New development planned for Oakland (Bates at Blvd. of Allies) (Pittsburgh: townhouse, universities)

[Gee Whiz]

I respect the fact that residents of the area have their concerns about traffic patterns. I just don't agree with those against the project altogether because the building is "too tall" or whatever. Places evolve over time. The time to develop this area is now. Do we still have tanneries and blacksmiths Downtown? Does Chicago have to worry about Mrs. O'leary's cow knocking over a lantern setting the town ablaze? No. The time is now for those shacks to be torn down and that area to be modernized. Some people are just resistant to change. Others just like to be obstructionists.

[SolitaryThrush]

Originally Posted by Gee Whiz

I respect the fact that residents of the area have their concerns about traffic patterns. I just don't agree with those against the project altogether because the building is "too tall" or whatever. Places evolve over time. The time to develop this area is now. Do we still have tanneries and blacksmiths Downtown? Does Chicago have to worry about Mrs. O'leary's cow knocking over a lantern setting the town ablaze? No. The time is now for those shacks to be torn down and that area to be modernized. Some people are just resistant to change. Others just like to be obstructionists.

Some of the complaints presented in the article are really unfounded. There is a ton of rotten, decrepit housing in Oakland, and new construction is definitely needed. These are hardly "big buildings", these are eight- or nine-story buildings in what should be a dense, urban neighborhood.

I wonder how many of these residents actually, well, reside there. I recall reading a Pitt News article over the winter in which a landlord was complaining that Pitt doesn't do enough to remove snow around Oakland. The loudest complainer was a landlord who lives in Hawaii half the year.

The traffic problem won't be helped later this year when the Greenfield Bridge is demolished and rebuilt, thereby taking away an outlet through Schenley Park / Greenfield. Traffic in Oakland, Squirrel Hill, and the tunnels will be a huge problem whether new apartments are built or not, though, and it's a problem that deserves serious thought. New development and the improvement of a hideous entrance into Oakland shouldn't be stopped because of it.

Oakland is getting another 120 to 160 apartments in a high-rise across from Magee Women's Hospital: Redeveloped property holds promise for Oakland - The Pitt News: News Nice to see the neighborhood getting much-needed density and new housing.

[Moby Hick]

Does anybody know exactly where this is going in? Since is mentions 11 run-down townhouses, I think it must be along Bates between Zulema and Blvd. of the Allies, but I think that could apply to either side of the street, depending on the exact footprint.

Anyway, I'm in agreement with the resident who doesn't want Zulema Street shut and also with not wanting Coltart Street to become mostly student housing. I've never been sure why that street is different, but it very much is.

[SteelCityRising]

The dangerous intersection of Zulema and Bates really needs to be improved before higher density is approved here. If you're coming eastbound (outbound) on Zulema and want to make a left onto Bates, you have to wait at the stop sign to make sure not only that people on the left are obeying their stop sign, but also that there is nobody coming UP Bates Street, as they do not have a stop sign. I've had many close calls here myself while working because sometimes as you want to turn left from Zulema onto Bates your view of traffic heading UP Bates Street is obstructed by large vehicles being backed up heading DOWN Bates Street, and you have to inch out blindly, hoping people aren't FLYING up Bates Street, which they usually are. If any intersection in Pittsburgh was screaming for a rotary/roundabout, this is one of them.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

great, add more horrible traffic than what is currently there. takes me 40 minutes to get from forbes and bouquet st to sq hill tunnel at a minimum around 1-3pm. worse if later.

Why exactly would an apartment complex in Oakland cause more traffic? It will allow more people to live close to work and school.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

The dangerous intersection of Zulema and Bates really needs to be improved before higher density is approved here.

I like the idea of a roundabout because that is an awful intersection. It's even worse on foot if you want to cross Bates. But I don't see how the traffic there will get worse because a few more people live on the street. If everything within a block of Zulema and Bates was emptied and leveled, I don't think the traffic would get better at all.

I'm not sure that having a few cars that are local traffic might not help by accustoming drivers to look for cars turning on and off.

[eschaton]

It's the row which has its back facing on Zulema Park.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It's the row which has its back facing on Zulema Park.

Great. That's by far the worst. They aren't planning on taking part of the park, are there?

I hope they leave the billboard, because I've gotten used to being greeted by Ryan Clark on my way past.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

It's even worse on foot if you want to cross Bates.

I always feel so badly for pedestrians trying to cross ANY part of Bates Street. It seems like it's a high-speed death-trap so people who had a bad day at work in Oakland can try to gun it onto the Parkway as fast as they can to get home to Murrysville and sulk all night while listening to Enya music. EVERY intersection there needs well-marked crosswalks AND some of those little yellow "STOP for Pedestrians" signs in the middle of the street to make drivers doubly-aware of pedestrian crossings. As it stands now I'll ALWAYS stop and yield to pedestrians at Bates & Zulema as well as Bates & Semple, both of which have well-marked pedestrian crossings. Bates & McKee? After nearly being rear-ended there one day coming to a sudden stop to try to wave a pedestrian across when there was NO marked crosswalk I now just blow right by pedestrians there like everyone else. Same with Bates & Meyran, unfortunately.

[airwave09]

That parklet is small and pretty much useless, I would have no issues seeing it go away for a great high density project like this one.

Oh, and Ryan Clark no longer plays for the Steelers either.