A Pittsburgh developer's two-year effort to build an office building in Oakland took a major step forward Tuesday when the City Planning Commission approved downsizing the facility to seven stories.
Originally, the Elmhurst Group, Downtown, wanted to build a 10-story building on a parking lot adjacent the First Baptist Church at Ruskin Avenue and Bayard Street.
The project was delayed after neighborhood groups and residents objected to the building's size. No local residents appeared at yesterday's session to express objections.
Commission member Paul Dick, who lives in the neighborhood, said the original objections included concerns about having another hospital facility as a tenant in the building. Select Medical Corp. of Mechanicsburg in Cumberland County, eventually dropped plans to put a medical care facility there.
The new building, to be called Schenley Place, will have a three-story structure in the front along Ruskin, connected to a seven-story building behind, with underground parking for about 122 vehicles, said Robert Moro of Burt Hill, architect on the project.
"We have no tenants for the building at this time and plan to begin construction next spring with occupancy in the fall of 2010," said Bill Hunt, Elmhurst president.
The commission also approved redevelopment of a GetGo gasoline station at Baum Boulevard and Morewood Avenue in Bloomfield. Giant Eagle plans to reduce the entry points from four to two into the station; double the pumps from eight to 16; increase on-site parking spaces; enlarge the existing food and beverage building with a larger structure featuring indoor seating for about 20; and to place a sign identifying the site as Bloomfield.
Several commission members disagree with the station being in Bloomfield, claiming instead it is part of Shadyside.
It also approved conversion of the vacant South Hills High School on Ruth Street, Mt. Washington, into 106 apartments, a 15,000-square-foot YMCA fitness facility and a child care space. Ken Doyno of Rothschild Doyno collaborative, architect on the project for developer a.m.Rodriguez Associates Inc., said construction of the $20 million project could begin next spring and be completed by December 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment