It looks as though plan E, or whatever we're on now, is quietly materializing. An article that just appeared on the PG's web site says the governor has pledged $30 million for three projects underway in the Fifth-Forbes district?
It seems they're skipping the glossy pamphlets this time.
The PG says the three projects underway are: retail and residential development near Market Street by the "Pittsburgh Task Force and developer Madison Marquette," a retail, residential and office complex between Wood and Market by PNC Financial Services and "reuse" of Lazarus now owned by the Regional Industrial Development Corp.
An earlier PG (Nov. 10) article reported a company called Millcraft Industries was close to securing the Lazarus building for transformation into a retail and residential condominium complex.
All this is good news. Downtown condo's are hot and more will be sure to add up to a more lively center city. Residential needs retail to work, however, and getting the right stores in place will be the key to long-term success.
What are the right stores? Ones that supply residents rather than serve as a destination for shoppers. They include grocers, discount stores, housewares even coffee shops. With any luck we'll see a Crate and Barrel, Trader Joes, Target and more in Downtown Pittsburgh. These would serve not only downtown residents, but retail-starved residents of Northside and Mount Washington as well.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
The big question everyone's asking now is "Has the market slowed?" The answer is most likely a "yes." I'm not sure that's cause for alarm, especially concearning Pittsburgh. I was reading an article concearning Philadelphia the other day. Those quoted didn't expect the price drops many in overheated markets like Boston and Washington DC fear. Rather, homes are expected to stay on the market longer in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh is frequently noted as being a "safe bet." It's also viewed as "undervalued." We haven't experienced the frenzy here folks on the coasts have. Prices in most areas haven't doubled or tripled in the last few years, rather have kept the pace at around 5 percent a year.
In my own neighborhood I've noticed the upper end homes have been on the market for quite a while, while the lower end has kept pace. With more to choose from, the average time it takes to sell a given house should increase.
Pittsburgh is frequently noted as being a "safe bet." It's also viewed as "undervalued." We haven't experienced the frenzy here folks on the coasts have. Prices in most areas haven't doubled or tripled in the last few years, rather have kept the pace at around 5 percent a year.
In my own neighborhood I've noticed the upper end homes have been on the market for quite a while, while the lower end has kept pace. With more to choose from, the average time it takes to sell a given house should increase.
The idea of pre-fabricated housing goes back quite a way. A process perfected by the U.S. military during World War II was applied by at Levittown and other subdivisions. The appeal was and is obvious as the cost of a comfortable home is reduced dramatically when numerous homes are produced using standardized parts, specialized labor, rapidly and even off-site.
Before that, Sears and other companies offered standard, ready-to-assemble homes. The earliest prefab house may have been 400 years ago when a wood house broken into panels was shipped from England to Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Today prefab homes are again gaining in popularity. In recent days Ikea announced the company would enter the prefab market. Smaller companies offer pre-built homes that are delivered as placed on your lot. Michael Graves is apparently working on a prefab house for Target. Gone are the days when prefab meant standardized and boring. Today that’s the story of the suburban monster home. A prefab home today and in the future will mean customized.
Yet in all the history of the prefab house, from Sears to Ikea anyway, prefab homes have been anything but urban. A city town home is, in essence, two rectangles stacked onto each other. These fit in-between like shapes. Many of these homes are existing, but some need replaced or have been lost. It is a great challenge to provide affordable homes to the masses. While we have record homeownership in the United States today, it would seem we have provided unaffordable homes to the masses—foreclosures are also at a record. Let’s meet the challenge of both living smart and building smart by creating affordable and energy-efficient urban prefab designs.
Read the expanded column Dec. 1, 2005 at http://www.newcolonist.com
Before that, Sears and other companies offered standard, ready-to-assemble homes. The earliest prefab house may have been 400 years ago when a wood house broken into panels was shipped from England to Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Today prefab homes are again gaining in popularity. In recent days Ikea announced the company would enter the prefab market. Smaller companies offer pre-built homes that are delivered as placed on your lot. Michael Graves is apparently working on a prefab house for Target. Gone are the days when prefab meant standardized and boring. Today that’s the story of the suburban monster home. A prefab home today and in the future will mean customized.
Yet in all the history of the prefab house, from Sears to Ikea anyway, prefab homes have been anything but urban. A city town home is, in essence, two rectangles stacked onto each other. These fit in-between like shapes. Many of these homes are existing, but some need replaced or have been lost. It is a great challenge to provide affordable homes to the masses. While we have record homeownership in the United States today, it would seem we have provided unaffordable homes to the masses—foreclosures are also at a record. Let’s meet the challenge of both living smart and building smart by creating affordable and energy-efficient urban prefab designs.
Read the expanded column Dec. 1, 2005 at http://www.newcolonist.com
"A cottage small is all I'm after,Not one that's spacious and wide.A house that rings with joy and laughterand the ones you love inside.Some like the high road, I like the low road,Free from the care and strife.Sounds corny and seedy, but yes, indeed-y;Give me the simple life."
The size of homes in the United States (urban and suburban) continues to grow. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2001 about one in eight homes exceeded 3,500 square feet, which was more than triple the average new home in 1950 (983 square feet). Since 1970 the size of the average home has increased 55 percent (to 2,330 square feet), while the size of the average family has decreased 13 percent. Meanwhile, according to the Energy Information Administration, homes exceeding 3,500 square feet use about 40 percent more energy than those between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet.
Like my brother-in-law's big truck, the houses are getting bigger in part because Uncle Sam is promoting it. The folks at the Urban Institute figure about 80 percent of the estimated $200 billion of federal housing subsidies consists of tax breaks for "upscale Americans" to buy bigger homes. That study found Federal housing benefits average $8,268 for those with incomes between $200,000 and $500,000 and $365 for those with incomes of $40,000 to $50,000. (Haven't heard many Libertarians out there whining about these government giveaways; come to think of it I've never heard ?em whine about public parking.)
Look around?perhaps it's time to scale down. Ask yourself, "Do I need all this space? Does it make my life better or easier?"
read the column in newcolonist.com
The size of homes in the United States (urban and suburban) continues to grow. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2001 about one in eight homes exceeded 3,500 square feet, which was more than triple the average new home in 1950 (983 square feet). Since 1970 the size of the average home has increased 55 percent (to 2,330 square feet), while the size of the average family has decreased 13 percent. Meanwhile, according to the Energy Information Administration, homes exceeding 3,500 square feet use about 40 percent more energy than those between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet.
Like my brother-in-law's big truck, the houses are getting bigger in part because Uncle Sam is promoting it. The folks at the Urban Institute figure about 80 percent of the estimated $200 billion of federal housing subsidies consists of tax breaks for "upscale Americans" to buy bigger homes. That study found Federal housing benefits average $8,268 for those with incomes between $200,000 and $500,000 and $365 for those with incomes of $40,000 to $50,000. (Haven't heard many Libertarians out there whining about these government giveaways; come to think of it I've never heard ?em whine about public parking.)
Look around?perhaps it's time to scale down. Ask yourself, "Do I need all this space? Does it make my life better or easier?"
read the column in newcolonist.com
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