Loading ...Space-age? Not quite, Patrice.
by Mountain Girl ~ November 11th, 2009. Filed under: Revitalization, Zoning.KDKA-TV’s coverage of the City Planning Commission’s decision to approve the zoning change at One Grandview was decidedly made more provocative for the 6pm news yesterday evening. Patrice King Brown called Desmone & Associates design “space-age” and Andy Sheehan described the building as “a towering development of glass and glitter.” You can see a repeat of the broadcast here.
While anyone would acknowledge that the project at One Grandview is ambitious, this kind of hyperbole isn’t helpful. The developer and architect have a long road ahead, but their plans to construct a LEED-certified sustainable structure can become a reality with the right due diligence and investment.
There were concerns brought up at the hearing about the size and scope of the project and one Mt. Washington resident expressed his concern about the “eyesore” as it stands being preferable to the “nightmare” he thinks it could become. Isn’t that what is really being hinted at here? Because our neighborhood has been burned by speculators trying to sell us big visions in the past, our knee-jerk reaction to every development proposed is skepticism. I would venture to say that we should at least give Mr. Beemsterboer and Mr. Desmone what they need to succeed. Then, if it turns out that their vision for this property is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, I’ll be the first in line to criticize.
For now, I’ll choose to view this project as Chris Beichner of the Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation described it…not only as an individual project that’s a symbol for revitalization in our city but a project that can renew some of the vitality in our neighborhood.
(Check out the Post-Gazette and Tribune Review coverage of the zoning hearing.)
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November 11th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Why was KDKA so far off with their story? They did not even stay to hear that the zoning commission approved the project. I heard someone from the “other side” is friends with Andy Sheehan. mmm..
November 11th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
DO YOU KNOW HOW IT CAN BE .. ANYWAYS WE CAME DOWN WITH ABOUT 70 PEOPLE FOR IT . AND ABOUT 15 TO 19 PEOPLE APPROVED OF THE PROJECT AND WE HAD OVER 1,500 PEOPLE LISTED FOR IT . SO EYE THINK WE ”’ WON” THE HEARING ,,