Happenings in Pittsburgh!! (Allentown, Liberty, Highland Park: loans, relocating, real estate)

[Pghtebbie]

DreamWorks set to film in Pittsburgh

DreamWorks, the Hollywood film studio started by media moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen 14 years ago, is the latest company drawn to Pittsburgh for a production.

The company expects to begin shooting a romantic comedy entitled "She's Out of My League" on March 31, with production scheduled to wrap up at the end of May.

Produced by Pittsburgh native Jimmy Miller, the film is slated to star Jay Baruchel, perhaps best known for a supporting role in the Judd Apatow-produced comedy "Knocked Up", and Alice Eve as the "perfect 10" he pursues.

DreamWorks set to film in Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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Mt. Lebanon is studying the prospect of adding high-rise living and town-homes near its Washington Rd T station. As trends continue to show more people moving back into urban centers, Mt. Lebanon wants to use its assets to the fullest. I'm sure these places will be just as lovely as the neighborhood.

Two development scenarios are under consideration. A low-density alternative would bring a 42-unit building, 11 townhouses and four lofts to Shady Dr. E. A high-density option calls for a 90-unit residential property above the T station, as well as nine levels of residential and 94,000 square feet of offices along Washington Rd.

At a March 5 public meeting, engineering firm DMJM Harris will discuss its findings and outline next steps for funding sources and an RFP. “We’ve had interest from developers. The low-density plan gives us future options to see what the market will bear. We’ll make infrastructure improvements so we can sustain this type of development,” adds McGill, who says the TRID project will be complemented by plans to bring an $11 million, 98-room hotel to the 600 block of Washington Rd. “The hotel is a constant. I don’t when the last hotel was built in the South Hills. It’ll be very fresh looking, in between Downtown and the airport.”

Mt. Lebanon plans residential developments near transit, central business district

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UPMC isn't the ONLY hospital system in the region to be expanding. In the last six months Allegheny General has tripled the size of its Department of Neurosurgury and they are still hiring more!

Allegheny General Hospital has tripled the size of its Department of Neurosurgery with the hiring of nine neurosurgeons in the last six months to establish it as one of the largest clinical neurosurgery practices in the region.

This brings the total number of neurosurgeons in the West Penn Allegheny Health System to 24, strengthening the health system’s prominence in the neurosurgical field and broadening its geographical presence in the region, says Dr. Jack Wilberger, department chair. Negotiations are underway for the addition of another three neurosurgeons to the department.

Allegheny General expands neurosurgery department, hiring

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Downtown is literally buzzing with new construction. The vast amount of renovations and re-developments all around Pittsburgh are trickling into every nook and cranny.

A few things to note:

Gateway Condo Towers has recently been cleaned and repaired at a cost of roughly $600,000 and a second phase is to commence restoring exterior panels and windows.

The downtown Hilton (under new ownership) is spending roughly 25 million for upgrades and renovations including 15 million for interior and 10 million for exterior work. It has already been recently re-painted and a whole new lobby and entrance are planned.

(Don't forget, a brand new Hilton is to be constructed near the old jail building from scratch!)

Point State Park is also undergoing multi-million dollar renovations.

Of course, a new skyscraper is going up, PNC 3, and a new subway tunnel is being constructed to link downtown to the northshore.

Also, Riverfront Park is building multi-million dollar boat docks!

Don't forget that Pitt is planning more than 1 billion dollars in campus upgrades.

These are just a few things! There is a real excitement downtown right now. I live it everyday.

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The old South Vo-Tech high school in the SouthSide has been sold and is to be converted into upscale residences.

The sale includes the original building and addition, which are bounded by Carson, 10th, Sarah and Ninth streets

Gregory Coyle, president of Gregory Development & Management Inc., said, "It's going to be a high-end residential project. It will be probably 75 units, in that range."

Whether it will be condominiums or rental units will depend on the market down the road, he said.

"I'm very excited about the prospect of developing it. I think the historical aspect is something we're going to work very hard to maintain," he said.

South Vo-Tech sold to become housing

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The most critically acclaimed Chinese Chef Richard Chen is opening his second location right here in Pittsburgh! His restaurant is in Los Vegas and is the only Chinese restaurant in the country to receive a Michelin star in 2008.

He chose none other than our transforming neighborhood of East Liberty! He chose Pittsburgh because it is the home of his wife and a place that he has become quite fond of. He believes his business will thrive in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Chen's new, self-named restaurant will be located at the corner of Penn Circle South and South Highland Avenue, underneath a new T-Mobile store in the expanding Eastside development.

Mr. Chen expects the restaurant will be an upscale destination, attracting local families as well as business people. He plans to recruit most of his staff from local talent.

Preliminary plans by Edge Studio Architects, which is designing the restaurant, showcase the space's large windows, natural materials and a spare, sleek look. The restaurant will include spaces for private dining for small groups.

He's known for light, elegant dishes that contrast strikingly with the perception of Chinese food as mostly fried, heavy and unhealthy. "My personal style of fusion is refined dishes,'' he said. "That's the meaning of my cooking style."

Celebrated chef to open Chinese restaurant in E. Liberty

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Another tenant made official for Ross Park Mall. L.L. Bean is opening its first location in the greater Pittsburgh region (only one of ten stores in the northeast).

L.L. Bean, a Maine-based outdoors apparel retailer, is seeking approval from the Ross Planning Commission to build its second Pennsylvania store at Ross Park Mall. Simon Properties, which owns the mall, presented an amendment to the mall's site plan at Thursday's Planning Commission meeting, said Ross building inspector Dan Hankins.

The outdoors apparel vendor would be the latest in a series of big-name retailers with plans to open at Ross Park Mall, joining a Nordstrom department store and Tiffany & Co.

The changes at Ross Park may well redefine the mall as a destination, with additional upscale exclusive boutiques expected to be announced in the coming months, said mall Manager Lisa Earl this month.

The moose is eyeing Pittsburgh

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The most stunning McCook Mansion in Shadyside is to be converted into a 22-unit bed and breakfast, a 6.5 million dollar project! That's so awesome! The limestone blocks are to be restored, as well.

The first level will provide public space, including a restored dining room and kitchen, library and billiard room.

A serpentine drive on the site will allow parking for 22 vehicles and additional parking will be provided for staff, Pearson said.

"When special events, such as wedding receptions, are held there, we can handle crowds of about 100 and parking for about 50 vehicles," he said. An outside caterer would be used.

$6.5M B&B mansion planned

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Looks like another south suburb of Pittsburgh is about to explode. A 305-Acre brownfield site in South Fayette is going to be transformed into $160 million dollars worth of new housing, retail stores, restaurants, and a hotel. 225 houses and 125 rentals are planned along with 875,000 square feet of commercial space.

Developer EQA Landmark Communities, based in the Strip District, hopes to move forward this year on the project -- called Newbury -- which will be built on the former Reichold Chemical Co. property at Presto Sygan and Millers Run roads off Interstate 79.

"Work on site preparation for the retail begins in four months, with construction of buildings to begin in the spring of 2009," said Brett Malky, president of EQA Landmark Communities, at a news conference at the site. "We'll begin new home construction in the fall, and people will be living here in the spring of next year."

The commercial space will be a mix of major retailers and smaller shops, restaurants, a 125-135-room hotel, and limited office space.

South Fayette development wins $5M in state aid

[BrianTH]

Wow--Richard Chen's Shanghai Terrace was extremely well regarded in Chicago. It is very exciting he is adding a restaurant to East Liberty's growing ethnic cuisine lineup.