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We continue our visit to St. Louis. We like it. Another great hour of history and discover what surprise it takes wrote right here on this public television station. Sunday night it is here and there. WQED is broadcast of on Q magazine is made possible by grants from the Howard Heinz endowment Foundation and the Richard Mellon Foundation. The McEwen foundation the Pittsburgh foundation the Henry L. Gilman Foundation and the Jewish Health Care Foundation. Corporate funding is provided by you PNC health system difference and communities throughout.

Each and every day we go beyond our walls and reach out to the neighborhoods we serve UPMC Health System 1 8 8 8 3 8 3 UTC and see. And by the members of WQED. Next on Q Are we family going to see more economic development around the Pittsburgh International Airport. Tonight we'll talk to a key player in charge of improving the economy and bringing jobs to that area. And we'll show you the new property that hopes to make it big near the airport. Also coming up tonight out Thursday night live musical performance featuring the jazz sound of the skeptic's band. So stay with us and look at things differently. On cue starts right now. I'm so lonely. Chris

Moore welcomed on cue. Karalee asked me Has the night off. Tonight more live jazz here on cue. Thursday Night Live musical guest is a family affair. Father mother and two sons the skep band will also preview a special family event going on this weekend at the Carnegie museums. But first Stacy Smith is going to get us started with tonight's cover story Stacy. Thank you Chris. We begin tonight with a closer look at development or lack thereof near the Pittsburgh International Airport. In a moment we will talk live with a key person in charge of bringing development and jobs to the vacant 10000 or so acres near the airport. First though on cue correspondent Michael Bartley takes us on a link the tour of the newest property hoping to

make it big near the airport. Michael Stacy It's the new Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh airport the Hyatt and Allegheny County are betting on a financially successful future for the new hotel to show that the land around the airport is fertile ground for success. When are eight hundred million dollar airport open some eight years ago local politicians predicted a major boom in economic development construction and new jobs around the airport. Not yet they say but maybe the new Hyatt Regency will spark the turnaround. If you haven't been to the airport lately you're in for a surprise if you wander across the airport Skywalk and into the new hotel. The three hundred thirty one room hotel has a welcoming marble floor with subtle shades of blues and brown. First impressions from what guests have told me from what I think most people see is that

it's a very beautifully decorated hotel It's a stunningly good experience with the curves in a very contemporary design to architecture and to the furnishings that are in the lobby. We have a very modern motif and very interesting designer approach to the hotel. Patrick Sorge is the Director of Sales and Marketing. He says even though this is an airport hotel the Hyatt refused to cut corners. That's reflected in what some consider a high end room rate ranging from one hundred thirty nine dollars a night to one hundred and ninety nine dollars a night. But you get what you pay for they say even the basic rooms are fancy and overall the hotel offers a unique decor. It is a combination of all sorts of genres of furniture and books I would say it's contemporary It's Scandinavian it's retro it's art deco

it's very unique for this area in that there's nothing like it which we truly enjoy. But it's more designed we're more designed as a bow teak style head of tile. Check out the Presidential Suite where George W. Bush stayed while campaigning in Pittsburgh also staying here Tony Bennett and Neil Sedaka and some WWF wrestlers. It'll run you about 900 bucks a night. It has an expansive living room dining room several sitting rooms and the furniture and appointments custom designed for the hotel. But the highlight is the bathroom where the rich and famous can take a shower or a Jacuzzi while looking out the triangular shaped glass watching the planes taking off and landing. They love it. They are amazed at the news. The bathroom was actually a sandstone colored marble. It's very

impressive. We've really made a mark in that. We have such a unique facility here at Spring. But is Pittsburgh in the business traveler embracing this new hotel and the for the Hyatt to celebrate. Not just yet. The Hyatt says it's still too new but there are positive signs as things are going very well. We're very happy with the business that we have and were very happy with the occupancy levels in the area. So the response for the hotel has been fantastic. We leave it to Pittsburgh area travelers to go for the food more than anything else right away. The Hyatt's lobby a restaurant called the all of press took off immediately. It's the biggest attraction at the hotel so far. Chef David Sparkman prepares jumbo lump crab cakes a popular recipe he created while in New Orleans. The high it's a grand ball room seats. Eight hundred and fifty people and it too is

tastefully decorated with its hand blown chandelier is imported from Santa Domingo. For the most part local industry has embraced the dining banquet and conference facilities for employee gathering and they are willing to work with you and make any adjustments that you need to have. So that's one of four in the room set ups are spectacular. But while the Hyatt brought jobs and a forecast for success it stands with a few exceptions alone on some ten thousand undeveloped acres owned by Allegheny County. But there are plans for a racing complex and an office park. Among other projects airport officials argue developing near an airport requires a much more red tape than your typical development. The Hyatt Regency can't wait to get more neighbors in the airport corridor I think.

To have more businesses relocating out this way with the convenience of the airport there is not a lot of corporations a lot of upscale services for business people for residents in this area. And be assured county executive Jim Roddy has made airport development a priority. He's hoping to attract millions of state dollars to jump start more airport area projects like the one you just saw. Michael you said the you know the room rate story for the hundred thirty nine it's a high end that is there's no question. So they're hoping to get business travelers in there. Mainly what they have now are business travelers but the high its view is the airport corridor becomes more developed. Local people would have more to go out to see and enjoy and so forth. Like if there was a business park for example more people would be working in the area and they'd have dinner at the restaurant and more hotels and so forth to go in there. You know we'll have to see whether that indeed takes place. And joining us now is someone who can address issues involving not only the airport but nearby development as well. Earl Hart is director of the

Allegheny County Department of Economic Development and also a board member of the air port authority. Earl thanks so much for joining us tonight on cue. It's good to be here Stacey. Good. What is in the works we've heard a lot of talk for a long time about how this is going to be developed out there. While there are quite a few things in the works I think I want to commend you on that piece that you did on the hotel was well done quite well. And by the way the mills are great and they are great but there are a lot of things going on and it does take a great deal more effort to get development on the airport for instance there's a the brand motor speedway that they talked about that's a 400 million dollar complex that will result in a two point two million racetrack full sized race track completely under cover. There are more cargo facilities coming on board we recently broke ground on a 50000 square foot cargo facility and we anticipate there's another 200000 going to be coming on. You mentioned the air side business park. That's a three hundred seventy four thousand square foot potential facility there are I think a 64 thousand

square foot building that's created now and a couple more that are coming on when you talk about building all these buildings where are they going to be built are they on the airport property itself because this is a huge amount of property out there or is it along the corridor to the two there. No all of that I've just described is going on the airport property OK and there is a there are opportunities great opportunities out there for development. And there are two sent to two areas that we had look at. There's a ring road that goes around the airport. Inside the ring road we classify that is purely airport development that's air side and we would think that the need for the airport will be responded to inside that inside that and that's where the hotel is now. The ring road at the hotel is inside the ring road. In fact the Brant Motor Speedway it's inside the ring road. OK. But there are developments to come on the outside of that Ring Road Also the airport property extends beyond that the Southern beltway that route 60 that comes into the airport and on the north side on one township. There are just more properties on the other side of where does the Motor Speedway stand right now. It

is you I think are aware Ted Bryant died and his brother Bob Bryant has been resetting the process and finding the kind of leadership necessary to bring it forth. So that's still going to go forward and to the best of my knowledge of the county gets a lot of heat for where is the development after all these years I mentioned the red tape. When you're around an airport there are strict guidelines by the FAA I take it in turn you can't just put an office park in there. Now while there are there are clearly that you can understand there would be height restrictions. But beyond that because it is a transportation center you want to be cautious that what you create doesn't create a problem for the air traveler. For instance with the Brandt Motor Speedway if you attract 60000 people to the airport area at one time you can imagine what impact that might have if you're trying to catch a plane. So the kind of planning and the kind of road systems that are being developed to respond to those kind of demands are significant. And that's where the delay comes. Not to

mention the local municipalities whether where the property is that once they get involved and say we don't want certain things well yes but most of the most of the local municipalities both in the township in Mon township have been very cooperative and very supportive of the development around the airport. When do you think we will see the first development take place. Well you've already you know I mean anything that anybody on those that I describe. Well I would hope that within the next year you will see at the Ewing technology center that's being developed by Massaro company. Once the environmental assessment is completed and that we anticipate will be done by the end of February. Once that's completed Massaro has indicated they will sign a visa landings for the property and start their development. There's a lot of this not this is not inside the ring you know this is on the outside of the ring road. OK. I think you will also see continued development inside the ring road for cargo. We anticipate that cargo will grow about 5 percent faster than passenger

traffic. And we have utilized only about 60 to 65 percent of our capacity on the airport. The runways are there and the airspace that we have will allow significant growth. Cargo is a logical point to point at and actually international cargo is the target. Our hope is to build the cargo facilities and create an environment that will induce the international carriers the foreign flag carriers to use greater Pittsburgh airport as an entry point for cargo. The eastern coast the eastern seaboard is where cargo from Europe normally comes in. You understand that the airspace and the problems of the airports in that area that there are very very congested. Pittsburgh is a logical looking at York as one of the few airports in the country that has enough land to expand not only land but but airspace and runway capacity. Did the US Air United proposed merger cause any of you to take a step back to do You had to have gotten a touch nervous.

Well it's a double edged sword and obviously U.S. Air is is a valuable asset for this community. But United Airlines brings us strength of financial strength and the capacity to grow the grow the passenger flights and the use of the airport much more rapidly than U.S. aircraft. So from that perspective is desired. The concentration is an issue that we're still going to have to deal with but I think the bottom line is that the region will profit significantly with it with the birth of the combined U.S. Air United Airlines. You talk about bottom line what about money to do all of this. Well one of the ironic things is that this is going to sound strange Money isn't the major issue. If you have an opportunity to develop in and around an airport I think we will find developers clamoring as long as these issues we talked about with the FAA disappears or so many people concentrated it and then has a concentration. But but there are businesses that need to locate near or around airports.

I hate to interrupt you we don't have much time but why has it taken place before that if there are such as this great need. People want to do this. I think two reasons recently you you had the creation of the airport authority. And when you create when you change the governance of an airport and move it from a county run facility to an airport authority there's a transition period that you go through. We now have good leadership at the board when the hone who is the chairman of the air port authority is providing solid leadership at the board level. Can't George who is an expert who is really a professional in the running of airports has now settled in and I think that I don't want to be the too proud of this but my involvement both from an economic development perspective and serving on the board will bring a tie to those two things by sitting on the board I can affect policy by being involved with economic development. I can cause things to happen. I think what you'll see now with the team is put together will see activity much more activity than you've seen in the past or a hord thank you so much for being with us tonight on queue.

Oh you're welcome. Michael thank you as always excellent report. Still to come on cue Thursday's live performance from the skip band after this look at tomorrow on cue. Tomorrow on cue it's the Friday Fearsome Foursome in the foursome guest chair Doug Saltzman. Doug runs all the offices in western Pennsylvania for U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. OK. He can handle half the state for Senator Specter. But can he handle the fearsome foursome regulars Ruth Ann Baker Alan Cox and friend Hans Berger. Also tomorrow. Next time you go to the hair salon very aware this is a new career for David day one of the player censors. We look at things differently from all on fute. OK the skit Pac-Man is next but first we want to tell you about a great event that's happening this weekend. Sunday is the family day of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Your family can take a tour go on

a treasure hunt and old by the way it's the last day that check out the T-Rex on trout. Again it's the Family Day this Sunday January 14th from 11 to 5 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Art. You can be QED personalities Michael Bartlett Rick seabag Chris Fennimore and Jim got a ham. Family Day is open to the public and if you happen to be a WQED member take your member card. Your admission is BUY ONE GET ONE FREE. So to come live music from the skip pep band. After this look at the on queue community calendar. Every

Tuesday and Thursday we guarantee it a live musical performance on cue. We featured everything from rock to blues to classical tonight. It's jazz. Here's the square peg band perform and hope for the witness not a dream. It was really some of the best out of three. She was up there all alone. I was really moving and I was really good when he was standing. When they stop to watch me return to the back

almost swing to the beat was really moving. I was really grooving in my suite. Just like I just did a new job and a respected sister in the morning the window to the kitchen stove with tap shoes on it saying yes it wasn't just a dream. It was really something I was really grooving move it. Hope

it is good we get Boy that that. Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy do they

come up as we knew she was with us General Raul just a few would have been dismissed in the morning when to the future. Well what was I saying. I guess it was just a drink. I was really moving. I was really grooving. Get back and welcome Don't you get that voice data sounds for me ever to be called on in the nick at night late at night where most of people don't know that the Nick at Nite spots the little ID spots were all recorded down and we were in West Virginia Rikki with Koski studio is that

almost all of them so about every seven minutes is the place that you get this film education together here that I think was accidental really. Yeah we thought about is it good for our kids to go into music. I didn't push them and they ended up in deeper than we could imagine. True fellas it's not OK to introduce a new Alexandr OK and that Alex and this is Nathan on bass Nate was actually out with Maynard Ferguson's big band a couple years ago yeah. And people hire them as a separate rhythm section you know we have interviewed so many people there are a lot of people around here playing with Richie Watkins and oh yeah a whole lot of them that they went to they have the same high school together. Well from what David Throckmorton a lot of ads all those guys right. That's right. Yeah a lot of young people play jazz and it's I guess it's always been oh yeah you guys have a CD out or anything.

Well we have succeeded in our latest one is called Mirage and it's available borders and where else. Day's music mine in a few places Stephens it's all over how yeah. OK all right and you're going to keep this together whatever you can to perform where you can and I hope we're the bad O's restaurant Mt. Lebanon Tuesday sounds good. That is where the food is good and not only that the music will be even as bad as good as good and I know my message had Ramadan so it would be at least as good as the food right I hope was good thanks for being here I was very sick for have AK. Oh OK we're going to hear more of the skeptic band in just a minute. But right now Stacey wants to tell you about another big musical event this weekend Stacy. Indeed I do Chris. This event is going on at a historic landmark in the Mon Valley it is a songwriter's night called the steel town Chronicles Volume 2. And among those performing Saturday night at the Carnegie Library of Homestead Music Hall Carole ESB Joe Grushecky Bill D.C. Carl Mullen and Bill Thomas the music hall is at

510 East 10th Avenue in Montreal. Again that is this Saturday night at 8:00 o'clock and not only can you expect some great music but also you can expect to see some beautiful surroundings the library's Music Hall has been newly restored to show off the decor that dates back one hundred two years that's great and like it should be a lot of fun. Yeah and I should be nice to see that Carnegie Museum I don't read music calling me out a river you can name and shape them you had to run by going from studio to studio. All right that's going to do it for us tonight. Thanks for joining us we'll be back live tomorrow and tomorrow with the fearsome foursome tomorrow night special for some guest is Doug Saltzman who is he. Well he is the executive director of the Pittsburgh regional office of Senator Arlen Specter. Remember you can catch a rebroadcast of this show by Tony and I did 11:30 or tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 That's right if your local our local news. Now back to the skip band so they can play us out with. Don't go there. Me

me me. Yes

WQED is broadcast upon Q magazine is made possible by grants from the Howard Heinz endowment and the elderly Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation the McEwen foundation the Pittsburgh foundation.