Development News

East Deutschtown’s first commercial development in nearly 40 years has broken ground on what will be a future DaVita dialysis clinic.  Neighborhood groups hope it will be the beginning of renewed and continued investment in this centrally located, Northside community.

The 9,000-square-foot building will be situated just east of Interstate 279 along Madison Avenue and Tripoli Street.  Although the new structure will be just a single floor, a second-story gable was added to the design in order to blend the structure with the surrounding 19th century two- and three-story homes and businesses.

As the site is located near a major traffic corridor, and will be a highly visible landmark, the Community Alliance of Spring Garden and East Deutschtown (also known as East Allegheny) felt that it was especially important that the building’s design reflect the historic character of the neighborhood. 

Community board member Neil Poillon says the completed building will have a look and design that Pittsburgh will be proud of.  He says developer Marc Anthony Construction has worked closely with neighborhood stakeholders, and with the community’s input in the design process.

“We all gave a little and I think we came up with something that was good for the neighborhood and works for the developer,” Poillon says.

In addition to the new dialysis clinic, three historic townhomes in the adjacent block have recently been renovated and are for sale. 

Poillon says the neighborhood is filled with good people and cultural institutions, is favorably situated within the city, and believes it’s only a matter of time before even more vacant lots are transformed into positive community assets.
 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Neil Poillon

The Pittsburgh Tour Company’s fourth season in the city is underway, and they’ve added a few more bright red, double-deckers to their fleet of historic London buses.  Along with the additional vehicles, the company has expanded its route to new parts of the city, and now features 21 stops.

The tour route begins in the South Side, and makes its way to the North Shore, the Strip District, and Oakland. 

Owner Vinny Lamonica says his company’s “hop on/hop off” service is one of several features that makes these tours unique in Pittsburgh.  While on a guided tour, guests are able to exit the bus at any of the featured stops.  After they have explored an area, they can then join any later bus, which arrive approximately once an hour.

And guests don’t need to commute to the company’s headquarters to join the tour.  Instead, they can begin the tour by hopping on a bus at any stop, which Lamonica says eliminates a lot of confusion for out-of-town tourists.

“A lot of people come into town and they don’t really know what to do, or how to get there,” he says.  “So you can leave your car at the hotel and let us do the rest for you.”

Becky Rodgers, Executive Director of Neighbors in the Strip, says the expansion of this tour service is a good thing for Strip District and for Pittsburgh.

“What a wonderful way to see the entire city,” Rodgers says.  “It’s just an easy thing for tourists to do—and it’s memorable.”

Pittsburgh Tour Company operated 7 days a week, April through December.  For more information call 412-381-TOUR.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Vinny Lamonica; Becky Rodgers

Sienna Sulla Piazza, an upscale-casual Italian restaurant and wine bar, opened last week in Market Square, replacing the former Bella Serra Urban Trattoria.  The previous restaurant was sold to its news owners in February, and the name change reflects the transition to Chef Matt Porco's new menu and aesthetic.

The new menu is built on smaller, less-expensive plates intended for multi-course dining.  Antipastos include mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs and chicken liver mousse; pastas such as parsnip ravioli with short ribs, house-made gnocchi with braised pork ragu, and wild mushroom risotto; and meat and seafood dishes include braised lamb osso bucco, chicken marsala with mascarpone polenta, and prosciutto wrapped Atlantic salmon.

Chef Porco's previous restaurant, Mio Kitchen & Wine Bar, garnered many accolades, including a 2010 Chef of the Year award from Pittsburgh Magazine.  Poroco says this new endeavor is a home-coming of sorts, as some of his earliest cooking experiences were in Market Square, where is family owned bars and restaurants in the '70s and '80s.

Yet while the menu and name have changed, fans of the former restaurant's intimate setting will find the familiar rustic-chic decor, which features plenty of exposed brick, dark woods, and intimate lighting.

And like its predecessor, Sienna is certified by the Green Restaurant Association,  which means it maintains environmental standards in seven categories, including water efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling, sustainable furnishings, and sustainable food and energy.

Sienna will continue to offer seasonal outdoor dining on the square, and is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.  For more information and reservations, call 412-281-6363.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore

Conflict Kitchen is bringing its globally-conscious cuisine to Downtown Pittsburgh.  The take-out kitchen has operated from a small window in East Liberty since 2010, offering a rotating menu of foods from countries around the world where the U.S. government is in conflict.
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The food-meets-dialogue project received a $25,000 Root Award from the Sprout Fund last week, which will enable the downtown move (although a location has yet to be determined), add more kitchen space, and bring their meal-with-a-message to a more robust lunch crowd.  With these funds, Conflict Kitchen also plans to create an indoor space for hosting events and programming.

"The hope is in the interior to create a kind of convivial space for conversation [and] discussion as food is being eaten and distributed," says co-founder John Rubin.

This past Saturday, Conflict Kitchen re-launched its Iranian-based Kubideh Kitchen.  Most recently the restaurant had been serving Venezuelan arepas as La Cocina Arepa.  Rubin says this latest menu change was done in response to current world-geo politics.

Rubin says the award will allow Conflict Kitchen to change its menu more frequently in the future, and be more responsive to current world politics.

The Spout Fund's Root Award, which was supported by The Benter Foundation, is designed to build on a project's previous successes and enhance the project's sustainability.  It has been offered only twice before: to the Zany Umbrella Circus in 2007, and to Bike Pittsburgh in 2008.

Conflict Kitchen had previously been awarded a $7,000 seed grant from the Sprout Fund.  Mac Howison, Sprout Fund program officer, says his organization is exited to be able to support Conflict Kitchen’s culturally-current method of engaging global issues and the world political stage.

The restaurant’s lease ends in East Liberty in August, at which point the project plans to re-open downtown.  

Conflict Kitchen is currently located at124 S. Highland Avenue, and open 7 days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mac Howison; John Rubin

Last fall, Mayor Ravenstahl's Love Your Block program collected over 5,480 pounds of litter, impacted 47 city blocks, and engaged over 660 volunteers.  With a new round of grants announced last week, neighborhood volunteers throughout the city are set to do it all over again.

Some of this latest round's projects include the CAPA 6-12 school's literature-meets-urban-garden showcase; vacant-lots-turned-community gardens in Homewood, led by the YWCA; improved landscape around a municipal building in Uptown; and more gardens and improvements in Polish Hill, Oakland, the Hill District, Elliott, and Deutschtown.

Chief Service Officer Rebecca Delphia says that Love Your Block projects have been successful in engaging long-standing organizations as well as first-time volunteers.  

In some cases, as with a vacant-lot transformation in Brighton Heights, projects have been a catalyst for continued neighborhood involvement.  Delphia says in this case, volunteers are not only continuing to maintain a newly installed rain garden, but they have built lasting connections to complete additional projects in the future.

Love York Block was launched last year, and is one of seven components of the mayor’s servePGH initiative, which engages volunteers to address challenges in the City.  The Home Depot Foundation has donated $10,000 toward the program in the form of $500 Home Depot gift cards, and City services are coordinated to assist with certain tasks.

Delphia says Mayor Ravenstahl is committed to dramatically growing servePGH, and hopes to bring the program to up to 50 neighborhoods a year, starting in the fall.

Look for the current round of projects to begin sprucing-up neighborhoods later this spring, in May and June.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Rebecca Delphia

Regent Square’s newest coffee shop is set to open just in time for warm weather, and is all about fresh air and open spaces.  Biddle's Escape, which will open in the coming weeks, features elevated sidewalk seating, over 25 windows, and a wall that opens completely to the avenue via a large, garage-style door.

The shop will serve a full list of coffee drinks, as well as Italian sodas, smoothies, and juice.  Baked goods and breakfast foods will be provided by Sweet Tammy’s bakery, and other local vendors. 

Common Place Coffee will roast the shop’s beans, but owner Joe Davis plans to purchase coffee directly from farmers himself.  Davis is well acquainted with direct and fair trade practices, as he had previously owned and curated an artisan bead shop in Oakland for the past 20 years.

An avid traveler since the age of 14, Davis has visited 86 different countries.  For many years he has purchased art and beads directly from artists, and artifacts from his travels will be for sale and on display throughout the shop, as well as a complete bead shop.

Located on a leafy, residential street, the coffee shop is just a few blocks from Braddock Avenue and Frick Park.

Although a bit removed from Wilkinsburg’s Penn Avenue, Wilkinsburg CDC Executive Director Tracey Evans says the shop’s opening is a good thing for the borough, and the only coffee shop of its kind in Wilkinsburg.

Evans says a neighborhood gathering spot like Biddle's Escape helps to further the cause of redeveloping Wilkinsburg.

Biddle’s Escape, 401 Biddle Avenue, Regent Square (Wilkinsburg), 15221.    
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Joe Davis; Tracey Evans

Two historic preservation organizations are offering the public an opportunity to engage with beloved old buildings, and the restoration process.

In Glenshaw Township several buildings well over a century old are under restoration, and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is offering a tour of those historic sites on Saturday, April 14th.

The Isaac Lightner House, built in 1833 in the Greek-revival style, is the oldest structure on the tour, and is currently under restoration.  In recent times it had fallen into disrepair, but in 2010 the home and its two outbuildings were bought by Sue and Tim Dreier.  Sue Dreier says they bought the home because they wanted to save it as a piece of history.

Lightner was a foundry owner, and according to Dreier, one of his foundries made the first cast iron water pipes for the City of Pittsburgh.  Tour guests will see the Lightner house, spring house, and summer kitchen, as well as the 179-year-old fieldstone foundation walls and original lathe in the basement.

Also on the tour is the Glenshaw Valley Presbyterian Church, built in 1885.  The church has recently benefited from the foundations’ Historic Religious Properties Program, which provides up to $10,000 for the restoration of architecturally-significant historic religious properties.

Other buildings on the tour include the restored Joseph L. Kirk house (1885) and the Glenshaw Public Library.  Space on the tour is limited, and registration closes on April 6th.

And the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is seeking nominations for its 2012 list of Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities.  This annual report recognizes endangered historic sites in the Pittsburgh area that are good candidates for preservation and reuse.

Over the past eight years, many buildings that have appeared on the list have been successfully renovated, including the Union Project’s Second Presbyterian Church building, the Armstrong Cork Factory, and the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange.  Other buildings, such as the childhood home of August Wilson, and East Liberty’s Highland Building, are currently in the process of restoration.

Nominations are due by Monday, April 30th.  To find out more about selection criteria and how to submit, visit the YPA’s site here.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Sue Dreier; Dan Holland

Pittsburgh’s newest co-working community, Catapult Pittsburgh, has opened in a permanent location on Penn Avenue.

Catapult was launched last October in a temporary, trial location by Elliot Williams and Kevin Boyle.  Recipients of a Sprout Fund grant, the partners were given just one month to experiment with a co-working space that operated on a flex-time pay scale, and featured a gourmet coffee bar that was open to the public.

Williams says the purpose of the Sprout Fund grant was to turn an idea into reality, with enough capital to cover start-up costs.  The trial generated sufficient community interested, and the Catapult idea was able to take-off thanks to that support.

Their original goal was to find eight to ten professionals with an interest to share a workspace.  They have accomplished that, and Catapult is now home to graphic designers, artists, a visual note-taker, and a fiction writer, among other freelancers.  The space is currently full, but will be adding three additional work areas in the coming weeks.

According to Williams, the point of Catapult is to allow those who would otherwise work from home an opportunity to interact with others.  Unlike other co-working spaces in the city, he says Catapult is geared specifically for designers, developers, and other freelancers.

The new space, at 1,800 square-feet, is double the size of their temporary digs, and features an open floor-plan with no cubicles separating desks.  Williams says the openness is integral to Catapult’s co-working philosophy.

“If I wanted walls I could work at home,” he says.  “We’re never going to have walls.”

Rent is $150 a month, which gives the worker a key, a desk, and access to all of the office’s amenities: a conference room, white boards, printer, WiFi, a small kitchen, and of course the shop’s signature siphon-brewed coffee.

Boyle is still hoping to bring the public coffee bar to Catapult, with a pilot model expected to open in May.

Catapult Pittsburgh, 5139 Penn Avenue, Garfield.  412-979-1774.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Elliott Williams

The Pittsburgh region’s newest brewery aims to make and sell beer in the tradition of a small, European village.  For Draai Laag Brewing Co. that means offering small batches of high-quality, hand-crafted beers.

Although Draai Laag’s brewing team has been experimenting with recipes for over 14 years, it wasn’t until this past winter that they began distributing to local bars and restaurants.  And after installing a new tap system at the brewery (the first in Millvale since 1845), they’re selling growlers and cases every first and third Friday.

Draai Laag’s beers go through a triple fermentation process, which continues after bottling.  According to co-owner Sean Monaghan, the beers actually get better with age.

“I can drink it when it's still young, and they’re great,” he says.  “But I'll be candid, you lay them down, and they get even better.  They just mellow, and the quality just goes from there.”

Draai Laag is a modest, two-barrel system.  Currently on tap: the Aureus, and the Simon Girty. 

The Aureus (8.0% ABV) which is described as being "aromatic of fruit esters, citrus and underlying banana custard tones," is golden in color, and can be aged up to two years. 

The Simon Girty (8.0% ABV) is off-red in color, has fruit, spice and bubble gum aromas, with citrus and rum tones, and is finished with a hint of cocoa. 

Monaghan says his team wanted to make high-quality beer that would still be considered affordable.  One approach they have taken to achieve this is through self-distribution, which helps to keep re-sale costs lower.

Monaghan says the Millvale Boro Development Corporation has embraced the brewery, and were instrumental in not only bringing them into the community, but have assisted them throughout the opening process.

Draai Laag is available at a dozen regional locations, including Remedy, Brillobox, the Beerhive, and Vivo Kitchen.

The next chance to buy directly from the Draai Laag brewery is April 6^th, from 6 to 9 p.m.  501 E. Ohio Street, Millvale.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Sean Monaghan

Hailing a cab in Pittsburgh has just gotten a little easier.  Last week, Mayor Ravenstahl and Pittsburgh Transportation Group launched a new cab service dedicated to the greater downtown area.

According to a statement released by the mayor's office, this service was created in response to a demand for additional downtown transportation options.  The new City Cabs, which are currently a fleet of six black-and-white taxis, are intended to connect residents and visitors to various dining and retail destinations within the urban core. 

The service is limited to downtown, but includes destinations in the South Side, North Shore, and Oakland.

In addition to expanded transportation options for the central business district, yesterday marked the official launch of Project Pop Up: Downtown, the storefront activation project that has brought eleven new art installations and retail projects to formerly-vacant spaces in the Golden Triangle.

At yesterday’s event, the mayor said that due to the success of current efforts, the city is looking to expand the project to additional areas of downtown, including the “Skinny Building” at 641 Forbes Avenue.

At 5 p.m. this Friday a free, self-guided walking tour will showcase the various Pop Up storefronts, which include downtown’s only bookstore, a clothing boutique, a robot repair shop, Dream Cream Ice Cream, and more.  A printable map is available here.

Currently, 9 of the 11 storefronts are up and running.  Dream Cream Ice Cream announced yesterday an opening date of April 27^th.  And BikePARK, a secure, weather-protected bicycle parking lot will open at 238 Fourth Avenue in June.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore

Green living options are growing again on the South Side. Riverside Mews, which includes the city’s first net-zero home, is expanding with phase II of its townhome development.  

This latest phase will bring 18 new homes to the former-brownfield redevelopment site, located south of East Carson Street between 18th and 19th Streets.  Known for blending quality urban design with energy efficiency, developer Ernie Sota says homes at Riverside Mews actually perform 40% better than Energy Star requirements.

Phase I of Riverside Mews opened in 2007, and was one of the first energy-efficient residential developments in Pittsburgh.   It debuted with 14 units, some of which featured “sky room” rooftop decks, and were designed by the team of Perkins Eastman and Strada.

Sota says a few of the original homes have resold with appreciable gains in value, which speaks to the quality of the residences.  He cites earlier neighborhood developments, such as Fox Way Commons, New Birmingham, and South Shore Place, as important efforts to which Riverside Mews has built upon.

“We’ve taken the for sale housing on the South Side to the next level…taken what those products offered to another level of quality and size and space,” he says.

Sota says each home is customized for the buyer.  Initially, only the building’s shell is constructed, and once sold, homeowners choose from a floor-plan layout that meets their needs.  

Fourteen homes are complete in phase II, and eight have been sold.  The third and final phase, to be built nearest the river, will bring 16 additional homes to the site, with an anticipated completion date of early 2013.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Ernie Sota

Downtown Pittsburgh’s latest pop-up storefront, Dream Cream Ice Cream, hopes to make dreams come true with every cone it sells.  Opening in early April, the shop’s unique business model will direct a portion of its sales to 12 different “dreamers” each month.

Although the desire to open the shop originally sprang from a passion for ice cream, co-owners Alecia Shipman and Thomas Jamison say they also wanted to create a business that would support positive action in the Pittsburgh community.

To become a dreamer, one needs to submit an application.  If selected, the individual or organization picks a particular flavor of ice cream, and 25% of those sales will be donated to their cause.  Each month, a new set of dreamers will be announced.

To qualify, Jamison says the dreamer must first identify a need, not a want--that means no Rolex watches or new rims for your car.  A review committee selects dreamers based on a grading rubric to see if the idea is a good fit.

“We are looking for some key factors,” Jamison says.  “Whether it’s a theater company that needs funds for their next production, a soccer mom who wants new equipment for her kids, or a student who's trying to pay down student debt--those are all things that I think everybody would agree are just wholesome, good causes.”

But dreams won’t get funded without a little work.  To be a participant, each dreamer will work two, 7-hour work days a week.  Jamison says this relationship is beneficial for both parties: Dream Cream saves on expenses, while the dreamer can reach potential supporters.

“It’s an opportunity for you to sell your dream to folks and tie them to where this money is going,” Jamison says.

Shipman says the ice cream model, compared to crowdsourcing sites like  Kickstarter, allows dreamers to raise funds without needing to gain complete buy-in from supporters.

“Some will come down [to the shop] specifically for that reason,” Shipman says.  “But others are just going to come down because they want ice cream.  It’s more advantageous for the [dreamers] because the fund raising opportunity is a little bit more intuitive than the traditional methods.”

Dream Cream is just one of several new businesses to open as part of  Project Pop Up: Downtown, a storefront activation program that is a collaboration between Mayor Ravenstahl, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and the URA.

And the ice cream shop also has its own dream: to become a permanent part of Downtown Pittsburgh, after the Project Pop Up term ends.

“We’re hopeful that the relationship works out and we can be there for years to come,” Jamison says.

Dream Cream Ice Cream will open in early April at 539 Liberty Avenue, 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Alecia Shipman, Thomas Jamison

When the Mon Wharf Landing linear park was completed in 2009, it might have looked great, but it remained isolated and difficult to reach.  That should soon change though, as Riverlife and Point Park University unveiled designs last Friday for a pedestrian portal from Downtown’s Wood Street to the Monongahela riverfront.

The designs are the result of a collaboration between New York City-based artist Nobuho Nagasawa and Fred Bonci and Natalie Byrd of local landscape architecture firm LaQuatra Bonci Associates.

A 40 foot mast and stay cable structure topped with an LED beacon will signal pedestrian access to an existing staircase, making it a much more logical point of entry, says Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife Director of Communications.

And according to Nagasawa’s artist statement, as pedestrians descend those steps, they will view a “jointed skeletal spine, suspended by cables from the Parkway support beams, reminiscent of the bones of a whale and the ribs and keel of a long boat.  The spine follows the lighted path from above and extends beyond the Parkway to the river side floating pier.”

The project’s next phase is fundraising for final design and construction, to be led by Point Park University and Riverlife.

In addition to this portal, Riverlife is currently raising funds for the construction of two other trail-related projects: the Mon Wharf switchback, an ADA, bicycle/pedestrian ramp that will connect to the landing from the Smithfield Street Bridge; and a western-end connection tied to construction at Point State Park. 

Riverlife currently has 1/3 of the funding it needs to build those two connections, which are otherwise shovel-ready.

Bontrager says these projects will shed a brighter light on a riverfront with great views and offer more opportunities to access the Monongahela.

“I really do think that these connections are going to breathe new life into the landing,” he says.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife

After 25 years of vacancy, the Historic Highland and Wallace buildings in East Liberty are under renovation and will once again offer housing and retail opportunities to the community.  Construction began Monday on the 103-year-old complex, which is being converted to 129 apartments, 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and will include a 180-car parking garage.

Earlier this month, the URA approved the transfer of the properties to Highland Wallace Joint Venture, a development partnership which includes Walnut Capital and Massaro Properties.

Gregg Perelman, of Walnut Capital, says the work is to be “100% historic renovation,” and will restore the exteriors and interiors of both structures.  Built by Henry Clay Frick in 1909, the Highland Building was designed by Daniel Burnham, and placed on the National Register of Historic Properties in 1991.

Last year, the development hinged on two key funding components: a $4.5 million grant from the state for construction of a parking garage, and federal financing from HUD, both of which the project received.

The project is on a 14-month timeline, with the first rental units to be available by June 1^st, 2013.

The apartments will feature oversized windows, stone counter tops, stainless steel appliances, high ceilings, and a washer and dryer in each unit.  The units will primarily be 1-bedroom apartments, however a few 2-bedroom units will be available.

And in nearby Larimer, the Larimer Consensus Group is inviting residents to participate in the Larimer Avenue Corridor "Vision to Action" Kick Off Event.  This will be the first in a planning series focusing on the transformation of the Larimer neighborhood.  Among many issues, the consensus group is looking for ideas on housing, education, safety, health, and commercial development.  Thursday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m., the Kingsley Association (6435 Frankstown Avenue).
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Gregg Perelman, Walnut Properties

Lawrenceville’s newest business, Paint Monkey, wants to tap into the creative juices of Pittsburgh’s many latent artists.  Located within the Ice House Studios, this “art as entertainment,” do-it-yourself venue equips would-be painters with instruction and materials, while attendees are encouraged to bring friends, imagination, and a bottle of wine.

Groups of 8-30 choose a painting type from an online catalog.  In the studio, all materials are provided--including aprons--and artist Joe Groom walks you through each step, painting along with the group in 2-3 hours sessions.  

Groom says Paint Monkey is like a personal version of PBS’s Joy of Painting, except a lot more fun.  Music plays in the background (you can bring your own iPod), and you’re welcome to bring food and drink.  And unlike in your living room, it’s ok if a few drops of paint land on the former ice-warehouse’s concrete floors.

Groom says that although many people haven’t painted since they were kids, once the first stroke touches canvas, it all comes back.

“People are creative,”  he says, “you just got to give them an opportunity to get it going.”

Groom says the point of Paint Monkey is less about developing impeccable skills, than it is about entertainment, and being creative in a social environment.

Paint Monkey accommodates all group types, including kids’ birthday parties, senior citizen groups, office co-workers, or even a candle-lit date night.

Paint Monkey is co-owned by Groom and Mary Lou Bradley.  The recently-engaged couple moved to Pittsburgh from Central Florida last October.  Mary Lou grew up in Pittsburgh’s Overbrook neighborhood, but has lived in New York and Florida for the past 30 years.

For a Pittsburgh native, whose notions of the city were informed by years of industrial decline, Bradley was excited and surprised by the city’s transformation, and by the opportunity it could now offer her.

“I don’t think we could have done this anywhere else,” she says.

Bradley and Groom enjoy exploring the revitalized city, and feel especially at home in Lawrenceville’s creative community.

Paint Monkey sessions range from $35 to $45, and offer a reduced rate for kids.  They plan special events, such as Paint Your Pet, and are able to bring Paint Monkey on the road.


Paint Money, 100 43rd Street, Studio 212. Lawrenceville. 412-770-4923.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mary Lou Bradley, Joe Groom