This should be Pitt's next purchase.

[CrazyPaco]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

 

[Palm Beach Panther]

Absolutely! Thanks Paco.

 

[eastcoasthoops]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

Careful CP. Pretty soon one of the "New Pitt Stadium" nuts will be here talking about the one plan they conjured that wedged a football stadium in that parking lot behind the PAA. They will use your post as a sign that it's going to happen.

 

[ratking17]

I think the 3rd grade powerpoint that zzzzpantherfan posts every week includes tearing down that building and placing the stadium there.

As an aside I took my son into Oakland on Friday around 2pm to get some new pitt gear at the pete. Man, what a mess with traffic

 

[pittengineer75]

Pretty sure Pitt would gobble that property up in a hot minute. Land in the area and a historic building like that is prime for Pitt.

 

[VincePITT]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

Just saw this on the news!

 

[mdpitt]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

The Cathedral of Learning gets all the hype but Frick Fine Arts and this building are my favorites.

 

[CrazyPaco]

I honestly think Pitt should be aggressive on this. Go in an make an unsolicited offer. Of course, I thought they should have gone after Schenley High too.

However, I don't know how far along the PAA with their hotel development deal.

 

[CrazyPaco]

I think the 3rd grade powerpoint that zzzzpantherfan posts every week includes tearing down that building and placing the stadium there.

As an aside I took my son into Oakland on Friday around 2pm to get some new pitt gear at the pete. Man, what a mess with traffic

The Pitt Shop looked like it was a Morgantown Dollar General on Black Friday. I've never seen it so cleaned out.

 

[JoseLind13]

It seems the renovation of the University Club a few years ago, along with the event capacity added next door with Pitt obtaining Alumni Hall crushed their market share as an upscale event space and business meeting locale. My experiences at events there also indicated an extremely 'aging' membership demographic. The dining areas and meeting rooms are nice, but dated. The gymnasium, elevators, bowling lanes, etc are pieced together with ancient technology, and it when it's no longer the desirable upscale conference hosting and private business dining venue, it can't survive on just their overpriced dues and "exclusive" membership policies.

 

[paulbl99]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

Question.

What use is this best suited for as a university property ?
Thx

 

[CrazyPaco]

Question.

What use is this best suited for as a university property ?
Thx

Good question. They'd have to study that. Some deal as when they acquired YMHA, Masonic Temple, University Club, Concordia Club, and recently the Syria Mosque lot. They snap these up first, and ask questions later. Such is life with a limited urban footprint.

You know, at one time they were planning on converting the Masonic Temple into a new main library facility. That wouldn't happen in this building either though, but it would be cool.

I can tell you this, though, Pitt has no shortage of need for space. Personally, for something so architecturally prominent, I would hope that it would be used for something equally academically prominent. Comp Sci is merging with the IS school. Could be a new home for them. IS is already facing a severe space crunch. Could be converted into a student rec center/housing.

 

[ratking17]

Good question. They'd have to study that. Some deal as when they acquired YMHA, Masonic Temple, University Club, Concordia Club, and recently the Syria Mosque lot.

I can tell you this, though, Pitt has no shortage of need for space. Personally, for something so architecturally prominent, I would hope that it would be used for something equally academically prominent.

Make a mini coliseum inside and have the philosophy dept teach all classes in there wearing togas

 

[CrazyPaco]

Make a mini coliseum inside and have the philosophy dept teach all classes in there wearing togas

I've seriously thought they should always place an outdoor amphitheater on the upper hill area where it is not being used for anything else. Could be a nice outdoor setting for Pitt's theatre department or other departments that are so inclined to use it.

 

[ratking17]

Could do theater productions, small concerts, show movies for students on a big screen. Lots of possibilities with your idea paco

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Careful CP. Pretty soon one of the "New Pitt Stadium" nuts will be here talking about the one plan they conjured that wedged a football stadium in that parking lot behind the PAA. They will use your post as a sign that it's going to happen.

Pitt absolutely has to buy every piece of land that comes available on its campus. They should have bought Schenley HS and would be foolish to not put a huge offer on the PAA.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Could do theater productions, small concerts, show movies for students on a big screen. Lots of possibilities with your idea paco

It's a good idea until November or so. But that part of campus is woefully underutilized...and it is a really nice corner of campus up there. Completely different feel than anywhere else. Next time any of you are on campus, take a stroll up past Chevron Science Center and Eberly Hall.

 

[H2P-2007]

Frankly, the administration is making a huge mistake if they don't buy it, even if they "overpay." This piece of property, right in the middle of the campus footprint is a must have.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Frankly, the administration is making a huge mistake if they don't buy it, even if they "overpay." This piece of property, right in the middle of the campus footprint is a must have.

Well, to be fair, it has to be for sale, or willing to be sold, first. But I'd say the same goes for the Pittsburgh Public School building as well. Those are both must gets if they are ever available, and so is the Pittsburgh Science & Tech Academy (Frick) school and 20th Century Club.

 

[ben43]

I've never been in the PAA, so I don't know anything about the interior and what Pitt space needs the building could support. The exterior is elegant. What a landmark building for Law or International Affairs. Repurpose that terrible looking Law building.

The roof has a large shed-like structure. Wouldn't it be great for Pitt to acquire this building and replace that shed with a restaurant with large windows looking on the Cathedral of Learning.

 

[CrazyPaco]

I've never been in the PAA, so I don't know anything about the interior and what Pitt space needs the building could support. The exterior is elegant. What a landmark building for Law or International Affairs. Repurpose that terrible looking Law building.

The roof has a large shed-like structure. Wouldn't it be great for Pitt to acquire this building and replace that shed with a restaurant with large windows looking on the Cathedral of Learning.

You should check out the restaurant at the University Club.

 

[Pitt4Life34]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

Great call. Now let's push for that on campus stadium right on that spot. Let's go!!!

 

[ben43]

Awesome view. Is it open to non-members?

Getting back to the PAA topic: location, location, location. The PAA is really up close to the Cathedral and right next to Alumni Hall, where I believe campus tours originate. I could see prospective students and their parents closing the deal there as they gaze up at the Cathedral.

I would love to see some images of the Cathedral from the roof of the PAA.

 

[perchance]

I think that they should start paying off the pertinent politicos and acquire Schenley Park in its entirety by Eminent Domain for use as a stadium and tailgate lots, along with multiple intramural fields. They should also acquire the Carnegie Museum,, Library and Scaife Gallery for conversation to student dorms. The Mellon Institute should be a future target for demolition to be replaced by a student parking garage.

 

[HailtoPitt]

Question.

What use is this best suited for as a university property ?
Thx

Stadium entrance.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Awesome view. Is it open to non-members?

Getting back to the PAA topic: location, location, location. The PAA is really up close to the Cathedral and right next to Alumni Hall, where I believe campus tours originate. I could see prospective students and their parents closing the deal there as they gaze up at the Cathedral.

I would love to see some images of the Cathedral from the roof of the PAA.

I've been up there to check it out once, when it first opened, and it was unbelievably over priced. And its hours sucked. I remember thinking it was doomed to failure.

At some point after that I remember there was talk of opening it to the public, which they should do, because it would absolutely make a killing, at least on Friday nights prior to football games or Saturday nights after games with the victory lights on. Alumni would eat that up. Heck, it would be an awesome place for student to take upscale dates. Just looking at the website, I can't find any information about that though, so I don't know. You'd have to call. You can join if you are a life Alumni member. If I lived in Pittsburgh...well around Oakland, I probably join the University Club just to drink on that roof top terrace.

 

[Saboteur]

Pittsburgh Athletic Association is big time struggling.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/di...kitchen-ordered-to-close/stories/201609120140

Could buy this and PAA could build in the suburbs like the Masonic Temple did, or offer them membership in the University Club. The PAA is trying to build a hotel on their rear parking lot to generate revenue to keep the doors open, but their membership is anemic.

I dunno, but this historic landmark should be a #1 target. And #2 should be the Pittsburgh Public School's headquarters, which they've talked about selling.

There is no reason the PPS should be running that building. It deteriorates daily.