Site Inventory & Analysis

Historic Context

Site Context

Topography & Hydrology

Soils & Vegetation

Zoning

Land Use & Building Ownership

Traffic Flows & Bike Routes

Views & Building Character

Good Views

Blighted Areas

Historic Context

The 1796 map(top left) map of Pittsburgh showcases how the city was founded in 1758, it acted as a rural farming community. However, being located on so many water ways, it would soon attract multiple residents as a hot spot to live and work. The 1862 map (top right) showcases new infrastructure taking place throughout the city. With the want to be near water, factories begin to show up and ship out their products along the river leading to the placement of several bridges during this time period. This 1910 map (bottom left) map of Pittsburgh showcases the increase in residential and smaller infrastructure buildings to form the city. With this, a street grid becomes prevalent and there is a large increase in building density. In the modern day map (bottom right) shows a mixed use of residential and industrial with an emphasis on returning to the city’s residential uses and allowing neighborhoods a chance to return flourish in this area.

Site Context

Pittsburgh, PA has an total population of 300,281, 51% of which are female while 49% are male. The average age in Pittsburgh is about 33 years old, nearly 8 years under the state average. Pittsburgh, PA has 62.4% employment rate, which is up 6% since 2014, with an average income of $53,799 median household income. The main industry in Pittsburgh is educational and health care services. Nearly 18% of the commuting Pittsburgh population commutes by daily. With a $1,014 average rental rate in Pittsburgh, there is also a 19.1% poverty rate. Out of the 90.1% of the occupied housing units,47.2% of the homes in Pittsburgh are renter-occupied while 52.8% are owner-occupied and 9.6% are vacant.

Topography & Hydrology

With quite a bit of our site being located in the 1% annual chance of flood hazard, it limits some types on design near the waters edge. However, it presents great opportunity for features such as rain gardens to collect and reuse this water throughout the site. There is a storm water treatment area on the South West quadrant of out site along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, that I would really like to see a more visually attractive method be put into place.

Soils & Vegetation

As seen in the map, there is a heavy population of trees along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. They consist of a mix of local species, one project being done by the Redbud project, the planting of more of these pushing back into the site could be a great way to link the neighborhoods with the riverfront.

Zoning

The majority of our site is zoned as either Riverfront property or Single-Units Attached Residential. Creating a connection between these two uses with some new mixed use development would help create a sense of unity and community throughout the site fostering a sense of connectivity.

Land Use & Building Ownership

The majority of the buildings on our site function as residential buildings, with a few small offices around the site. However, the site as is is composed primarily of large, vacant parking lots. This leaves plenty of room for new development and the addition of mixed use development to unite the various uses throughout the site. This site also features the redevelopment of the Heinz lofts which gives way to complimentary building styles to introduce a modernistic feel to the area.

Traffic Flows & Bike Routes

As is, the site has many types of transportation going throughout. From the census data, it was gathered that most people drive alone through Pittsburgh. I think with new connectivity routes introduced in this site, it can promote a higher percentage of walkers. Also with redevelopment leading to less parking it can allow more carpooling.