Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
About the URA
Showcase Projects:
South Side Works
Background and Summary (Continued)
1998 EFFORTS
Steam Plant Demolition
In 1998, perhaps the most fortunate opportunity arose when LTV ceased operations of its Coke Facility and Steam Plants. Immediately, LTV began demolition of its facilities on both sides of the Monongahela River including the removal of the existing Steam Plant facilities, which was located in the middle of the site. This allowed the URA to proceed with renovation of the MONCON Bridge.
MONCON Bridge Renovation
As its primary focus in 1998, the URA began efforts to complete a vital vehicular connection between Second Avenue and Carson Street. Once complete, this $14M project would provide capacity for over 60% of the resulting project traffic, while alleviating capacity problems on Carson Street. The north approach work was completed by mid 1998 leading to the main effort- the renovation of the MCON Bridge. This former railroad bridge was converted to a two lane vehicular bridge that connects the site to Oakland, PTC, and the downtown. While this moved ahead, the Authority retained SAI, Inc. to complete engineering for the southerly approach, Hot Metal Street. The bridge and approaches were completed and opened in July of 2000.
Environmental Clearances
During 1998, the URA and its environmental consultant, CEC, Inc., completed most of the assessments and minor environmental remediation on the site. A Consent Order and Agreement was executed in March with the State providing a determination of No Further Action, which provides a release of liability to developers. No special conditions are required for work on the site except to implement a Health and Safety Plan and to clean up any contamination found during construction.
UPMC Distribution Center
In the spring of 1998, the Rubinoff Company broke ground on an 83,000sf state of the art distribution facility for the UPMC Health System. The URA sold Rubinoff five acres along East Carson Street near the Sarah Street intersection for this facility. UPMC opened the $4M building in November of 1998, retaining 80 jobs in the City.
East Carson Street
During 1998, the URA also advanced preliminary design to widen East Carson Street along its frontage. The existing two lane street ultimately will be widened to five lanes providing updated signalized intersections at each intersection along East Carson. This will allow protected left turn lanes into the project. During off peak times, parking will be permitted in the outer two lanes. This $9M project is expected to be completed no earlier than 2005. It will be undertaken in logical increments, as needs arise, to mitigate the project's impacts on the street network.
1999 EFFORTS
During 1999, several projects moved ahead, while infrastructure development was accelerated and zoning changes were made to provide support for their construction.
Tax Increment Financing
A Tax Increment Financing Plan (1999) and subsequent amendment (2001) were adopted by the City, County and School District. This TIF is considered the centerpiece of public funding needed to allow development to proceed. Through this TIF the URA will generate up to $25M in financing proceeds to pay for public infrastructure on the site. These proceeds have been used with other public funding to pay for and implement road and infrastructure improvements for the project and to fill funding gaps for parking structures that are planned to maximize development on the site.
UPMC Sports Medicine Facility
Oxford Development, representing UPMC, retained PJDick Corporation who started site preparation in February 1999 for a nationally recognized, sports performance and office campus on 16 acres in the Lowlands area of the site. This $30 million campus included a 45,000 fifth. medical office component, a 125,000 sq. ft. training center for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Panthers, and a jointly shared 90,000 sq. ft. indoor field and track. The center point of this complex are four outdoor fields to serve the needs of the project.
Oxford, retained LD Astorino & Associates to masterplan and design the campus. PJ Dick, Inc. completed filling of the property during the spring of 1999 to raise it above the 100 year flood zone. Field construction was completed in August. Simultaneously, PJDick also undertook the construction of South Water Street, a new 3,500 lineal feet of public roadway to serve the project. PJDick also undertook related utility improvements and preparatory improvements for new waterfront park and trail improvements along the edge of the development. Mascaro, Inc. was retained as the General Contractor for the buildings. The entire complex was completed in September of 2000.
IBEW
In July 1999, the Authority sold three acres of property to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). IBEW began construction in late June on its new $18M regional headquarters. IBEW was located on the North Shore where the new PNC Park was built. IBEW also consolidated other operations that were in the Strip District at this new 29th and Carson Street location. The new 125,000sf facility includes a 19,000 sq.ft. ballroom, a 31,000 educational training component, and 40,000 sq.ft. of primary and subordinate office space. IBEW opened its facility in August of 2000.
Life Sciences Center
In July 1999, the Authority also sold one acre of property to its sister organization, the Pittsburgh Industrial and Economic Development Corporation (PEIDC). PEIDC undertook development and construction of a new biomedical incubator called the Life Sciences Center. The 45,000 sq.ft. biomedical office facility was to house regional biomedical, biotechnology and software start up companies.
PEIDC formally began construction in late July on the new $7M center. The URA received a $2.5M State grant commitment along with another $3.5M in local commitments for its development. The construction of the two-story, 45,000 square foot facility was completed during the Summer of 2000. PEIDC retained IKM, Inc. of Pittsburgh to design the facility and TEDCO as its construction manager. During the Fall of 2000, the PEIDC sold the facility to The McGowan Center for Artificial Organ Development (of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) that completed interior improvements and occupied the building in the Fall of 2002.
Waterfront Park and Trail Master planning and Design
To accelerate public park improvements for UPMC and to address the City's interest to advance trail development, LaQuattra Bonci was retained to complete park and trail master planning for the entire LTV site and to address planning to connect across the Monongahela River to the Eliza Furnace Trail. Final master plans were completed in January of 2000.
In January of 2000, L/B completed the design of the section of park and trail along South Water Street that parallels the frontage of the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. This construction was funded and financed by UPMC. Trail improvements were completed during the Fall of 2000 and landscaping was installed during Spring of 2001.
Incorporated into the trail and park design, design and construction was completed on an art sculpture to commemorate the sites' steel heritage. The monument is located near the approach to the MONCON Bridge and an unveiling of the monument occurred later in April 2001.
2000 and 2001 EFFORTS
During 2000 and 2001, the URA focused on completing efforts started in its prior years.
<< BACK NEXT >>