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Peduto ask Obama for Washington Monument Scaffolding for GAP

While in Washington Peduto asked Obama for the scaffolding surrounding the Washington Monument so he could put it at the other end of the GAP. Obama said OK. http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/5263936-74/peduto-scaffolding-pittsburgh#axzz2njwJDV00
jonawebb
2013-12-17 08:52:04
“I promised him I'd find a nice riverfront space for it,” Peduto said. “I'd like to see it somewhere past Heinz Field where it's sort of off of the Golden Triangle, but it can be seen from Downtown. !!! I think it would look outstanding where 1600 West Carson now stands!!! Right at the head of the Ohio, the future new Head of the Ohio national park. (I'm going to make the death of 1600 W. Carson a recurring theme in my life). Someone tell Peduto that wart on the ass of downtown needs to go.
edmonds59
2013-12-17 09:52:08
WANT. Wait, past Heinz Field? That could be right HERE at the building where I work! There's a giant empty lot right next to us!
rustyred
2013-12-17 09:55:25
While a neat concept I'm not sure about the scale of the thing. According to wikipedia the Washington Monument is 555 feet tall. By comparison the US Steel tower is 841 feet. So it's two thirds the height of the Steel tower - that's pretty big. On the other hand it would make a great anchor point for a zipline from Mt. Washington. Hmmm.
marko82
2013-12-17 10:52:51
@marko, I was thinking the exact same thing. You could ride up the elevator with your bike, anchor to the zip line, and get a flying start on your ride on the GAP. Excellent. Or if you were more ambitious you could climb the exterior of the scaffolding with your bike over your shoulder. The Danny Chew/King Kong option. I really like @edmonds idea of getting rid of the 1600 W Carson eyesore. Maybe now that our Mayor is not the representative of Buncher Co. it can happen. Go for it, @edmonds!
jonawebb
2013-12-17 11:01:31
YEAH DUDE! It's great because George Washington's early forays into international politics involved trips along what is now the GAP to confront the French.
mick
2013-12-17 13:20:11
Given that the bike trail effectively ends at 1600 West Carson, yes, that is THE place to put it. And by ridding ourselves of that, that makes it much easier to extend the trail up along a yet-to-be-rethought West Carson to McKees Rocks.
stuinmccandless
2013-12-17 13:34:14
IIRC, the base of that thing is pretty big. It might not fit between the railroad tracks and West Carson. So, how about this: Demolish 1600WC, and have Monument-Lite straddle West Carson. That would be one helluvan entrance to the city, especially if you're coming from the airport on a 28X. The tallest building in Buffalo NY is (what is now called) the HSBC Tower, 40 stories high, been there since 1970 or thenabouts, and straddles Main Street. C'mon folks, this isn't difficult. Hell, the Monroeville Expo Mart used to sit on top of a bunch of big-ass bolts over the parking lot. So does most of CCAC Boyce campus.
stuinmccandless
2013-12-18 13:54:54
How about putting it at the end of Pennsylvania Ave. in Chateau? It would be a nice tie-in to the street in DC and it's on the bike trail. Besides, it would be nice to see some development in this neighborhood other than industrial blagh. Or it could be located in the lot across from the Science Center to put it near the subway stop. If they do erect it somewhere, it should definitely have an elevator in it with an observation area to make it a sight seeing destination.
marko82
2013-12-18 14:29:45
I think the proposed work should be called "The Trojan Monument". Don't worry, you'll get it.
edmonds59
2013-12-18 15:40:05
The restoration of the Washington monument is being done by a contractor, Perini Management Services Inc. There is over 37 miles of aluminum tubing in the Scaffolding and I’m guessing contractor is not going to part with it for free.
greasefoot
2013-12-18 17:18:39
Makes me wonder what they did with the 26 miles of cyclone fence used for the G-20 summit here in 2009.
stuinmccandless
2013-12-19 07:59:06
StuInMcCandless wrote:26 miles of cyclone fence used for the G-20 summit here in 2009.
I'm pretty sure that was all rented- probably from some company that's owned by a cousin of someone who works in Homeland Security. Sorta how Pendot rents all those orange barrels.
Greasefoot wrote:37 miles of aluminum tubing
Currently going for 80 cents a pound (scrap) would be expensive enough. Shipping, storage,land purchase, site plan, erection, engineering... Way cool but way expensive! Easily in the tens of millions I would think.
marko82
2013-12-19 09:47:00
Marko82 wrote:Easily in the tens of millions I would think.
The assessed value of 1600 W Carson is $8 million. So if they're paying that much for the thing, a little more for a place to put it seems like a good idea.
jonawebb
2013-12-19 10:08:39
With federal shutdowns, sequestration and budget crises, it's kind of visionary to expect the federal budget to disassemble, transport, and reassemble the scaffolding on a Mayor's whim. I think we'll see the Second Avenue chute upgraded before we see the scaffolding.
vannever
2013-12-19 10:38:06
The Feds should be able to afford a Craigslist ad. FREE: Used scaffolding, centrally located, stored outdoors, you load and haul.
reddan
2013-12-19 12:20:40
flying start on your ride on the GAP +1
ieverhart
2013-12-19 14:00:35
Remember: The Eiffel Tower was erected for some long-forgotten exhibition. And just stayed. This monumental prophylactic might end up being a really cool symbol for our city... (or not)
ahlir
2013-12-19 19:44:32
Go Pens
rgrasmus
2014-05-13 08:25:44
Go Peduto!
byogman
2014-05-14 11:12:16
It makes so much sense, and Peduto appears to have all of the moving pieces aligned. So, it can't possibly work. Someone with a better claim to the scaffold will discover they can make $50 by scrapping it, and do that instead. (Holy cow, am I cynical this morning… Need. More. Coffee.)
atleastmykidsloveme
2014-05-15 06:37:42