Farewell Orange Cones & Caution Tape!

It's official. The Market Square project is officially completed. Which is why local movers and shakers such as his honor the Mayor Luke Ravenstahl gathered under the Square clock today to celebrate an 18-month collaboration between civic and private organizations that transformed the Square into a dazzling, spacious European style piazza right in the heart of Downtown.

Of course, the remaking of the Square has been an ongoing work — parts of the Square have been open for public used during portions of construction and access to businesses was maintained at all times. Well, now all the bricks are in place. The trees are planted. And all the orange barrels and yellow tape are gone. That means that you are once again free to roam wherever you want in the Square.  Penn Dot is finishing up a separate project on Forbes Avenue so soon they too will be out of the way.  Then the only scaffolding and contractors you will see are the ones for renovating and new businesses.  We can't wait till the open for business. Check out our coming blog posts for more info on them!

Even though the skies were a bit on the gray side, there were plenty of bright smiles as Ronnie Brown of Blachere Illumination announced the upcoming Market Square Season of Lights, made possible by the Colcom Foundation.  It will be a dazzling holiday season display of high-tech LED lighting.  Installation activity will begin in the next few weeks, leading up to the big unveil on Light Up Night, November 19.

After remarks from the Mayor, PDP prez Mike Edwards and other dignitaries grabbed some really long scissors to cut the ceremonial yellow ribbon in the middle of the Square and to unveil a commemorative plaque that offers a well-deserved tip of the hat to all the parties involved in the Square's remarkable makeover.  To see the plaque in person, head to the center of the Square — it is embedded in the cement circle around the lighting feature that references the Square's role in the Underground Railroad.

Then it was time for a few treats for the crowd that gathered to mark the occasion. Whether it was the pepperoni pizza from Fat Tommy's, organic pickles from Bella Sera, turkey sub from Subway or the tasty tassie cups from Prantl's, everyone got to sample some of the amazing Square cuisine.

Now that the work is done, the fun's just begun. In the next few weeks, the Square will host another Steelers pep rally, the Season of Lights debut and, of course, it will be party central for the Pittsburgh's favorite holiday party and biggest bash of the year — the two-day, 50th anniversary of Light Up Night. If you weren't in the Square today, then we'll see you there soon.

Special Thanks: The Market Square renovation is a project of Mayor Ravenstahl and the City of Pittsburgh.  It is the culmination of several years of public process and has been made possible through the leadership, vision and financial contributions of the City of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Colcom Foundation and Hillman Foundation.

Jenny Lee's Extreme Square Makeover

We don't have to tell you how the march of time can take its toll on "looks." Of course, we're talking about buildings, right? Anyway, you've probably noticed by now the scaffolding going up around the old Jenny Lee building in Market Square. Sure, the most recent tenants in that spot were Mancini's and Prantl's. But you know how real Pittsburghers are when it comes to identifying landmarks that by things that aren't there anymore.

Whatever you call that spot, it's getting a welcome "facelift," taking advantage of our Paris to Pittsburgh program. The idea behind P2P is to improve the interaction between street level businesses and us folks on the street — just like you'd find anywhere you go in "Gay Paree." A vibrant street cafe is a perfect example, and Square regulars already know how great that can be.

So here's the inside scoop. With the project in the works, what you'll see over the next few months is a completely new facade going up on the building. According to Mike Krastas — he's with N & P Properties, the company behind the project — the new front facing the Square will sport an "Art Moderne" look.

Crews will be replacing the tinted glass roof with a metal roof. Windows at Las Velas, that muy bueno Mexican catina that sits above old Jenny Lee, will sport clear glass for better views of the action in the Square below. Even better, the windows on the Market Square side will open up to let the fresh air in and to better connect the restaurant to the sidewalks below.  Diners will be able to enjoy all the fun of al fresco dining with all of the comfort of the great indoors!

On the ground floor, the windows will actually open to remove that barriers what's going on outside with the fun inside. The best news is that Mike K. says that Las Velas will remain open for business — barring any of those "unforeseen circumstances" —during all the construction.  So go on in, grab a Dos XX on tap and get the inside scoop!

Well, that's it for now on Jenny Lee's makeover. Visit Market Square to see the progress for yourself!

Getting Streetwise On Market Square

Maybe it's just us. But we like to think of Downtown as a great big, beautiful jigsaw puzzle. At first glance, Downtown might seem to be a bunch of pieces that don't connect. But when you put all the parts in place and look at the whole wonderful picture, you're amazed at how it all seamlessly fits together.

For instance, just this week, the crew put on their hard hats back on kick off work on Market Street. Now one way to think about this is that Market Street is that piece of the puzzle that links Market Square to Fifth Avenue and the Fairmont Hotel, the Heinz Healy clothing store, the new 3PNC parklet, Heinz Hall, Six Penn Kitchen, Fifth Avenue Place and so many other nearby Downtown hotspots. Or maybe you want to picture the new Market Street as the grand entry way to the Square itself.

So if you're an armchair construction foreman type, here's what you'll notice happening on Market during the next four to six weeks. But before we do that, let's go below the surface, to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority's work replacing all the aging pipes under the old Market Street. Some of water lines were more than 100 years old. Let's fast forward to the present again to catch up on what Merante Construction  — that's the company that's responsible for making the Square itself look so great — will be doing on the surface.


Merante will install terrazzo sidewalks on both sides of Market Street. Our eagle-eyed readers know that terrazzo is a mixture of cement and a gazillion bits of granite chips. And they probably will point out that terrazzo is what covers most of the Square's surface as well as the sidewalks on Fifth Avenue near the beginning of Market Street.  Merante will also be installing granite curbs and putting up two new lamp posts to match those in the Square. See what we mean about all the piece fitting together?

Okay, just so you know this, too. The good news is that during the Market Street project, you'll be able to stop in at all your favorite merchants along the way. That means if you have an appetite for a pepperoni roll from Mancini's or a heavenly slice of Prantl's sour cream chocolate cake, you'll have no trouble satisfying your taste buds. If you're craving something a little bit spicier, use the entrance on Market Square to enjoy some of the best south of the border cuisine at Las Vela's Mexican eatery. Gentlemen, of course, can update their fall wardrobe with a new pair of shoes or leather briefcase at the classy Nettleton Shop. You can treat yourself with a new cut and manicure at Park Place Salon and Paris Nails.  And shutterbugs will want to pop into the Camera Repair Service store next to Mixstirs to focus on some vintage photo equipment or get your gear checked out or repaired. (Incidentally, they have great photos of Market Square through the decades inside!)

Now, that we've put a few pieces together for you, isn't time that you check out how it looks by taking a short stroll along Market Street during your next visit to Market Square?

A Team of Rivals

On the football field, we hope the Steelers certainly grab a tiger or two by the tail when they lineup against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2010 NFL season. But off the gridiron, we're here to tell you that the city and people of Cincinnati are a lot like all the place we love best — Pittsburgh.

Just last week we took a trip down the Ohio River — which starts here at the Point —  to visit the town once called "Porkopolis" because of all pigs farms and slaughterhouse nearby. That nickname stuck until Chicago took on the title of "Hog Butcher to the World." These days, the locals like to call their hometown the "Queen City," because that's how Longfellow referred to it in one of his classic poems about the city's natural beauty.

Anyway, enough of the History Channel lessons because we learned that Cincinnati is a thoroughly modern city that is sprucing up its downtown just like we're doing here in Pittsburgh. During our visit, we meet with some of the great folks who run the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation, which is their version of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Also known as the 3CDC, the organization is transforming Cincy's Fountain Square, a traditional meeting place that reminds us a lot of our very own Market Square.

Well, this Fountain Square — just like our Market Square — is surrounded by amazing shops and restaurants and gleaming new skyscrapers. And the fountain is so amazingly beautiful that we wanted to jump in to make a big splash. With the water babbling in the background, we sat there with our Cincinnati counterparts and some similar folks from Newark to swap notes on what we're all doing to make our downtowns more welcoming, vibrant and exciting.

What we discovered is that we're more alike than you might imagine. For instance the 3CDC realized that keeping public spaces clean is a team game, a challenge they tackled with their version of our Clean Team. Then they added some shade and color to their square with new trees and floral plantings. Sounds familiar, right? And while we were chatting, one of the 3CDC people mentioned that they have had weddings in Fountain Square. Of course, we had to brag that only a month after the Market Square renovation opened the space, we hosted our first wedding a few weeks ago...

Now we're plenty proud of Market Square and wouldn't trade it for anything. But we did suffer some "big screen" envy when we viewed the giant outdoor LCD monitor above Fountain Square. All we kept thinking was how cool it would be to have our own enormous TV in Market Square to watch the Steelers shred the Cincy Bungles on Monday Night Football on November 8. Well, you can join us for the game at any number of watering holes and eateries in the Square where Black and Gold fans will gather to watch the game.  You might try... Primanti Brothers, Moe's Southwest Grill, The Original Oyster House and Las Velas.

But the real "win" of our trip to the Queen City was making new friends and discovering how so many others are working to make their cities someplace special.

Photo of Fountain Square courtesy of David Robillard. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25865234@N06/

More Roads Lead To The Square

Now we realize that you've had to map out some creative routes over the past few months to get to the Farmer's Market, KidsPlay, Tuesday Reading Room, the Toyota Farm to Table Caravan and all the other great activities in Market Square. But very, very soon, we'll all be able to dash more quickly to the Square along more detour-free routes. That's because PWSA is finishing their pipe replacements and city road crews have been busy scraping away old layers of asphalt from lower Forbes Avenue, between Market Square and Stanwix, and McMaster's Way, that quaint little alley between the Original Oyster House and dreamy new lofts at MarketSquare Place.

Of course, we're not roads scholars (ha ha), which is why we always thought those guys in the orange vests and hard hats poured out the thick, oozy, steamy hot blacktop out in one big glob and then spread it around like icing on a cake until the new surface was all nice and even. But after observing the careful step-by-step work from the sidelines, we understand now that laying a new road is a complicated process that's best left to the pros.

First of all, you've got to "grind" away the old surfaces that have built up over the decades before you can even think of putting down the new road. After the grinding, what you end up with is a clean, bare surface. Then the crew starts the new road with a thick layer of asphalt.  A dump truck filled with asphalt (rocks mixed with tar) gets dumped into thier little green machine.  The green machine churns it to make sure it is well mixed, then dumps it underneath the vehicle.  As the vehicle moves forward, the back has a smoothing mechanism to make it nice and even.  Once it gets laid out, they compress with a big giant wheel that makes us giggle and think of Roger Rabbit or Wile E. Coyote when they get flattened by steam rollers in cartoons. So after that first layer, comes another, this time with smaller rocks for a smoother surface. Even on a short street like McMasters, the crews spread out six truck loads of blacktop for the first layer alone. But it's not all mechanized.  At special detail areas, like sewer grates and in the corners at the end of the streets, the guys push the asphalt into place with shovels, rakes and other tools.

Okay, did we mention the asphalt is so hot that you could fry an egg for a Primanti's sandwich on it? Because we don't want the yolk to be on us, we probably should say that we don't recommend that method of egg cooking. But at 300 searing degrees, you get the idea. Actually, it was sort of "cool" to notice how the temperature skyrocketed really fast from the time we turned off Fifth Avenue early Monday morning into McMasters, where the first layer had just been finished. You can also tell from afar when the rolling machine makes a pass the newly laid asphalt is smokin.' Literally!

So, now that more and more roads are leading to the Square, we expect to see you there more and more as the Grand Opening gets closer all the time. 

Check out this sweet video to see the crew in action...

The Beat Goes On

Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees. At least that's what we hear. But the next time you visit Market Square, we know you'll see all the amazing details as well as the great big picture, too. By now, you've probably noticed that another piece of the Square seems to be complete just about every day. In fact, there are fewer ribbons of yellow tape, orange barrels and cones and fencing in and around the Square since before the project started. Even better, there are more people in the Square just about anytime of the day you go there.

Still, there are few more things that need to be done before the project is 100 percent complete. For instance, this week you'll see even more hanging baskets, filled with red and white blooms. These swinging splashes of color really look great against the bright blue summer skies of the past few weeks. And don't forget, when the weather cools a bit in the next month or so, we'll be planting more trees on the northern side of the Square from the Oyster House to Nicholas Coffee.

Since we really want everything in the Square to be just right, workers have been busy putting the finishing touches on the bricks in the sidewalks, installing bike racks and even shining the bollards and lamp posts.

There will be a few non-related projects continuing around the Square. On one end, PennDOT crews continue to rebuild Forbes Avenue between Wood Street and the Square. At the opposite side of the Square, the NorthShore Connector project rumbles underground. And on the streets leading to the Square from Fifth Avenue, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority remains on the job installing new pipes on some of the sidestreets.

And just like the Market Square project, they'll be done before you know it!

A Work In Progress

We know it seems like certain construction projects around Pittsburgh are a neverending story.  Well, we're here to tell you that the work on Market Square is definitely a tale with an end in sight —and soon.

In the next couple weeks, the crews that have done such a great job so far will place the last brick in the big jigsaw puzzle of the sidewalks that encircle the Square.  And once that's done, just about all the merchants will start adding more alfresco dining as they place additional tables and chairs outside. Even better, you'll be able to stroll all the way around the Square without any detours.

Speaking of detours. PennDot crews will continue rebuilding Forbes Avenue between Wood Street and Market Square. One lane of the street is ready for the finishing touches and hass reopened to traffic. The work on the other side of Forbes will stay there for a while as workers replace the really old infrastructure that's been buried there for years. 

We like to think that all roads lead to Market Square. However, a few of them will be out of commission now and then as the city replaces the aging water lines to ensure that Square merchants enjoy an endless supply of clean, fresh water. In case you're wondering, that means Market, McMasters and Graeme streets will be off limits for autos at times. One thing we're glad about is that the city will repave all the streets at the same time. Just think, no more walkarounds — and no more hazards for all you ladies in heels.  Market Street will especially get some nice attention with new sidewalks, enhanced lighting, and a public art project by local artist Carin Mincemoyer.

Not all the work in the Square is about bricks and stones and concrete. Some of our favorite projects are on the green side. We know that visitors to the Square love the trees that are already there. And they're always asking if we're going to plant more. Well, the answer is yes...but not just  yet. Mostly, that's because the summer heat would pretty much cook any new plantings. So, come this fall, when the temperatures cool a bit, we'll be filling those empty tree pits between the MarketSquare Place and Dunkin' Donuts.

Yes, sometimes we feel like an eight-year-old going crazy with excitement over our next birthday. It just seems like the big day will never arrive. But come fall, all the work in Market Square will be finished — and it will be worth the wait.

Time For More Changes

Later this week,  you'll notice a familiar face back in Market Square. That's when the Square's handsome landmark clock makes a timely return as workers open more space to the public.  In case you're wondering, the clock will be standing in the exact spot as it did in the old Square, just around the place where Forbes and Market streets used to cross paths. Sometimes, it's really true that the more things change the more they stay the same.

It's also a good time to check out some colorful new changes in the Square. We want to thank the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for hanging all those beautiful baskets of red and white flowers from lamp posts in the Square.  In addition to their many community garden and greenspace projects, WPC preserves our natural landscapes and maintains and operates Frak Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.  Be sure to keep an eye open for more floral finery in Market Square from WPC in the days ahead.

Okay, maybe you noticed something else. Just about every day, more and more of the yellow caution tape disappears. That means more of the Square is open for everyone to roam around in. Now, our insiders on the construction crews are telling us that by the end of next week, nearly every square inch of the Square will be ready for public use. Let's keep our fingers crossed and our walking shoes ready for that.

Of course, all that open space means that people will want to find their favorite spots in the new Square. In case you're wondering, we'll be busy placing more table and chairs so that just about everyone can find a place that "sits" well with them when they visit the Square.

One thing that won't be changing this week is the Farmers Market and Free Noontime Concerts scheduled for this Thursday. Each week brings more great food, flowers and tunes to the Square.  And this Friday's KidsPlay program features Gold's Gym to help kids "Know Their Own Strength."

So let's synchronize our watches to be there in the Square this week to turn back time for the clock's comeback — and hours of fun for years to come.

What the Heck IS Terrazzo, Anyway?

"Terrazzo?" you ask. "Yes, terrazzo!" we say.

Well, what's terrazzo? Terrazzo is made up of small granite chips. (Remember the Belgian block? That is a bigger hunk of granite.) There are several steps to laying terrazzo:

1) The crews place a gravel sub-base (bottom layer) between the compacted dirt and the concrete base.
2) They place an epoxy-coated mesh inside the concrete to reinforce it and help prevent cracking.
3) They make forms (boxes) on top of the sub-base. This allows them to properly set the level of the concrete. They do this by shimmying long 2x4s across it -- like how you'd run a knife across the top of a measuring cup of sugar to get it level). This allows the construction crew to work in smaller sections and alternate boxes for a better terrazzo product, and the joints allow for expansion of the concrete to help prevent cracks.

For you true construction geeks out there, here's some more info on laying terrazzo: There are two different ways to lay terrazzo. Yes. Two.

First way is that you lay the concrete, let it dry and come back later for the terrazzo, putting a chemical bonding agent between the two materials (think of it as a really serious glue). The second way is to press the granite chips into the cement while it is still wet.

Market Square will have the second process (see them pushing chips into wet cement in photos above?), which should make it a stronger product, and more resistant to cracking. It will also be laid in 6' x 6' squares. These joints will allow for expansion (more crack prevention), and in the case of any damage, it will be easier to repair.

Once the granite is set in place, the construction crews cover it to let it cure. When laying concrete you don't want it to dry too fast, so they cover it with plastic to keep it moist while it begins the curing process. Sometimes they use burlap (as in the photo above) because they can keep rewetting it and manage the level of moisture and drying time.  Once the concrete is set they must spray it down to clean it and then put a sealant on to protect it.

Fun fact: It takes 28 days for concrete to cure completely. You know, like if you dry your clothes on the line... after a couple hours it will be drier than when you hung them, but it takes a good while for them to be completely dry through and through. Well, concrete takes a whole 28 days to reach full strength. If you ever wonder why the project near your house or on your commute looks ready but is still blocked off… it needs time to cure!

Stay informed about Market Square and Pittsburgh on our website, and by following PDP on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Journey - how far we've come...

August

Today

Go enjoy this gorgeous weather and check it out!

Phase II Begins Monday!

That's right!  On Monday they will open up one half of the roadway and shut the other. 

We've been talking it up all winter but now you can see how close the work is really getting.  A roadway and sidewalk is completely finished!  And the center will be open in just one month!

At 7 a.m. this Monday, May 3, the road between Moe’s Southwest Grill and GNC (in PPG Place) will reopen.

How to navigate:
    1. drive down Forbes Ave.
    2. turn left into Market Square by Moe’s Southwest Grill
    3. continue past Primanti Brothers and PPG 2
    4. turn left at GNC onto Forbes (towards Stanwix St.)


Pedestrians will have a great big sidewalk with trees and new street lights to enjoy.

As soon as that is open, the road you've been using all winter will be closed.  But don't worry - there will be plenty of space for pedestrians to get to their favorite businesses!

    1. The closure starts at Market Square Place (the former GC Murphy Building, now home to apartments and the YMCA), past the businesses on that side, over to Dunkin' Donuts.
    2. Vehicles will not be able to turn from Fifth Ave onto Graeme and Market Streets (after all, where would you go?)


Although there are a bunch of road closures, pedestrians can go everywhere!  (Well, not in the center but that's coming soon.) And the residents of Market Square Place will still be able to get into their garage below the building.


So heads up! 
Stop by the Square on Monday afternoon for a taste of Downtown Pittsburgh's tree-lined piazza!

PNC YMCA Opens!

The pool is open!

There is a bunch of great coverage of the opening with better pictures than I can take!  Here is some of the coverage:

      Video & Article at KDKA TV

      Article in the Trib

      Photo Tour with WPXI

But really, you should go check it out yourself! 

The entrance for the PNC Y is on Fifth Avenue.  They are still new so their awning is not yet installed but there is an A-frame sign out front to guide you.  It is the closest door to the CVS and it's directly across the street from 21st Street Coffee (another new one in the Market Square area... their original location is in the Strip; their Downtown shop used to be in the Frick building, but who can resist Market Square?).

Check out the YMCA's website for information on their classes, fees, and all the great stuff in their new location.  Or like I said, drop by and they'll be happy to show you around. 


P.S.  The PNC Y is a great place to watch construction progress since the cardio machines face the Square.  The construction crew installed a couple light poles today by PPG and you should look for terrazzo to be poured very, very soon!

Belgian Block

Ever wonder why we make such a big deal about the stones in the roadway? 

There is history in these blocks.  Chris Potter, editor of Pittsburgh City Paper, wrote a great article on Pittsburgh's early road materials in 2004. We started with wooden blocks, then cobblestone, then belgian block.  Cobblestones are just any old rocks and were often round or irregluar in shape.  Belgian block is made of granite cut into a regular rectangular shape.

Belgian Block became a popular road material in the late 1800s.  It was the most expensive option available but it was the most durable and offered the smoothest, quietest ride available at the time.  In many places thoughout the City, if the pothole is big enough, you can see clear down to the original paving - block stone! The new design for Market Square requires a lot of belgian block... more than we had.  Fortunately, there is belgian block all over the City.  That's how we got the rest of the belgian block needed for Market Square.  While they were working on the Rivers Casino project they uncovered a bunch of belgian block that could be reused in this City project.  So now that piece of Pittsburgh history gets to see the light of day again in Market Square.















Pittsburgh is very good at maintaining a deep connection to its history and at the same time being a center of innovation. It's not just the architecture that makes people speak of Pittsburgh as more of a European City, it's that cultural connection we have to past, present and future. And its one of the things transplants like me really love about this city.  As the center of Downtown, Market Square really represents that - a connection to its past while it greets new businesses and residents, a place you can sit and enjoy historic buildings and skyscrapers at the same time.  Our sneakers and tires roll across the blocks that once clattered with fancy laced boots and horse hooves, and although we still eat oysters in the Square instead of reading penny newspapers we can watch the news on the TV at the bar, read the online paper with the Downtown WiFi, or pull out our smart phones!  That's pretty exciting!

Trees This Week, Light Poles Next Week!

Another day, another tree planting.

The trees are so heavy, they have to use machines to move them.

Stop by for lunch and check out the progress of the construction as the new Market Square date gets closer and closer.

Next week... Light Poles!

A Look Ahead on Construction

A Review of the great changes happening:

The trees are budding in Market Square!

They continue to lay the belgian block in preparation for flipping the street.

The brick-work has made it all the way down to Starbucks

In the new Square, there won't be individual parking meters.  We'll have the blue paystations that you see in other parts of the City.  One will be located in front of Subway, inin hte blank space between these two bollards.

When they fit the zig-zag pattern of the bricks, they often have to cut the edges to line up with the curb or around the bollards as you see in the above photo.  When they do that, they use a wet saw.

When you are walking through the Square, you may notice some odd cardboard tubes dug into the ground and say "Well, what the heck is that for?"  They already placed the light-pole bases... the trees are in... manholes and fire hydrants are covered...

They use these tubes to set the concrete bases of the bollards.

There are several sets of bollards.  Some will go at the ends of Forbes Ave and Market Street to keep the area pedestrian-only.  On the interior of the Square there is a set arranged in a ring (referencing the previous design) and a few other sets in various locations for safety purposes.

Coming up...

Blockstone continues to be laid (that's the street)

They will finish the brick work between Lubin & Smalley and Crazy Mocha...

They will plant the trees in the sidewalks by the businesses

Within one month...

They expect to begin laying the terrazzo in the center of the Square in late April.  That means less than a month from now you'll begin seeing the surface that we'll be walking on this summer, where we'll sit in the sunshine on lunch-hour with a book, where we'll stand under the clock waiting to meet a friend for happy hour...  It's coming folks!

New Sidewalks

If you've been down to the Square this week you've noticed some changes.

The sidewalk work has moved to the area between Lubin & Smalley Flowers and Primanti Brothers.

You get to walk in the street, but the construction crew left plenty of access to all the businesses so have no fear of that!


The guys are hard at work making way for the brick layers...

And as of yesterday afternoon, they are almost finished with the brick-laying by PPG...