North Side : Development News

A former industrial site on the North Shore will soon be redeveloped, with the goal of transforming a stretch of waterfront along the Ohio River.  The Urban Redevelopment Authority acquired the former Eles Brothers site in bankruptcy court for $500,000 last month.  This new parcel, combined with adjacent land previously owned by the city, totals 5.9 acres.  The URA has begun seeking developers for the site.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl toured the former concrete-manufacturing facility last week, and said the city will be open-minded in considering a range of developer proposals, and envisions residential, commercial, or even light industrial uses.

Ravenstahl said proximity to downtown, entertainment venues, transit, and bike trails make the site ideally situated for residential development, among other uses.

“It’s really strategically located in an area where we think there would be a tremendous amount of interest on the residential side,” Ravenstahl said.  “We want to make sure that whatever is proposed is able to be executed.”

The North Shore Bike Trail intersects the two properties (829 Beaver Avenue and 801 Kroll Drive), less than a mile upriver from Rivers Casino and Heinz Field.  As a public right of way, Ravenstahl said, rest assured the bike trail will remain.

"We want to have this project include that wonderful amenity that the bike trail is,” Ravenstahl said, adding that they will select a developer that recognizes the trail as an asset.

Yesterday, the URA held a tour of the site for interested developers.  Requests for Qualifications will be due to the URA on October 21st, and a developer selection is scheduled to be made by November 10th.

Demolition of the former concrete facility will begin with the next two weeks, and remediation of the property will be required of any redevelopment plan.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; the Urban Redevelopment AuthorityPhoto courtesy Brian Cohen

Early fall is house tour season in Pittsburgh and this Sunday seven homes will be opened to house and garden enthusiasts during the Historic Deutschtown House Tour.  Architecture styles featured on the tour include traditional Victorian and Italianate, as well as newly built, modern homes. 

Randy Strothman, a spokesperson for the Deutschtown community group, says one outstanding home is the newly built townhouse of local contractor Al DePasquale.  Beyond an original façade, the home was completely rebuilt to DePasquale’s own personal design and lifestyle preferences.

“It looks like it's been there forever,” Strothman says,  “very traditional of the period…but it's a very modern treatment, very personalized to his style.”  The home features five interior fountains, murals, and a garden.

Strothman says the neighborhood has been gradually revitalizing itself for the past 30 years, following the construction of I-279 which sliced through the community in the 1980’s.  He says the private market has begun to lead renovation efforts, including home renovations and the opening of new businesses.

Neighborhood business will be open throughout the tour, and include Bistro To Go, the Victory Grill, Amani Coffee, and the Park House. 

Tickets are $12 in advance; $15 at the door.  For more information call 412-321-1204.  The tour starts at the Priory Hotel Courtyard, 614 Lockhart St., 15212; free parking at the hotel’s Grand Hall. 

The Priory Hotel will also be hosting a special wine tasting event in conjunction with the tour.  Live music will be provided by a Deutschtown accordionist.  Tickets for the wine tasting are $15.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Randy Strothman

Several new developments are transforming vacant spaces in the lower Northside's Brighton Road corridor. The heavily trafficked road received a face-lift via the TreeVitalize program this past year and in the wake of those improvements two new businesses, a park, and an elementary school have opened.

Throughout the Brighton corridor 490 trees were planted at an approximate worth of $900 per tree, including maintenance for two years, paid for by a federal stimulus grant.

Jeffrey Bergman, TreeVitalize director of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, says that according to research, tree-lined streets are
preferred by pedestrians as places to socialize and shop.

"There's sort of an instinctual enjoyment of trees by people, and they want to be in places that are beautiful and shaded," Bergman says.

Also on Brighton Road, Propel NORTHSIDE, a K-4 elementary charter school, will soon hold classes in the former Columbus Middle School building. Propel NORTHSIDE will be the seventh Propel school in the region, and the first within the city of Pittsburgh.

The former middle school had been closed and vacant since 2006. Propel Pittsburgh was granted charter by the Pittsburgh Public School Board earlier this year.

Downhill from the school a corner park has been created on a formerly vacant lot. Situated at a triangle intersection of Brighton Road, Charles Street, and California Avenue, this new green space serves as a gateway between several neighborhoods.

The park was created through Greenup Pittsburgh, a program of the Ravenstahl administration, the Green Team, and neighborhood organizations.

And just outside the Mexican War Streets, Sho' Koran's Wings-N-Things has reopened at 1600 Brighton Road. Owned and operated by Netta Waits, the shop features $2 burgers, $.99 beef hot dogs, and a variety of wings. Next door, Brighton Market convenience store has also recently opened.

"It's just nice to see [the corridor] getting to a tipping point," says Bergman. "You see things start to happen incrementally in an area, and they then they build on each other."  Bergman says he hopes the TreeVitalize program can continue contributing to that effort.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Jeffrey Bergman

After two and a half years of serving sandwiches in Lawrenceville, Deli on Butler has opened a second location in the Central Northside. Deli on North is the newest business to open in the revitalizing Federal Street and North Avenue corridor.

An extensive menu of paninis, hoagies, wraps, salads, and sandwiches--from Muffalettas, to Cubans, to corned beef--are available at the deli, as well as meat and cheese by the pound. And if you can't find the right menu item, owner Pete Notarangelo says he'll let you build your own sandwich.

As with the Lawrenceville location, Deli on North is located adjacent to a Crazy Mocha coffee shop. Notarangelo says both businesses have a very good working relationship, and it was Crazy Mocha owner Ken Zeff who encouraged him and his partner, Gary Gigliotti, to expand to the Northside.

In addition to Zeff's encouragement, Notarangelo says other developments in the neighborhood were important for bringing the deli to the Northside.

"We saw what was happening in Lawrenceville just in the two years that we've moved in, and we looked at this neighborhood and said, yeah, it's definitely going to happen here [in the Northside]," Notarangelo says. "And that's why we wanted to be a part of it as early as we could."

The deli's storefront was completely remodeled for their shop by developer Bill Barron, of Barron Commercial Real Estate. The upper floors were remodeled for two two-story apartments.

Barron is also responsible for the remodeling of Crazy Mocha's North Avenue storefront, which now serves as a gateway to the Federal Street business district. Barron is also developing a third property on Federal Street.

Deli on North, 4 East North Avenue, is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, 11am to 3pm. 412-322-DELI.


Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Pete Notarangelo

Craig Morrow has collected bicycles for decades, filling two houses and several garages with rare and unique cycles. But Morrow is now ready to share those prized rides with the public, and has opened the Bicycle Heaven bike shop and museum.

Morrow has filled a warehouse in the RJ Casey Industrial Park, on the Northside, with around 2,000 bicycles. Bikes include memorable Schwinn Sting-Rays, rare fiberglass Bowden Spacelanders, a racing bike from 1909, and a collection of vintage bells, bright-colored fenders, strange lights, and funky seats.

But perhaps the most notable bike on display is the wooden Boneshaker from 1862, one of the first bicycle types ever made. Other than a few parts made of iron, the bike is all wood, including wheels.

The museum and shop fills a total of six rooms on two floors, with bikes hanging from the ceiling and attached to walls.

Located just off the North Shore Trail along the Ohio River, the museum will soon be a full-service bike shop, the first in recent years on the Northside.

Bikes are for sale or rent, but admission to the museum is free. In the coming month, Morrow hopes to have a full fleet of rental bikes available and on display near the bike trail.

Morrow says opening the museum wasn't a dream he'd always had, rather just the progression of his collecting. When buyers would come to Morrow's home shop it was difficult to see what all was there, and so he needed more space.

"I wanted everything to be in one place where everybody could enjoy it," Morrow says. "This way everybody can see it all at one time and they really get to like what they see."

Bicycle Heaven is open 9 - 5, Monday - Sunday. R.J. Casey Industrial Park, 1800 Preble Ave. 412-716-4956.


Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Craig Morrow

Pig Hill Cafe might only be open two days a week, but Naomi Auth is plenty busy meeting the demand for her homemade kombucha. Five gallon jugs of the living, fermented green tea are stacked at the rear of the cafe, which is now serving brunch on weekends.

This same space once held the Magnolia Cafe, Auth's first coffee shop project in Troy Hill. As she describes it, the neighborhood wasn't quite ready for a conventional coffee-sipping cafe, and there wasn't enough foot traffic to be open throughout the week.

So Auth reorganized and focused on the aspects of her business that were in fact working--the fermented foods. Within her storefront space, Auth makes kombucha and sauerkraut under the label of RedStar Specialty Foods.

Auth says it takes 5-7 weeks to transform tea leaves into a case of kombucha. Once finished, the beverage is bottled and sold at the East End Food Co-Op, the Pittsburgh Public Market, and Lili Coffee Shop in Polish Hill.

Before reopening, Auth says the shop was remodeled and "opened up to allow full usage of the space." She brought in more kitchen equipment and is able to do more cooking than before.

Auth doesn't think kombucha should be pigeon holed into the health drink category. "I prefer to think of it as an enjoyable drink, that's good for you also," she says.

And she is marketing it as such. Her kombucha is sold in soda bottles, and uses a traditional beer label for marketing. Auth is also hoping her brunch menu will cast fermented foods in a more accessible light.

"If you give somebody a bag of sauerkraut, they might think how do I eat this, what should I eat this with?" Auth says. "But if you give them a baguette with some organic, local ham and some good, grass-fed cheese and some sauerkraut on there, then they'll know what to do with it--and like it."

Pig Hill Cafe, 1721 Lowrie Street, Troy Hill, 412-586-7527

Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Naomi Auth

At the second annual Taste of Swissvale House Tour this Sunday, guests will be able to explore the recently renovated Madonna del Castello church, which has been converted into four condominiums as part of the Kopp Glass Gateway Redevelopment Project.

The fundraiser is sponsored by the Swissvale Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), with samples of food, wine, and beer to be donated by local businesses.

The Mon Valley Initiative (MVI) has partnered with SEDCO for this $4.14 million project to renovate a section of Swissvale that had once been home to nuisance bars and had suffered a period of neglect, according to Leanne Aurich, MVI community outreach specialist.

"It was an area that had kind of been abandoned for a really long time," Aurich says. "[SEDCO] actually identified the area and worked with the Mon Valley Initiative to also identify homes that we could go in and renovate or construct."

This phase of the project includes five homes and the church condos, "which we're really excited about," Aurich says. "To date we have around 17 houses that we're working on throughout the area."

While working to preserve the historic character and integrity of these homes, Aurich says each unit has received an Energy Star rating to improve their energy efficiency.

In addition to touring the homes, food and drink will be provided by Home Towne Tavern, Pub in the Park, Cafe dez Artz, Map Room Grill & Bar, Boomerang Bar & Restaurant, and more.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the day of the event, along the park at Park Avenue, between Palmer Street and Monongahela Avenue, 1pm-4 pm.

Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Leanne Aurich, MVI

Last month, the Northside Bike/Ped Committee filed a request for 22 bike racks for neighborhood businesses and institutions. Within two weeks the city's signature, three-rivers bike racks had been installed at nearly every location.

Committee member Stephanie Miller says this quick turnaround speaks to a level of commitment and support for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure improvements on behalf of the city of Pittsburgh.  The bike racks were made avaialbe as part of Mayor Ravenstahl and BikePGH's Small Business Bike Rack Program.

"As a community, we feel like [the city is] listening," says Miller, who is business development director with the Northside Leadership Conference.

Perhaps one reason for the city's rapid response was the collective nature of the committee's requests. Rather than submitting 22 different applications, individual businesses pooled their requests into one document under the organization of the committee.

This coordinated effort allowed for a more streamlined approval and installation period. Additionally, this method is helping to build the committee's reputation as an accomplished advocacy group.

"We're getting put on the map and people are starting to notice us," Miller says.

Miller says the purpose of these racks is to encourage and facilitate bicycling in the city. She and other committee members say they have noticed more bicyclists in the Northside in recent months.

Bike racks have been installed at the Monterey Pub in the Mexican War Streets, at the Crazy Mocha and the soon-to-be-opened Deli on North in the Central Northside, and the Park House in Deutschtown, among other locations.

However, one important location which lacks adequate bike parking is the Giant Eagle on Cedar Avenue. "We would love to see [bike racks] there," Miller says. "I have brought that to the owners' attention."

Still, Miller says this initial phase of installations was so successful, "we'll probably have to do another round."

Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Stephanie Miller, Northside Leadership Conference

When the National Aviary opened its new Sky Deck this weekend, visitors received an up close view of birds of prey swooping and diving above the open-air rooftop.  

A martial eagle, lanner falcons, and six black kites are the stars of the show.

Coaxed by lures sent flying by their trainers, the birds zoom above the building.  The lures they seek range from frozen pieces of chicken to leather straps disguised with feathers.

Each bird is trained extensively before its debut, to ensure that they do not fly away.  The lanner falcons are still completing training after a rainy spring, but they are expected to join the show soon.

The Aviary in Allegheny Commons Park is the only place in the country where you can see a martial eagle fly freely and black kites fly in unison.   It is also the only aviary recognized by an Act of Congress. The National Aviary took its name in 1993.

According to Laura Ellis, of the organization's marketing staff, the parking lot is consistently filled with out of town license plates, especially during the summer.

"It's a remarkable experience," she says.  "It's the opposite of a zoo experience.  You're having a chance to observe birds in a way that you would never see in captivity."

The Sky Deck is open at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily until Labor Day.  Tickets are available online and at the Aviary on the North Side.  Reservations are recommended.

Writer: Lindsay Derda
Source: Laura Ellis, National Aviary

Construction has begun on the first five of 31 single-family homes at Fourth River Development LLC's Columbus Square complex at the corner of Juniata and Sedgwick Streets in Manchester on the North Side. 

Sally Flinn, a principal at Fourth River Development, says the Manchester Citizens Corporation was looking for investment opportunities within the community and housing seemed the best choice.

With RDC Contracting and Devlin Architecture responsible for design and construction, Columbus Square homes will feature two and three bedrooms ranging from 1,700 to 2,070 square feet. They will also include a two-car garage, private yard and energy-efficient appliances.

The houses will have flexible layout options and will range in price from $175,000 to $255,000. "We want to incorporate the architectural vocabulary that already exists in Manchester, and really make these a part of the community," Flinn says. Buyers will benefit from market-rate housing and a 10-year property tax abatement. 

The location and style of these homes is ideal or anyone from young professionals and families to empty-nesters, says Flinn.

Four of the houses will be available for occupancy in late summer, and the fifth home will serve as a model unit. Infrastructure for the remaining homes will be finished by June 1 and construction will begin once qualified buyers are secured.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Sally Flinn, Four Rivers Development LLC

What better way to enjoy Pittsburgh's great neighborhoods and architecture than on a bike? That's the goal of Pedal Pittsburgh's 18th annual ride scheduled for Sunday, May 22.

A fundraiser for the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP), the various bike rides will all begin and end at SouthSide Works. Attracting more than 2,000 riders each year, it's the only ride of its size within the city limits says Jennifer Fox, director of administration at CDCP.

"It's not about the first one to the finish line," she explains. "It's really about a leisurely ride that's going to take you past some fantastic views and places." With routes ranging from six to 60 miles, and many refreshment stops along the way, riders and families of all skill levels can take part.

The six routes travel through the South Side, Northside, Lawrenceville, Squirrel Hill and Mount Washington, giving cyclists--especially those who travel the entire 60 miles--a great way to experience the city and its neighborhoods, says Fox.

One group joining the ride is Team East End Brewing Company and OTB Bicycle Café (EEB/OTB). The first 50 riders to RSVP for their team will get half of their registration covered for the event and a Team EEB/OTB t-shirt.

This year, Fox explains, CDCP will have activities for riders at its rest stops to showcase what good planning and design brings to communities.

Over the past 10 years Fox has coordinated Pedal Pittsburgh, she says they have consistently seen more people get involved. "It's amazing to see that many people on bikes," she adds.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at SouthSide Works, with the first group of riders taking off at 7 a.m.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Jennifer Fox, CDCP

Pittsburgh now boasts more Elm Street districts. Manchester, Central Northside, Troy Hill, Lawrenceville, East Liberty and the South Side Slopes were all deemed Elm Street districts by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, with Mt. Washington and Bloomfield-Garfield receiving overdue funds.

As a complement to its Mainstreets Program, the Elm Street Program focuses on the neighborhoods surrounding Mainstreet districts, says Elm Street Program Coordinator Josette Fitzgibbons. Recipients of the funds must focus on five areas: clean, safe and green; neighbors and economy; design; image and identity; and sustainable organizations.

Each community is given funds for a one-year Elm Street planning process, says Fitzgibbons, which Mt. Washington and Bloomfield-Garfield were late in receiving. Both neighborhoods were designated as Elm Street districts in 2009, but due to state budget cuts the funding was not available.

Bloomfield-Garfield has its plan ready, say Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Deputy Director Aggie Brose and its resident Elm Street Coordinator Kathryn Vargas. They plan on using funds for vacant lot and street cleanups, outreach and community groups. "The residents feel ownership over the planning and outcome," says Vargas, adding that she hopes more residents will get involved as plans develop further.

Mt. Washington will use its Elm Street funds to engage residents and increase curb appeal by cultivating growth, development and community investment, says MWCDC Executive Director Chris Beichner. "It will help us to attract a different population of our community to become involved," adds Program Manager Greg Panza.

Fitzgibbons says it is unknown whether the usual five years of operational funding that take place after year one will occur, depending on the state budget.

For now, it's important to work together to create stable plans that include both community programs and initiatives like streetscape improvement, she says. "It's the combination of the human and the bricks and mortar together that make it a successful program."

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Writer: Alex Audia
Sources: Josette Fitzgibbons, URA
               Chris Beichner and Greg Panza, MWCDC
               Aggie Brose and Kathryn Vargas, BGC

Phase one of the Allegheny Common Initiative's multimillion-dollar Northeast Commons Project started just weeks ago, and will include the restoration of park paths, lights, trash receptacles, benches and railings.

In accordance with the master plan developed by Boston firm Pressley Associates, which also created the plan for downtown's Point State Park, the first leg is located from Cedar Avenue along East Ohio and Tripoli Streets. When finished, the area will create a new event infrastructure, which will house the Northside Farmers Market and Fresh Fridays.

The Allegheny Commons Initiative raised $800,000 to complete phase one, says Project Director Alina Baker, and will need to fundraise for phase two, which includes the restoration of a 50 foot fountain and renovating the remaining area of the Northeast Commons. The Colcom Foundation gave the project $250,000 and Baker says $100,000 of that needs to be matched.

As Pittsburgh's oldest park, Baker says restoring Allegheny Commons can help inspire investment in the area. "We see it as not only serving the people that live here with sorely needed green space, but as a spur for economic development," she says.

They are currently working with Pashek Associates and John Zottola Landscaping to restore the Northeast Commons, and NRG Energy Center removed the old pathways pro-bono, says Baker. Phase one is expected to be completed by July. 

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Alina Baker, Allegheny Commons Initiative

Photograph copyright Alex Audia

In a recent public meeting, Virginia-based planning firm CZB, LLC presented its initial findings of strengths and weaknesses for a plan for Northside neighborhood California-Kirkbride, saying residents should invest in the area and control how it is perceived.

Hired by California-Kirkbride Neighbors and The Northside Coalition for Fair Housing, the CZB plan will look at traditional development in the community. According to an article in The Northside Chronicle, CZB explained that the weak housing market in California-Kirkbride means they need to focus on rebuilding what it already has.

"They're in the process of looking at California-Kirkbride in the context of the region, the market and what the community's vision is to come up with the best recommendations," says Ronell Guy, executive director at The Northside Coalition for Fair Housing.

She comments that planners have had many meetings with residents and officials to provide input. "We have to make sure that the people of California-Kirkbride have a voice in the future of this community," says Guy.

The ultimate goal, she explains, is to make California-Kirkbride a place where everyone can thrive and for the plan to serve as a guideline on neighborhood issues, such as zoning.

"I hope it will create a blueprint that the community can follow for the next 15 years around things that the community wants to for the neighborhood," adds Guy.

Though planning in still in the works, Guy says they hope to be finished by Winter 2011.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Ronell Guy, The Northside Coalition for Fair Housing

When Pop City last covered the Muddy Cup, owner Renee Tokar had just opened her Bellevue store. That was nearly two years ago.

The first coffee shop proved successful so she decided to expand. Muddy Cup's 400 East Ohio Street location has been open almost two weeks and is already showing signs of success. "I grew up in the North Side and have driven by this location lots of times," says Tokar. "I thought a Muddy Cup would do really well here."

Previously, the space had been a bar. Loitering was a problem on the corner and bad vibes permeated the area, she says. Tokar vowed to fix that, and she's making progress.

The loitering ended, "as soon as I took my newspapers down off the window," she adds, and the coffee shop has been well-received."Granted, you're going to have issues, but it's how you approach them."

Miss-matched furniture and cozy couches lend to the "eclectically homey" atmosphere inside. Outdoors, Tokar plans on adding patio seating, lights and shrubbery to enhance the soft and welcoming feel of Muddy Cup. She's also looking for artists to bring music, both performances and practices, to the store.
 
Ultimately, Muddy Cup will be a haven for people to relax and connect. Share a moment, as Tokar's painting on the wall says. "I may be in that person's life for just today, but I hope what I can do will help in their future, no matter what it is," she says. "That's what I feel like the Muddy Cup is to me."

In addition to its award-winning coffee drinks, Muddy Cup serves muffins, bagels, cookies, brownies and a variety of other scrumptious food and beverage. Take advantage of the free wi-fi and let the magic happen. So the slogan says, "Good things happen over coffee."

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Renee Tokar, Muddy Cup

Photograph copyright Alex Audia