Deprecated: mb_convert_encoding(): Handling HTML entities via mbstring is deprecated; use htmlspecialchars, htmlentities, or mb_encode_numericentity/mb_decode_numericentity instead in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/super-cool-ad-inserter/inc/scaip-shortcode-inserter.php on line 37
On a recent Thursday, staff at Lawrenceville’s Thunderbird Café methodically carried high-top tables out of the bar.
They were making room for that night’s act — funk band Turkuaz — who would later perform on the Thunderbird’s mezzanine level stage. The venue, which has been around since 2000, has become a home for a variety of music — from local and national blues and roots music, to indie rock and the weekly Space Exchange jazz series.
That popularity and a current space crunch, says owner John Pergal, is the reason he and his wife, Ami, are pursuing a $3 million development project to consolidate several properties in the block between 41st Street and Almond Way along Butler Street. The plan would create a new two-story building that will house an expanded Thunderbird, raising the venue’s capacity from 246 to 600, and a new three-story building that would hold a restaurant kitchen and residential units above.
“The issue we have now is it gets so crowded we can’t even do a good job for our customers,” he says. “It’s a good problem to have, but we need to expand.”
Pergal says the idea is to create a “supper club” for 300-400 customers with live shows three or four nights a week. The current Thunderbird encompasses 5,500 square feet; the new facility would be 8,900 square feet.
“I didn’t buy this place because I wanted to own a bar,” says Pergal, a musician. “I do it for the love of live music.”
But not everyone in Lawrenceville is singing the same tune. Some, like Pittsburgh City Councilor Patrick Dowd, worry that Pergal isn’t pursuing the proper city-code variances for the project.
“While it’s great to have such a venue and I think the city needs such a venue,” Dowd says, “the fact is that building wasn’t designed for that use. The street wasn’t designed for that use.”
Residents who oppose the project say it will only exacerbate problems with parking, noise and disruption the neighborhood already experiences. They have been collecting petitions to present at a community meeting April 3 and to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, which will hold a hearing April 11 on Pergal’s application for zoning variances and exceptions for the project. As of press time, residents had collected 173 signatures from opposed residents living within 500 feet of the bar.
“[There are] already people leaving drunk, shouting,” says Joy Snyder, who lives on Eden Way behind the bar. If the expansion went through, she says, “any value I have on my modest house would just be gone.”
But Pergal says he’s working with groups like Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation to grow responsibly and work with the community. And since his company, Lawrenceville Holdings LLC, owns the Thunderbird and 20 other properties in Lawrenceville, including the New Amsterdam bar, Pergal says he wants to be a good neighbor.
“A lot of people are trying to paint it as something it’s not,” Pergal says. “But I’ve done nothing but put everything I own into Lawrenceville.”
Over the years, Lawrenceville has transformed into a haven for artists, architects, developers and businesses attracted to the charming and architecturally unique row houses that line the streets. Much of that development — including the growth of Thunderbird into a neighborhood institution — and proximity to assets like the park, library and restaurants, is what attracted residents like Snyder, Allison Hydzik, Hal Medrano, Molly Stephany, Lynne Glover and Lynn Lewandowski — all of whom live near the bar and oppose the expansion.
“We understand it — we live in a vibrant neighborhood,” says Lewandowski. “But the expansion needs to be responsible.” Lewandowski and Hydzik both live on Fisk Street, which runs perpendicular to the bar and to Butler Street, which positions them to see much of the unattractive side of the neighborhood.
“I’ve picked up beer bottles on Sundays. We see people stumbling,” says Hydzik. And the noise of disruptive Butler Street bar patrons walking back to their cars parked on residential streets has awakened Hydzik’s two young children.
Chris Lasky, vice president of Massaro CM Services LLC and designer/consultant on the plan with Pergal, says that planners are aware of neighborhood concerns and want to work with the community. They say it’s not fair to pin neighborhood problems solely on the Thunderbird, pointing out that the bar takes patron and resident safety seriously and uses, for example, a door-person who makes sure patrons don’t leave with drinks.
Problems on Butler Street, Pergal says, “could be from any bar.” The current proposal, they say, includes tree shields and fencing to mitigate noise, and parking options. The club plans to lease two lots for valet parking on 38th Street.
But the residents, and Councilor Dowd, worry about the building’s capacity to hold such a large crowd — and the environs’ ability to deal with more traffic, noise and people as a result.
“You can’t fit a 600-pound canary into a two-foot bird cage,” says Medrano. “That’s the issue — trying to expand capacity.”
“If they try to skate around and avoid the actual facts or actually calling things as they are, then it becomes very difficult to have a conversation. More importantly, it becomes difficult to reach a compromise,” Dowd says. “That’s where you have standoffs in communities.”
Pergal’s application to the zoning board of adjustment requests two variances for parking, special exceptions for offsite parking and to expand under the zoning classification of “restaurant general.” But Dowd and others question if that’s the proper use, arguing that the applications should be for what’s known in zoning code as “public assembly,” which encompasses structures used for “spectator sports, entertainment events, expositions and other public gatherings” — and Dowd says is prohibited in residential neighborhoods.
Lasky and Pergal say the uses and exceptions they applied for in the zoning code are correct and just an expansion of their current approved use.
“The idea that we are putting in a dance club or [large assembly facility] is just not accurate, and hopefully, those who have concerns will understand more accurately what we are doing through the community meeting Wednesday night,” Lasky says.
Lasky and Pergal also reject the assertion that additional patrons would create the same kinds of problems faced by the South Side, which has more than 100 active liquor licenses. Lawrenceville has approximately 35 liquor licenses.
“The idea that Butler Street cannot handle the people is a fallacy,” says Lasky. “Fortieth [Street] and Butler is one of the busiest intersections in the city, and the busiest in Lawrenceville. If you take the property that we are combining for this development, we could [legally] put in separate [facilities] that together would equal and go beyond what we are proposing for the development.”
City zoning officials deferred comments about the zoning application to City Zoning Administrator Susan Tymoczko, who was out of the office and could not be reached by press time. The Zoning Board of Adjustment will hold a hearing on the proposed variances and special exceptions on April 11, and Lasky says the panel could take three to four weeks to issue a ruling. An appeals process could follow, if necessary. Lasky and Pergal say that a best-case scenario would allow them to break ground in August, with five to six months of construction to follow.
Lasky says Thunderbird’s owners are also participating in the neighborhood’s efforts with community groups Lawrenceville United and Lawrenceville Corporation, and the Responsibility Hospitality Institute, which has contracted with the city to develop a plan to manage nightlife.
“There are some people who live in the neighborhood because they went to the Thunderbird. They like it and consider it an asset to have,” says Lauren Byrne, executive director of resident-advocacy group Lawrenceville United. “We aren’t hearing many people say, ‘We hate it’ or ‘We want it to go away.’ They value it but want to mitigate any issues of quality of life from expansion.”
Pergal’s company approached the community groups a year and a half ago with his expansion plans, and at the time the plans “were much larger,” says Matthew Galluzzo, executive director of the Lawrenceville Corporation. Galluzzo says Pergal has been responsive to concerns about the size.
But to some residents, any expansion of the space to bring more patrons to a bar for loud music is too much. Some say they are prepared to move if the expansion goes through.
“I’d hate to move — the thought of it makes me cry,” says Lynne Glover, a Fisk Street resident. “But [then], the thought of this expansion makes me cry.”
This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2013.
I want to weigh in as ALL FOR this expansion..
I live on Fisk Street, too, and I am in favor of allowing them to expand. I enjoy going to Thunderbird and in no way think that the jerks that stumble around Larryville and break bottles in the neighborhood come from there. What they are planning with this expansion is nothing like what has happened in South Side. They are creating a destination venue, not just another place to drink cheap vodka drinks and Miller Lite.
Where are 600 cars going to park 4 nights per week? This is a neighborhood, not a downtown area. This commercial district is designated as for the residents’ use. you want to party, go to the South Side. Not in my backyard.
I live in Lawrenceville and Im all for this expansion. Its funny how Lynn Lewandowski complains about noise and drunks walking around the streets but in the summer she and a group have porch parties and walk from house to house drinking and making noise.
If you dont like the noise in the city then move to the suburbs. Sorry your hipster brats cant sleep at 9pm!!
Paul Alessio..according to your logic wouldnt the South Side be designated just for the residents of South Side? So how can anyone from any other part of the city go there if they dont live in the South Side?? Please explain?
Tim, I don’t know what the zoning is for the south side but the expanded Tbird does not comply with the Zoning Code for Butler Street in this area.
And this is the point, Tim – we don’t want development like the South Side. We want development that complies with Zoning and protects this as first and foremost, a residential area.
I have lived in Lawrenceville for over 20 years and im all for this expansion,it was not long ago that people would die before they put a buisness in this neighborhood,so all of the people who just started living here please check out a little history of what this place was like b4 all the people started investing in this town
Everyone in Lawrenceville is for organic and sustainable development, but the T-Bird project is completely socially irresponsible. This has nothing to do with music or the T-Bird’s owners – hell, I like the T’Bird’s music, and I want John to be successful. But the proposed project injects a sudden increase in DENSITY that the neighborhood is unable to sustain.
You can’t QUINTUPLE the size of the T-Bird and tell me it isn’t going to affect the quality of life for the people who live in the neighborhood. Where are people going to park? Where are they going to throw their cigarette butts and beer cans?
The 95% of residents who live within 1,000 feet of the T-Bird and oppose its expansion aren’t anti-business, and we aren’t anti-music. The issue also isn’t the kind of clientele the T-Bird attracts. It’s simply too big for the streets and the neighborhood to handle. It needs to be scaled way down, or moved to a new location.
BTW, please be aware that the standing capacity of the proposed concert space is 1,200. That’s 1,200 people getting out at 2am in a residential neighborhood. Think about it.
Halito..The T-bird is not going to be 1200 people. The article states 300-600 and the community meeting even stated 300-600. So quit lying and posting BS to get people to fight against this.
What’s your problem, Tim: your mother never taught you to make a point without insulting people? Standing room is 1,200. Ask John.
when did the The Hydzik family move to Lawrenceville? I got money that says it was after gentrification took over in 2000. For that I say they need to take a hike. Its the businesses that are driving Lawrenceville on the up and up. It’s probably why the Hydzik’s moved to lawrenceville before they had kids. If you cant handle the hustle and bustle of a growing neighborhood, maybe you need to check out a quite street in Monroeville to raise your children and park your cars. Why are you trying to raise a family of four in a 2 bedroom brownstone on Fisk anyway?
ChiefKeif,
So there are entrance requirements to the neighborhood? We don’t welcome families to Lawrenceville anymore? Oh, and there are time limits as well. Come here after when Chief say its ok, you got no right to your opinion. In your eyes its ok to have any kind of development happen along Butler street, come on in, park anywhere you want, create giant traffic jams right in front of my house, but woe be unto those who want to actually raise a family here? How about we put a Marcellus Shale well in the Rite Aid parking lot? Maybe a Wal-Mart, too, right across the street from YOUR house. That’s development and jobs right? Zoning schmoning.
The key to responsible development is size of the venue and it’s operating hours. Influx of even 300-500 within a 2-3 hour period forom just one of our businesses is a little overwhelming. I am a native of Lawrenceville, I’ve been here the whole time. I like what is going on, but I do not want one business to ruin the delicate balance. Other developers are doing a fine job by creating businesses and housing that fit. We are just trying to keep it going in a good direction, because I do love Lawrenceville. That’s why I am still here after 50 years.
(fyi Tim – PorchCrawls are maybe 4X a year, average 20 people participating, and we are done and home by 10PM. Send me your e-mail address and I will put you on the list)
Lynn Lewandowski
Halito,
You need to re-read the proposed plan. The venue and promoter both state that the performing acts would be done between 11-12am. They also said their target audience is 300-400 people. You can’t just make up random numbers because that is what you think the occupancy can handle. Also, the zoning board decides what occupancy they will be allowed.
The issue is that there is not enough parking spots available in the commercial district (Butler St.) to support an expansion of this size. This block of Butler Street is at full capacity between Thunderbird and Belvederes right across the street. Thunderbird is suggesting the use of valet to a parking lot on 38th street, but there is no way that all of the folks going to Thunderbird would even use or pay for valet, so that is not a viable option to this issue. Parking will bleed into the residential areas, creating issues. The commercial district is not large enough to support a venue of this size, nor does this venue fit in with the scale of the commercial district, which consists of boutique shops and small businesses.
The community is all for Thunderbird at their current capacity. If they want to expand, they need to find a commercial area that can support their expansion, like the completely abandoned Iron City Brewery two blocks away.
Derick,
Chris Lasky, the T-bird’s architect, said the occupancy of the hall is “1,200 people standing” at the meeting on December 17, 2012. Halito ain’t making it up.
STOP THE THUNDERBIRD EXPANSION!
I would also like to point out that Thunderbird owns all of the buildings in their block, except for one. In order for Thunderbird to expand, those businesses will either need to close or be forced to move somewhere else. That’s what they mean when they say “consolidate several properties”. What are those business owners’ opinions on this?
I’ll weigh in as being AGAINST this expansion!!!
There is a healthy growth and then there is unhealthy growth. Almost all the businesses that have sprung up along Butler Street recently have been the healthy kind. I would like to support more of that and less of what is being proposed for the Thunderbird expansion. The article did get the details wrong on the numbers so careful about quoting it.
that family that moved willingly to Fisk Street are fools. would you move right near Carson St. in the South side ? Hellll noooo … c’mon. Move to the suburbs.
and I am definetly FOR them expanding… Thunderbird is very annoyingly cramped… it’s a shame because it’s cool joint that brings in cool bands … it would be much cool-er had they the extra room and capacity . beyond me why anyone would expect it to be a quiet area when it’s such a 20-something hive as it’s been turning into …
Alan – everyone likes cool music. Heck, I even like John, the T-Bird’s owner. But you’re not addressing the neighborhood’s concerns.
Tell me how you intend to increase the T-Bird’s capacity without crushing the already stretched parking, litter and noise control capacity of what is, essentially, a RESIDENTIAL neighborhood.
We’re all for sustainable development, man. But what Chris and John are doing isn’t cool.
Location. Location. Location. Clearly the zoning board will not fall for their ill-conceived plan to allow a 1,200 capacity concert hall in the middle of what now is a great residential neighborhood.
Alan,
That is exactly what the RESIDENTS and TAXPAYERS of this RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY don’t want – East Carson Street. If that kind of vibe appeals to you, why don’t YOU move there (right after you learn how to spell)? No matter what you think, this is designated a residential community.
I see a lot of comments here from people who can’t imagine that anybody lived in Lawrenceville before newer development like the Thunderbird. That’s telling, and I guess that’s why they’re so condescending and dismissive of some residents’ concerns.
The choice doesn’t have to be, “Either accept a 1,200-capacity venue in your neighborhood or move to the suburbs.” It’s possible to have a successful venue that fits into a residential area. The Thunderbird is doing it right now.
The bottom line is there is a reason there are residential neighborhoods and entertainment districts. Places like Lawrenceville were built and designed to sustain living and parking for people residing there. With the 35 liquor licenses that are already there, parking is horrible, noise and drunkards are bad enough. Putting a 1,200 person concert venue would be bad for everyone. John should really consider moving to a large venue with ample parking like the strip district right down the street, or station square
Halito and Paul,
You still continue to twist facts about the project. My house has a standing room capacity of 420 people, at least. Do I ever pack that many people into it for a party? NO. Why? Because that would be ludicrous. Both the event planner and Mr. Pergal, have stated their intent of never attracting more than 600 with a goal of reaching 400 people on average. Due to the fact that Mr. Pergal works with the community now and rarely has issues with crowds, how can you even suggest that he would act any differently upon the completion of this project? The zoning board will determine the amount of people that will ultimately be allowed within the venue at any given time, so throwing around numbers like 1,200, is irresponsible at best.
The parking issue is a city issue, it is not for the Thunderbird to solve. What they are responsible for solving is the number of spaces they would be required to provide their customers. If you attended the meetings, you found out their plan to resolve said issues and the validity of these solutions will be decided by the zoning board, as well.
Based on the lies put forth by some people here, I would call into question the validity of all 173 opposed signatures within 500 feet of The Thunderbird Cafe. The likelihood that all those who signed were given actual facts about the project is extremely difficult to believe.
Lawrenceville is a great place to live and to have your family and friends close to so many Pittsburgh advantages. I love it. But I lived in a loft across from the Thunderbird and have attended shows there. It’s gotta be over capacity now and the traffic and “all hours” patrons can be a concern–and I mean that to include those who sit at the bar early in the day. And,w why should a family who has lovingly restored their home and enjoys city life have to move to the suburbs? Many of us would live no where but within the city of Pittsburgh–or Lawrenceville for that matter. The over-development here, however, is now encroaching not only on Butler Street but the few green spaces left in the 40’s near the cemeteries (where I live now). Multi-unit residential development is going to create more concerns with our narrow streets and limited access. The parking and lack of lots for both employees of businesses like Children’s Hospital and visitors is a truly a problem for residents. We love it all, but all good things in moderation, folks!
Truth wins out,
I don’t like being called a liar. What do you know about anything? Were you at the meeting on Dec 17, 2012 when Chris Lasky (he’s an architect, by the way, not an ‘event planner'(?)) uttered the words “standing capacity is 1,200 people”. That is undeniable and true. It was witnessed by over 100 people. Whether the place will ever fill to that capacity is a point of opinion.
The actual permissible capacity will be dictated by the BBI, based on a number of factors. If John, or perhaps a successive owner in the future, determines he can sell 600 tickets to an event, or 700 or 1200, and still meet code, they might be tempted to sell that many. He’s got bills too. I’ve been at shows in the Strip District and other places where reputable club owners oversold shows because of demand and or income potential. at those shows, you couldn’t move. It happens. I don’t know John personally, but I like to think he would not do that.
Don’t be calling me a liar when you don’t know any better. You know my name, I don’t know yours. Apparently you are hiding behind an alias because you don’t want me to know who you are.
The growth in Lawrenceville has been undeniably amazing over the years and shows a promising future but I remember when the growth started with small business owners who had something different to offer the whole community. Expanding a business that is already such a big part of Lawrenceville will take away the charm of this neighborhood. Coming from a family of small business owners, I am also concerned in what this expansion will be taking away from this neighborhood. Don’t get me wrong I’m not tryinng to take anyones bread off their table but this expansion is a bit bizarre. There are 3 businesses that will suffer from this and not to mention tenets that will have to move as well. I agree with whoever said that the best bet would be to leave thunderbird alone and go buy a bigger venue somewhere else.. the couple million dollar loan shows that they are well equipped to do so!
Boo Hoo! My name is Lynn Glover and I cant stand the thought of business expansion! My life is too hectic already to worry if I have to park my car 2 blocks away from my house waaaaaaah! You guys need to move! So many neighborhoods in Pittsburgh would kill to have this development take their community to new heights. The Hill District for one is trying to do this very thing right now. Ever heard of the New Granada Theater? It used to be a destination location for the hill and made that community vibrant before the civic arena displaced 8000 residents and 400 businesses and it all went to hell in the 70’s. It has taken them 30+ years to try to bring this very element back. Residents and business go hand in hand in a successful community. Stop whining about parking! Count your blessings or move to Murrysville.
Yo Paul! People, like communities, change. Do you honestly think the people who lived in the house you currently occupy were cool with every change that went on in their neighborhood? If you do, you are wrong. You cant have your cake and eat it too. Stick around and deal with the inevitable or vote with your feet and move somewhere you can raise kids. You have UPMC in your backyard and your are whining about 1,200 people at a night club. Get real. And quit with the Walmart talk. We all know you have shopped there before. It’s cool I wont tell your dirty secret. See you at industry house bruh!
I live in the city. I’ve always lived in a city. In a city, there are loud, drunk people and parking is really bad. Lawrenceville was never designed for the car (that would be the suburbs). If you look at old photos of Butler Street when the mill was up and running you’ll see that it was stuffed with cars. After the mill closed, if you ask old timers about the bars in Lawrenceville, you’ll hear stories of “Steelers on the TV and a fight every night.” When I first moved into the neighborhood (about 15 years ago) one bar had a sign in its window that read “No Teeth. No drinks.” Where the Thunderbird is now used to be Mikalski’s (sp?), a 7 am dump of a place. There were no problems with parking because, well, it was a dump. Down the street from my house was The Candlelight. Often, at closing time, the patrons would come out of the bar and shoot guns into the air. There was another bar called “Cool Pepper’s Hothouse” a lovely place that had its share of fights spill out onto the street. One resulted in the large window shattering. There also were plenty of empty storefronts, open prostitution (one lady’s name was Six Pack, which is a clue you can use to decipher what she charged for services), and drug dealing (one dealer used to push his daughter around in her baby carriage. He kept his stash under her seat). Behind my house was Hatchet Mary. She received that moniker due to having killed her husband with, you guessed it, a hatchet. Her next door neighbor, was running a meth lab (we found out after he moved). So, why am I writing all of this? Simple. The places that you now enjoy in Lawrenceville were, up until about 10 years ago, for the most part, empty storefronts or bars with less than stellar reputations. There was really only one restaurant (Hambones) and we were really excited when the rundown Shell Station was replaced by a Wendy’s. So, here’s my point. At one time, if someone were to have come into Lawrenceville and said they wanted to renovate an existing bar and turn it into a entertainment venue, they would have been hoisted onto residents’ shoulders and paraded down the middle of Butler Street. Now, we have people who complain about what further development will do to the flavor of the neighborhood. Well, I’ve given you a glimpse of what the neighborhood was like just 10 to 15 years ago and the flavor wasn’t all that great. So, you live in the city and you’re lucky enough to live in a neighborhood undergoing tremendous revitalization. I, for one, hope that it becomes so hard for me to park that I’ll have to empty out my garage.
I’ve been doing some math. I’ve spent more than $10,000 at the Thunderbird. $10,000! That’s a lot of money. It goes without saying that the Tbird is a special place for me, of which I have a lot of fond memories, as well as some not so fond ones (and a few nights I have no memory of whatsoever). And I can’t support this expansion, even though I want to. What I once saw as an impossible development of a good idea has turned into a feasible development of a bad idea, for reasons mostly noted already.
It’s embarrassing for me to see homeowners lampooned for their concerns because I remember a time when I was guilty of similar things as a then South Side renter (albeit with more decency). What I didn’t understand then was that places like Butler St. are successful BECAUSE OF THE HOMEOWNERS, first and foremost, who over time will support local businesses with thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars.
John runs a very respectable establishment, but most of Tbird’s current patrons would would have been too frightened for their lives (or cars or bikes) to step foot onto Butler St. a decade or so ago. It was those spineless, gutless and nebby homeowners who worked tirelessly and mortgaged their lives away to make Butler St. safe for the rest of us who wear glasses and can’t fight our way out of a paper bag, despite all the bravado of anonymous online discourse.
Though not personally impacted, I accept the concerns of immediate neighbors. I’m also concerned that this venture will fail. It may the residents who first complain about parking, but the patrons will soon follow and stop going to shows because they have to drive around for an hour looking for a spot. Carson Street is not a legit comparison because the South Side can absorb a much greater parking demand than Lawrenceville.
If the development goes through, I wish John, the Tbird and residents the best of luck. But from what I saw, the new upscale Thunderbird is simply not a place to which I would go. Maybe that means nothing, but I suspect there are a lot of people like me, whose thousands of dollars will go someplace else. Perhaps I’ll give Teabags a second look.
If it were true that people will not go to a bar, restaurant, theater, etc when parking is difficult, then South Side, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill businesses would be empty. Since that is not the case, the argument that the lack of easy access to parking is detrimental to businesses like the Thunderbird is questionable at best.
I lived on Banner Way, a small side street behind the Thunderbird, for eight years. During that time (2004-2012), it was not uncommon for drunk people to stumble down the alley screaming, laughing and generally carrying on without a shred of respect for residents. It wasn’t all the time but it was often enough to bear mentioning. The worst incident was a drunk girl pounding on my door early one morning looking for a friend (a Thunderbird employee that lived nearby, I later found out). After I closed the door, she proceeded to honk her horn and scream his name for twenty minutes. If you were to look up “sloppy” or “inconsiderate” in Merriam-Webster, I think there’s a chance you might see her picture.
Living on Banner was always a little bit of a fight for the handful of on-street parking spots. It was an unwritten rule that, if you had company or a two-car household, the extra vehicle would park on Willow. It took new people a little while to catch on to the general courtesies the long-time residents paid each other. Banner is an extremely small street but I really liked living there. I can’t imagine what events regularly drawing 600+ people would do to the parking situation and general quality of life. The year Art All Night was in the Catalyst Building, we had to park a mile away. That would get old real quick if it was a weekly or nightly occurrence. Lawrenceville probably needs a parking garage before it needs a Mr. Small’s.
I have nothing against business growth but the capacity of the neighborhood itself needs to be considered. People can argue this every which way but there’s only so much shit you can fit in a five pound bag. The number is pretty close to five pounds.
I can’t figure out why the members of the Pittsburgh press – even writers for so-called independent publications – lend credence to NIMBY-ism in almost every development story.