Mt. Washington Hotel/Condo Plan (Pittsburgh, Progress: apartments, renting, houses)

[nuwaver88]

Hotel-condo plan on Mount Washington faces many hurdles

I hope that this project gets the green light and that the bureaucrats do not hold this project up. I am for more development on Mt. Washington. As nice as it is to go up there, I still feel that the area still could use some excitement. It seems like there is a community group that seems to support development if it is done tastefully. A decade or so ago, many stuck in the muds up there shot down every ambitious plan there was, including a Ritz Carlton.. LOL. Anyway, I do not support any plan that does not do the class and beauty of the area justice.

I cut this off of Desmone Architects website. There is a tiny rendering at the top right. It is the only one I could find. More will follow as it gets off of the ground. http://www.desmone.com/OnTheBoards.aspx

[RockLobster]

Nuwaver couldn't agree with you more on the importance of the integrity of the Mount and her view's. This being a prime piece of property, almost a possible anchor to all of Grandview. I think it will be interesting to see how the project and the city will cooperate in relation to the associated park land that part of the project would sit on.

[JoeP]

It's the idiots that live up there that always fight development.

[slamont61]

This is yet another plan that will never see the light of day. Way too big for the location as it is. Grandview is already over used, that much additional traffic just won't work. The location is just to expensive to have a smaller project work and not large enough for a huge undertaking as is shown here.

The delapitated Edge property will remain as such until the right developer is found, one that will only try to utilize the existing space in what would likely be residential only. It's just not the right place for a commecial venture.

[nuwaver88]

Here are some more early renderings. Click on the pictures for a better view.Desmone & Associates

BTW. I disagree with the notion that this project will not see the light of day. I do not see why a hotel on Mt. Washington cannot work because the project is too big. This building will be a variation of hotel/condo. It is not as big as Trimont on the western end of Grandview near Montery Bay. That was built twenty years ago. There seems to be a push to change the site. I think it will get done.

[Awesomo.2000]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

Here are some more early renderings. Click on the pictures for a better view.Desmone & Associates

BTW. I disagree with the notion that this project will not see the light of day. I do not see why a hotel on Mt. Washington cannot work because the project is too big. This building will be a variation of hotel/condo. It is not as big as Trimont on the western end of Grandview near Montery Bay. That was built twenty years ago. There seems to be a push to change the site. I think it will get done.

It would be amazing if it could get done. The problem with developing Mt. Washington is the residents theirselves. They oppose of almost every project scheduled to be built up there. They always have issues with parking and change. It is a true shame. In almost every other city, an area like Mt. Washington that over looks a skyline would be booming, vibrant, and bringing in lots of money for the city.

I heard Mt. Adams in Cincinnati was a lot like Mt. Washington. It is in that it has views of the skyline, but it truly is a awesome neighborhood. It is virbrant, and full of nightlife, and more. Just ashame Mt. Washington will never make it to that extent.

[fleetiebelle]

The problem with developing Mt. Washington is the residents theirselves. They oppose of almost every project scheduled to be built up there.

The first apartment I lived in in Pittsburgh was at the corner of Grandview and Merrimac in Mt. W., and the dude who owned the houses on the rest of the block and around the corner onto Amabell had always intended to turn them into a B&B and maybe a business/meeting center (using the original buildings, not tearing anything down.) The neighbors went ballistic and put the kibosh on it on his project, so he was stuck just renting apartments. I always thought it sounded like a great idea.

[Awesomo.2000]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

The first apartment I lived in in Pittsburgh was at the corner of Grandview and Merrimac in Mt. W., and the dude who owned the houses on the rest of the block and around the corner onto Amabell had always intended to turn them into a B&B and maybe a business/meeting center (using the original buildings, not tearing anything down.) The neighbors went ballistic and put the kibosh on it on his project, so he was stuck just renting apartments. I always thought it sounded like a great idea.

and why? I just don't get it. I am actually a NIMBY when it comes to some developments in Pittsburgh. I hate when you find out they destroyed old neighborhoods and buildings that could have still been around today adding to our cities historic fabric. I was angred that they were suppose to get rid of that crappy Movie theater in Squirrel Hill, but finally went YIMBY on it because that theater is crap, and that hotel would make Forward ave so much better.

But Mnt. Washington is a different story. It isn't Shadyside, or Lawerenceville. It could be the cities most vibrant neighborhood, but its residents don't want it.

BTW, of subject. Doesn anybody know if that Squirrel Hill project is on hold, or stopped completely?

[JoeP]

Exactly, a lot of Mt Washington is not historic or remotely nice. There tens of thousands of homes in the city (let alone Allegheny county) that are as nice or nicer in many cases. This is a situation where a significant plan should be pushed through and their petty antics dismissed.

It's not a normal neighborhood. Zoning should be for more than a dying neighborhood. It's ridiculous.

[RockLobster]

A strong mayor and city council could help in pushing advancement up there even with residents that are backward thinking. But then again, the city leaders are backward's as well. Progress scares many Pittsburgher's. And given the amount of older folks living up on Mt Washington I can see all the protective attitude. It is a shame with on of the best backdrops in the nation as a easy selling point.