Arrested Development

Anybody else remember the following picture?



Don't feel bad if you don't, but for maybe a week in 2002 this was kind of a big deal and the apex of the Fith/Forbes development planning.  The Murphy Administration had big designs for Downtown Pittsburgh: high end retail & living accommodations anchored by big named tenants.  It was going to be a "transformative" event, to use the common parlance being bandied about at 414 Grant Street today.  Murphy lasted a few more years, but the Fith/Forbes Development sputtered and died because of community and political pressures.

But, if you were to ask the Mayor's Office today, they would tell you that what they're doing Downtown is absolutely, totally, utterly and completely different from what was proposed under previous mayoral administrations.  So, of course, the above image is nothing like the following image:



Absolutely, totally different:



And may God help you if you even try to suggest otherwise.