2012 games.

Evergrey · #**551** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 1:20 PM**

http://popcitymedia.com/devnews/high...ace032112.aspx

Quote:

Highland and Wallace buildings' redevelopment underway in East Liberty

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

After 25 years of vacancy, the Historic Highland and Wallace buildings in East Liberty are under renovation and will once again offer housing and retail opportunities to the community. Construction began Monday on the 103-year-old complex, which is being converted to 129 apartments, 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and will include a 180-car parking garage.

Earlier this month, the URA approved the transfer of the properties to Highland Wallace Joint Venture, a development partnership which includes Walnut Capital and Massaro Properties.

Gregg Perelman, of Walnut Capital, says the work is to be “100% historic renovation,” and will restore the exteriors and interiors of both structures. Built by Henry Clay Frick in 1909, the Highland Building was designed by Daniel Burnham, and placed on the National Register of Historic Properties in 1991.

Last year, the development hinged on two key funding components: a $4.5 million grant from the state for construction of a parking garage, and federal financing from HUD, both of which the project received.

The project is on a 14-month timeline, with the first rental units to be available by June 1st, 2013.

The apartments will feature oversized windows, stone counter tops, stainless steel appliances, high ceilings, and a washer and dryer in each unit. The units will primarily be 1-bedroom apartments, however a few 2-bedroom units will be available.

And in nearby Larimer, the Larimer Consensus Group is inviting residents to participate in the Larimer Avenue Corridor "Vision to Action" Kick Off Event. This will be the first in a planning series focusing on the transformation of the Larimer neighborhood. Among many issues, the consensus group is looking for ideas on housing, education, safety, health, and commercial development. Thursday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m., the Kingsley Association (6435 Frankstown Avenue).

Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Gregg Perelman, Walnut Properties

glowrock · #**552** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 1:53 PM**

So nice to see continued investment in places like Bloomfield and East Liberty. Eventually, as downtown and these areas begin to run out of places to redevelop, I hope the Hill District really starts to take off!

It's really great to see another hotel about to begin construction. The Pittsburgh area seems to be severely UNDER-hoteled, and I think it's fantastic to see several of them either currently or soon to be under construction in the city. Specifically, I'm also quite pleased that there's a Hyatt Place being built in Southside Works at this time.

Aaron (Glowrock)

themaguffin · #**553** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 2:59 PM**

Quote:

The Penguins are proposing 1,200 units of housing, 600,000 square feet of office space and 200,000 square feet of commercial space at the site

600,000 square ft. That might all of 10 stories, depending on the footprint etc.

It's likely smaller.

Sigh.

Though, 1,200 housing units is a lot. Hopefully that will utilize the space well.

Austinlee · #**554** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 3:30 PM**

Highest occupancy rate in a decade at Pittsburgh hotels

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...hotels-627309/

Sweet!

Austinlee · #**555** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 3:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

http://popcitymedia.com/devnews/high...ace032112.aspx

Awesome. I really like Bloomfield. I feel like as far as city neighborhood vitality goes, after the big ones of Oakland, Southside, Squirrel hill... Bloomfield places strongly along with the Northside, Lawrenceville, East Lib, Shadyside...

I never knew about the densely populated East end neighborhoods growing up because I was from "Metro West" as you've dubbed in Evergrey, which was all the rivertowns and mainstreets of Beaver County and Western Allegheny county including Moon/Robinson. Didn't know that the city was heavily weighted towards the east end. The western city pales by comparison -(Crafton/Ingram/West End/Mckees Rocks) none of which have much going for them.

Overall, without sugarcoating it, how did you like living in Bloomfield Evergrey? Is it a worthwhile neighorbood and enjoyable and functional?

Private Dick · #**556** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Not only is this two-story Toby Keith redneck haven a pathetic proposal... but this is the culmination of over 10 years of North Shore planning by Continental and its partners!

"redneck haven"

Actually sounds like it could be a place in West Virginia. But it would be like this... the merger of the two towns of Red Neck, WV and Haven, WV... to form the Red Neck-Haven, WV metropolitan area.

Anyway, this is a pathetic attempt, and I hate to admit it... but a Toby Keith bar will fit in perfectly with the Steeler nation demographic. The place will be packed, and I bet it will be the most successful location in the franchise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrock

So nice to see continued investment in places like Bloomfield and East Liberty. Eventually, as downtown and these areas begin to run out of places to redevelop, I hope the Hill District really starts to take off!

Aaron (Glowrock)

When we are old and gray... maybe.

glowrock · #**557** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

600,000 square ft. That might all of 10 stories, depending on the footprint etc.

It's likely smaller.

Sigh.

Though, 1,200 housing units is a lot. Hopefully that will utilize the space well.

600,000 sf is quite a bit of office space, quite frankly. Unless we're talking about footprints the size of a big box store, that could easily be the equivalent of a 20 story tower. Likely it's probably going to be split into 2-3 buildings though, I would guess. Maybe retail at the base, offices and apartments above that. I can't imagine this site NOT being truly mixed-use!

Aaron (Glowrock)

BrianTH · #**558** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 8:21 PM**

The Penguins's original plan resulted in 8-12 story buildings in the couple blocks nearest Downtown, and low-rise buildings in the block farthest east. It would be nice if all that was scaled up a bit in light of what they are saying about growing demand.

Edit: Oh, and the Highland Building project getting under way is fantastic. There have been a lot of false starts, but there will be no more powerful symbol of how Pittsburgh's dynamic has changed.

Minivan Werner · #**559** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaguffin

600,000 square ft. That might all of 10 stories, depending on the footprint etc.

It's likely smaller.

Sigh.

Though, 1,200 housing units is a lot. Hopefully that will utilize the space well.

How do you figure? I think 3 PNC has 700k of square footage.

Evergrey · #**560** Posted: **Mar 21, 2012, 8:32 PM**

600k sq ft of office space over a 28 acre site immediately adjacent to the Grant Street corridor is not very much... especially considering how tight the Downtown class A office market is... and the economic growth projected for the future.