The Robots that Saved Pittsburgh (McKeesport: 2014, houses, living)

[slavicamerican]

Hot off the presses and in a magazine read widely on Capitol Hill. (I haven't read the whole article yet.)

The Robots That Saved Pittsburgh - Glenn Thrush - POLITICO Magazine

[eschaton]

An unusually good article for Politico. That said, I am sort of let down they used Bride Row as an example of Pittsburgh's "affordable rowhouses." Both because they're not rowhouses and because they are boarded up. The "still under $250,000" made me chortle a bit though. As I said in the past, we're still affordable by coastal standards.

[wpipkins2]

Nice article.

[LIRefugee]

Originally Posted by eschaton

That said, I am sort of let down they used Bride Row as an example of Pittsburgh's "affordable rowhouses." Both because they're not rowhouses and because they are boarded up.

Or burnt out. One is missing its upper floor and at least one other, I understand, may be unsalvageable. It's an extremely unfortunate loss.

[wyoh]

Originally Posted by eschaton

An unusually good article for Politico. That said, I am sort of let down they used Bride Row as an example of Pittsburgh's "affordable rowhouses." Both because they're not rowhouses and because they are boarded up. The "still under $250,000" made me chortle a bit though. As I said in the past, we're still affordable by coastal standards.

I bet you could get that one in the middle for well under $250,000!

There's another article on the front page:

The Political Makeover of a Rust Belt City

[slavicamerican]

The issue in the article that struck me the most was the question of whether the growth of the major industries (health care, services, high tech) will raise the fortunes of many of those who never recovered from the collapse of manufacturing, including the outer areas of Pittsburgh, probably places like McKeesport.

Perhaps it isn't possible for that wealth to be distributed more widely as it had been with steel? Perhaps people will have to choose either education and skills in a specific area or relegation to the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder?

That certainly seems to be the case in DC, where there really is no "middle class." People here tend to be doing pretty well (even if they don't seem themselves in that light) or pretty badly and living off assistance.

[MathmanMathman]

Seems like everyone outside the region have declared Pittsburgh a comeback success while the locals are throwing in the towel.

[Gee Whiz]

Originally Posted by slavicamerican

Hot off the presses and in a magazine read widely on Capitol Hill. (I haven't read the whole article yet.)

The Robots That Saved Pittsburgh - Glenn Thrush - POLITICO Magazine

Maybe they can change the word "fish" to Robots in this classic.
http://youtu.be/-8tyuYCz4Jk

[FreightTrainRunning]

Not usually a fan of Politico but that's a pretty decent article even if they get a few things wrong and weirdly don't really even talk about Pitt or UPMC which are as big or bigger drivers of the economy here than CMU.

[Copanut]

Danger, Will Robinson!