Uptown - talk to me

[greg42]

I tried to figure out just where he might mean while driving down 5th today, but the snow was a little distracting. I think I only barely get into the 1600 and then 1500 blocks before turning on Pride Street. My guess, since I've seen that strip so many times over months and months that I've used that route, is that the properties in mind are lower. Well, two guesses really. I'm guessing the condo thing is an existing building, and the apartment building may actually be a new building. Sounds like he expects to market apartments to Duquesne students.

Does Uptown fall into that 10-year tax abatement area? I wonder....

[BrianTH]

I can't read the full thing, but 1000 is Washington Place (so the new arena is on the 1000s block), and 1600s is Vine/Marion to Van Braam. There are a lot of surface parking lots along both sides of Fifth along that stretch.

Edit: I was just eyeballing it, and the 1300 block of Fifth has to be something like 2/3s surface parking.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I can't read the full thing, but 1000 is Washington Place (so the new arena is on the 1000s block), and 1600s is Vine/Marion to Van Braam. There are a lot of surface parking lots along both sides of Fifth along that stretch.

Edit: I was just eyeballing it, and the 1300 block of Fifth has to be something like 2/3s surface parking.

Yeah, the guy that owns all of those properties has been tearing them down as fast as he can, and converting the land to parking lots, much to the consternation of some in the community. Smells like a rat to me. I'll believe he has plans other than more parking, when the first shovel of dirt is turned over.

[grimacista]

There are a bunch of dirt cheap properties in Uptown that the city or URA owns that are for sale.

[UptownPittsburgh]

Quote from the Williams Family website:

"Their focus is by no means easy, but it is simple: buy buildings and vacant land which no one else has expressed a serious interest in developing or properly maintaining, then partner with the stakeholders to convert these important parcels of real estate into higher and better uses. These new developments will produce significant real estate tax revenues for the City of Pittsburgh while providing employment and residential opportunities. The ultimate goal is to become the catalyst that will spark a rebirth of the Uptown area."

Interesting goal; I hope for them it works out because Sal Williams had the guts to do what nobody would. I know that he will sell any property he owns at the current appraised value if the buyer is willing to improve it. So obviously he wants to see Uptown revitalized for reasons other than a profit.

[UptownPittsburgh]

Quote from the Williams Family website:

"Their focus is by no means easy, but it is simple: buy buildings and vacant land which no one else has expressed a serious interest in developing or properly maintaining, then partner with the stakeholders to convert these important parcels of real estate into higher and better uses. These new developments will produce significant real estate tax revenues for the City of Pittsburgh while providing employment and residential opportunities. The ultimate goal is to become the catalyst that will spark a rebirth of the Uptown area."

Interesting goal; I hope that it happens that way. Also, I know that Sal Williams is willing to sell (even at a loss if necessary) any of his many Uptown properties at the current appraised value to any buyer (investor, developer, resident, business owner, etc.) who will improve it. So obviously his motivation is to revitalize his old neighborhood and not necessarily profits.