New Apartments near T in Dormont (Pittsburgh, Allentown: 2013, neighborhoods, construction)

[Clint.]

Looks like this could be a major new project in Dormont -

Developer negotiating to build apartments, parking garage near Dormont light rail stop - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There is a lot of discussion about bus vs. rail here. My guess is that this validates some points made by rail proponents. It's hard to imagine advertising a building as "near a bus stop" would draw much interest.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Clint.

My guess is that this validates some points made by rail proponents. It's hard to imagine advertising a building as "near a bus stop" would draw much interest.

This TOD project in East Liberty is already under construction and sits at the East Busway station. That's certainly not rail.

[zman63]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

This TOD project in East Liberty is already under construction and sits at the East Busway station. That's certainly not rail.

There is rail in beechview and allentown. Both areas are ghost towns.

[JimboPGH]

Originally Posted by zman63

There is rail in beechview and allentown. Both areas are ghost towns.

Allentown lost the Brown Line a couple of years ago. The whole southern hilltop has issues that go way beyond what good public transit can fix.

Beechview has more than it's fair share of empty storefronts, but it's far from a ghost town.

[JimboPGH]

Originally Posted by Clint.

Looks like this could be a major new project in Dormont -

Developer negotiating to build apartments, parking garage near Dormont light rail stop - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There is a lot of discussion about bus vs. rail here. My guess is that this validates some points made by rail proponents. It's hard to imagine advertising a building as "near a bus stop" would draw much interest.

Dormont has very quietly become one of the more desirable neighborhoods outside the East End. There are a lot of factors more important than the T working in it's favor, but having a direct rail connection to Downtown, the North Side, and the South Hills is certainly a plus. For people who rely on public transit, it's one of the most convenient, versatile locations in Allegheny County.

[Clint.]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

This TOD project in East Liberty is already under construction and sits at the East Busway station. That's certainly not rail.

The East Liberty busway (which used to be rail until it was 'improved' along with the rest of East Liberty in the 1960s) has long been a major hub of the Pittsburgh public transportation network, so I'm not sure that is an analogous comparison or the image conjured by a simple "bus stop" along a segment of simple route, which is basically all the site in Dormont is.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by JimboPGH

Allentown lost the Brown Line a couple of years ago. The whole southern hilltop has issues that go way beyond what good public transit can fix.

Beechview has more than it's fair share of empty storefronts, but it's far from a ghost town.

Agreed. Beechview is not a ghost town by any means. I bet by 2020, they'll have a GAIN in population in that neighborhood. Allentown/Mt. Oliver... not so much.