Evergrey

ughhh... I know exactly the type of person you're talking about... I hate them

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20081117_Digging_deep_in_Pittsburgh_for_rail_line.html Digging deep in Pittsburgh for rail line The city is tunneling below the Allegheny River for a $435 million commuter-system spur. By Dan Nephin A welder joins a section of rebar as other workers knot together the net of steel for the tunnel floor before concrete is poured for the 1.2-mile light-rail extension. Workers walk through the lowest part of the tunnel being built under the Allegheny River to reach the city sports complex. (KEITH SRAKOCIC / Associated Press) Looking up at Pittsburgh skyscrapers through a wide-angle lens from the bottom of the pit where the new North Shore Connector meets the light-rail system. Associated Press PITTSBURGH - Many sports-crazed fans who don't want to deal with traffic must walk or take the bus over the bridges of the Allegheny River to watch their Steelers or Pirates. The city's 25-mile light rail system won't get them to the neighborhood that is home to Heinz Field, PNC Park, museums, and soon, a huge slots casino. It stops short of the river, in downtown Pittsburgh. But now the commuter line is being extended 1.2 miles through a tunnel under the river in a $435 million project that will take rail users onto the North Shore. While a certain convenience for sports fans, the project has drawn criticism for its high cost - and where it doesn't go. The Port Authority of Allegheny County says the North Shore Connector, expected to be completed in 2011, is a sound investment in mass transit that will spur development. But the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, a conservative think tank based in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, believes the project will pay off only if it is extended 15 miles to Pittsburgh International Airport. "We look at things on the basis of their cost and benefits and on a cost-benefit basis, this doesn't come anywhere close," said Jake Haulk, the institute's president. Port Authority officials say it's possible that one day the rail line, called the "T" by locals, would be extended. But Haulk said that wouldn't happen in the next 20 years. "That's a pipe dream," he said. About three-quarters of the extension, or just under a mile, will be underground. The project also includes revamping the current final stop downtown to link it to the extension. The cost was originally put at $395 million. Eighty percent of the project is being funded with a federal grant, with 16.66 percent coming from the state, and the rest from local government. That additional money could come from the authority's capital budget, which could mean delays on other authority projects, said Winston Simmonds, the port authority's rail operations and engineering officer. He said the Federal Transit Administration approved the project before energy costs began to rise and a global demand for steel, concrete and other construction materials drove prices up beyond the 3.3 percent anticipated annual increase. The project was also to have included a link to the downtown David L. Lawrence Convention Center, but that was dropped because of budget constraints. Costs are expected to increase even more, though the authority can't say by how much. In Pittsburgh, about 676,000 people rode light rail in October, up more than 4 percent from about 675,000 passengers in October 2007. Ridership was also up in September and August. About 27,000 people use light rail each day, and officials estimate that 14,300 people will use the North Shore Connector daily when it's completed. The port authority estimates its per rider cost at $6, of which most riders pay $2.50, with the balance coming from state and local subsidies. But the Allegheny Institute believes the cost to the agency is even higher. Kathleen Connolly, of Ben Avon, a suburb just west of Pittsburgh, questioned how many commuters would park on the North Shore and take light rail downtown. "The T is nice, beautiful, easy and clean, but it serves the South Hills and Station Square," a shopping and entertainment complex to the west, just across the Monongahela River from downtown. A better project, she said, would be extending light rail west to the airport or to the city's eastern suburbs. "They're not hiding the fact that it's for entertainment," she said. "It's not for commuter ease." Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato has said he would have preferred to expand the transportation system elsewhere, but supports the project because he did not want to lose federal funding.

so who else is pumped for the Battle of Lake Erie??? Bills - Browns - in Buffalo in mid-November - on Monday Night! NFL doesn't get any better than this!!!!!! :clap: vs.

Tom Ridge

what is the difference between a "5 star restaurant" and a "5 diamond restaurant"?

I had no idea it was such a nice town... I just recall being bored to death on that stretch of I-71... but you never know what treasures may wait beyond the horizon

me likey!

great post, C-Dawg

I think trading Toledo for Maysville ALONE would be more than a fair trade for Ohio... great shots

Bengals tied the Eagles today!

1. Alabama (45) 11-0 1,508 2. Texas Tech (15) 10-0 1,465 3. Florida (1) 9-1 1,373 4. Texas 10-1 1,322 5. Oklahoma 9-1 1,305 6. USC 9-1 1,245 7. Utah 11-0 1,113 8. Penn State 10-1 1,093 9. Boise State 10-0 1,023 10. Ohio State 9-2 957 11. Missouri 9-2 894 12. Oklahoma State 9-2 838 13. Georgia 9-2 832 14. Brigham Young 10-1 690 15. Michigan State 9-2 654 16. Ball State 10-0 613 17. TCU 9-2 533 18. LSU 7-3 429 19. Pittsburgh 7-2 406 20. Cincinnati 8-2 358 21. Oregon State 7-3 321 22. Oregon 8-3 169 23. Maryland 7-3 140 24. Northwestern 8-3 117 25. Boston College 7-3 97

David Byrne has a really keen sense of urban environments. He's been blogging about his impressions of cities for years.

this is the building i posted previously http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/11/10/daily23.html?surround=lfn&brthrs=1 Reed Smith leases office space in National City building Pittsburgh Business Times - by Patty Tascarella and Ben Semmes Reed Smith LLP, one of Pittsburgh’s largest law firms, is taking more than two-thirds of the 80,000-square-feet National City Corp. put on the market last month Downtown, roughly half of its Pittsburgh regional headquarters. Reed Smith signed a 10-year lease for 54,722 square feet, or the 12th, 14th and 16th floors. Just how long 20 Stanwix Street will be known as National City Center is anyone’s guess. Pittsburgh’s largest bank, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. expects to buy Cleveland-based National City in a $5.58 billion stock and cash transaction closing by year-end. Reed Smith plans to move 225 back office and support employees from their base in the Gulf Tower to 20 Stanwix the first week of May. At the end of the month, over Memorial Day weekend, Reed Smith lawyers will move to 23-story 3 PNC Plaza, still under construction, where the firm will occupy about half of the 780,000-square-foot green building. Reed Smith is currently based at the James H. Reed Building, which Los Angeles-based Mika Realty Group bought last month. It had been on the market for more than a year. “It so happened this opportunity came up in the past couple of months and it worked out — if you pay attention to what’s going on, good things happen,” said Patricia Hiltibidal, Reed Smith chief of office services. “We looked at a whole array of buildings — 11 Stanwix, Chatham Center, we considered staying in the Gulf Tower and even One Oliver was in the mix. We wanted to get as close as we could to 3 PNC. This building is efficient and they talk the talk about being progressive and environmentally friendly, so it had all the bits and pieces we needed.” One bit Reed Smith didn’t get was the 15th floor, “which is National City’s computer room,” Hiltibidal said. Jason Stewart, a broker with the Downtown office of Grubb & Ellis Co., said that National City was fortunate to secure a tenant to fill its sublease so soon after the company put the space on the market. “It’s a sign that the velocity of the market Downtown is maintaining its pace,” Stewart said. “National City was certainly fortunate to snag some of the activity we have seen of late. We are all very positive about what has happened in the last 18 months ... even though there is a bit of financial crisis.” Stewart added that Reed Smith likely secured a much more favorable lease deal that it would have if it had leased other space since sublease space is generally marketed at a discount to the full rate. PNC spokesman Fred Solomon declined comment. PNC has said it expects the integration process to take 23 months and that the bank brands will still be separate when the acquisition closes. National City worked with brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle to lease the space. The bank occupied 10 floors, or 162,889 square feet. Its lease ran to the end of 2017. The Business Times broke the story Oct. 10, two weeks before PNC announced that it was buying National City, which has been struggling since problems with its mortgage portfolio emerged in summer 2007. Hiltibidal said Reed Smith doesn’t anticipate major renovations for the space, which will house its business center, docketing, human resources, information technology and marketing departments. “Because of the nature of the work, there will be lots of work stations,” Hiltibidal said. Approximately 225 employees will make the move, but Reed Smith has also ensured that it has room to grow. Hiltibidal said it expects to add positions and will likely soon have 250 in the new space. Originally, Reed Smith sought 40,000 square feet. “It’s good to have this decided and to find out who’ll sit where and get things rolling the way we want it,” she said. [email protected] | (412) 208-3832 [email protected] | (412) 208-3829 All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/11/10/daily19.html?surround=lfn&brthrs=1 PNC commits $28 million in charitable funding to National City communities Pittsburgh Business Times PNC Financial Services Group Inc., Pittsburgh, which expects to close its acquisition of Cleveland-based National City Corp. by year-end, has committed $28 million in charitable funding and sponsorships to National City communities in 2009. That’s $5 million more than National City’s 2008 foundation giving, PNC said. PNC (NYSE:PNC) and National City (NYSE:NCC)overlap in Western Pennsylvania and the Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Ky., areas but much of National City’s territory is new ground for PNC. The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from the financial institution does not disclose assets. But it is Pittsburgh’s 10th largest foundation as ranked by grant payout, which was $11.8 million for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. “We are pleased to build upon National City’s legacy of outstanding corporate citizenship,” PNC Chairman and CEO Jim Rohr said in a statement. “At PNC, we believe a business cannot succeed if its communities are not well positioned for future growth and success.” Post-closing integration is expected to take 23 months; until that is completed, PNC said it expects to operate with both the PNC and National City bank brands. The integration will include combining both banks’ charitable and sponsorship budgets to create one system to strategically align giving with PNC’s key theme and priorities. Among its priorities for 2009 are maintaining National City’s existing community development banking investments and contributions which include a number of projects in low- and moderate-income communities. It also intends to benefit eligible nonprofit organizations in National City markets with the introduction of PNC’s employee matching gift program which will increase the maximum match for a National City employee’s contribution from $1,000 to $2,500. PNC will also begin to identify potential community partners for the introduction of its early childhood education program, PNC Grow Up Great, a 10-year, $100 million investment to prepare children from birth to age five for success in school and life. All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

btw, great shots, MayDay!

what was David Byrne's assessment of Euclid Avenue? (link?)

I was not aware of this... I thought it was a revitalizing area. I'm sorry to hear this.

It does not... but I would still consider Iowa a better team than Louisville

tough choice... 1. Mt. Adams - cliche... but I just love its atmosphere... love the tight hilltop streets and the nightlife and restaurants tucked here and there... wonderful example of "upscale Appalachian urbanism" 2. Clifton - perhaps the quintessential Cincy neighborhood... offers a little bit of everything 3. Over-The-Rhine - it will be No. 1 when it fully revitalizes... the built environment is simply one-of-a-kind... feels very "big city" 4. Hyde Park 5. Cumminsville 6. Columbia - Tusculum (what does he mean by "going in the wrong direction"?) 7. Lower Price Hill (I LOVE the built environment there) 8. MainStrasse 9. Oregon (Dayton) 10. Carthage

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/11/fearing_shutdown_national_city.html Fearing shutdown, National City begged for a buyer: The inside story Posted by Teresa Dixon Murray/Plain Dealer Reporter November 10, 2008 19:09PM National City Corp. was desperate to sell because it feared federal regulators would shut it down as soon as Oct. 24, PNC Financial Services Group said in a regulatory filing Monday. In fact, in the weeks before National City's sale to PNC was announced last month, regulators were crawling all over the Cleveland bank's books, and executives often had to update regulators several times a day on the bank's financial condition. More at http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/11/fearing_shutdown_national_city.html

but South Florida was ranked #10 when Pitt traveled there and defeated the Bulls Pitt also beat Iowa... which beat Penn State Iowa's a much better team than Louisville (who is awful this year)

Agreed. Detroits economy isn't diverse and Detroit seems more reluctant to change than Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Minn. Detroit lacks a lot of the assets that have helped these other cities... for example, it never developed a cluster of elite educational institutions... UMichigan is nearby... but it's not Detroit. It has an under-skilled, overpaid workforce. And while there are some magnificent individual art deco structures... the cityscape does little to inspire confidence in an urban renaissance. It's the archetype of the automobile dystopia. It has some impressive suburbs, but the core city is devoid of "superstar" neighborhoods that can generate self-sustaining investment, development and population attraction. I'm sure I'll get some flak, but I feel like speaking my mind. I really don't hold out much hope for Detroit. One asset Detroit does have, however... is a significantly higher birth rate than many of its neighbors... and a larger immigrant community (esp. Arab communities). This has helped offset a portion of its staggering out-migration this decade. Continued flight will probably erode this, however. With the auto sector tanking, there is little to attract anyone to Detroit, which strains under a toxic business/labor climate, corporate flight (Comerica), depressed entrepreneurship and innovation capacity, and a dysfunctional and decimated urban core.

Well, that was the most useless string of posts EVER. Anyways... I don't understand why edale is picking on this neighborhood in particular... sure... it's nothing special.. but it's those "nothing special" neighborhoods that make up the bulk of most cities... these "bland" neighborhoods have been home to hard-working Americans for generations... they may not fit your particular aesthetic... but to someone out there... it's "home". I appreciate seeing neighborhoods like this... beyond the usual "star" neighborhoods like Ohio City or Mt. Adams or German Village.

yeah, I like the picture too ;)

This has some key Frank Jackson content They Warned Us About the Mortgage Crisis State whistleblowers tried to curtail greedy lending—and were thwarted by the Bush Administration and the financial industry by Robert Berner and Brian Grow More than five years ago, in April 2003, the attorneys general of two small states traveled to Washington with a stern warning for the nation's top bank regulator. Sitting in the spacious Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, with its panoramic view of the capital, the AGs from North Carolina and Iowa said lenders were pushing increasingly risky mortgages. Their host, John D. Hawke Jr., expressed skepticism. Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Tom Miller of Iowa headed a committee of state officials concerned about new forms of "predatory" lending. They urged Hawke to give states more latitude to limit exorbitant interest rates and fine-print fees. "People out there are struggling with oppressive loans," Cooper recalls saying. Hawke, a veteran banking industry lawyer appointed to head the OCC by President Bill Clinton in 1998, wouldn't budge. He said he would reinforce federal policies that hindered states from reining in lenders. The AGs left the tense hour-long meeting realizing that Washington had become a foe in the nascent fight against reckless real estate finance. The OCC "took 50 sheriffs off the job during the time the mortgage lending industry was becoming the Wild West," Cooper says. ... More at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_42/b4104036827981.htm