Downtown Population increased 25% since 2000 (Pittsburgh: to rent, landlords, square footage)

[Blackbeauty212]

I would wonder if Hilton is look to attach its name to something else in the Burgh, seeing as it has a long standing tradition in the city....

[BrianTH]

A Hilton Garden Inn was supposed to go in the spot behind the Grant Building. I recently read somewhere the project had stalled somewhat, but was still in the works.

[pman]

Mr. Hancock said he also was in negotiations with two property owners Downtown ...Mr. Hancock has been in talks with the Order of Italian Sons & Daughters of America about leasing the former McDonald's restaurant at Wood Street and Forbes Avenue.
He said Thursday that he was also in discussions with a second unidentified property owner near Wood and Fourth Avenue, only a block from the heart of the Point Park University campus.
... There would be a deli and fresh produce and meats as well as "grab and go" items and "home replacement meals," such as rotisserie chicken and fresh salads.
He hopes to target Downtown residents, students and commuters who "don't want to make another stop on the way home."
Mr. Hancock said he hoped to open the store in the spring ...

Read more: Groceries planned for Beechview, Downtown

[pman]

... Vallozzi said the new 6,500-square-foot restaurant will feature upscale Italian cuisine and a deep selection of wines. It will be located across the street from the new PNC Plaza 3 and its Fairmont Pittsburgh hotel, and around the corner from a newly redeveloped Market Square.
Vallozzi’s Pittsburgh is expected to open in Spring 2011.
“Obviously the location is pretty spectacular. The building is just wonderful,” said Vallozzi of Millcraft Industries' redevelopment of the former G.C. Murphy building, where the restaurant will be located. “The energy that the Piatt family have brought to that area is almost contagious,” he added, of the family that owns Millcraft and has been pursuing redevelopment in the Fifth and Forbes area...

Read more: Vallozzis to open new restaurant Downtown | Pittsburgh Business Times

[BrianTH]

The Market Square foodie zone is rapidly expanding beyond just the Square itself, which is cool.

[pman]

For much of the 1990s, as businesses abandoned downtowns to be closer to their suburban work forces, suburban office buildings tended to be more occupied.
But since early 2009, the opposite has happened in major metropolitan areas including Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Pittsburgh and Phoenix

Real Estate News and Analysis: Downtowns Get a Fresh Lease - WSJ.com

according to the data, it's +12k sq feet in the CBD, -46k sq ft in the suburbs

[BrianTH]

I wonder what the numbers would look like if you included Oakland.

In any event, there is lots of speculation about the causes of this centralization of office locations. We probably won't know for sure until the economy has recovered, but I would personally bet on it continuing.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by pman

Read more: Vallozzis to open new restaurant Downtown | Pittsburgh Business Times

They had a sit-down restaurant/pizza place in Squirrel Hill called Pi until around 5 years ago. It was pretty good, which I say because their desserts and pizza were better, in general, than the "real" food. They did the most wonderful flavors of creme brulee, which I usually only like if it's plain. But Pi, they really shone at dessert time.

[gg]

Closer to the city is going to become better and better. That is a no brainer. Not just gas prices. More to do with free time. Who wants to commute much? Young people don't want to deal with some huge commute from Cranberry. They want to stop by home for lunch if they want and get home fast and then go out to a variety of functions. Far out suburbs are going starting to be out of fashion.

[BrianTH]

I also think the emergence of wireless handheld devices is making the long driving commute very unappealing for younger people. I'd say something like 75% of the people under 40 on my commuter bus route use a handheld device (for something other than a phone call) at some point during the trip, often for the whole trip.