Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
SITES FOR HOTELS.
Another First-Class H0stlery Badly
Needed in Pittsburg.
WHERE SOME WOULD LOCATE 1T.
Hotel Men Prefer the First Presbyterian
Church Property.
POINTERS FROM REAL ESTATE AGENTS

The question no longer is, Does Pittsburg
need another frst-class hotel? but where
shall it be located? The crowded state of
the hotels this week and the advent of the
Britishers hasn't demonstrated the need,
but it has been conceded for some time by
even the hotel men themselves. The clerks
last winter, who nightly turned away
guests, and to whom the operation was as
painful as cutting off an arm, have known
about the necessity. Ex-Manager Flagler
never made a more patent statement when
he said that what Pittsburg needs more than
anything else to boom it is
fine hotel, centrally located, where
the people can meet and discuss current top
les. The site and stuff only are wanting,
and these two would work wonders. Josh
Billings would say that the only way to
have hotel is to build it, and that is what
remains to be done.
A DISPATCH reporter spent some time
yesterday talking with real estate men about
good sites. OF those seen all felt sure that
there was money in the business in Pittsburg
for enterprising capitalists, but that it
would take considerable capital to erect
good house in the center OF the city.
OUTSIDE CAPITAL FEARED BY SOME.
Some were afraid that Eastern people
would step in and reap the rewards, as they
have done in other cases, which should go to
Pittsburcers whose hindsight ought to clear
up the vision of their foresight. 1t was
stated that a syndicate had been after the
Bssell block for the past year to use 1t for
hotel purposes, but this was denied by
the agent of the estate. He said he
didn't know anything about it, but
he had known for a long time that the hotel
accommodations were insufficient. He
thought the First q. P. Church property on
Seventh avenue could be purchased in con-
nection with the Bissell block, and the site
would be large enough for the erection of
large frst-class house. The Bissell heirs
will sell the property if the price is forth
coming.
A local hotel man, who had seen shining
shekels disappear from his finger tips all
the week because his house was not large
enough, rubbed his hands and said:
THE greatest site in town for a hotel,
and the only one In my opinion,
is the church property, corner Sixth
avenue and Wood street, but 1 don't sup
pose you could buy it for love or money.
The time has come, however, when these
too valuable, and the business of the city
requires the land. Noone should stand in
the way of a citv's progress, and the
churches above all others. My, what a site
that property would make for magnificent
housei Everything depends on the location
TO Insure the success of a hotel. 1t should
be in touch with the business part of city
and not too far from the depot.
A SITE NEAR THE COURT HOUSE.
"How about the triangular piece of
property opposite the Jail, facing Fifth ave-
nue.? 1t is not Tar from the Union depot, at
least"
The hotel man shook his head "Not far
from the depot" he said, "that is true, but
1 don't like the locality. 1t is out of the
SWIM
'But couldn't you draw the business GEN.
ter in that direction?"
Il am afraid not. 1t is a mighty hard !
thing to move the center of the city,"
In spite OF these fears, il Is fact that the |
business center of Pittshurg was once at the ]
Point and it is gradually dri ting out Filth |
avenue. Ex- Postmaster Larkln, who is |
now in the real estate business, thinks this |
triangular site is the best one in the citv for
a hotel. It is in a commanding position,
and if the hump were cut down from TO 10
feet il would be very much improved. 1t
has reflective value through the proximity
Of the Court House. About so years ago
this property was condemned to widen Fifth
avenue but it was never done, and the pro-
ceeiingS have lapsed.
c. II. Love said another hotel was GER |
tainly needed here, hut he hadn't heard any, |
one recently talk about building one. Sew |
eral wears ago there were rumors ard some |
agitation in this direction, but the discus
sion has ceased. Property has become so
valuable that capitalists are discouraged at |
the start.
MANY PEOPLE TO BUY OUT.
At W. A. Heron & Sons they were more |
communicative. 1t WAS learned that large |
tracts land in Pittsburg are becom- |
ing very scarce, and to get a large |
hotel site a number OF people would |
have to BE- bought out, and |
the chances are that some of the estates |
might be entailed or tied up. Among the |
sites mentioned, which so Tar as location is |
concerned is all that is desirable, was the |
Christ NJ. E. Church on Penn avenue and |
r ghth street. Ii fronts on Penn avenue |
100 eet and runs back to the Pittsburg Fe- |
male College, 140 feet The college fronts |
on Eighth street 100 feet, and it is said thev |
are willing to sell and remove to the East |
End. These two properties taken together |
might make a good site. Several other /
suggestions were the property between |
SmIthheld and Grant streets, along Water |
street, opposite the Monongahela House, a
triangular strip owned by Charles Albree,
facing Liberty avenue, between Fourth and
Fifth avenues, and near Market street
This latter site would be rather small.
fronting only 81 feet on Liberty avenue
Another gentleman thought the market
house, if the city would sell, would be a
fine location or hotel, and others named
the property, corner Fifth avenue and
Market street, where E. P. Roberts jewelrv
store and S S Marvin's retail department
are located. The property on Wood street
between Filth avenue and Diamond street.
has been mentioned and while it would
make great site, most people think it would
cost too much. Everybody admits another