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Vista Grande Condos Groundbreaking Tomorrow
by Mountain Girl ~ July 14th, 2008. Filed under: Business, Development.Below is information we received from Coldwell Banker regarding the Vista Grande condominiums at 501 Grandview.
I’m writing to give you advance notice that the News Homes/Condominiums Division of Coldwell Banker Real Estate will host a groundbreaking ceremony and press conference on Tuesday, July 15th at 10am to kickoff construction of Pittsburgh’s newest luxury condominium building, Vista Grande located on Mt. Washington.
Vista Grande is the first new construction high rise residence on Mt. Washington since the Trimont was built 20 years ago.
The press conference will be held at the Vista Grande construction site, 501 Grandview Ave, and include remarks from the developer as well as Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
but where will they put the parking ????
July 14th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Livin’ on Da Mount: You know someone will bring that up, and they won’t be kidding!!!!!!!
July 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
It seems that opposing views have already been expressed. According to an article in the Business Times, this development has been in the works for six years.
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/07/14/daily6.html?surround=lfn
MG
July 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
article says they were fighting off lawsuits…
who sued them?
July 14th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
You may be able to find some specific in these articles.
http://15211.org/development-in-mt-washingtona-retrospective/
July 15th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Okay since no one else on this blog will answer questions with specific facts, I will! To answer the question as to who sued, well here it goes. Paul and Joyce Renne have sued the developers of the three vacant lots on Grandview Avenue. You can thank the Renne’s for all of the holes, you can thank the Renne’s for development not happening, you can thank the Renne’s for developers not wanting to do a large scale development, and you can thank the Renne’s for the negative image of the MWCDC. They want to control everything – including all of you – the way you live and how you choose to develop your neighborhood.
For all of you mushrooms who think you know everything, unlike your claims and defense my information is based on fact.
Paul and Joyce Renne secured legal counsel and sued Craig Cozza and Alex Enterprises to stop everything that man tried to do – they gave Royce Karpy a hard time for redeveloping his house which he turned into condos – the list is endless. They sued 501 Grandview Associates and the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment and when Judge James ruled against them and threw out the case – Paul and Joyce Renne in their arrogance and audacity took their case to the Commonwealth Court of PA – yes – the Renne’s are that arrogant! 501 Associates had to fight the insidious Renne’s on a development decision that was made by the city zoning board of adjustment. Yes, the insidious Renne’s cost every single resident in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the State of Pennsylvania – it was at your expense that the development was stalled. Yes, it did take six years for this to come to fruition – but Paul and Joyce Renne didn’t like the decision form the city ZBA and cried to the county court and when they didn’t like that decision they cried to the state, all at your expense, only for a December 2005 ruling to be handed down against them!
For all of you who think you know everything and who will have the nerve to try to refute this information go to the Allegheny County Prothonotary Website, get a log in, go to the civil docket access and look up the Gestapo’s of anti-development Paul and Joyce Renne.
Look up: Civil Docket number SA-04-00037 case against 501 Grandview, SA-04-00013, SA-04-00014, SA-04-00014. The Renne’s wasted your tax money with frivolous lawsuits.
In addition to thanking the Renne’s for holding Mount Washington captive, when you see Gloria and Robert Ostermeyer thank them also – the Ostermeyer’s were all too eager to be part of the lawsuit as was Mertyl and Dick Fabrizzi, and Kate Sobocinski, and Darius and Molly Maaghul …the list goes on! I encourage all of you to read the civil docket and then you will know how treacherous the Renne’s and their friends really are!
By the way, did you ever wonder why the Renne’s have a wrought iron fence with a locked gate in front of their house? That’s because they believe you are all low lifes who will destroy their mansion!
Don’t be fooled you are all a part of their game just like the suckers named as appellates in their frivolous lawsuits!
My information will always be rooted in fact, I don’t use articles with biased views I go straight for the facts….more to come!
July 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Why is it that you can’t stand in front of my face and let everyone know who you really are. I have never seen you lending a hand for any of the projects that the MWCDC has worked on for the last five years. For your information or lack of the Renne’s have not been with the MWCDC for the last 4 months. It is real easy to sit behind a fake name and say things that you can’t say to people face to face.
I don’t have time for silly mindless people like you
July 15th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hey Gloria — I hope you enjoyed the groundbreaking for 501 Grandview!
July 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I agree with Inquisitor. I’m glad someone finally stepped up and spoke the truth. It seems to me that the Renee’s think they own all of Grandview Ave. They want their house to be a crown jewl on top of the city and they don’t want any other development on “their” street .
Enough is enough. A vocal minority should not continue to hold the neighborhood hostage any longer.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Dear That Dude,
Thank you — I’m on the outside looking in and the residents of MW are so afriad to do anything for fear the sickening Renne’s will sue them. No gossip or rumor when I am talking — just the facts which I can PRODUCE! No one else can — and no one else will. So enjoy there is more to come! By the way, I guess I hit Gloria’s nerve, hum, truth hurts!
July 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
We don’t want to edit comments. As enticing as it may seem when you can be anonymous, please don’t launch any personal attacks or we will be forced to monitor them.
Thanks,
MG
July 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I have no idea who the inquisitor is. Other than the fact that the man/woman speaks the truth. How is discussing all the lawsuits filed by the Renee’s and their friends a personal attack? These are facts - not personal attacks. They want to control all the development on grandview ave and are willing to file silly lawsuits to prevent anything that they don’t approve of. How is that fair to the rest of the residents of 15211? We are tired of looking at empty lots in our neighborhood!
July 15th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Inquisitor seems to have the stuff to back up his/her claims. Good work and thanks for that invaluable info. I agree there are some that will sue as a scare tactic, hopefully that trend will end soon and we can move forward instead of stuck in the mud like we have been for the past 20 years.
It’s obvious that the policy of NO DEVELOPMENT has done nothing but hurt our neighborhood. It’s time for a change I can believe in and an end to the Bush….er I mean Renne/Valenta Era.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
MG,
No need to worry — as I do not feel that there were no personal attacks. The strong language is a mere description of behavior. Before you “edit” comments make sure you do research so that you know the source of the material has a legitimate root — hence the Civil Docket in the Prothonotary’s Office.
Is this a blog for open dialogue or not?
July 15th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Inquisitor:
If it wasn’t a blog for open dialogue, we would be monitoring comments before they post (lots of blogs do) and we don’t.
I think you’ve got some strong opinions and I appreciate that you’re rooting them in what you say is factual. However, we encourage people to check out the resources you cite from the Prothonotary’s office to verify this information.
MG
July 15th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
BTW, I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but never a mushroom.
MG
July 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
open dialogue is a lot different from personal attacks. i love me some personal attacks don’t get me wrong but i don’t see any problem with the owners of this site taking down rude and offensive comments put out the some of the a-holes that write their opinions on here. I know i’ve been edited.. and probably deserved it, and didn’t take it personally. they own the site they can do what they want with it… just like i own my site. http://www.jackass.com and no one can touch it but me.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
MG,
MG, not you — I do not associate you with the comments that I make because you are the keeper of the blog! The mushrooms whom I am referring to are those who would defend the lawsuits or who were the appellates.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
From this point forward, “mushroom” is 15211.org’s new nickname for people with whom we may not agree.
Love it! It’s more polite than the good ole standards, but still impactful.
MG
July 16th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Inquisitor,
I love it. The truth is an absolute defense and these are not personal attacks but factual information about a small group of people who want to control what happens on everyone’s property. I feel the change and this blog is helping get out the non-mushrooms who would like to see some reasonable development on the Mt.
By the way I have told Gloria and the Renne’s and Frank Valenta what I think of them to their face and it is not going to change them so I say if it is factual then let it stand. Discussion of and about those who do not want any change/development is part of the process.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Seems like the people most opposed to the new developments are people with high priced real estate who do not want other high priced real estate to rival theirs… seems like it would be a blow to their inflated egos if there was other high priced real estate along grandview…. meanwhile for the rest of us it would do nothing but make the value of our homes go way up… i dont know any of the people mentioned as being involved in the lawsuit, but it appears to me to be another example of old rich people with nothing better to do with their time/money than, as the Inquisitor stated, attempt to control everything and also get their names/faces in the paper and on the news as much as possible
July 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Just wanted to give my opinion on this issue. I’ve felt for a long time that we let things that happened in the past, hinder our future. Some of you might feel that this topic is of importance, but in my mind, bringing it back up serves no purpose other than to divide us more. For the first time in years we have a unified voice on economic development that we so despertly need in our community, we should focus on issues that will help us grow from this day on, and not worry about subjects and mistakes from the past. As for Bob & Gloria Ostermeyer, I know of no one that has worked more tirelessly for our community, and to help change the mindset to forward thinking growth than them.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Whew.
Is it okay, since some here want to pile on in the day of a groundbreaking, to thank Paul R and some others for making sure that the swim pool at Ream is still open?
Have a nice day.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Chuck-
We are not talking about the past here. We are talking about the present. Due to the actions of a select few (the Renee’s and their friends), the property values on and around Grandview Ave have not increased as quickly as they should have. Residents and visitors have to look at dirt fields - dirt fields where there should be development. This is a present day problem, not something that has occured in the past. It is unacceptable. It needs to be discussed and it needs to be changed. Sorry Chuck, but you cann’t ignore the past here. Everyone should be aware of how we got to where we are, and what caused it.
Not just a select few MW “insiders’.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
So you’re telling us that we should dwell on the past, and hold grudges.
Sounds pretty counterproductive to me. I think everyone that gets involved on a steady basis knows about the past , and are committed to not allow the same mistakes to happen again. If the same scenerio were to happen again, I believe the people that lived in the community at the time would speak up and not allow a few to make decisions for all of us. I understand you have to remember the past or your bound to repeat it, but that doesn’t mean you have to relive it everyday.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Refreshing the memory to make you aware of your neighborhood, so that all of the new facts will make sense. More to come, of course, with visual aids to look at!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
PO on Augusta: Many old timers that live up here are against development because their taxes will go up, period.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Amanda: those are a sad sad few, and becuase of those few we have problems like we have had for the past several years relative to development. if they are so worried about money and their taxes increasing then maybe they should sell the houses they paid $15,000 or lower for and make an unreal profit (everyone is aware at how overpriced some houses that sell in this area are) and buy themselves a nice condo in the suburbs where the taxes are lower
July 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I’m sick of the taxes defense. Let’s face it. It’s going to happen.
I bet if you gave someone in Pittsburgh the choice to die or pay more property tax, they would choose death.
It’s so 1974.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Wow! Sounds like Inquisitor has their panties twisted about this one?
I really hate to interrupt the in-fighting going on here, but I just have to clear you up on some of your facts:
First of all, according to your “factual” information, your case numbers you refer to from the Prothonotary website are incorrect. The prothonotary case numbers are SA-04-000814 and SA-04-000813 for your friend Mr. Cozza.
To clarify, the case for 501 Grandview Associates the case number is SA-04-000815. So you might want to check the “FACTS” you are oh-so-sure about, for starters.
If you are so adamant about researching and on the march for their cause, why don’t you research a little deeper into the practices of these developers around the area, since you are so handy on the prothonotary web site, also, you might want to peruse the local papers.
Since you lack numerical keyboard dexterity with your case numbers, maybe you could research prothonotary website using their names, Alex Enterprises, Alex Development or by owner, Craig Cozza, or look for some of the other ficticious names could possibly use and then there is the 501 Grandview Associates, owned by Daniele DiPardo. FYI, the proth site is case sensitive when typing first and last names. I don’t think you are too proficient when typing numbers or it seems you have more than one “vision” problem. See what you find there.
Alex Development/Alex Enterprises/Craig Cozza own many other properties around the region that represent “holes”. Don’t look only in your front yard for facts about the developers. Maybe there is more to their story than you can know from reading about a few lawsuits you quote here or put them on a wild goose chase with inaccurate case numbers.
The lawsuit involving 501 Grandview aka Daniele DiPardo had been resolved and without additional lawsuits for some time now. So why has it taken this long to break ground at that hole?
As far your comment about anyone enjoying the 501 Grandview ground breaking, one only has to watch the KDKA news broadcast of the groundbreaking ceremony, now available on the KDKA web site, when the 501 owner, DiPardo, who has a press conference with dignitaries such as the Mayor of Pittsburgh, where Dipardo proudly boasts of the rooftop observation deck complete with GRILLS/KITCHEN and a TOILET! A TOILET! Doesn’t boast about the most incredibly priceless view you will experience for your $500,000+ or the amenities available in the neighborhood/region. That will surely attract the potential buyers, a TOILET up on the roof!
Oh, wait, I stand corrected, the 501 Grandview prop is sort of in another lawsuit. Check the prothonotary web site under DiPardo, or if you are stuck on utilizing your numerical data entry system the case number is GD-08-007992. Apparently, the 501 developer stiffed the original architect of the 501 Grandview project for services rendered during the wearisome lawsuits you are describing. Classy.
Forget the lawsuits. I think we are all over it, what’s done is done. Inquisitor, maybe the others you rant about on this page can see the bigger picture when it comes to these developers. I am not saying they are bad people, but you have got to realize that the developers are in it for the money!!! They are looking out for their bottom line, not yours. That’s what they do. They come in, scrounge up properties, hold onto them until the time is right for THEM, their bottom line! Not just here, everywhere! They shake things up with their grandiose ideas, turn up the heat, stir the pot, throw it against the wall and see what sticks. If they succeed and it fits their bottom line, they build. If not, you have a hole and excuse after excuse why they aren’t commencing construction. Look no further than the Majestic Star project with Don Barden or the promise of slots at the Palace Inn. Cozza goes in, buys it, wants the slots, stirs the pot, shakes it up, then poof, doesn’t work out for his bottom, dumps it.
Whether visitors here are in favor of the new development or not, I’m sure that all are glad that some progress is being made, do you have to beat it to a pulp? Just let them build it already!
I guess if you feel that I am defending the lawsuits, and then I too am a mushroom, but can I be a portobella? I enjoyed that restaurant! Inquisitor, I am just looking at the reality of it and I had to check you on your erroneous factual information. Don’t be in denial, take off those rose colored glasses you seem to wear and see the forest through the trees, dear Inquisitor.
You and others here reference individuals on this page to the wealthy and elite. Nor are the locals are not freeloaders or bottom feeders, they aren’t the only ones who don’t want to pay more taxes. They have family roots here. I guess some of you forget where you came from!
Wealth doesn’t necessarily equate to size or location of your house or depth or spectrum of your financial status or profession. A reality check for you and to defend the residents of the region, there are probably more commoners around than you realize, real meat and potatoes people all around here, they are the ones who possess sincerity and integrity and will lend a hand to their neighbor. Guess what, some of them might even have big bucks! No one likes their taxes raised, no one! Your idea of the financially wealthy, who might be those that dine on caviar and champagne, will be lending a hand to themselves only to count their own money when they leave here with dust in the wind. Remember the developers don’t live here. If it’s so wonderful, why don’t they? Open your eyes. Look beyond the fluff. Be glad at least now, one of your holes will be filled and get over it. One down, two to go. Put the past behind you but keep one eye on ‘em.
Inquisitor, when you bellie up to the bar, throw back a few glasses of Iron City, ooops, I mean, champagne this weekend, remember where YOU came from.
A piece of parting advice: be wary of wolves in sheep’s clothing!
I take full responsibility for any typos.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Commoner? Are you serious? I can tell you miss/sir, that isn’t the way to win over Mt. Washington residents by degrading them as your minions and simple Commoners.
com·mon·er - [kom-uh-ner]
–noun
1. Any person ranking below a peer; a person without a title of nobility.
It’s obvious this person is one of the “I’m smarter than all you so you should just shut up and listen to me” elites livin’ phat on Grandview.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Ah, just like a dutiful Mount Washington mushroom, as in line with all the rest of your fungi friends you missed the point! I see you could only point out the fact that I was off by a few numbers, but you still can’t dispute the fact that it was the lawsuits that stymied the developments!
I am not interested in the developers and their developments in other parts of the region, I am interested in the non-development in Mount Washington, why, because of all of the infighting and the fear mongering that the Renne’s, Ostermeyers, and all of the other misinformed folks with too much time on their hands, demanded and strong armed people into believing that development is a bad thing. Oh my, they won’t have a place to park, their view will be blocked. They’re hypocrites, it has nothing to do with the good of the area it has all to do with holding the neighborhood captive. They get a rush pushing people around, grandstanding, and calling people out, you would think that as old as they all are that they would be mature? Again, like the rest of your mushroom friends you like to evade the issue by pointing out non issues like a few numbers.
You sound so angry, hum, I hit a nerve, but I do not find your novelette enlightening, had you pointed out some docket cases that I missed I would have applauded you, but I can point out to the readers of this blog that you are wrong and you are trying to ignore the real problem. Perhaps you found the docket numbers because you actually did some research, possibly? I doubt it though, you are so adamant about the numbers, you probably just looked on the big stack of papers on your kitchen counter to get the numbers because you are an appellate! But, I do commend you on giving the correct docket numbers, it’s too bad that you can’t be straight with the information and stay on topic, so I will do that for you. Oh, and I will do a condensed version.
Here are the frivolous Renne lawsuit docket numbers: SA-04-000037, SA-04-000813, SA-04-000814, SA-04-000815
SA-04-000821. See it didn’t matter to me that I may have had the docket numbers and the defendants mixed, but only someone that was familiar with the cases, say an appellate, would know which defendant matched which docket number. Oh, yeah, cover that one up. Can you be straight? The cases were consolidated into one case, see the Renne’s thought that if they lumped 341 and 501 together that one decision would stop both developments. But, it backfired, as it should have. Judge James ruled against them!
See people, the mushrooms don’t want you to know that these frivolous lawsuits cost everyone from the City of Pittsburgh, to Allegheny County, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Your money was wasted, not because they were concerned about the neighborhood it was out of concern for them and to show that they were important, or so they think!
What the mushrooms won’t tell you is that the Zoning Board thought that everyone that opposed the development were schizoids. If you read the case you will see that the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s opinion was that “they found the appellate witnesses’ not credible and found Grandview Associates and Alex Enterprises more credible.” Hum, blew a hole right through you Portabella.
They even tried to throw in a wrench by helping Sophie Petrone to sue, only for good old Sophie to finally sell her property to Alex Development. But, that was after Judge James ruled against them and Sophie. See, there was 04-000037, SA-04-000813, SA-04-000814, SA-04-000815, yes four frivolous lawsuits that Judge James had enough of the Gestapo’s and consolidated them into SA-04-000821, so that was 341[Alex/Cozza] 501 Associates and Sophie Petrone condensed to try and save the taxpayers. But the arrogance of all of these people carried it to the high court of Pennsylvania only to have a judgment against them!
So Portabella and all your other fungi friends the fact of the matter is development is finally moving forward despite the frivolous lawsuits that cost the taxpayers thousands of tax dollars.
Oh and by the way your tongue in cheek comment about the roof top toilet being classy, well all the readers can figure out that you are from it, never was, never will be when you use terminology like “Inquisitor has their panties twisted about this one? You are just a crude, uneducated, mushroom!
More to come.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Nice post, you got some good points there - thank you.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Good on Inquisitor. Thanks. And by the way, I think a bathroom on the roof is a great idea. Sounds like a Party Style Roof Top to me. Mushrooms don’t understand that I guess. They just pee in the pool. I hope the people that move into 501 GView never invite these Schrooms to their killer observation deck. I know I won’t.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
portobella- I really don’t see your point. Other than pointing out that some numbers were off, What are you trying to say?
That developers are in it for the money. Big deal. Should they develop to take a loss? If you are filing lawsuits because of a fear of higher taxes, doesn’t that make you in it for the money too?
New development would 1. improve our neighborhood 2. increase the equity for 15211 property owners 3. increase the tax base for our financially distressed city which would pay for more services that we always complain about.: public works, police, fire, ems. etc.
The Renee’s and the mushrooms have it all backwards. They clearly don’t have the best interests of 15211 or the city of Pittsburgh in mind.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Inquisitor: Word has it that a new group is starting to meet to stop any kind of development where The Edge used to be. These people want to add it to their Grandview Scenic Byway Park.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Well — it appears that last evenings answer to your question has been removed. Hum, I’ve been censored? Well — I give you a vanilla answer since I can see that is what is allowed.
Green is Good [GIG] headed by Lynn Squilla and Jackie White more than likely will be crying about the Edge. Look for them and all of their followers having meeting after wrist cutting meeting. Ah — the anti-development group is still alive!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:20 am
Inquisitor:
As we’ve said several times, this website is dedicated to the honest exchange of ideas. We understand things will get heated; however, some of the comments you made did not have anything to do with the issues at hand. Wishing ill of other people or their property is not something we will condone. As you will note, your previous comments appeared as-is because it seemed as though (again, it is not our responsibility to confirm or deny) you were providing us with credible information about past development deals.
We appreciate all of the contributions made to this site and are delighted at the level of participation. Keep it up!
MG
July 21st, 2008 at 11:21 am
I also would like to remind everyone that pro-green space is not necessarily anti-development. Those topics are nuanced and I think they can co-exist.
MG
July 21st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I agree, but it depends who is involved. Some of “them” won’t budge an inch. Some try to make decisions without the imput of others. How much “green space” is too much. This is the city after all.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
This is so unfair to Mr. and Mrs ostermeyer. They do so much for this community with their own time,,helping anyone that needs help and asks for nothing in return,not even a free cup of coffee. This is’nt right at all to keep criticizing these people instead of giving praise for all the work they have done for this community that we live in. Your arguements and the different expressions that you have is good to see and hear. After all, this is a country that hads freedom of speech and we do use that freedom on this website ,but I have yet to hear anything good about Our Golden Girls who at every function here in Mt. Washington have given so much and receive nothing in return. Is this fair? Look into your hearts and you will find the answer.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Amanda said: Word has it that a new group is starting to meet to stop any kind of development where The Edge used to be. These people want to add it to their Grandview Scenic Byway Park.
Well, if they want to add the property to their Scenic Byway park they should be required to tear down that ugly eyesore. You can’t just “add” it to the scenic byway without paying to tear it down and then remove it.
Otherwise, the property should go to the highest bidder.