ALMONO raising funds for Hazelwood LTV (Pittsburgh, Swissvale: neighborhood, construction, casino)

[BrianTH]

The article:

Hazelwood LTV site's time has come

Along with the Carrie Furnace site, this is one of the last really big riverfront brownfield sites in the core area. As discussed in the article, environmental issues and the possibility of the MFE coming through have delayed redevelopment, but the environmental issues have been cleared and the MFE appears to be dead (and hopefully developments like this will help nail down the coffin lid).

They also have a new master development plan in progress, which sounds pretty good:

The development plan defines the land in four zones -- residential, with a street grid that would connect with the rest of the neighborhood; industrial; office and commercial, and a green zone in the middle "because of topography challenges," said Mr. Smith. "It may look flat from the road, but it isn't." . . . Architect Ken Doyno led the effort. "Our charge was to develop a vision that connected the community, welcomed investment to the site and made sense of all the physical realities, which are many -- railroads, infrastructure, old buildings," he said. "We wanted to interweave and connect every possible place with the community that surrounds it."

I'll look forward to getting more details, and one thing I would particularly like to see is the provisions for rapid transit (the article notes they might try to get passenger service on the railroads running through the site, which are going to remain active).

[Scott2187]

And it looks like casino moneys will help with the planning costs:

6 county projects to share $3.7 million casino taxes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

[BrianTH]

Some other cool projects on that list as well.

[Evergrey]

Ex-coke plant site seeks developers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

RIDC shows off new Almono plan - Pittsburgh Business Times

[BrianTH]

It is great to see this project moving forward. I have some quibbles with the master plan, but overall it would be great, and it could be tweaked as necessary going forward (I particularly think it might eventually need more residential).

Edit: Oh, and I think the MFE is dead anyway, but this will ensure it remains dead, which is a good thing.

[eschaton]

My wife's architecture firm has been working on this for some time (although she's not involved herself much). Heard it was going to clear last week, and I'm glad it's out in public now.

[stburr91]

It's great seeing these brownfield sites moving forward, the Mon valley really needs these kinds of projects.

Has anyone heard when they are going to start construction on the flyover for the Carrie Furnace site? I thought I read that it would be this year.

[mjost7]

This is great news.

I hope this site will somehow include an extension of the Eliza Furnace Trail to help close the gap between it and the Duck Hollow Trail which leads to Nine Mile Run Trail and Frick Park. This would allow for a car-free bike connection from parts of the East End and Swissvale to Downtown, Oakland and DC.

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by mjost7

This is great news.

I hope this site will somehow include an extension of the Eliza Furnace Trail to help close the gap between it and the Duck Hollow Trail which leads to Nine Mile Run Trail and Frick Park. This would allow for a car-free bike connection from parts of the East End and Swissvale to Downtown, Oakland and DC.

I would love to see the bike trails connected all the way to the Carrie Furnace site. Unfortunately, I've read that there are a number of issues that will make that difficult.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by stburr91

I would love to see the bike trails connected all the way to the Carrie Furnace site. Unfortunately, I've read that there are a number of issues that will make that difficult.

Such as?