Pittsburgh 24/7 District (Oakland: crime, schools, live)

[ctoocheck]

Originally Posted by escilade18

What is odd is that Oakland seems to meet the criteria, yet it is not anywhere close to being a 24/7 activity area. Maybe the last call laws prohibit that

I realized that Oakland, in addition to some other neighborhoods, seem to fit much of the seeming criteria. So I wonder what item I might be missing? Thoughts on that? Maybe college kids don't have enough money to spend? Maybe even Oakland isn't dense enough?

Even many of the medium-sized cities in Europe I've visited, which have high density and walkability and relative diversity and such lack significant late-night or 24-hour establishments. Which is why I might think that only a VERY high density would facilitate anything significant (as in NYC for example). Even cities like Rome and Berlin don't have all that many late-night or 24-hour places, save a few bars or restaurants and some stores in train stations.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by ctoocheck

Even cities like Rome and Berlin don't have all that many late-night or 24-hour places, save a few bars or restaurants and some stores in train stations.

...and the clubs that open on Thursday and don't close until Tuesday.

[SteelCityRising]

I never intended MathmanMathman to take my fleeting gripe from another thread about not having much in the way of opportunity to "unwind" here (other than drink) after I get out of work in the 10:30-11:00 PM timeframe and run with it; however, I must admit the ensuing discussion has been very interesting!

Such a district would fail here because, as others already mentioned, we don't have nearly the required population density to keep such a district profitable and operational. Oakland, with its dense concentration of college students, hospitals, research facilities, etc. would be the city's likeliest candidate to "test pilot" such a district, but as others have already mentioned if it was viable for Oakland to be a 24/7 district, then why isn't it now?

Most of my friends work "traditional" 7-4 or 8-5 shifts, so they really wouldn't be awake at 2 AM to patronize a 24-hour Macy's to buy a last-minute birthday gift or a 24-hour Giant Eagle to buy a gallon of milk. As for me I often work from 11 AM-10 PM, so if I want to run errands I have to wake up early to do so before work (which cuts into my much-needed sleep and City-Data time). I would be one of the few, though, who would benefit from this proposed 24/7 district. Even right now I just had some "WhoNu?" cookies to snack on (due to the dearth of places to grab a quick bite) and wish I could wash them down with milk. The only place available that's nearby and is open at this hour that I'm aware of is the Shadyside (or is it Bloomfield?) GetGo on Baum Boulevard @ Morewood Avenue, and even then the pricing seems to be expensive.

[ctoocheck]

The Squirrel Hill Giant Eagle is open until 1am, at least.
I wonder why some suburban stores like the one in Monroeville can stay open 24 hours but Squirrel Hill can't.

[Kippy]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I think you are missing the point. It's not build a hospital and it attracts restaurants. It's putting in establishments that have people there 24/7 to help undergird an all hours district.

I just don't think that "if you build it, they will come." If there were enough people to patronize such a district, and make it profitable, it would already exist.

I have often wondered why existing stores in existing retail districts don't extend their hours, but presumably, someone has crunched the numbers and determined that they would not make enough additional revenue to justify the expense.

[PeterRabbit]

A 24-hour beer and liquor store would make a good hub. We live in ridiculousness and prosper by good luck.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Stores and shops are somewhat ephemeral so you want stuff with staying power like hospitals, police stations, etc. to keep up the momentum.

That just doesn't accord with my experience of thriving 24/7 areas. Who says, "Let's go hit the X district--I hear they have a police station that is open all night!"

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I don't see how it could be negative unless people were coming in off the street to eat at the hospital cafeteria and buy stuff at the hospital gift shop.

Because they typically occupy a big chunk of land. Putting that much dead space (from the perspective of most people) in the middle of a retail/entertainment district could easily be counter-productive.

Anyway, even if true, it could be a way to rethink how a hospital integrates into its surroundings. I mean casinos are even more self-contained but some areas are working on how to integrate them so that they can help spur the surrounding development.

Localities like casinos because they are cash cows. The fact some localities are trying to keep casinos from subtracting from the local scene doesn't mean casinos are actually good anchors for lively nightlife areas.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by greg42

I'm sure it's a lot more than 8% in Downtown and Oakland. The gridlock there would be insane.

It is over 50% in Downtown. And rush hour congestion in and around Downtown has ripple effects through a much wider area.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Even many NYC neighborhoods have been switching to 2:00am last call.

Of course these days many once-cool NYC neighborhoods are being filled with their equivalent of Bruce Kraus.