PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

High-rye whiskeys definitely work great in things like Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs, Boulevardiers, and so on. Those cocktails really benefit from the dry and spicy character of rye.

[photoLith]

From yesterday.

[BrianTH]

Obviously not as grand as the old one, but at least the corner is pretty cool!

[BrianTH]

Speaking of booze-related development:

http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Be...th-Threadbare/

The owners of Strip District distillery Wigle Whiskey are set to debut a second company, Threadbare Cider, later this year. It's an ambitious venture: A seven-figure investment will transform more than an acre of land in Spring Garden into a production facility, barrel house, performance space and entertainment venue. “We see this stretch of land as the next food- and beverage-making center of the city,” says Wigle/Threadbare co-owner Meredith Grelli. A dilapidated 1840s-era Lapke Family tannery house will be rehabilitated into a cider fermentation house. The process of making Threadbare’s ciders will, according to Grelli, be “highly visible and educational.” That building also will serve as a tasting room, learning center and event space. “We want to bridge some of the best things we do with Wigle — tours, education, customer service — with this element of ‘hang out,’” Grelli says. Outside, there will be an outdoor performance venue of what Grelli is calling “significant size.” Buttressing that is a 6000 sq. ft. building that will be refurbished into Wigle’s Barrelhouse #2; Wigle already has outgrown its nearby barrelhouse facility, which opened in summer 2014. Bonus: there will be ample on-site parking.

A little more detail on the history of the property:

https://www.facebook.com/AlleghenyCi...52426801545439

I believe this is the location:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4598...8i6656!6m1!1e1

Looks like the property includes the newer blue building behind the old tannery and the surrounding fenced-in lots:

http://www.bakeryoung.com/#!1254-voskamp-street/cgrr

http://media.wix.com/ugd/eaf0c0_f392...dbb7ffada4.pdf

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4602.../data=!3m1!1e3

Edit:

Only for morbidly curious, here is a story of a horrible accident at the tannery, along with a couple bonus industrial accidents:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,5315738&hl=en

Edit #2:

WAY more info. Not sure how I missed this:

http://www.post-gazette.net/life/ope...s/201602040214

Edit #3:

All you could ever want to know (I am guessing) about the history of the leather tanneries in the area:

http://www.academia.edu/7656108/Leat...Allegheny_City

[JVC]

Originally Posted by photoLith

From yesterday.

those anorexic columns aren't needed to support the 2x4 stick construction on the upper floors - it will be interesting to find out what the architect plans on using them for

the floor plan shows two columns that delineate the edge that faces the corner, but what's up with the third column?

[Evergrey]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburg...ittsburgh.html

First look: Embassy Suites by Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown

Feb 8, 2016, 8:08am EST Updated Feb 8, 2016, 8:16am EST

When it formally opens within the Henry W. Oliver Building on Feb. 9, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown will offer some unique features.

“It’s a new design and a new concept for Embassy,” said Chad Giger, director of sales for the new hotel.

Built out on the top ten floors of a historic office tower in the heart of the Golden Triangle, the 110-suite hotel is the first in the city to feature a “sky lobby” in which the front desk, restaurant and bar are all perched on the top floor of the 25-story building.

...

[photoLith]

I'll be starting a new job at the hilton in a week...

[JVC]

2500 Smallman promo video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T65Eg0O_bF8

[BrianTH]

The state gave the URA more money for Uptown planning (although it is really a drop in the bucket):

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/ci...s/201602080140

[BrianTH]

Cochran has bought the Pittsburgh Cut Flower building:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201602090054

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4500...8i6656!6m1!1e1

There is nothing too special about the building, but I am nervous about what they have planned. I think it would be OK for that spot to be a showroom, offices, or such, but I wouldn't want it to be a parking lot.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Cochran has bought the Pittsburgh Cut Flower building:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business...s/201602090054

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4500...8i6656!6m1!1e1

There is nothing too special about the building, but I am nervous about what they have planned. I think it would be OK for that spot to be a showroom, offices, or such, but I wouldn't want it to be a parking lot.

I'd hate to see that building meet the wrecking ball -- that's classic Strip District, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I don't trust that a car dealership sees things the same way...

[chucka]

Goodbye Oakland Arby's! Hello increased density!



http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9...ilding-oakland

Expanded plans for apartment building raises concerns in Oakland
BY TOM FONTAINE




A Texas developer has expanded plans for an Oakland apartment building geared toward college students, raising concern among some neighborhood residents.

Austin-based Campus Advantage received Pittsburgh Planning Commission approval last year to build a 13-story apartment building in the 3400 block of Forbes Avenue. The original plan featured 137 apartments with 295 beds, though it later reduced the building's height to 10 stories after discussions with neighboring property owners.

Now, with an agreement in place to buy a neighboring property where an Arby's restaurant stands, the proposal calls for 197 apartments with 489 beds. It would remain 10 stories tall. Campus Advantage plans to brief city planners about the new plans on Feb. 23.
...

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by chucka

Goodbye Oakland Arby's! Hello increased density!



http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/9...ilding-oakland

Love the scale, but goddamn that building is ugly as sin.

[Minivan Werner]

Neighborhood resident Carlino Giampolo complained that the project, along with another college student-oriented apartment building going up nearby, is “another continuation of the destruction of our business district for student housing.”

They're losing an Arby's, surface parking and 2 empty 1 story buildings?

[Evergrey]

Where's Carlino Giampalo gonna get his meats?

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by Urbana

Love the scale, but goddamn that building is ugly as sin.

It appears to take cues from Oakland's Iroquois Building:

[JVC]

if the idea was to create a rendering that gives the appearance of an outdated building that had all its upper floor windows removed then the architect did a fantastic job

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Urbana

Love the scale, but goddamn that building is ugly as sin.

Seconded. That is a big gray rectangle.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

It appears to take cues from Oakland's Iroquois Building:

Yet none of the style.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Where's Carlino Giampalo gonna get his meats?

If you read the full article, you'll see Arby's is going to occupy ground floor retail in the new building.

So, even less for NIMBYs to complain about.