Sometimes you have to take what you can get. Fuqua keeps saying they are having to practically beg the grocer to build there and they ( the organic grocer) specified it had to be in the layout it is in. Do we take the retail, or tell them no, sorry, it needs to be more urban in design and risk them pulling out? This is sort of a tough one.
I don't agree.
First off, this development has highway access thanks to the nice new Forrest Street exit ramps completed a few years ago.
Secondly, the demographics for this project draw directly from Riverside/Avondale/San Marco. Try putting this site layout in San Marco or Riverside and see how easy it would be to get done.
Additionally, as Lakelander states... it would actually be beneficial to the developer to make simple adjustments to the site plan in order to be more contextually sensitive to a pedestrian scale environmnet. For one, you would get more parking spaces (and they already applied for, and was denied, a request to increase the project's parking maximum).
Lastly, I'll leave you with a real clear philosophy difference.
Mayor Brown has instructed OED to 'get this done no matter what'.
To contrast that, former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy was in town during One Spark. He mentioned several times that if a developer didn't conform to the type of environment they wanted to create for downtown Pittsburgh, they simply would not approve the project. He completely turned around that city, region and in particular their downtown. Maybe we should take that kind of advice.
Here is a letter he wrote about a massive roadway project, contrast that with Mayor Brown's style and you'll see two distinct forms of 'leadership':
Commissioner James Dodaro
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
March 27, 1996
Dear Commissioner Dodaro:
I would like to thank you and your staff for taking the time to brief myself, my staff, and Councilmen Jim Ferlo and Bob O’Connor on the status of the Mon/Fayette Transportation Project. The City fully recognizes the potential significance of this project not only in the revitalization of the Mon Valley but also in the continued vitality and growth of the City and region as a whole. While I appreciate the hard work and thorough analysis your staff has done on this project, I would like to reiterate what I consider four crucial issues that need to be addressed before the City can fully endorse the project.
•Riverfront Development (Glenwood Bridge to City Line): The riverfronts and Nine Mile Run represent two of this City’s most valuable assets. In no way can this project compromise these assets. The highway must be shown to be compatible with, if not advantageous to, both residential development in Nine Mile Run and the development of park and recreational uses along the riverfront from the Glenwood Bridge to the City line.
•Financial Feasibility: Through our ongoing internal planning and development efforts and work with SPRPC a number of City and regional transportation priorities have been identified. However, as you know, funds for advancing these priorities are becoming increasingly scarce. Consequently, funds for pursuing the Mon/Fayette and Southern Beltway projects must come from sources independent of the regular federal and state funds allocated to this region.
•Highway Design and Amenities: Given the physical scale and presence of this project, it must be shown to be a visual asset to it environment by using sensitive design treatments to minimize its presence and impacts and enhance its natural and physical environments.
•Community Support: In order for the City to be able to fully support this project, the concerns and needs of our neighborhoods must be addressed in a meaningful and thorough manner. The City’s ultimate position will be based in part on this project’s community implications and public deposition.
I believe these conditions are consistent with the City’s current position as understood by your staff. We look forward to working with your staff and insuring not only the project’s feasibility but also its supportability and contribution to the well-being of the City, Mon Valley and entire metropolitan region. Again thank you for your time and efforts.
Sincerely,
Tom Murphy, Mayor
City of Pittsburgh
See the difference?
However, that ship has sailed since the site plan is already approved. Personally, I don't think decorating the facade is going to make much of a difference outside of raising the cost of the project for Fuqua.
Completey agree. The site plan is the problem, not the facade.
Why the DDRB did not choose to better address the site plan (which would have had very little impact on the pro forma cost of the project), but would make the developer change up the facade treatment (which does have an impact on cost) is really backwards.
