Archive for March 11th, 2024
Scuttle on, my wayward son
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Climatologically speaking, it was in in the high 30’s with a stiff wind on this particular afternoon, but exercise day is exercise day and a humble narrator tries to stick to a schedule. One scuttled up the hill from HQ, and soon found himself at the Potomac ‘Red Line’ Station of Pittsburgh’s light rail system – The T – and ready to board a city bound train set and subsequently set out on a short walk.
As stated previously, a short walk for me is one of about 4-5 miles. This one was also a ‘photowalk,’ which means that whereas I intended to wave the camera around, no specific shot was being sought. Catch as catch can, for this sort of thing.
The T service carried me to its terminal stop on the north shore of Pittsburgh, dubbed Allegheny Station, which is where the line runs up and out of the ground and onto an elevated track, which is found nearby Acrisure Stadium wherein the Pittsburgh Steelers play sportsball.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Curiosity leads me about on this sort of endeavor. What’s over there, or there, or… you just kind of follow your nose, and try to see something off the beaten track. I was intrigued by the masonry shadow of a long gone building. Its shape suggests that a house used to kiss up against the larger commercial structure, which is itself hollowed out and largely windowless, as it is seemingly undergoing a stalled renovation.
A recently announced development project, whose footprint is nearby, promises a new effort at making use of a part of Pittsburgh’s waterfront to create a tourist, hospitality, nightlife, and shopping Mecca that would take advantage of sportsball tourism. The centerpiece of this project is a giant Ferris wheel.
That didn’t work out too good on Staten Island, I’d offer, but sportball stadiums actually cost NYC money, whereas the ones in Pittsburgh offer a surplus in economic activity and tourism (hotels, bars, restaurants, even the museums see higher revenue during weekend sports events here).
It’ll be interesting to see what happens, maybe ride that Ferris Wheel, and ultimately – I don’t really care. My gentrifiers are back in NYC. I guess that I’m one in Pittsburgh – howzaboutdat?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My nose following found me walking towards the West End Bridge, to enact a now familiar plan of heading back towards the distant T station which would be the end of this short walk. Luckily, for once, I had picked the right time of day – as you’ll see in posts all week long.
Apparently, and I’m sure this is an absolute coincidence and has nothing to do with the development plans, the West End Bridge is about to start redesigning its approaches and interfaces with the neighborhoods that it connects to… one of which happens to be where that Ferris Wheel dealie is supposed to be. There’s an local outfit called Riverlife which seems to be driving the train on this one.
Lots to see coming up this week – here at Newtown Pentacle – towboats and railroads, oh my. Back tomorrow.
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