Beautiful by Design
Designing a Community
The entrance to Summerset at Frick Park is flanked by beautiful stone walls and lush trees. Right away, you are aware that you are somewhere special. As you travel the main road through the neighborhood, Parkview Boulevard, you can’t help but notice the wonderful view of Pittsburgh. It prompts you to slow down a bit and take in the vast view of the Monongahela Valley. All of this is by design.
Summerset at Frick Park started off as a blank slate, albeit with some challenging topography. Landscape architects, master planners and urban designers, LaQuatra Bonci, along with Urban Design Associates, made it their mission to design a new urban neighborhood that had the allure of old established Pittsburgh neighborhoods, while utilizing new approaches to urban design that would stand the test of time.
Jack LaQuatra, a founder and principal of LaQuatra and Bonci, explained that some of the features of Summerset at Frick were designed to be reminiscent of some of the most beloved features of Pittsburgh. Parkview Boulevard was designed as The Grandview Avenue of the neighborhood, with stately homes and wonderful views. The Pavilion at Crescent Park is an inviting place to gather and relax, similar to the buildings and shelters of nearby Frick Park. LaQuatra Bonci had worked on the Master Plan for the Pittsburgh’s four parks previously, and continues to do so with the Park Conservancy. They brought this experience and know-how to this project by creating Crescent Park as a neighborhood gathering place and McLean Park, as a smaller more Zen-like, quieter park. These parks, along with Parkview Blvd and the park-like entrance were designed and placed so that all homes would be near one of these features and could be enjoyed by all who lived and visited here. “We wanted to create places for people to enjoy throughout the neighborhood.” LaQuatra explains.
The green space in this neighborhood was not just the left over land used to satisfy open space requirements required by zoning. It was very much a part of the overall plan. Most traditional builders and planners try to build as many homes into an area as they can, but LaQuatra Bonci felt that well-placed and generous green space would greatly benefit the overall feel of the neighborhood and quality of the project. The neighborhood’s amenities, such as these green spaces, were the “intrinsic things that were built into the plan.” LaQuatra notes.
While the design of Summerset at Frick Park is a nod to the older established neighborhoods and city attractions, LaQuatra and Bonci also utilized newer ideas in urban planning to make the neighborhood more pedestrian friendly and encourage a closer knit neighborhood, where children would go out to play with other kids in the neighborhood and people would be inclined to enjoy evening strolls. Traffic circles and even the width of the street were carefully calculated to slow traffic through the neighborhood. The streets were designed with alley ways behind them so all the homes face forward on the streets and no one has to look at the neighbor’s back door or garage from their front porch. This design also encourages neighbors to be on their front porches and interact with neighbors.
Most people expected that Summerset at Frick Park would be well-received, but it has exceeded all expectations. “It was the largest new development in the city since the war.” LaQuatra explains, “There was pent up demand for new product in the city.” Summerset provided just what buyers were looking for. It offered a unique, well-planned, well-built, new traditional neighborhood within the city. “The effort that was made is really paying off in value. The development has actually brought in people, not only from around the country, but also suburban dwellers back to the city,” notes LaQuatra. He adds “It’s one of these things where you really can say, build it and they will come.” Of course, having a great community design didn’t hurt.
In the News: Summerset at Frick Park is featured in this issue of The University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh Economics Quarterly. Click here to read the publication and more about this land reclamation project.
Make a Splash!
The Pool is Open!
Nothing says SUMMER at Summerset at Frick Park like the Annual Pool Opening Party. This year’s party, held on May 18th, was no exception. Residents flocked to the pool to get in their first summertime dip. Grills were fired up for the barbecued ribs and residents brought plenty of food to share. Everyone enjoyed music, food and fun. The weather was perfect, allowing friends and neighbors a chance to swim, dine and enjoy a perfect summer evening together.
