Happenings in Pittsburgh!! (Washington, Duquesne, Lawrenceville: environment, luxury, hotel)

[BVH]

Democratic Volunteer Party

When

Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Where

Carson Street Commons Clubhouse
2529 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
General Area: Between 25th and 26th blocks of East Carson Street

HillaryClinton.com - Event Details

[fleetiebelle]

Program to push affordable city living

After more than five years of planning, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is launching a $3.5 million loan program that it hopes will spur the creation of new, affordable apartments on the vacant upper floors of Downtown midrises.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Program to push affordable city living

That article is exactly right, by the way: a 95% occupancy rate in Downtown residential units while so many upper floors remain vacant implies the market is somehow failing to efficiently match supply and demand. And with lenders being a little cautious these days, I think this effort to provide some expertise and gap financing to building owners is a great idea.

Incidentally, I personally think developing Downtown residential space is crucial to attracting vital new people to the city. The banks, law firms, corporate headquarters, and so on Downtown can potentially help attract high value new employees from outside the city, in part because giving people unfamiliar with a new city affordable and attractive rental options close to their employer eases their transition. Moreover, in many cities young professionals are struggling to get decent apartments anywhere near their employers because housing has become so expensive. So, Pittsburgh could potentially gain a real competitive advantage this way.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

That article is exactly right, by the way: a 95% occupancy rate in Downtown residential units while so many upper floors remain vacant implies the market is somehow failing to efficiently match supply and demand. And with lenders being a little cautious these days, I think this effort to provide some expertise and gap financing to building owners is a great idea.

Incidentally, I personally think developing Downtown residential space is crucial to attracting vital new people to the city. The banks, law firms, corporate headquarters, and so on Downtown can potentially help attract high value new employees from outside the city, in part because giving people unfamiliar with a new city affordable and attractive rental options close to their employer eases their transition. Moreover, in many cities young professionals are struggling to get decent apartments anywhere near their employers because housing has become so expensive. So, Pittsburgh could potentially gain a real competitive advantage this way.

WHen are you running for mayor because I want to vote for you. How come someone as intelligent and informed as youself isn't running the city???

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

WHen are you running for mayor because I want to vote for you. How come someone as intelligent and informed as youself isn't running the city???

Thank you for the compliment. I don't have much interest in a career in politics, but once my own life and career settle down a bit, I do hope to get more involved in community development (which, frankly, is probably a better place for eternal optimists like myself).

[fleetiebelle]

Authority to take Beechview properties from developer

At long last my neighborhood might start seeing some new development! Yay! There's a community meeting about it 2/23.

[guylocke]

Holy smokes!! Out with the old and in with the new at Ross Park Mall!! New announcements galore!!

So Ross Park Mall is LOSING or has already LOST Frederick's of Hollywood, The Limited, Children's Place, Ritz Camera, Radio Shack, and Carlton Cards.

WHEW. Say goodbye to those guys!

Now WELCOME or HOPE TO WELCOME (as these are the possible replacements being discussed at Ross Park) Burburry, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, and Vera Wang. Also rumored (nearly confirmed from what I hear) is P.F. Chang's and Crate & Barrel.

Of course, Nordstrom's and Tiffany & Co. have already been confirmed.

From what I hear from my sources at Ross Park Mall, Louis Vuitton and Vera Wang and all but definite, too.

We shall see!!!

Change is in the air at Ross Park Mall

[guylocke]

New houses soon to be mixed in with the old houses in Lawrenceville, in true Pittsburgh fashion. (Does this surprise anyone?)

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is seeking development proposals for parcels located at 4620 Hatfield St. and 54 46th St., the largest footprint currently available for new housing in Lawrenceville.

“Hatfield Street is the dividing line between residential and what was formerly industrial. There are not a lot of places in Lawrenceville where you have a clear site for sizable residential development that can offer a product missing in the market right now, which is a new house. There’s an opportunity to do something cool in terms of deisgn,” says Kelly Hoffman, with Lawrenceville Corporation, which has created design guidelines that call for projects that relate to the existing housing stock and enhance the streetscape. “We’re thinking attached townhouse style—two- or three-story single-family homes.

URA seeks development proposals for Lawrenceville site, new housing expected

[guylocke]

Rt. 51 is about to get a MAJOR change. Along Rt. 51 there are dozens of eyesores, blighted businesses, empty storefronts, and crumbling buildings. A family known as the Levistke's own 40 of those buildings that stretch for miles. In a very sudden gesture, they have put up ALL 40 properties for sale (9 are sold) and a dozen more are in discussion to be re-built and redeveloped.

Here is the KDKA video on it.

Family Plans to Sell, Redevelop Rt. 51 Properties

[guylocke]

Sewickley Hills is about to get a HUGE housing development that will more than double the housing units in the borough. Apparently, the land is behind the Village of Sewickley Hills and according to the article, is nothing more than desolate mud land ripe for development.

And develop they shall, 470 housing units, to be exact! Of course the borough citizens aren't too thrilled that their quaint population is going to more than double in near future.

If borough officials approve a revision of the developer's plans, the Village of Sewickley Hills will grow to a total of 470 housing units, including 100 units built in Ohio Township as part of the project's first phase.

Dorsch believes the relocation of the Westinghouse headquarters from Churchill to Cranberry and other company additions will increase the a demand for housing in the North Hills.

"Given what's going on in the northern market with Westinghouse, the growth and the good jobs, there is a real serious need for higher-end rental property," Dorsch said.

Sewickley Hills developers hope to recover expenses with more housing units