Never forget that Pittsburgh often cares more about who wins and who loses than about the future of the region as a whole. Library branches will be closing. Now UPMC wants to close its Braddock hospital. The URA is thinking about paying a developer so that a different developer can build apartments on the South Side.
Did someone say regional planning? Is anyone surprised that these decisions were not publicized until after the feel-good G-20 media blitz had passed? Does the pattern of wins and losses reflect anything new?
Thought not, on all counts.
Meanwhile, the new Dunkin' Donuts in Squirrel Hill is doing land office business, and it's kosher. Baked morsels for less! Taste great, spiritually fulfilling. Does this mean that the tide of the Cupcake Class is receding?
2 comments:
Forget the neighborhoods. Things are really looking good in downtown Pittsburgh. I was just in town visiting for the first time we moved back in May. Market Square, while it currently looks like a bomb had been dropped on it, will be a phenomenal public space once it is finished. The living wall at PNC's HQ is great! Could this be the start of Pittsburgh's Green Triangle? So, yeah, Pittsburgh's Renaissance is and always has been about downtown Pittsburgh, where what, 2.5% of the population resides. It has come a very long way since I first moved to Pittsburgh in 1996. Credit should be given to Mayor's Murphy and O'Connor, especially Bob, who really went against the opposition (mainly port authority) to form a plan to radically change Market Square.
The real story in the URA Southside dispute is that there is solid private investment and demand for more housing and development.
Classic Jane Jacobs stuff here. People, density and use diversity leads to a reinforcing cycle of demand.
Of course, I guess Murphy wants a medal for not tearing the whole organic neighborhood down. The city is looking OK, in spite of not because of it's government.
The faster we learn this the better.
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