Mayor declares wish for an Allegheny river front plan."It's almost like, 'Hey, now it's our turn,'" said state Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park. (P-G, Rich Lord)
No! How... ?
Despite global jitters, there's reason for optimism on the Allegheny, said Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Rob Stephany.
"I see really vibrant housing markets in Lawrenceville unfolding," he said. "I see the Strip continuing to be one of the most interesting amenities the city has to offer. I see the Cultural District really maturing."
Our Cultural District is immature in some way? Never mind. The north shore of the south bank is as viable a place as any to do some redevelopment. It's certainly underutilized enough.
Today's point is, if the Mayor and the URA director are casting about in search of a plan, you can be sure there is a plan on the way.
"You're talking about something that will take 20 years to do maybe," said Mr. Ferlo. "It starts with the master planning, laying out the vision, looking at the obstacles."
Results won't be immediate.
Proposals are due to the URA by Nov. 14, and the winning team would start the planning process in February.
Long-range master planning, strategic vision, and an analysis of possible obstacles due in 17 days? That is not a lot of time! Are we on the Apprentice? Who's our project manager?
Someone should clue in our Department of City Planning. Is it even allowed to bid on the RFP?
Pittsburgh enjoys the Obama.
"I like Bill Clinton, don't get me wrong, but I've never been inspired like with Obama. I see something in him I've never seen in the others -- integrity," Carter said. (Trib, Wereschagin & Tolmeri)
Protesters were mainly of the anti-abortion variety -- the toughest nut to crack. Many of the youthful McCain voters I encounter rely on a pro-life stance more than anything else to justify their choice.
Some West End residents desire not the strip club.
"Whatever you have going on in that club is going to impact everybody who is in this room," said Debbie Whitfield of Sheraden. "Once your clean establishment gets dirty, it's going to be the responsibility of everyone in this room to clean it up." (P-G, Sadie Gurman)
What the aspiring owner needs to do is to provide a concrete argument as to why his proposed strip club will be and remain cleaner and better regulated than existing clubs -- replete with research on "best practices" and the such -- and argue that he should have the right to open a business and compete with the truly foul clubs that exist, hopefully driving them out of business.
McCain campaign denies role in local race-baiting hoax.
Spokesperson Jeff Sadosky says the campaign "had no role in this incident." (Trib, Mike Wereschagin)
Keith Olbermann disagrees. (MSNBC, h/t 2PJs)
Rumor Has It: Ravenstahl got booed at Obama rally.
I received two different text messages from two different numbers around 5:45 PM yesterday that said so. In addition, 2 Politcal Junkies Maria Lupinnacci reports:
First, I missed the warm-up acts -- I got in just as Barack started his speech.
Second, yes, mention of Lil Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's name drew many boos along with applause. A woman standing next to me even asked if he was a Republican. She added that she wasn't sure about him. I said I thought of Sarah Palin as Luke in lipstick and she nodded.
For this business, we call upon our friends at Early Returns. Younz had people at the Arena. Younz are one of us now. What did you witness? Was it the sort of uneven crowd reaction that can send a political thrill up one's leg?
*-UPDATE: Obviously the Toledo Block Blogger isn't going to be any help. We would have assigned this work directly to Trib Whispers, but sadly they only whisper on Sunday mornings.
If the master plan is anything like Murphy's vision for Downtown,it may be 50 years before this becomes a reality...let the gov't stay out of it.....
ReplyDeleteI'm all for better use of our river fronts, but I have a feeling that this whole plan is going to end up displacing a lot of the warehouses and businesses in the area. Where are they going to go once the city forces them out? Probably to a suburban industrial park.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait till this club opens up. It's in a great location. Game, Casino, dinner, strip club is going to be a great weekend schedule for many. I know it will be for me.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the "community meeting" I don't know why that guy even came to speak. Property rights are just that. If it's legal, it's legal.
Why do young McCain supporters have to "justify" their choice? McCain is a war hero with a long history of bipartisanship and moderation - I am not sure what is so controversial about supporting him.
ReplyDeleteI am a young professional and prochoice and I am voting for McCain. All of my friends are prochoice as well and most are voting for McCain too. I don't expect McCain to win but I feel like you are discrediting McCain supporters and pretending that they only support him because they are hung up on abortion and that is flat out wrong and honestly very unfair. The young people I know who support McCain do so because they believe in low taxes, a strong military, limited government and don't believe in income redistribution or government directed "spreading the wealth" that other people created.
I was searching for a more generous phrase than "justify", Elle -- but in the end that seemed most appropriate. Those young McCainsters I was referencing spoke very little about low taxes, limited government, or redistribution. They did cite national security, but by far they spoke with the most confidence on abortion. I just thought it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe Obama youth in my impromptu focus group justified their preferences most often in terms of war, taxes, and the environment. One of these first did Internet research to find which candidate was better on the issue of puppy mills. The answer did much to confirm her slight lean toward Obama.
"I can't wait till this club opens up. It's in a great location. Game, Casino, dinner, strip club is going to be a great weekend schedule for many. I know it will be for me.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the "community meeting" I don't know why that guy even came to speak. Property rights are just that. If it's legal, it's legal."
Why did you put community meeting in quotations? It was indeed a community meeting. This strip club is not going to be placed there. I can promise you that. Even if this plan passes the planning commission it still has to be passed by Pgh City Council. What city councilperson is going to put his or her neck out there and vote yes on this one?
You think it's a great location? That's a real reach there. There is only going to be 14 parking spots. He is going to have to pay a valet service to come and run this thing.
I guess your interested in the massage aspect of the club that this bozo wants to include. Maybe you can get a 3 legged massage while you are there.
Simply, I think the available parking for a proposed strip club at that location would hinder what it is they are trying to accomplish. Is that the former gas station, former site of the Concentra building? No one ever wants to see a strip club come into their neighborhood, the section of road,from what I could identify on t.v, I am not sure would classify as being "in the neighborhood" but I am sure the concerns of any neighbors nearby would challenge that. What I am sure of is that gambling, and strip clubs in close proximity, sort of go hand and hand, and if it isn't here in this location then where will it be? Down the street or block hidden on a residential street and not on a main thoroughfare where there is an actual house, with children next door? I am thinking that many people are not aware of the speakeasy's/aka as little massage parlors, that littered the city, sprouted during prohibition, and continued for many decades beyond that era. Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteInAg on the Boy gets Booed
ReplyDeleteYup. I was sitting in section D27 or so, way up near the press stations and Obama did not mention Luke by name. I didn't see if Luke was there; King Dan was holding forth like it was all his idea. There was hesitant polite applause then an increasing wave of boos. Onorato got a similar treatment, a little more perfunctory applause than boos.
Could you help me understand all this URA activity going on in a depressed economy? Where are the matching funds gonna come from?
Why did you put community meeting in quotations?
ReplyDeleteBecause it was a joke?
What city councilperson is going to put his or her neck out there and vote yes on this one?
Don't they have to? City Council are not the supreme rulers of Pittsburgh. If it's legal, it's legal. I don't think they have a choice unless they want to get sued. For a twit that knows everything you sure seem to be lacking in this department.
You think it's a great location?
High visibility.
I guess your interested in the massage aspect of the club that this bozo wants to include. Maybe you can get a 3 legged massage while you are there.
How would you know that they give "3 legged massages" there? Is your girlfriend finally going through with her dreams of being onstage? Did she tell you she was going to be working at the club and that's why you are so upset?
"former site of the Concentra building"
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the location.
His girlfriend is a stripper?
ReplyDeleteummm no
ReplyDelete