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Old 12-04-2017, 07:18 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Morningside)
14,362 posts, read 16,946,112 times
Reputation: 12400

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South Shore is a relatively small neighborhood of Pittsburgh located immediately to the south of Downtown across the Monongahela River., It is a thin narrow strip between the river and Mount Washington, bounded to the west by the West End Bridge and to the east by the Liberty Bridge.

Unlike some other areas of Greater Downtown, what is now called the South Shore does not seem to have ever had a substantial residential neighborhood. In the late 19th century there were some blocks dominated by houses, but for the most part the area was already dominated by various mills, including Sheffield Steel Works, Hoop & Band Iron Works, Wightman & Co Glass Works, Clinton Iron & Nail Works, and Sligo Iron Works. Much of the area later became dominated by a Carnegie mill and a railyard. By 1940 the local population had already declined to only 184 people, but it had much further yet to fall. It actually reached its all-time low population in 2010, with only 19 residents. All of these remaining residents, I believe, were in a small cluster of houses off of E Sycamore Street, which was just barely technically in the neighborhood. The homes were sold as a package in 2015 to an investor, and are now boarded up, presumably waiting rehab or replacement.

So, if the South Shore has no residents, what does it have? There still are a small number of industrial businesses in the blocks closest to South Side Flats, as well as the West End. The neighborhood has the bottom stations for both the Mon and Duqense inclines, along with a T station. There's also a stained glass studio that I've always wanted to go to, but have never gotten a chance.

What the South Shore is of course most well known for however is Station Square. Station Square was originally conceived as an "adaptive reuse" of the old Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station in 1976. Through to 1994, The Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation invested $100 million into the area, adding retail, entertainment venues, restaurants, and a hotel. It was finally sold to a private developer (Cleveland's Forest City Enterprises) in 1994. The development was a success insofar as it provided new uses for the historic buildings, but it was also a project of its times in that it was conceived as an "entertainment complex" - not a neighborhood. Although Station Square has had its ups (it was the "hot club scene" for a period after The Strip District faded but before South Side took over) it has been criticized as having developed into no more than a glorified tourist trap. My understanding is there were several failed attempts at gambling (first riverboat gambling, and then to win the casino in 2006). The complex does at times feel like something which is lacking its heart.

Regardless, the good news is Forest City has finally begun to rectify the issue. A new, 315 unit apartment building will soon be underway in the now empty parking lot between the Smithfield Street Bridge and S 1st Street. This will result in the South Shore having more residents than it has had any time in the last century. It's also a no-brainer, considering there is a T station within walking distance, and in nice weather the walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge isn't bad at all. A few more projects of that sort, and the South Shore may start feeling like a neighborhood.
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Old 12-04-2017, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
595 posts, read 597,613 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eschaton View Post
Unlike some other areas of Greater Downtown, what is now called the South Shore does not seem to have ever had a substantial residential neighborhood. In the late 19th century there were some blocks dominated by houses, but for the most part the area was already dominated by various mills, including Sheffield Steel Works, Hoop & Band Iron Works, Wightman & Co Glass Works, Clinton Iron & Nail Works, and Sligo Iron Works. Much of the area later became dominated by a Carnegie mill and a railyard. By 1940 the local population had already declined to only 184 people, but it had much further yet to fall. It actually reached its all-time low population in 2010, with only 19 residents. All of these remaining residents, I believe, were in a small cluster of houses off of E Sycamore Street, which was just barely technically in the neighborhood. The homes were sold as a package in 2015 to an investor, and are now boarded up, presumably waiting rehab or replacement.
I was sad to see those boarded up. They looked like they were in good shape too.

Also, there are 4 duplexes (most of which don't appear to be in a great shape) between Sycamore and the Liberty Bridge on Arlington.

I was also bummed to see this project was cancelled.
https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsbur...ropped-as.html
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Old 12-04-2017, 09:38 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Morningside)
14,362 posts, read 16,946,112 times
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Originally Posted by lprmesia View Post
Also, there are 4 duplexes (most of which don't appear to be in a great shape) between Sycamore and the Liberty Bridge on Arlington.
Hrrm. I forgot about those. IIRC from a map of Pittsburgh which showed population by block the census recorded them as unoccupied at the time. However, they're clearly inside the "neighborhood" and seem to be occupied now. Maybe I misremembered.

Sad to say but they're probably unsalable. No off-street parking, and you can't park on the street either (although I'm guessing residents use the vacant lot immediately below on Arlington. Plus very close to a high-traffic street, with poor sidewalk infrastructure. Houses like this are dying off throughout Pittsburgh - a few are now condemned close to me on Butler Street up near the 62nd Street Bridge for example.
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Old 12-04-2017, 09:49 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh's North Side
1,701 posts, read 1,593,411 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eschaton View Post
There's also a stained glass studio that I've always wanted to go to, but have never gotten a chance.

OK, since you mentioned it -- I adore Hunt Stained Glass studios. This is a true Pittsburgh gem; the business has been in operation for quite a while now, and they have been a leader in stained glass conservation throughout the city. I wonder if others on here have also encountered them and maybe worked with them more directly than me, but in all of my encounters with their artisans I've been thoroughly impressed.
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Old 12-04-2017, 10:00 AM
 
281 posts, read 339,630 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eschaton View Post

What the South Shore is of course most well known for however is Station Square. Station Square was originally conceived as an "adaptive reuse" of the old Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station in 1976. Through to 1994, The Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation invested $100 million into the area, adding retail, entertainment venues, restaurants, and a hotel. It was finally sold to a private developer (Cleveland's Forest City Enterprises) in 1994. The development was a success insofar as it provided new uses for the historic buildings, but it was also a project of its times in that it was conceived as an "entertainment complex" - not a neighborhood. Although Station Square has had its ups (it was the "hot club scene" for a period after The Strip District faded but before South Side took over) it has been criticized as having developed into no more than a glorified tourist trap. My understanding is there were several failed attempts at gambling (first riverboat gambling, and then to win the casino in 2006). The complex does at times feel like something which is lacking its heart.

When I moved to Pittsburgh in the 80s, Station Square as a city mall of sorts was doing okay. It had a bookstore, several clothing stores, shoe store, a Pittsburgh National Bank (PNC), a toy store, restaurants, an expensive gadget store, an art kiosk, and a makeup kiosk among other things on the first floor. There were other stores on a mezzanine level; the one I can remember was a bookstore specializing in architecture and local history, which I think was run by PHLF and was very nice. The retail gradually faded away, I guess it became less profitable, and the management replaced it with the trendy clubs, etc.
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Old 12-04-2017, 10:10 AM
 
5,894 posts, read 6,860,895 times
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Originally Posted by lprmesia View Post
I was also bummed to see this project was cancelled.
https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsbur...ropped-as.html
While development of any kind would have been welcomed in that area, asking half a million dollars for a condo that’s basically under the liberty bridge, next to an active cement plant & fronted by busy RR tracks was always a questionable decision. Pittsburgh isn’t quite there yet in terms of housing where such a project would get much buyer interest.
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Old 12-04-2017, 10:13 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Morningside)
14,362 posts, read 16,946,112 times
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Originally Posted by aw_now_what View Post
When I moved to Pittsburgh in the 80s, Station Square as a city mall of sorts was doing okay. It had a bookstore, several clothing stores, shoe store, a Pittsburgh National Bank (PNC), a toy store, restaurants, an expensive gadget store, an art kiosk, and a makeup kiosk among other things on the first floor. There were other stores on a mezzanine level; the one I can remember was a bookstore specializing in architecture and local history, which I think was run by PHLF and was very nice. The retail gradually faded away, I guess it became less profitable, and the management replaced it with the trendy clubs, etc.
It's been years since I've gone into the "mall" portion of Station Square. Is there anything left other than that Steelers kitsch store? Is that even still there?
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Old 12-04-2017, 11:10 AM
 
11,086 posts, read 8,522,995 times
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I didn't know this area had a name. No one I know refers to it as the "South Shore". Is the name something new?
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Old 12-04-2017, 11:17 AM
 
Location: Pennsylvania/Maine
3,708 posts, read 2,663,977 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eschaton View Post
It's been years since I've gone into the "mall" portion of Station Square. Is there anything left other than that Steelers kitsch store? Is that even still there?
The Melting pot, which used to be the Cheese Cellar. Possibly the only fondue restaurant within hundreds of miles. Sesame Inn I believe is still there. And one of the first ever sushi places in Pittsburgh, Kiku, is still there. Been there over 30 years I think. Just a shell of it's former self. Grand Concourse, of course still doing it's thing.
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Old 12-04-2017, 11:25 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Morningside)
14,362 posts, read 16,946,112 times
Reputation: 12400
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Originally Posted by zalewskimm View Post
The Melting pot, which used to be the Cheese Cellar. Possibly the only fondue restaurant within hundreds of miles. Sesame Inn I believe is still there. And one of the first ever sushi places in Pittsburgh, Kiku, is still there. Been there over 30 years I think. Just a shell of it's former self. Grand Concourse, of course still doing it's thing.
Yeah, I was aware there are still restaurants in there, along with a few offices for tourist businesses. I'm asking if there is any non-food retail left in Station Square at all.
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