PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown III

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by WillyC

I think the reddit thread where they exposed the lady organizing the resistance to the Mozart project as a rental competitor allowed for this to happen. I contacted Erika Strassburger about it, and I'm guessing from her response, several other local super voters probably did as well. She wrote a letter of support for the project to the ZBA.

I wrote her in support of the project, but not because of Reddit.

Unfortunately, I also suspect that "regular people" with an interest in urban density will need to keep stepping up when projects like this face ridiculous backlash.

[eschaton]

March 21 Planning Commission agenda now online. Three new items on the agenda for next week:

1. A tiny partial demolition/housing rehab project in Uptown. Really confused why the Commission is even reviewing this, even considering the Uptown Public Realm i is generally now part of their purview.

2. A minor change to Pitt's master plan. This appears to be related to item 3 on the agenda, discussed below.

3. Pitt's new Arena and Sports Performance Center. I know I've seen a version of this before - perhaps in an OPDC agenda. Seems a solid trade up from the status quo, occupying a vacant grassy field along Aliquippa Street. The tremendous grade change means the loading dock area along Aliquippa is essentially flush with the arena's top allowing for a green roof. I think it's pretty much impossible to get an arena which is decent from an urban design standpoint, but I think it's fine how it is tucked far up the hill away from the core of Oakland, and partially obscured due to the heavy use of landscaping. I do find it odd how much of the presentation is given over to the exterior, without a single decent interior layout given, but that's obviously of less interest to the Commission.

In addition, the April 13th ZBA is online. A few items of note.

1. Infill house in Central North Side. The developer had previously attempted to get this approved as a legal two-unit (with a rental unit on the top story) but has been argued down to a single-family home - though I note the top story is still set up like a pseudo-ADU, with a seperate living room and bath (but no kitchen).

2. A set of infill houses in Garfield. This is the location. Garfield has seen a large number of these proposed infill projects in recent months - it's obviously tipped to where market-rate new-construction now makes a profit. Can't tell anything about the design here, but it's a Desmone project, so I don't have high hopes. I absolutely think they should be forced to put parking in the rear - there is a "paper street," and although there's a big grade change heading down the hill, there seems to not be much from street to alley.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

3. Pitt's new Arena and Sports Performance Center. I know I've seen a version of this before - perhaps in an OPDC agenda. Seems a solid trade up from the status quo, occupying a vacant grassy field along Aliquippa Street. The tremendous grade change means the loading dock area along Aliquippa is essentially flush with the arena's top allowing for a green roof. I think it's pretty much impossible to get an arena which is decent from an urban design standpoint, but I think it's fine how it is tucked far up the hill away from the core of Oakland, and partially obscured due to the heavy use of landscaping. I do find it odd how much of the presentation is given over to the exterior, without a single decent interior layout given, but that's obviously of less interest to the Commission.

This site has a nice slideshow of renderings including some interior plans and designs:

https://hailtopitt.com/victory-heights/

I personally think the whole thing looks pretty cool.

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by eschaton

2. A set of infill houses in Garfield. This is the location. Garfield has seen a large number of these proposed infill projects in recent months - it's obviously tipped to where market-rate new-construction now makes a profit. Can't tell anything about the design here, but it's a Desmone project, so I don't have high hopes. I absolutely think they should be forced to put parking in the rear - there is a "paper street," and although there's a big grade change heading down the hill, there seems to not be much from street to alley.

I think this is the same project, but The Bulletin only provides a rear view.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by xdv8

I think this is the same project, but The Bulletin only provides a rear view.

Nope, different project. That has four, this one has six, and it's on a different intersection.

As I said, there's a lot of infill projects going on in Garfield right now.

[dfiler]

Originally Posted by eschaton

2. A set of infill houses in Garfield. This is the location. Garfield has seen a large number of these proposed infill projects in recent months - it's obviously tipped to where market-rate new-construction now makes a profit. Can't tell anything about the design here, but it's a Desmone project, so I don't have high hopes. I absolutely think they should be forced to put parking in the rear - there is a "paper street," and although there's a big grade change heading down the hill, there seems to not be much from street to alley.

This is for row houses with front facing garages. The city prohibits that now for places with back alleys.

That's an interesting scenario for this block since the alley is currently not passable by vehicles. The block is completely overgrown with mature trees and there are only a few original homes left. The alley looks like a forest.

What are people thoughts? Should the city require the garages to be on the alley and for the alley to be rebuilt?

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by dfiler

This is for row houses with front facing garages. The city prohibits that now for places with back alleys.

That's an interesting scenario for this block since the alley is currently not passable by vehicles. The block is completely overgrown with mature trees and there are only a few original homes left. The alley looks like a forest.

What are people thoughts? Should the city require the garages to be on the alley and for the alley to be rebuilt?

The amendments banning front-facing garages required that wherever possible developers utilize common driveways. Thus it could be argued that even if the city can't force the developer to pave part of the paper street, they can force them to pave a private right-of-way for accessing the rear garages directly parallel to it.

But, honestly, I don't think that the cost of clearing out the alley would be that much higher than clearing out the lots for construction. There do not appear to be any large trees growing directly within the public ROW, so it could possibly be dealt with through a weed whacker alone.

[SouthCentralPA]

Personally, I think they should require the alley to be rebuilt, because like eschaton said, it probably wouldn't cost that much in the grand scheme of things. It would make the city better with less curb cuts on major roads.

But I doubt there will be any appetite from the city to force developers to do this, so it probably won't happen.

[BrianTH]

The airport is continuing its slow but relatively steady march back toward pre-pandemic usage levels:

https://www.post-gazette.com/busines...s/202303170096

The airport is actually predicting we may get to new higher levels of seat capacity by July, which would be nice:



Anecdotally, both our own personal and business travel has picked up this year.

[eschaton]

Walnut Capital is planning on demolishing the vacant UPMC South Side hospital and turning it into an apartment complex.

This is a project with huge potential. The scope clearly involves both the hospital itself (which Walnut Capital will demolish) along with a medical office building two blocks towards the river (which it will convert into apartments). Presumably the two surface lots as well.

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Walnut Capital is planning on demolishing the vacant UPMC South Side hospital and turning it into an apartment complex.

This is a project with huge potential. The scope clearly involves both the hospital itself (which Walnut Capital will demolish) along with a medical office building two blocks towards the river (which it will convert into apartments). Presumably the two surface lots as well.

It’s not fully vacant. It’s where the only free clinic in the city is for people like me without health insurance, The Birmingham Clinic. Hopefully they relocate it.

[xdv8]

I saw a story from the trib today about Fern Hollow Bridge public art and that led me to the City's Public Art and Civic Design Commission page, which I don't think I had been to before nor have I noticed mentioned on this forum. The commission has not met this year, so there was a flurry of activity on Wednesday.

The Fern Hollow Bridge Artistic Enhancements, which will actually be on the Tranquil Trail below the bridge were the least interesting. The commission also approved Enright Park Redevelopment in East Liberty behind Whole Foods, which looks very similar in design to whatever I had seen months ago. And last but not least, the final design approval for Davis Avenue Bridge in Brighton Heights to reestablish pedestrian access to Riverview from that part of Brighton Heights. I think all of these projects are slated to be completed this spring and summer.

[chris08876]

Happened to be in Pittsburgh today! Round trip from Easton to Pittsburgh today (because I'm insane).

Lovely city. That Fort Pitt tunnel has a ton of traffic coming from Moons Township.

I'll be back two weeks from now to revisit workwise. Will try to snap some development pics if I can.

Quick question, on the PA turnpike, heading East, does anybody know why they are stripping massive amounts of land right off the PA turnpike (East of the city)? Cutting down all the trees and placing berms and stripping the side of the mountain? Highway expansion? It goes on for like 3 miles, I should of gotten the mile marker.

[Austinlee]

^Nice! Welcome. The weather was pretty shit unfortunately but it's good to see you still got a taste of the Ft Pitt Tunnel view.

[eschaton]

April 20 ZBA is now online. Two items of note:

1. Something is finally going in where Hambones used to be in Lawrenceville. Looks like another bar (not a bar/restaurant, judging by the tiny kitchen). Pretty extensive project, which includes a total demo of the wood rowhouse structures which fronted on the alley and converting it into an outside seating area.

2. The Warhol's new four-story entertainment venue (The Silver Factory) is up for review. A few more detailed renderings here than what we've seen before. It's very modern, but IMHO appropriate for the Warhol. Seems like it's basically a "box inside a box" with fenestration made to have it blend in more with the surrounding area rather than a bunch of imposing blank walls.

[photoLith]

Another Downtown Pittsburgh business owner considers leaving as crime continues

Fragasso Financial Advisors has been running for 50 years in its Downtown office, but that is about to change as founder Bob Fragasso moves closer to the option of relocating.

He says shootings, stabbings, and the open-air drug culture have become a credible threat to his employees, who are fearful of working out of the Downtown office. "We have a strong criminal element Downtown, and this speaks to public safety. For example, there's a guy who sells drugs right out of his car in front of our building," Fragasso said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/an...es/ar-AA199hn7

It's really a shame, whenever I go downtown now its totally different. I never used to get panhandled, now every single time I get panhandled at least 3 times while walking around downtown. There are hobos everywhere and thug types wandering around all over. I was downtown on Saturday night at around 9 and it was like a ghost town. Before government lockdowns, downtown would have been bustling at 9 around Market Square etc. Now its dead and only hobos and thugs are wandering around. Crime is a real problem downtown now and its killing it.

[Urbanthusiat]

Astrobotic to double footprint and workforce following $2.5 million purchase of former North Side warehouse

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by Urbanthusiat

Astrobotic to double footprint and workforce following $2.5 million purchase of former North Side warehouse

Whoa, I thought that Reedsdale building was turning into condos; Looks like that plan failed perhaps? Well it might work better as Astrobotic space then since a condo building in the parking lot of the stadium/casino would be a hectic place to live anyway. I think we had a discussion here about that a couple years ago.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Whoa, I thought that Reedsdale building was turning into condos; Looks like that plan failed perhaps? Well it might work better as Astrobotic space then since a condo building in the parking lot of the stadium/casino would be a hectic place to live anyway. I think we had a discussion here about that a couple years ago.

I always assumed that they were expecting them to be bought by either rich folks for game day pied-à-terres or for AirBnB investors to buy them. That end of the North Shore won't every be attractive for house until they tear down the football stadium and built it out in Moon or somewhere in the suburbs.

[eschaton]

There's one new item on the Planning Commission agenda for next week - renovation of an existing building and construction of a new structure in Uptown, which in total will provide access to 66 beds for low-income and formerly homeless people. The issue: In a neighborhood full of vacant lots, it seeks to take out all of these historic buildings - late 19th/early 20th century three-story buildings with street-facing storefronts which appear to be completely salvageable (one is currently occupied, albeit by a nuisance bar).

Of course Pittsburgh needs more affordable housing, though I'm a little concerned about what a high concentration of supportive housing in particular is being put in Uptown. But I just can't the rationale for demoing them when literally the other side of the building they are keeping has a large parking lot.

That said, given they are not a for-profit developer, I expect the commission will give this plan comparably little scrutiny.