$100,000 Pittsburgh Nightlife study (Butler, Liberty, Industry: crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[UKyank]

$100,000 study begins to address Pittsburgh nightclub complaints - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I find it hard to believe there were no local firms capable of doing this study - & thats independent of my personal opinion of the real world usefulness of spending money on such studies in the first place, but if you do, at least keep it local.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Setup portable toilets, increase closing time from 2 AM to 4 AM, get some damn cabs, and open up some late night places to eat. There's your $100k study right there.

I still don't know why people who moved to the party capital of Pittsburgh complain about this stuff. It's like voluntarily moving to Beijing and being shocked when your internet is censored.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by UKyank

$100,000 study begins to address Pittsburgh nightclub complaints - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I find it hard to believe there were no local firms capable of doing this study - & thats independent of my personal opinion of the real world usefulness of spending money on such studies in the first place, but if you do, at least keep it local.

Hey, don't knock it. $100k buys a lot of rounds at Fatheads.

This is important work they're doing here.

[eschaton]

Sadly, I don't think there's any real solution to nightlife problems. Residents don't want to have an active nightlife near their houses for obvious nuisance reasons. On the other hand, when nightlife is located in areas with few permanent residents (as was the case with the Strip, up until the past few years as the population exploded) you have a fairly unsafe situation for the clubgoers.

Some places definitely need *more* nightlife however. I think the Shadow Lounge played a major role getting East Liberty back on track, at least commercially. I've thought for awhile what the Hill needs is not new housing, but a nighttime destination which draws a racially mixed audience. Maybe a jazz club?

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Setup portable toilets, increase closing time from 2 AM to 4 AM, get some damn cabs, and open up some late night places to eat. There's your $100k study right there.

I still don't know why people who moved to the party capital of Pittsburgh complain about this stuff. It's like voluntarily moving to Beijing and being shocked when your internet is censored.

I can understand why longterm residents are annoyed. While Carson St. has always had bars, it's my understanding that it wasn't anywhere near current levels in the past. At the same time though, it's not so bad to be fed up with something that has increased your home value 10-fold. Imagine how long term residents of neighborhoods that have gone downhill due to crime feel. They truly may be stuck; at least South Siders can get out if they want to sell.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I can understand why longterm residents are annoyed. While Carson St. has always had bars, it's my understanding that it wasn't anywhere near current levels in the past. At the same time though, it's not so bad to be fed up with something that has increased your home value 10-fold. Imagine how long term residents of neighborhoods that have gone downhill due to crime feel. They truly may be stuck; at least South Siders can get out if they want to sell.

If it really has increased 10 fold then that's one thing (I guess this study might be able to tell us if it has). But as someone who spends a lot of time in the South Side it seems to be just as rowdy as it ever has been. My parents lived there in the early 80's and said it was wild way back then too. It just seems that people are just sick of it and are losing tolerance of the broski carnage.

But as you mentioned, they could sell their homes and make a mint.

[eschaton]

Also, the inclusion of Lawrenceville in the study is ridiculous. Locals here are really terrified of becoming the next South Side, but despite a growing number of bars, there's no sign of this. Double D's Saloon is the only "frat" style bar in Lawrenceville - the rest cater to, for lack of a better term a "hipster" clientele. While streets are active at night, it's usually just seeing some bearded guys walking around, not packs of meatheads.

But in general, they complain about the parking situation on Butler. It's not easy to find a space on Butler, but successful neighborhoods always have parking issues, and attempts to build lots/garages to increase capacity almost always result in a neighborhood getting worse rather than better.

It's sort of weird, it's like there's a contingent here of long-timers who really want Lawrenceville to be Morningside or Stanton Heights or something. They're 100% for any new housing developments which come in, but they're 100% opposed to any new commercial businesses, especially fronting on Butler Street.

I would say, as parents, my wife and I are really let down at the lack of good restaurant options in Lawrenceville if you have a child, basically there's:

• Really upscale restaurants (Tamari, Picolo Forno)
• Places only open until 5, so you cannot have dinner there (Coca Cafe, Dozen)
• Bars which serve food, but where you cannot take children in (Round Corner Cantina, Remedy, Thunderbird, New Amsterdam, Eclipse Lounge - apparently the new Industry Grill as well).

[cheezit34141988]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Setup portable toilets, increase closing time from 2 AM to 4 AM, get some damn cabs, and open up some late night places to eat. There's your $100k study right there.

^^^Agree. I'm getting sick of drunken walks home eating Cogo's pizza slices and the taco stand by the Birmingham Bridge. I'd kill for a Coney Island (for you Michiganders), 24/7 diner, etc.

[BrianTH]

I moved to Pittsburgh in 1993, and the South Side was already the South Side back then.

Honestly, I think what has changed is not so much the nature of the commercial part of the South Side as the nature of the residential part--back then I think there was a lot more working-class housing and student-ghetto stuff. In the ensuing years there has been a lot of gentrification, which is fine as far as that goes, but I agree those people don't have the standing to object that they weren't on notice as to the nature of the commercial part of the South Side.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I would say, as a parents, my wife and I are really let down at the lack of good restaurant options in Lawrenceville if you have a child, basically there's:

• Really upscale restaurants (Tamari, Picolo Forno)
• Places only open until 5, so you cannot have dinner there (Coca Cafe, Dozen)
• Bars which serve food, but where you cannot take children in (Round Corner Cantina, Remedy, Thunderbird, New Amsterdam, Eclipse Lounge - apparently the new Industry Grill as well).

So you want an Eat N Park? We take our kids to chains. Frankly, we need a quick meal

I haven't been to Picolo Forno in years. Has it really gone upscale? I always thought it was a fairly afforable restaurant.