Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com
Nov 10, 2009 8:50 pm US/Eastern
New Development Proposed For Mt. Washington
MOUNT WASHINGTON (KDKA) ―
It takes vision to look at an abandoned restaurant and hillside on Mt. Washington and dream of turning it into a towering development of glass and glitter, including a luxury hotel, terraced condominiums, a fitness spa and a pair of Tony restaurants.
Many on Mt. Washington are welcoming One Grandview with open arms, saying the project will get rid of the eyesore and bring jobs and opportunity.
"It's not just an individual project at a location that's a symbol for the city but it's going to be a major neighborhood revitalization project," Chris Beichner, from community development, said.
But others, especially those who live behind the proposed project, possess now what lured the developer to Mt. Washington in the first place – a spectacular view.
But in addition to fears of losing that view, they raise other concerns including traffic and whether the hillside can sustain all of that building.
"We're going to go from having an eyesore to having a nightmare," Gordon Stoernell, a neighbor, said.
Sitting among the crowd in a packed City Planning Commission meeting was Chicago developer Steven Beemsterboer who listened as residents debated the merits of an $80 million project that would transform the four-acre site.
"The geology, slope and soils of this site as in much of Pittsburgh are unstable," Caren Glotfelty said.
While opponents argued that the massive construction will result in erosion, runoffs and possible landslides, those in favor said the tradeoffs will be worth it.
"We're not going to sit there and part the Red Sea and everything's going to be nice. No - there's going to be a little bit of sacrifice, there's going to be a little bit of problems," Henry Liller said. "But did you hear the developer say 160 construction jobs? I bet you more than 200 permanent jobs."
The debate is just getting started. The developer is asking for a zoning change to make the project possible.
Then comes the hard part – getting the money and financing to actually build it.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Latest 5-Day Forecast
Click to enlarge
New Winter Storm Moves Into Pittsburgh Area 42 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments