Downtown Population increased 25% since 2000 (Pittsburgh, Smithfield: safer, discount, Wal-mart)

[pman]

seems like much ado about nothing regarding parking if vacancy rates are low and population is growing. After all, people can pay for parking if they want it and it's clearly not stopping people from moving there (even if it stops some). that seems like a natural self selecting process rather than a problem. as can be seen by the graph, in just four years of the current decade there are already more units completed or under construction than all of last decade...and in turn the last decade saw more units added than any decade since sometime before the 60's. it just goes to show how people concoct "problems" that they invariable inend to go after public funding for. rising parking rates downtown will help solve the transit problem.

The Downtown workforce, with more than 113,000 salaried workers, represented a net increase of 5 percent between 2005 to 2011
[/quote]
Read more: Downtown Pittsburgh's residential growth tied to parking - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

the actual report

[FreightTrainRunning]

Translation: Developers are trying to get handouts from the city to pay for new parking garages.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Translation: Developers are trying to get handouts from the city to pay for new parking garages.

Can't blame them for that.


Developers are seeking to develop properties that are attractive to affluent tenants. Affluent Americans are very likely to have cars that they will need to park.

[pman]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Can't blame them for that.
Developers are seeking to develop properties that are attractive to affluent tenants. Affluent Americans are very likely to have cars that they will need to park.

indeed, you can only blame the government for giving it to them. affluent tenants can afford to pay for parking (so what it really does is improve the developer's bottom line). one of the arguments for the nsc was to allow people to park on the north shore and take transit downtown. the report indicates that is happening with an average increase of 1000 cars per day parked on the north shore. OTOH, continuing to subsidize parking downtown is in direct opposition. if the parking authority builds a new garage, it should be on the north shore where it would allow people to park there and ride the t while also freeing up land there for development since it would help meet the parking demands of the steelers. OTOH, there are something like ten times more spaces downtown than residents according to the PDP report so it's not like there's a shortage of spaces available for residents. one way to INCREASE the number of spaces available is to reduce the number of commuters using them. this can best be achieved by allowing rates to rise and improving bus service (which is exactly what seems to be happening). on the whole, public money would be better spent on schools or restoring parks than building parking (or even streetscape improvements). the more people that live downtown the more amenities will be offered, the more attractive it will be to live downtown. the parking situation will be handled by the market, put limited resources elsewhere. in Philadelphia comcast is asking for an RACP grant to build an underground connection to the commuter rail station. that connection will be public rather than private parking which seems a much more appropriate use of a grant (IMO of course)

[Gee Whiz]

Suppose I want a two bedroom apartment Downtown with a great view that has no parking space. I can also get a one bedroom that has a covered parking space and less of a view. After the parking fee is added to the rent, the one bedroom costs just the same as the two bedroom with a view but no parking. Should taxpayers help subsidize the extra bedroom because it has a view. Is a view and an extra bedroom no different of an amenity to be offered than a coveted parking space? How about a two bedroom with a view and two parking spaces for the very well heeled? Parking is an amenity just like extra space or a view. The price should be in the rental fee for those that can afford it and be seen as a major perk in a Downtown area like Pittsburgh. The tenants that can afford it should and will pay it. Those who cannot may have to do away with that extra bedroom they wanted to use as a den or office if they really need parking. If you want and can afford it all, then go for it. Developers are going to have to do their homework to decide what fits. In the meantime, Village Green is adding a small parking garage for their tenants over on the South Side. So it can be done privately, despite what Continental is crying about over on the North Shore. And Continental gets "exclusive rights" to develop the land between the stadiums. What a racket.

[pman]

A fall opening is scheduled for 40 loft-style pet-friendly apartments at 121 Seventh St., Downtown, by Red Rocks Group of Philadelphia, which has started construction of the units on the second through sixth floors of the six-story building. Called Aria, the building will have one- and two-bedroom units with exposed brick, timber beams and granite countertops, plus in-unit washer and dryers, storage units on every floor and a fitness center. Red Rocks acquired the 60,473-square-foot building, which has the Bossa Nova nightclub on the first level, from MA Associates lI, for $4 million. It received a $6.46 million acquisition renovation bridge loan from UC Funding.

Read more: Real estate notes: Projects aplenty for Elmhurt Group; Pitt to renovate David Lawrence Hall | TribLIVE
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

[pman]

the population living Downtown has soared. Census data show the area was home to 12,343 people last year, up 10.5 percent from 2010.

Read more: Downtown Pittsburgh enjoys growth in population, building boom | TribLIVE
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

[Blackbeauty212]

Downtown now needs to focus on bringing in more unique Retail...Too many empty store fronts, and what is there are non-essentials to downtown i.e. Banks, Drug Stores, Coffeehouses ( bland and boring) .... I hope this can be accomplished without robbing the neighborhoods.

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Downtown now needs to focus on bringing in more unique Retail...Too many empty store fronts, and what is there are non-essentials to downtown i.e. Banks, Drug Stores, Coffeehouses ( bland and boring) .... I hope this can be accomplished without robbing the neighborhoods.

Have you tried 21st Street Coffee?

[AaronPGH]

^ Yeah, 21st Street is about as good as it gets in the whole metro area for coffee. Intelligentsia.