Oakland : Development News

Hello Bistro, a quick-service burger-and-salad eatery, is opening soon in the bustling 3600 block of Central Oakland.  A project of Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, the bistro will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and will feature the company’s trademark Superburger and salad bar, as well as beer and wine.

“It was designed to be something that capitalizes on our heritage and our commitment to Pittsburgh,” says Mark Broadhurst, director of concept development.  “We think this is something a little different... [but] the best things that people love most about Eat'n Park.”

The bistro is scheduled to open June 28^th, and will seat up to 60 guests.  Service style will be similar to the company’s other Oakland concept, The Porch at Schenley, where guests order at the counter, and are then waited on at tables.

Broadhurst says the burgers will be similar to what is offered at an Eat'n Park restaurant.

“We've been doing that since 1949, and people love the Superburger, so we figured there's no reason to touch that,” he says. 

The restaurant replaces the former Rue 21 retail store in this space, which has been completely remodeled. 

Also now open in North Oakland is Kahila’s Taste: Authentic Caribbean Kitchen. The menu features traditional dishes from throughout the Caribbean, including several types of roti; rice and peas; curry chicken, goat, and tofu; ox tail; and jerk chicken.

The restaurant also specializes in vegetarian and vegan options, and house-made juice and teas.

Owner Kahila Miller has already earned a following at the Pittsburgh Public Market, in the Strip District, where she has operated a food stand for the past several years.

Kahila’s Taste, 305 N. Craig Street, Oakland.  412-377-7951.
 


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mark Broadhurst

Today is the grand opening of the Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL), a building that promises to be one of the greenest in the world.  The CSL is a research, education, and administrative complex, and meets the three highest green building standards: The Living Building Challenge; LEED Platinum; and the SITES landscape rating system.

The complex is the centerpiece of the latest phase in a $20 million, multi-year expansion project underway at Phipps to upgrade and expand its facilities with an emphasis on green and sustainability.  While planning the project, Phipps accepted the Living Building Challenge issued by the U.S. Green Building Council, an attempt to raise the bar and define a closer measure of true sustainability in the built environment.

“In a way this building marks the end of a journey we've been on to really discover and learn about the most effective ways to build and operate our buildings, to be more in harmony and in tune with the environment,” says Richard Piacentini, executive director at Phipps.

According to Piacentini, the Living Building Challenge is a new benchmark that goes far beyond LEED Platinum, requiring that buildings are net-zero energy; that all water is captured and treated on site; and that many commonly-used but toxic materials are not used in construction.

The SITES system, a LEED-style rating for landscapes, is also new.  The CSL is a pilot for that program, and the center is expected to be the first in the world to achieve all three ratings.

Piacentini says the opening also marks the beginning of a new journey, as the center is developing a research program to understand how people learn about the environment and what motivates changes in behavior, based on environmental psychology.

While planning and developing the center, Phipps prioritized working with Pittsburgh- and Pennsylvania-based architects and engineers.  It was their goal to celebrate the talent and leadership of the region.

“It’s one of the greenest buildings in the world and we're going to be able to say that it was designed and built by people right here in Pittsburgh,” he says.

Today's gala is the official grand opening, and the center will be open for public tours in June.  Click here for a Pop City slideshow of the newly completed CSL.

Phipps Conservatory, One Schenley Park, 15213, 412-622-6914.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Richard Piacentini

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is taking the next step in its exploration of bus rapid transit (BRT).  Next week, a series of three community input meetings are being held throughout the city to provide the public with opportunities to review and comment on potential alternate alignments for the proposed system.

Last summer, the Port Authority began a $1 million study of BRT between Downtown, Oakland, and East End neighborhoods.  Although the study is still in progress, the purpose of next week’s meetings is to share with the public what BRT could potentially look like in those neighborhoods, including routing, changes to traffic lanes, and the possibility of added bicycle lanes.

This current study of BRT is using a “complete streets” approach, according to Heather Pharo, of the Port Authority.  This means access for all users-- including transit, bicyclists, pedestrians, and general auto traffic—is being taken into account.

The study is being conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff, and includes an environmental assessment, route alternatives, and general economic impact on communities in the corridor. 

BRT is a form of bus transit that operates similar to a traditional street-rail system, with dedicated stations, route priority, and platform fare collection, among other efficiency measures. 

Get There PGH, a partnership of over 30 neighborhood organizations, has been leading the effort to advance BRT in Pittsburgh, of which the Port Authority is stakeholder.
 

Meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

Hill District: Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Hill House Kaufman Center Auditorium, 1825 Centre Avenue

Oakland: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Carnegie Mellon University, University Student Center, Rangos Ballroom 3, 5032 Forbes Avenue

East End: Thursday, April 26, 2012, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, East Liberty Presbyterian Church Social Hall, 116 South Highland Avenue

Uptown: Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, UPMC Mercy Hospital, 1400 Locust Street, Sr. Ferdinand Clark Auditorium, 2nd. Fl., Bldg. D.  Free Parking in Mercy Garage. Ticket will be validated.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Heather Pharo, Port Authority

Construction of the Oakland Portal project is underway, a development set to bring two apartment buildings, office towers, and a hotel to West Oakland.  The project is spearheaded by Lou W. Molnar, of L.W. Molnar & Associates, Inc.

The first four-story building, which will have views of the Monongahela River and the South Side Slopes, will consist of 47 units, and is being built over a structured parking garage.  The building is scheduled to open in July, with the second structure to be under construction by the end of this year.

The 1-and-2-bedroom apartments will be offered at $1,300 to $1,800 a month.  Skip Molnar, of L.W. Molnar & Associates, says the 2-bedroom units are designed as suites, with separate bathrooms and walk-in closets.  

As part of the construction, the sidewalk will be expanded, and will included a landscaped buffer between Fifth Avenue.  The buildings were designed by TKA Architects, and the contractor is FranjoConstruction.  

The apartments are located on bus lines into Downtown, and along the study route for bus rapid transit.

In the coming weeks, plans for the second phase of the project will go before neighborhood organizations and the City of Pittsburgh.  Molnar says his company is proposing three office towers, with one to include a hotel, for a site located across Fifth Avenue.

Included in those plans are suggestions for widened sidewalks, landscaping, and bicycle infrastructure along Fifth Avenue.

The entire project is scaled back from an earlier project proposed for this site by a different developer in 2005.

Because of an agreement between the previous landowner and Lamar Advertising Company, a permanent easement exists on the property for two billboards.  However, Molnar says designs were able to incorporate the existing billboard wall to build a secure, indoor bicycle storage facility for the building’s tenants.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Skip Molnar

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) could someday link Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland, greatly improving the connection between these two important centers of commerce and employment.  Get There PGH, a partnership of over 30 neighborhood organizations, is advancing a plan for this transit initiative, and will host an informational public meeting throughout the day on Thursday, January 12th.

Of the 30-plus organizations, Sustainable Pittsburgh is acting as a convener in bringing the exploration of BRT to the community. 

Executive Director Court Gould says this evaluation of BRT is at the earliest stage, and Get There PGH seeks to learn whether it fits with community visions and needs, and how it could facilitate not only mobility, but prosperity, public health, and revitalization, among other issues.

“The stakeholders…are viewing the bus rapid transit as part of a larger community vision interest and need, not as an isolated transportation project,” Gould says.

BRT is a form of bus transit that operates more similar to a rail system, with dedicated stations, route priority, and platform fare collection, among other efficiency measures.  And while BRT shares design principals with rail transit, it is also far less expensive to implement.

An Alternatives Analysis and Environmental Assessment, to determine whether BRT would work in Pittsburgh, began last year.  The upcoming public information session is the first in a series as part of that study.

Supporters of BRT cite economic growth and neighborhood development along corridors as benefits of the transit mode, along with safer streets, and improved mobility for city residents and visitors. 

Gould says BRT differs from the Port Authority’s current East-West busways, noting rapid is a reference to efficiency of service and not high traveling speeds.  He says the region’s busways were innovative in their time, but that cities nationally and abroad have gone forward and applied those same attributes to on-street systems, rather than segregated facilities.

“So this would be Pittsburgh now coming full-circle to catching up with the trend that in some ways it was a pioneer of, but with a new twist,” Gould says.

Among its stakeholders Get There PGH includes the City of Pittsburgh, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, local universities, and Bike Pittsburgh.

The information sessions will be held tomorrow, during two sessions, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Hall Ballroom, 4227 Fifth Ave. in Oakland.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Court Gould, Sustainable Pittsburgh; Scott Bricker, Bike Pittsburgh

Although Oakland’s Schenley Plaza fills with sunbathers and lunchtime crowds during Pittsburgh’s warmer months it is seldom used in more inclement weather.  But with the opening of the The Porch at Schenley  that should soon change.  The park’s first and only dine-in eatery opened on Monday, and  hopes to bring new life to this public space throughout all four seasons.

The restaurant is part of the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group.  Mark Broadhurst, direct of concept development, says The Porch aims to be a neighborhood bistro for a busy, vibrant Oakland.

“It's supposed to be a casual, come-as-you-are, no reservations place,” Broadhurst says.

During the day, it’s geared toward people in a hurry--students, professors, hospital staff.  Orders are placed at a counter, but food and all other service is brought tableside.  In the evening, the pace slows, and a wait staff takes over.  Broadhurst says the restaurant changes pace just like the neighborhood.

Designed by WD Partners of Columbus, Ohio, over half the building’s walls are glass, opening to views of the Cathedral of Learning, Schelney Plaza, and the Carnegie Museum complex.  The building was built to LEED silver standards, and utilized recycled and local materials. 

“We really focused on being in the center of an urban park,” Broadhurst says.  “We really wanted people to look outside onto the plaza, rather than focusing on what was inside.”

Broadhurst says the menu is based around the hearth oven and rotisserie, ensuring quick preparations.  Lunch items include salads and pizzas, and sandwiches like the house smoked turkey with cranberry and grilled onion chutney, and a slow roasted pork with ricotta salata.  The dinner menu offers many sharable plates, and extended rotisserie offerings, including prime rib, porchetta, and chicken roti.

The building features a green roof, which will include an edible garden in spring.  Broadhurst says a roof-top apiary is also under consideration.

Open seven days a week, for lunch and dinner, The Porch will also begin serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.  Schenley Plaza, 221 Schenley Drive.  412-687-6724.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mark Broadhurst

The University of Pittsburgh announced last week the approval of 16 construction and renovation projects totaling $152 million, and nine lease renewals.  The university expects that these projects will create 737 construction and 295 construction-support jobs.

Pitt’s Executive Vice Chancellor, Jerome Cochran, says student housing and services were identified as the highest priority in the university’s 12-year facilities plan.

At the corner of Fifth Avenue and University Place, a 10-story 559-bed residence hall will be constructed, at a projected cost of $59 million.  Commercial retail space will be created on the first floor, and a student wellness center will be installed on the second floor.  This building replaces a surface parking lot, and the University Place Office Building, which was demolished to make way for the dormitory.

In a statement, Cochran said an estimated 500 new beds would be used to “recruit and retain a diverse and highly qualified student body.”

University Spokesperson John Fedele says the new residence hall will house freshman, and will help create a bond between students.

Aside from the new residence hall most projects will be renovations and upgrades to existing facilities, Fedele says, because they were identified as more economical in most cases than new construction.

A five-story, 57,000-square-foot addition to Parran and Crabtree Halls, at $41.3 million, will be used accommodate the relocation and expansion of the Graduate School of Public Health.  The university hopes to achieve LEED certification for this project.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  John Fedele

Legume Bistro is now open at its new North Oakland location.  Owners Trevett and Sarah Hooper closed their Regent Square location last spring in preparation for the move, and have spent the past four months renovating their new space, which features a full-service bar.

Much larger than the original Braddock Avenue location, Legume now seats 80 in the dining room and an additional 30 at the bar. 

Located within the 1920s King Edward Apartments building, Legume replaces the former More Restaurant, which had served Italian cuisine in this location for the past 40 years.

Sarah Hooper says while remodeling the space, an original blue-green terrazzo floor was discovered beneath carpeting and plastic.  Classic features like the original flooring were incorporated into the interior design, completed again by Joy Robison.  Hand-crafted woodwork by local artisan Miki Szabo also appears throughout the restaurant.

When it came to remodeling the kitchen, however, Trevett Hooper turned to the community.  A successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign raised over $17,000—more than double the original goal.  It was enough to create an ideal kitchen that is both beautiful and functional.  Funders were in turn rewarded, based on the amount of their gift, with recipe cards, invitation to a Kickstarter party, dinner for two, or cooking lessons.

Legume’s menu will feature the same seasonal American cuisine as before, with a menu that changes nightly.  Recent dishes include sweet potato ravioli with brown butter, sage, Hakurei Turnips and greens; pork shoulder braised in applejack, with Carolina Gold rice, and green beans; spaghetti with roasted goat sauce and sautéed greens; grass-fed ranch steak with parsley butter and mushroom barley risotto.

Hooper plans to begin serving lunch in the spring, and a bar menu is also being developed.

And although Legume is no longer BYOB, Hooper says there will be no corkage fees on Mondays, which she hopes will encourage fans of the former location to continue bringing bottles of their favorite wines.

Legume Bistro, located at 214 N. Craig Street, 15213, is open for dinner Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.  A happy hour is offered from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the bar remains open till midnight.  412-621-2700.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Sarah Hooper

The Port Authority has approved a $1 million study of a rapid bus line between Downtown and Oakland. PB Americas Inc. will perform the study, which includes an environmental assessment, route alternatives, and general economic impact on communities in the corridor.

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a bus service similar to light rail, with fewer stops and higher frequency of service. Because no rail lines are required to run the line, developing BRT is considerably less expensive than light rail.

Jim Ritchie, Port Authority spokesperson, cites Allegheny County's naming last year of the stretch between Downtown and Oakland as the number one transportation corridor in the county. He says this study is the Port Authority's attempt to follow up on investments being made by the city and the county to trigger growth in communities along the corridor.

"The far bigger piece is this community revitalization that's envisioned for this three mile stretch," Ritchie says. "There is something much bigger going on here."

In other cities, BRT has been credited with spurring billions in economic development along its routes. Local officials would hope for similar results if this line is developed.

The study is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete, determining a preferred alignment along Fifth and Forbes Avenues. The study is being funded with approximately $840,000 in federal planning money and with $210,000 coming from Allegheny County.

Ritchie says all major institutions in the corridor are supportive of the BRT service, including the major universities and hospitals in the area.

Downtown is currently linked by the East and West Busways, which connect eastern communities such as Swissvale, Wilkinsburg and Homewood, and west to Carnegie, with the Golden Triangle.


Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Jim Ritchie, Port Authority

A planning team has been selected for the Oakland 2025 visioning process. The Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) has selected Pfaffmann + Associates, and the Studio for Spatial Practice, to lead the neighborhood visioning process.

"The goal of our Oakland 2025 master planning process is to create a shared vision for the future of Oakland, with a clear set of strategies to help us implement that vision, and arrive at that vision for the future," says Wanda Wilson, executive director of OPDC.

Member teams for the process also include 4ward Planning, for economic planning, and Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc., for transportation planning.

Team members are expected to begin work this month, using information gathered at the fifty-five community dialogue events held in Oakland earlier this spring.

Wilson says the information gathered at prior meetings and future charrettes, as well as planning documents and processes done in the past, will be used to craft the final plan recommendations.

Oakland 2025 has six main focus areas: transportation and safety, housing quality and development, youth, family, and elderly services, neighborhood diversity and heritage and culture, neighborhood greening and infrastructure, and urban design and zoning standards.

"Oakland is a very diverse and complex community, and we're really focused on making sure through this process that we engage people from throughout all the different walks of life in Oakland, and make sure that all the different entities have a voice in this plan, so that it truly is a shared vision for the community's future," Wilson says.

The final plan is expected to be released to the public no later that May 15th, 2012.


Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Wanda Wilson, OPDC

Opening next spring, the $23 million Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) at Phipps Conservatory will be one of the first to qualify for LEED Platinum certification, SITES landscaping and a USBGC Living Building.

"It's really exciting to show the world that we're leaders in the green building movement," says Phipps Executive Director Richard Piacentini. In order to meet standards for each of these certifications, the building must include a long list of green and sustainable features, says Piacentini. These features include net-zero energy and water, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting and reuse and a Photovoltaic solar power system.

At 24,000 square feet, the CSL will serve as the Conservatory's administration, education and research facility and will be the final phase of its campus-wide greening project, which includes the completed LEED-certified visitors center and state of the art Tropical Forest Conservatory exhibit space. Piacentini says the building will showcase how we can live in harmony with the environment. The building's sleek design features numerous translucent windows to help minimize nighttime heating loss. A glass atrium will act as a thermal buffer, and its green roof will help insulate the building.

The project is using exclusively Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania-based crews, companies such as the Massaro Corporation, The Design Alliance Architects, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. and Atlantic Engineering Services. Project partners with Phipps include local universities, the Green Building Alliance and the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Since the project began last October, Phipps general contractor Turner Construction completed all underground utility and initial site work. Currently, the team is laying concrete foundations, electric and site water lines. To keep in compliance with its sustainability standards, a "red list" of restricted items garners close attention, says Piacentini. Phipps is presently inspecting suppliers to ensure that all products align with their set standards.

Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Richard Piacentini and Liz Fetchin, Phipps Conservatory

Oakland residents and community members interested in helping shape the neighborhood's future should head to St. Nicholas Cathedral tomorrow at 6 p.m. to celebrate the start of Oakland 2025, with free dinner included.

"Oakland 2025 is a broad-based planning process. We're basing it on the community engagement model called Everyday Democracy," says Tara Fherry-Torres, community organizer for the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC), who are spearheading the process with many community and institutional partners. "It's going to be very comprehensive and really the residents and community members are the ones that are going to be setting up the agenda."

The kickoff event this Thursday will introduce a series of five dialogue sessions that will take place between March 24 and the first week in May. Each session will include eight to ten community members discussing the issues they're passionate about in Oakland, and the changes they would like to see over the next fifteen years. These events, lead by a facilitator, will build upon each other in order to identify the most pressing concerns about the neighborhood, likely covering future development strategies, green initiatives, new multi-modal transportation opportunities, and public education enhancement.

On May 12, the progress made in the dialogues will culminate in the formation of action committees, each organized around a particular issue, and lead by members of the public passionate about those issues and implementing change. The idea is to allow the community to organically develop the plan and begin working together, so that when a fully realized comprehensive plan is released in early 2012, volunteer teams will be prepared and well-connected to strategic resources.

"People in Oakland really care about their community. It's really a matter of capturing that love and that care for the community and finding those natural leaders to help create a cohesive structure, so that people can get involved in their community and make it what they want it to be," says Fherry-Torres.

The kickoff event takes place at 419 South Dithridge Street, and will go from 6-8:30 p.m. To RSVP email questions@opdc.org or call 412-621-7863 ext. 17.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Tara Fherry-Torres, OPDC

Image courtesy of OPDC

Carnegie Mellon University has unveiled its new 10-year master plan, composed of a great deal of data analysis and a long list of potential projects that could be completed over the next decade in order to better integrate the campus, utilize the college's recent real estate investments for new facilities, and create new bike lanes.

"The way master plans work is that you have to have this plan in order to build, but you don't have to build what you have planned. What we're trying to do is put as many development pads as possible into the plan in good spaces, so that when an opportunity arrives we can act on it," says Ralph Horgan, associate vice provost for CMU. "The public portion of this was 50 or so meetings. At some point in the next month or two we'll begin the process with the city of Pittsburgh."

CMU has been working on the master plan for the past year, and while none of the listed projects are funded at this point, they could include moving Tepper Business School to a larger building, a new nanotechnology research center, installing two bike lanes on Forbes Avenue, an expansion of the College of Fine Arts and Heinz College, moving Skibo Gym to University Center, and a hotel on campus, among others.

Now that the master plan is complete, the next step is for CMU to go through an approval process with the City. "It takes about six months. You have to be pretty thoughtful to do this and hopefully in July we'll have the approved master plan, so that if we want to do something and the funding is there, we can do it," says Horgan.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Ralph Horgan, CMU

Image courtesy of CMU

This spring, visitors to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will have an opportunity to see the many tropical trees towering in the Victorian greenhouse from a whole new angle, with the installation of an extended elevated pedestrian walkway and elevator.

Phipps' has always had a small overlook area where guests could peer out over the forest canopy, but the new construction will add 20-feet of walking space to the upper deck viewing area. The Design Alliance Architects crafted the plans for the walkway, and Landau Building Company is currently working to have it open by April.

A new elevator is being built in order to allow all visitors access to the new viewing opportunities, and is expected to be completed in unison with the walkway.

"We decided to make the area more accessible for our handicapped guests or those who just wouldn't want to walk up the winding pathway to get back to the entrance," says Liz Fetchin, marketing and communications manager for Phipps Conservatory. "It seems like guests are very excited about this addition."

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Liz Fetchin, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Image courtesy of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Hard hitting question: Are cupcakes passe? Sure, they're still delicious, and always will be, but as far as trendy confections go… Have Pittsburgh's fickle sweet teeth moved onto frozen yogurt?

We're still hooked on bike-sized carb-bombs from Dozen, Vanilla, CoCo's and even Gahnt Iggle, but this city is certainly embracing the healthy, tart fro-yo trend. Karmic in Shadyside and Sweet Berry in Oakland have been doing their thing for about a year, and now Razzy Fresh in Squirrel Hill and Sweetlix, Downtown, join the mix with their own mixes of fat-free yogurts and both decadent and guilt-free toppings.

Razzy Fresh opened about a month ago at 1717 Murray Ave. The shop features multiple yogurt flavors (plain tart, cheesecake, passionfruit), is self-serve, and is priced by weight.

Sweetlix opened at 820 Liberty Ave. last week in a previously vacant storefront owned by the Cultural Trust. The sleek yogurt shop, with a Pinkberry-inspired interior, features a daily plain yogurt and a revolving special flavor. Sweetlix is owned and operated by wife and husband Genalle Passanante and Rob Day -- the same folks who own and operate Pittsburgh Popcorn Company and also, yes, the Bikram Yoga studio in the Strip District, where Passanante teaches.

"My husband and I like to travel, and whenever we see things that Pittsburgh doesn't yet have, we want to bring those things here," says Passanante.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Genalle Passanante, Sweetlix

Photograph copyright Caralyn Green