Here's a roundup of smaller development news:
1. The long-delayed new hotel on Fort Pitt Boulevard - originally a Holliday Inn Express when proposed five years ago, but now a 98-room Fairfield Inn and Suites,
will finally open in September. Apparently a fight with NIMBYs in 2017 slowed down the project mid-construction, requiring them to change brands and get approval for the new brand.I am guessing this will be the last new hotel in Downtown proper for awhile now - barring perhaps whatever is going on with the Kauffman's site.
2.
In Oakland the Twentieth Century Club is selling their historic building on Bigelow Boulevard. The little-known group basically started out as a female version of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, and while not as mismanaged, has suffered similar declines in membership.
It's a nice building right next to Pitt's campus, and I would be shocked if Pitt wasn't the ultimate buyer.
3. There is a new condo plan for
the vacant lot in the Strip near Savoy. Some of you may remember this site was proposed to be the location of an 18-story, 220 foot condo building back in 2015, which was defeated by NIMBYs.
The new developer is the guy behind the Otto Milk building and two other nearby condo projects, so he has a proven track record locally. He plans on a more modest, 40-50 unit building, which will conform to RIV zoning requirements (meaning the project will likely be no more than four stories).