Development Phasing
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Auto-oriented Corridor
Auto-oriented business comprises more than 65% of the uses along the West Liberty Corridor. Heavy volume of traffic along West Liberty Corridor. Vacant land and hillsides with less than 25% slopes could be developed. Rent is relatively low compared to other auto-oriented zones. The auto-oriented corridor along Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh’s East End is shrinking as UPMC is purchases more buildings and reduces this corridor’s competitiveness. There is a great opportunity for West Liberty Avenue to be further developed as an auto-oriented corridor -- as the auto center of Pittsburgh. Vision
The vision for the West Liberty Corridor is Pittsburgh’s and the region’s primary auto-oriented center. When cars drive out of the Liberty Tunnels, their first impression of the corridor is a sculpture park with car sculptures that pop out of the mountain. Adjacent to the sculpture park is an auto specialty service zone. All car dealers remain in their original places, meanwhile, new dealers are moving into this corridor. The retail and commercial zone contains auto part stores, tire stores, auto customizing shops. The hub is a concentration of all activities that occur in the corridor along with public attractions. The West Liberty Corridor is also a place where car rallies and vintage car parades can be held. HUB
The hub is designed as a regional destination, as the auto center of Pittsburgh. It is a concentration of the auto businesses and activities along West Liberty. It is the place where all the auto dealers can share showrooms and use the racing track for test drives. The museum and hotel are destination uses for visitors. Customer service is where car enthusiasts can specialize their cars. In the central plaza area, on the ground floor, there are retail stores which are auto-oriented. All buildings are interconnected by a common service level which serves as a threshold between the commercial and private residential uses. Parking structures serve each of the hub’s zones. Design Features
The racing track is a multi-use circuit where cars can drive and people can jog or walk, which is perfect for the walking clubs in the Beechview and Brookline neighborhoods. All the buildings in the mixed-use zone are connected by linked bridges, where the public can go directly into buildings from the parking structure. On the plaza level, there is an outdoor playground for kids to play with a toy racing track. Exterior elevators help orient the public to the above-grade service level and other public uses. As a threshold from the West Liberty Avenue to in the plaza, education walls depict the history and development of the automobile. The restaurants on the plaza are auto-themed. There are also places where people can eat sitting next to water features. Exterior escalators connect sidewalks to the auto showrooms and museum. Circulation
All activities at the different levels are connected by vertical elevator or escalator. The service floors have different functions in different buildings. Some are lobbies for the residential floors above. In the hotel, the service floor serves as a gym and bar. There is a public restaurant floor connected to one of the lobbies with views of the racing track. |