North Shore 2000-2010

[kjtocool]

I also am hearing that Panera is looking at the location across the street from PNC park where Firewater used to be. I know the landlord was asking $9k for that location, liquor license included, so I'd guess Panera's rent would be less than that, assuming they take the location.

[pman]

Next up for the North Shore: A third office building, residences and more entertainment...the effort could hinge on a perennial source of tension: Parking...And last week, in addition to the launch of the $12 million Stage AE concert venue, the $25 million Hyatt Place hotel opened...
Mr. Peduto also took issue with the architecture of the office buildings. Given the riverfront location, the city lost an opportunity to make the development an "identifier" for the region.
"If you look at the buildings between the stadiums, they're more cookie cutter," he said.

Read more: Development of North Shore continues to grow

[BrianTH]

Good overview article. That said, I'm not sure I understand the parking issue. As noted in the article, there is land set aside in the Master Plan for new multi-level parking structures that are supposed to replace the surface parking as those lots get developed. The article says that the second such structure now isn't required to be built unless it can be self-supporting. But it also notes that after the next office building (which could have its own underground parking), further developments will require more parking. But if that is true, that means those further developments would be creating new demand for parking, and there should be a way of monetizing that demand to help finance another structure.

So basically, it doesn't sound like there is a fundamental problem, just that the various parties are having trouble getting together and agreeing about how the money should flow. Such situations can take a while to resolve, but I hope they get their act together sooner rather than later.

All that said--once the NSC is up and running, I don't expect any of the remaining land to remain fallow for long. For example, done right, there should be absolutely no problem leasing out residential units in such a location.