There, a 750-foot-long stretch of riverfront is being built into sandstone terrace that will lead out of the water up the riverbank. Also, new multiuse landings that will serve as shuttle stops on both the Allegheny and Monongahela sides of Point State Park are part of the new master plan.
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Schroeder expects developers of other major new riverside projects to also take greater advantage of their waterfront potential. Expect the Soffer Organization to add a new riverfront landing/marina component to its SouthSide Works project on the South Side in the next few years, said Schroeder. The developers of the Armstrong Cork apartment project -- the adaptive reuse of a long-neglected factory into 295 loft apartments -- are also said to be interested in making use of their riverfront in the Strip District, she added.
"I think that developers now are beginning to integrate from the beginning of their planning the idea that their riverfront access is the front door instead of the backdoor," she said.
Smith understood how a development firm could do otherwise in a city such as Pittsburgh, where for years the waterfront was dominated by heavy industry and the cold weather climate can make it inhospitable for at least three months of the year.
"When you're talking about developers, they look at the ground underneath them. A floating dock is not really real estate. So it's unusual for them," he said.
For Maccabee, perhaps the biggest challenge in the job is driving holes into the riverbed on which to moor the new landing. Smith expects to have the landing delivered and moored in the next few weeks, with the hope that it will be available for receptions and events for the CITGO Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament scheduled at the end of July.
As he prepares Station Square for a major fishing event expected to bring thousands of tourists to the region, Miller understands well how the new landing adds to Station Square's unique appeal.
"We're about as mixed-use as you can get," he said, noting the development's mix of transporation access -- ranging from bridge, train, car and incline, and now, boat.
Meanwhile, Naparstek admits that Forest City finds itself moving into somewhat uncharted waters as it seeks to discover what the potential of the new landing and marina will be.
"This is a new thing for us," he said. "So we'll learn as we go."
TIM SCHOOLEY may be contacted at tschooley@bizjournals.com
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