South Side : Development News

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."

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

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

Riverlife and American Eagle Outfitters held a special event yesterday showcasing the nearly complete $12 million South Shore Riverfront Park, which has been under construction since July 2009, and is expected to open to the public on Memorial Day.

"South Shore Riverfront Park is the riverfront link between the Hot Metal Bridge and the existing South Side Riverfront Park. We view this project as a really show-stopping link in the overall production that is Three Rivers Park, which is Pittsburgh's 13-miles of interconnected riverfront parks," says Lisa Schroeder, executive director of Riverlife, who has overseen the project in collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh and the URA, The South Side Local Development Company, contractors A. Luberoni, and developers the Soffer Organization over the past five years. The project began with a community planning process, in which lead architects Environmental Planning and Design collaborated with the public, as well as a crew of other local and national designers.

The park, built on the former LTV Steel site, includes a riverfront walkway elevated 30-feet above the Monongahela, benches, pedestrian and vehicular access from the South Side Works, and open spaces for special events and festivals. American Eagle Outfitters, which has long housed their headquarters along the riverfront right behind the park site, showed off their contributions yesterday, which include an amphitheater, MPE projection screen, fog misters, and other colorful elements for live outdoor entertainment.

"There are numerous historical elements from the original building site. The most interesting and huge element that's been unearthed is the original pump house for the LTV Works, which is being converted into a viewing platform," says Schroeder. "This is one of those rare opportunities to connect to Pittsburgh's very distinct history of what was on the river when the rivers were the center of industrial activity."

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: John Farley
Source: Lisa Schroeder, Riverlife

Image courtesy of Riverlife

After nearly four years of changing South Side nightlife, Diesel has undergone a $500,000 renovation project, with more changes still to come.

Diesel opened in 2006 in the former space of Nick's Fat City, 601 E. Carson St.

"At the time the Strip District was where all the clubs were. The South Side was all bars, no clubs," says Adam DeSimone, who owns Diesel with his brother Michael and father Patrick. The Pittsburgh family originally put about $750,000 toward turning the property into a 7,500-square-foot, two-level club and concert venue.

The recent renovations started in February 2010, and took about two months to complete, during which time the club remained opened.

The makeover includes a custom-built ceiling made of more than 32,000 LED pixel lights and a 12-foot LED video sphere, weighing nearly 1,000 pounds, that moves up and down and features a cryogenic jet system that cools down the dance floor to 35 degrees. Diesel also added VIP "skyboxes" on the second level that feature 19-inch LCD televisions and cell phone chargers. Additionally, the private back room (frequented by Pittsburgh Penguins), which was previously sectioned off with drapes, has now been enclosed with glass that switches from clear to frosted at the flip of a switch.

The renovations were a collaborative effort among co-owner Adam DeSimone's Ampd management and development group, Jim Smith's Design 4 Studio, and Drew Meyer, Deisel's entertainment director and lighting designer.

DeSimone says Ampd has another location in the works for the South Side -- a restaurant/bar that will build on Diesel's success, and provide something different than a club and concert experience.

Additionally, Diesel opened a six-pack shop this past weekend in the Fat City Pie Company portion of the building.

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Adam DeSimone, Diesel

Photograph courtesy of Diesel

Fashionista Julia DiNardo was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and now splits her time between her here and New York City, which offers a few more opportunities for the style industry-ambitious than does Steel City. DiNardo teaches and advises fashion students at NYU's Gallatin School, has worked with GQ, Redbook, Liz Claiborne and J.Crew, and has her own website, FashionPulseDaily.com.

DiNardo had her own eponymous sportswear label for awhile, but about five years ago, nostalgia drove DiNardo to try something new -- T-shirts. She was holding a trunk show at Sugar Boutique during Lawrenceville's 2005 winter Cookie Tour, and the boutique asked if she'd be interested in creating something wearable and gifty. DiNardo -- who at the time had no experience working with tees, graphics or screenprinting -- was loving and missing Pittsburgh's neighborhoods from afar, so came up with the first two Neighbor Teaze -- Lawrenceville and the South Side.

Five years later, she's still coming up with tees. Each tee features a snappy slogan and an accompanying image. For instance, Squirrel Hill reads, "Keepin' it Kosher Since 1927," and Point Breeze is "Frickin' Fabulous Since 1903." The all-purpose "Pittsburgh" one, with its yellow bridge graphics, reads, "446 Bridges, 3 Rivers, & 1 Dahntahn Since 1758."

The line now includes 15 neighborhood-specific tees, including the Strip District shirt ("Stimulating the Senses Since 1915"), which was just released a week-and-a-half ago at the inaugural Pittsburgh Flea. The Heinz History Center is even keeping a shirt from the first printing in its permanent textiles collection.

DiNardo says she releases a new shirt every three to four months (Mt. Lebanon may be next), and is always looking for grassroots input, as well as interns. Future plans include a photo submission project (email an image of yourself in a tee; get a discount); a short video, in mid-May, of people discussing what they think makes the Strip District so special; and even a message board where people can post personal stories about their neighborhoods.

DiNardo maintains a Neighbor Teaze web store, and the tees can be purchased locally at Jupe Boutique, Sugar, the Picket Fence, CoCo's Cupcake Cafe, the Mattress Factory and more.

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Julia DiNardo, Neighbor Teaze

Image courtesy of Neighbor Teaze

Riverside Development Group has completed Pittsburgh's first Net-Zero Energy home. The 1,850-square-foot residence is part of Riverside Mews, a 48-unit townhouse community developed, starting in 2007, on a former brownfield site between 18th and 19th Streets on the South Side.

As with the rest of the development, the Net-Zero home was designed by Perkins Eastman Architects and Strada, and built by Sota Construction Services, Inc., which has built many LEED-designed projects, such as Blackbird Condominiums and Artist Studios in Lawrenceville, WYEP Community Broadcasting Center on the South Side and the Felician Sisters School and Convent in Moon Township.

The Net-Zero home generates as much power as it uses on an annual basis through an 8,000-watt photo-voltaic roof mounted array. The townhome's energy use is minimized through super-insulation methods, a geothermal heat pump, LED lighting, and other energy measures including Energy Star-rated products.

Through the Energy Star HERS rating system, a score of 100 means a home meets energy requirements, explains developer Ernie Sota. An 85 gets a home Energy Star status. "We're at a -4," says Sota, who has been involved in green building since the 1970s.

The Net-Zero home's energy performance was achieved and certified in collaboration with expert energy consultants and engineers of MaGrann Associates.

The house is listed at $489,000, and is being marketed by ERA Lechner & Associates, Inc. Federal tax incentives, including a geo-thermal tax credit, are available. A public open house will be held at the home at 1820 Merriman Way on Sat., April 24 and Sun., April 25 from noon to 4 p.m.

To date, 14 homes of Riverside Mews' planned 48 have been completed. Of those, 12 have been sold and are occupied, and two remain model units. Six more units are under construction, two of which have already sold. Homes range from 1,800 to 3,000 square feet. All homes in the development -- not just the Net-Zero home -- are designed and built to be energy efficient.

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Ernie Sota, Sota Construction Services, Inc.

Photograph courtesy of Sota Construction Services, Inc.

American Eagle Outfitters is expanding not only locally, but also internationally.

The brand will open its first stores outside of North America later this March in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait City, with plans to expand to additional international markets in the future. The launch into the Middle Eastern market is in cooperation with Kuwait-based retailer M.H. Alshaya Co.

Closer to home, American Eagle is transitioning its temporary "pop-up shop" 77kids into a permanent retail store at the Mall at Robinson. American Eagle introduced the children's brand online-only in October 2008, then followed what was initially a temporary brick-and-mortar store in October 2009. The concept was so successful it's stuck around, and will be sticking around for much longer.

The 5,581-square-foot Pittsburgh-area 77kids will open in July 2010. Four other 77kids stores will open in the northeast in the second half of the year, an American Eagle spokesperson says.

American Eagle recently announced it is closing its Martin+Osa brand, including all stores and online business. American Eagle expects to open 14 new AE stores and complete 20 AE store remodels in 2010, in addition to opening 20 new aerie stores and its first five 77kids stores.

American Eagle's corporate headquarters is located in Soffer Organization's SouthSide Works.

"We believe in the vision for that development and for Pittsburgh. It's a perfect fit with the AE brand--a dynamic urban environment that fosters both creativity and productivity among our employees," the spokesperson says. "AEO Inc. believes in Pittsburgh and the quality of life that the city has to offer our employees."

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: American Eagle Outfitters spokesperson

Photograph courtesy of American Eagle

See a movie. Do some shopping. Sip a cold one while gazing at the sun-dappled waters of the Monongahela River. Hop on your boat and head home.

With the South Side marina planning underway, this fantasy could become a reality by 2012.

The URA recently approved David Maxwell as developer of the marina. Maxwell is now doing planning work and predevelopment for the marina with a $30,000 grant from the URA to determine if the project is feasible. Maxwell, who owns and operates the Fox Chapel Yacht Club, has proposed to build and operate a full-service marina with about 320 slips that would be leased on a seasonal basis, as well as a public docking facility that would accommodate about 17 boats. Maxwell also says he's looking to put a bar or restaurant in the marina that will be open to the public, not just boaters.

"With Pittsburgh's three rivers, there are so many boats per capita, but there's actually very little in the city for boaters," says Maxwell. "There are other smaller marinas, but we're looking to do something different, very state-of-the-art and very resort-like, something we feel Pittsburgh deserves."

The marina would be privately run, but part of the public South Shore Riverfront Park, a $12 million redevelopment at the SouthSide Works, says Megan Stearman with the URA. The handicap-accessible project will include the marina and docking facility, as well as an outdoor amphitheater, water access, and interpretive signage and historical trail marking, continuing the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system and Great Allegheny Passage. At completion, the park will become a multi-model hub, connecting to the Hot Metal Pedestrian Bridge and bike trail.

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: David Maxwell, Fox Chapel Yacht Club; Megan Stearman, URA

Image courtesy of URA

South Side will begin to look greener in the spring thanks to Kim Collins.

Back in March, she and a friend were talking over wine one night, trying to think of something they could do in their community. "And we came up with trees," says Collins. "I live on Wharton Street and there was, like, one tree on my block."

Collins, who is the owner and creative director of South Side-based graphic design firm Blue Tomato, worked to create the South Side Pittsburgh Tree Project with the help of neighbors and nearly 45 volunteers.

In October, they planted 21 trees ranging from maples to lilacs on the 1900 block of Wharton Street.

To start the project, Collins researched and found the TreeVitalize program, a partnership between five organizations including the city, county and state and two nonprofits, including the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The goal of the program, according to its website, is to "plant 20,000 trees by 2012 throughout the Pittsburgh region in order to improve quality of life and the environment."

Once assisted by TreeVitalize, Collins and other leaders went door-to-door asking residents if they would water and take care of trees if the South Side Pittsburgh Tree Project took care of planting. Twenty-one residents agreed to this arrangement for the first planting.

Riverset Credit Union aided the project by paying for the website and marketing, as well as a banner on Sarah and 11th Streets that asks, "Want A Free Tree?"

The South Side Pittsburgh Tree Project wants add at least 300 to 400 more trees in the South Side over the next four years.

Currently, 4,500 trees have been planted in Allegheny County through TreeVitalize.

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Pop City Staff
Source: Kim Collins, South Side Pittsburgh Tree Project

Image courtesy of South Side Pittsburgh Tree Project

James Chen has lived all over the United States, all over the world. He moved from southeastern China to New York in the mid-'80s, and spent the last couple decades in Rhode Island, then California and, most recently, Iowa, where he owned and operated a successful Chinese buffet.

In spring of 2009, Chen decided to move to Pittsburgh with his wife and young son. He had resolved to open a trendy, Cali-style frozen yogurt shop in a U.S. city with an as-yet untapped market. And, after visiting everywhere from Boston, Mass. and Ithaca, N.Y, to Columbus, Ohio and Penn State, Chen determined Pittsburgh is that ideal market.

Chen plans to open Razzy Fresh, at 1717 Murray Ave. (the previous spot of A & A Mailing Services) in Squirrel Hill by the end of December 2009. He says he picked Pittsburgh because "the economy feels strong and the customer base feels right. Squirrel Hill has a lot of pedestrian traffic and a lot of young people in the neighborhood year-round, even when the universities are not in session."

Razzy Fresh's 700-square-foot shop is located a couple storefronts down from the flagship Dozen. Razzy Fresh features DIY toppings, and a bright, cheerful interior designed by Squirrel Hill architect Allen Dunn, who has his offices above Pamela's on Forbes Avenue. South Side-based design firm ocreations created Razzy Fresh's logo and branding.

Razzy Fresh joins several other established frozen treat purveyors in Squirrel Hill, including Baskin-Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery, Ben & Jerry's and Rita's Italian Ice, all of which are located within a block radius of Razzy Fresh.

One of Pittsburgh's other options for Razzy Fresh's tart, Pinkberry-style yogurt is Karmic Yogurt. The shop is located at 713 1/2 Filbert St. just off Walnut Street, in Shadyside. Karmic, which Pittsburgh native Matt Yang opened in spring 2009, is closing for the winter on Dec. 16, and will re-open in March.

Sign up to receive Pop City each week.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: James Chen, Razzy Fresh; Shawn O'Mara, ocreations

Image courtesy of Razzy Fresh

Two major Pittsburgh arts institutions announced last week they have purchased properties to ensure the continued success of their endeavors. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) has acquired a property in Lawrenceville that it plans to convert to student housing, and Civic Light Opera (CLO) has purchased a modern industrial building in Springdale it plans to use for set construction and storage.

PBT's new building is at 3501 Liberty Ave., about a half mile from PBT's Strip District studios. The building was purchased for under $300,000, and will receive about $600,000 worth of renovations, says Harris Ferris, PBT's executive director. Future dormitory is part of a $1.5 million project to increase the school's capacity and its ability to complete internationally for the most talented students.

The project will integrate, for the first time, a sustainable housing component to the PBT School. Currently, out-of-town PBT students stay with host families throughout the city. Of the 34 high school students enrolled in PBT's fulltime program, 15 are currently housed with host families.

PBT's new property was the former rectory for St. John the Baptist Church, which is now the Church Brew Works restaurant. The three-story, 7,000-square-foot building will be renovated to create housing for as many as 16 high-school-aged students, plus a full-time resident advisor. PBT hopes to complete renovations by June 2010.

PBT's other future development plans, according to Ferris, include making improvements to the facility at 2900 Liberty Ave., such as new studio floors, expanded parking, exterior landscaping and even a conditioning area for Pittsburghers looking to use dance as a method of core training.

The PBT building acquisition is funded by a $750,000 allocation from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which was matched by contributions from Allegheny Regional Asset District, the Byham Charitable Foundation, the Adams Foundation, the Wagner Family Charitable Trust and anonymous funders.

CLO's new property is a 68,000-square-foot building at 997 Sherosky Way in Springdale that it purchased for $1.1 million. The property, which was formerly home to Fortco Plastics, will house CLO's Construction Center. Occupancy is expected by the end of March 2010.

CLO has bee, leasing a space for about a dozen years at 403 Bingham St. on the South Side for set construction and storage. It maintains its administrative offices Downtown in the Benedum Center, where it also puts on most of its performances.

"The decision to own rather than lease gives us that much more security as we move forward," says Jim Mercer, general manager of CLO. "We don't see it as growth, though, because its impact on the budget will be neutral. It's not going to cost us any more on an annual basis to own rather than lease."

Tom McCaffrey, SIOR, an industrial broker with Grant Street Associates, represented CLO in the transaction. Gene Galiardi and Scott Long of Pennsylvania Commercial Real Estate represented the building's owner.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Harris Ferris, PBT; Jim Mercer, CLO; Tom McCaffrey, Grant Street Associates

Photograph of Mame production courtesy of CLO

SportsWorks--one of the Carnegie Science Center's most popular exhibits--is returning this December after closing in late August 2008.

The science-of-sport exhibition, which originally opened in 2001, was experienced by 3 million visitors in its initial location, and will reopen Dec. 19 in a new facility adjacent to the main Science Center building on the North Shore. The exhibit was previously housed in the former Miller Printing Co. building a block from the Science Center campus. The move to relocate the facility was accelerated by Port Authority's construction of a transit station at SportsWorks' previous spot.

"SportsWorks has 30 hands-on exhibits, including rock climbing, a trampoline, a food pyramid game and the new You-Yo exhibit, which whisks visitors 15 feet into the air," says Christine Line with the Science Center.

The exhibits are fun, says Line, but also educational--they teach visitors about the physics of sports, healthy nutrition and more in a dynamic, high-energy way.

The new Highmark SportsWorks building and exhibit cost $5 million, and broke ground in November 2008. The 20,000-square-foot building, which houses the 12,000-square-foot exhibit as well as four classrooms and a multi-purpose room with a spill-out space, was designed by South Side-based Renaissance 3 Architects. Mascaro Construction of Pittsburgh served as general contractor.

The new SportsWorks location provides a direct visual connection to the Carnegie Science Center through a transparent glazed curtain wall that wraps around the northwest corner of the pre-engineered building frame. The building's transparency allows SportsWorks' exhibits to figuratively reach out to visitors as they transition across the site, says Deepak Wadhwani, a principal at Renaissance 3 Architects. The building utilizes recycled content, regional materials and large low-airflow paddle fans to circulate air in lieu of traditional ductworks. It is registered to become LEED certified.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Christine Line, Carnegie Science Center; Deepak Wadhwani, Renaissance 3 Architects

Image courtesy of Renaissance 3 Architects

With no bike racks available, cyclists are often forced to chain their transportation to signs, fences, parking meters and even, yes, trash cans.

"We shake our head when we have to lock to a trash can, and joke, 'Ah, the indignity of bike commuting,'" says Bike Pittsburgh director Scott Bricker.

Now, with the addition of 200 more bike racks throughout the city, dignified bike parking opportunities will just about double, says Bricker. Each rack has parking for two bikes, meaning that there will be 400 more bike parking spaces throughout Pittsburgh.

The City officially launched the Small Business Bicycle Rack Program last week with the installation of a rack in front of Enrico Biscotti in the Strip District. The Small Business Bike Rack Program was created through a collaboration of Bike Pittsburgh and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Taking Care of Business Districts Program, which " aims to revitalize business districts through targeting City services and providing resources for small business owners and the residents who frequent those neighborhood lifelines," according to the City.

The City will install bike racks in the Strip District, Bloomfield, South Side, Polish Hill, Squirrel Hill, Carrick, Lawrenceville, Friendship, Garfield, Shadyside and Brookline, and will install more upon request and evaluation. Businesses can request bike racks online at www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us. Requests will be assessed by the City's Bike Ped Coorinator.

The bike racks are in the same style as the original Bike Pittsburgh Three Rivers model, designed by Wall-to-Wall Studios and made locally by Red Star Ironworks. The new racks were manufactured by Dero Bike Rack Co., from Minneapolis, Minn for $251 per rack. The total cost of the bike rack program is $25,100 and will be paid for from the City's Taking Care of Business budget which consists of $850,000 in grant money from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Bike Pittsburgh donated 100 racks through support from Richard King Mellon Foundation and William Benter Foundation.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Scott Bricker, Bike Pittsburgh; Joanna Doven, City of Pittsburgh

Photograph courtesy City of Pittsburgh

Port Authority of Allegheny County announced approval last week of plans that will change the way Pittsburgh uses public transportation.

Yes, some routes are being cut, and yes, some fares are being raised, but Heather Pharo from Port Authority explains how these changes are being put into place to increase ridership and efficiency. Duplicate and underused routes are the only ones being eliminated; and these cuts, she says, are enabling Port Authority to add trips, increase hours of operation and simplify service for the routes are in-demand. Just 0.04% of routes are being totally eliminated; nearby alternatives exists for the other 10.1% that are being cut, according to Port Authority.

"The Port Authority system hasn't seen real service changes since the beginning," says Pharo. "We've had the same route system in Allegheny County for decades. Certainly Allegheny County has changed, the population has shifted. The purpose of the plan is to better match service to demand to serve people where they live today."

Some of brand-new routes include busses connecting neighborhoods that are up-and-coming and heavily student-populated with key centers of work and play. Lawrenceville, for instance, figures heavily into the new route plans. A new bus will connect Lawrenceville to the Waterfront at Homestead, with stops along the way in Bloomfield, Squirrel Hill and Shadyside; another a new bus will connect Lawrenceville directly to Oakland, which will enable students to live in the area rather than around campus; and yet another bus will travel directly between Shadyside and the South Side, without the traditional transfer in Oakland.

Other route changes include the introduction of rapid busses, described by Pharo as "like a light rail on rubber tires," between Pittsburgh's major employment centers, Oakland and Downtown, and to and from the airport (when you're trying to catch a flight, that 28X stop at Robinson Town Center can be a real time-suck, says Pharo).

In terms of the fare increase, the $2 base fare in Zone 1 will not change, and the Zone 2 fare will increase from $2.60 to $2.75. Transfers will cost 75 cents (up from 25), and prices of monthly and annual passes will rise.

Fares will increase starting January 1, and the other changes will start to go into effect in March 2010.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Heather Pharo, Port Authority of Allegheny County

Photograph courtesy of Port Authority of Allegheny County

American Eagle Outfitters is testing the retail waters by opening its first-ever brick-and-mortar kids store as a temporary pop-up shop. And where is the South Side-based brand debuting this fashionable, fun endeavor? New York? L.A.? Think again. 77kids, which targets kids aged 2 to 10, opened last week at The Mall at Robinson.

The 77kids brand is named after the year 1977, when American Eagle was founded. 77kids was launched a year ago, in October 2008, as an online-only component of American Eagle's offerings, which include the flagship brand that targets teens and young adults (953 stores in the U.S. and Canada), an intimates line called aerie, and Martin + Osa, which targets adult men and women (28 stores, including one at Ross Park Mall, the only in the state of Pennsylvania). The 77kids pop-up shop, which will be open for 77 days throughout the holiday season, is located on The Mall at Robinson's second floor, next to the food court.

The 863,791-square-foot regional shopping center, which includes more than 120 shops, by was a perfect fit for this endeavor, says Betsy Schumacher, senior VP of merchandising for 77kids.

"77kids has found such success online, and this is a chance to interact with customers in a very real, tangible way," Schumacher says. "The Pittsburgh ZIP codes are some of top ZIP codes. We have great local customers."

And because 77kids knows the way to a kid's heart is through whoopee pies and fresh-baked cookies, the brand is working with local roaming bakery the Goodie Truck on promotions, including special discounts and giveaways.

American Eagle is planning to open permanent 77kids locations in 2010. No sites have been named yet, but Schumacher says, "we're obviously part of the fabric of this city, and would love to be able to have a store here."

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Betsy Schumacher, senior VP of merchandising for 77kids, and Jani Strand, VP public relations/corporate communications, American Eagle Outfitters

Photograph courtesy of American Eagle Outfitters

"Architecture is the most public of all art," says Anne Swager, executive director of AIA Pittsburgh.

It's art in which we live, work and play. Art that occupies every corner of our city, and the curves that crawl around the region. It's art that is tied to the past and the future, that at its best, is innovative and inspirational. It's art that has positioned Pittsburgh as a global leader in sustainability and green building.

Architecture is integral to Pittsburgh's growth, development and beauty, and its stars--the people and places that inspire and shape the city--are being honored at Design Pittsburgh, AIA's annual event.

This year's competition features submissions in the categories of architecture, architectural detail, interior architecture, open plan, regional & urban design, landscape architecture and "timeless," a grouping for projects built in the last 25 years. Though the winners will not be announced until Thursday night, nominations include Astorino (Children's Hospital), DRS (Duquesne University Power Center), EDGE studio (CMU's Tepper School of Business addition), Bergman, Walls & Associates/Strada (Rivers Casino), moss Architects (the Silver Top House on the South Side) and Perkins Eastman (East Liberty's green vision).

This year's Design Pittsburgh will also honor Rebecca Flora with a Gold Medal, a special award bestowed to a non-architect who makes a difference in the region. Past winners have included Teresa Heinz, and Children's Museum Executive Director Jane Werner. Flora, a founding member of the Green Building Alliance, now serves as senior vice president of education and research at the U.S. Green Building Council. She is credited with changing the culture of Pittsburgh to recognize and celebrate sustainability, says Chip Desmone, president of AIA Pittsburgh and principal at Desmone & Associates, which was voted "Best Architect of 2009" by the readers of Pittsburgh Magazine.

Design Pittsburgh includes an exhibit that is open to the public Oct. 20 and 21 at the August Wilson Center, as well as a juried competition, a People's Choice Award and a gala and ceremony on Thurs., Oct. 22.

Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Anne Swager, AIA Pittsburgh; Chip Desmone, Desmone & Associates

Photograph of Children's Hospital courtesy of AIA Pittsburgh