Next week's Planning Commission presentation is online. The big news here is
a new apartment building in South Side. The project (A Walnut Capital/Strada/PJ Dick collab) is a four-story, 200-unit building on the site of the old UPMC Saint Mary's hospital. Unlike most similar projects in the city, it's not going to include an integral parking garage, instead having a two-story 199-stall garage next door. This is preferable given there's the option of further redevelopment in the future. The design is pretty bland - and to be honest, I wish there were another 1-2 stories - but I guess getting anything through the financing environment right now is difficult.
The July HRC is also online. Some interesting projects up next month,
1.
Infill house in Manchester. This is a pretty crazy-ass house, with the living room/kitchen on the third floor, and the ground floor set aside for an office, home studio, and storage. I guess the owners aren't worried about resale. Outside is fine, though TBH I'd expect the HRC might try and push for a bit higher design.
2.
A little mini-development in the Mexican War Streets.
Location is here. The proposal not only infills a vacant side yard, but adds a third story to the building on the corner, restores the storefront to a more historic configuration (though it will remain strictly residential) and adds an ADU over the garage in the rear.
3.
Facade renovations of 941 Liberty Avenue downtown. The plan will not restore the building to its historic configuration, but it will alter the first/second story to not have the wacky curved windows.
4.
The HRC is also reviewing the new Pitt dorm for final action. I feel like there's a bit of additional detail here we haven't seen before, though it might just be my imagination.
In other news,
one of the major buildings in the Iron City site has been condemned. I have honestly been shocked that the current owner has been unable to do much of anything regarding redevelopment in the six years he has owned the complex, given there are a number of historic brick buildings which are technically within the boundaries of Lawrenceville.
In other Lawrenceville news, there's a local ruckus involving a proposed 15-unit mini-apartment on 49th Street. The zoning administrator allowed the project to go forward with zero on street parking. The project also replaces a mini-lot, which seems to upset some local residents and businesses. It sounds like the ZBA head wasn't particularly disposed towards the NIMBYs, but it seems to me even if it's defeated, this kind of project will be allowed by right shortly after Council approves the end of parking minimums.
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