Tom Murphy opposes Buncher project (Pittsburgh: chapel, construction, gated communities)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm sorry, but while Buncher's plan is kinda crap, this sounds even worse. What you're basically advocating is making a second, bigger Station Square. It might be better located for that sort of thing, but the whole idea of an "entertainment district" is so 1990s. What we need to have in the Strip on this parcel is housing, and lots of it. Some retail as well, sure, but the Strip needs residents. In 2010 it only had 600 people, which was a great step forward from 200 in 2000, but still far too few considering the neighborhood is immediately adjacent to downtown.

There are plenty of places that housing can go. And last I've heard Station Square was in decline and even now, Pittsburgh has no riverfront entertainment area. Some spots are just too choice to waste. Pittsburgh has something special in the Produce Terminal, the Strip, with a potential Hotel/Convention Center district nearby.

[pman]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm sorry, but while Buncher's plan is kinda crap, this sounds even worse. What you're basically advocating is making a second, bigger Station Square. It might be better located for that sort of thing, but the whole idea of an "entertainment district" is so 1990s. What we need to have in the Strip on this parcel is housing, and lots of it. Some retail as well, sure, but the Strip needs residents. In 2010 it only had 600 people, which was a great step forward from 200 in 2000, but still far too few considering the neighborhood is immediately adjacent to downtown.

It could work if it wasn't one develop (and certainly not buncher). just lay out the area to front the river with commercial and maybe a street and sell off the lost individually to different developers. sort of the anti-station square if you will.

[ditchdigger]

Clearly Buncher doesn't know what they are doing.

Yeah. It's not like they've ever made any money in the real estate development game...

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

Yeah. It's not like they've ever made any money in the real estate development game...

It's not their bottom line I'm worried about. In fact, none of the opposition of Buncher's project concerns their making money. It's the aesthetics and impact it will make.

[Gee Whiz]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Is the eye rolling because you feel there is not an old boy network Cope or you don't think Peduto can put an end to it?

[szug-bot]

Buncher isnt forward thinking, exactly. see those renderings? that is Vancouver, or Honolulu - places once beautiful (like in 1850) now overcrowded and ugly with international style sky wedges and skyscrapers.

they are not popular with the decision makers, i believe. and this is because 1) of their vision - i mean, look at that. its so ugly

2) they are advocating a specially designated zone there, with its own code (for everything from road with to sidewalk width to number of parking lot spaces, etc. etc.). i dont know if this was approved or what. i believe it was brought to council and approved....any moles from city hall on this forum who know?

Buncher sucks. They arent like some architects/developers who are trained with sensitivity to peoples needs, wants, and for flexibility for future expansion, re-use, or adaptive use. They are old-skool. and i hope they read this.

[pman]

old school cronies that is

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Gee Whiz

Is the eye rolling because you feel there is not an old boy network Cope or you don't think Peduto can put an end to it?

As long as the City is populated by Democrats, things will never change. Peduto will have to bow down to all the unions to make things work, the more things change...

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by Copanut

As long as the City is populated by Democrats, things will never change. Peduto will have to bow down to all the unions to make things work, the more things change...

im not sure what i think about this comment. i am not in any political party. but i don't know if the democrat monopoly here has anything to do with it.

the single most thing that determines a final result may be community input.
this is why some people are so active in civics in pittsburgh - because MOST others are so apathetic, that it doesnt take much to be a loudmouth and to get some sway around here. its true, i think. that is not a negative statement on the "loudmouths" at all - they know how it works.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

im not sure what i think about this comment. i am not in any political party. but i don't know if the democrat monopoly here has anything to do with it.

the single most thing that determines a final result may be community input.
this is why some people are so active in civics in pittsburgh - because MOST others are so apathetic, that it doesnt take much to be a loudmouth and to get some sway around here. its true, i think. that is not a negative statement on the "loudmouths" at all - they know how it works.

I'm a registered independent, the only time I was in the Republican party was when Santorum was around, I always voted against him. I just think the City is dominated by Democrats that bow down to the unions, which is why I will never live there. Ah, to each his own.