City Paper: Shadow Lounge receiving bizarre anonymous complaints (Wall: apartments, rent)

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

There's no reason the Highland development can't coexist with venues like the Shadow Lounge. The onus is on the developers to understand why their project is even feasible in that location... why it is a desirable neighborhood for young people now. Harassment isn't the way to handle this.

Great nuanced point, Aaron.

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Oh yeah, they can definitely coexist. I was just using irishvan's comment as a jumping off point to voice my personal distaste with expensive lofts in emerging neighborhoods, haha. I hate those things. To me, they're what wealthy people use to feel like they're part of a community that they would never be a part of without, like they're own little spaceship, hahaha. I'd just rather they not be there. I guess the same way some people feel about abandoned properties, it brings the area down a bit for me.

I'm definitely one of very few of this particular opinion, though, especially on CD, so I won't beleaguer the boards with it, haha.

It would be amusing if these complaints ended up being from some cooky neighborhood resident, but from reading the article it seems likely that there is an agenda in place. Hopefully, Shadow Lounge isn't caused much more trouble beyond this minor annoyance.

[irishvan]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

There's no reason the Highland development can't coexist with venues like the Shadow Lounge. The onus is on the developers to understand why their project is even feasible in that location... why it is a desirable neighborhood for young people now. Harassment isn't the way to handle this.

I love that all the government entities are like what? We don't know anything? Shadow Lounge has never had a problem before?... it's so obviously invalid complaints

[BrianTH]

This isn't going to sour me on the merits of the Highland project even if it is Walnut, although independently I would still think it was very uncool, and counterproductive, of Walnut. However, it seems to me that is merely speculative at this point.

By the way, there is no way you could fund the Highland project without charging serious rent for the resulting units. So since the practical choice is between the Highland Building as a decaying ruin and the Highland Building as an historic gem and being used, I'll take the latter.

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Definitely understandable and reflective of the majority opinion. Personally, I'd rather the former, which is why I mentioned abandoned properties above, haha.

[AaronPGH]

I am not on board when it destroys the culture of the neighborhood that made it a good neighborhood. Progress is great, but not at the expense of the neighborhood institutions. The mission of all groups operating in East Liberty (ELDI, Eve Picker, VIA, etc) is to keep it weird and artistic throughout all this development. One developer cannot barge in there and take it over however they want. You coexist, not take over. Ace Hotel wouldn't be interested in East Liberty if it were all Walnut Capital condos, and no weirdo music/art venues.

The best approach to be taken here by Walnut would be to work with Justin and chip in money to help him rearrange his space and sound proof it. Everyone wins in that case.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

This isn't going to sour me on the merits of the Highland project even if it is Walnut, although independently I would still think it was very uncool, and counterproductive, of Walnut. However, it seems to me that is merely speculative at this point.

By the way, there is no way you could fund the Highland project without charging serious rent for the resulting units. So since the practical choice is between the Highland Building as a decaying ruin and the Highland Building as an historic gem and being used, I'll take the latter.

Agreed on all points.

[irishvan]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

I am not on board when it destroys the culture of the neighborhood that made it a good neighborhood. Progress is great, but not at the expense of the neighborhood institutions. The mission of all groups operating in East Liberty (ELDI, Eve Picker, VIA, etc) is to keep it weird and artistic throughout all this development. One developer cannot barge in there and take it over however they want. You coexist, not take over. Ace Hotel wouldn't be interested in East Liberty if it were all Walnut Capital condos, and no weirdo music/art venues.

The best approach to be taken here by Walnut would be to work with Justin and chip in money to help him rearrange his space and sound proof it. Everyone wins in that case.

Agreed! or they should just say what their really thinking.. they don't care about contributing to east liberty they only care about taking it over.

[irishvan]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

This isn't going to sour me on the merits of the Highland project even if it is Walnut, although independently I would still think it was very uncool, and counterproductive, of Walnut. However, it seems to me that is merely speculative at this point.

By the way, there is no way you could fund the Highland project without charging serious rent for the resulting units. So since the practical choice is between the Highland Building as a decaying ruin and the Highland Building as an historic gem and being used, I'll take the latter.

I'm not saying they shouldn't charge serious rent but they should make their buildings apart of the neighborhood. Not just a private apartment building with a private exclusive gym, have storefronts or rental commercial space to add to the street level value and helping other businesses that have paved the way for their success in that area. Plus they got a ton of grant money because that building is a historic gem.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

I am not on board when it destroys the culture of the neighborhood that made it a good neighborhood.

I think to the extent they are actually trying to extinguish neighbors they don't like (and again I think that is purely speculative at this point), I agree.

But in terms of merely developing some elements that may not 100% reinforce the desired branding--I think that is unproblematic. And in fact I think it is likely selling this project short--some people who can pay decent rent are legitimately interested in living in funky neighborhoods as well.