Even as it gets ready to unload nearly $5.3 million in properties Downtown, the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority is gobbling up more real estate.

The URA board is expected to vote today on whether to spend $650,000 plus costs to buy a three-story building on Fifth Avenue that now houses a Wendy's restaurant.

Rob Stephany, URA executive director, said the building, now owned by B&J Corp., could become part of a larger redevelopment in the future or end up simply as a stand-alone retail storefront.

He said Wendy's is expected to leave the building when its lease expires in February, giving the URA flexibility as far as a future use.

The URA also owns the former Revco parcel on Fifth Avenue next to Piatt Place. In addition, William Rudolph, a URA board member, owns the building between the Revco and Wendy's properties.

Mr. Stephany said he sees potential for combining the three parcels to create a larger redevelopment, one that could complement the new PNC Financial Services Group office tower being built across the street.

"It's not like we're looking to hold on to stuff forever. This is an important part of Fifth, especially with what's going on across the street. I think it makes a lot of sense to purchase the property and get some market interest in it, if not something larger," he said.

The rear of the Wendy's building abuts a wall in the Saks Fifth Avenue building on Smithfield Street and conceivably could be part of a larger makeover of that structure once Saks leaves next year.

Mr. Stephany said the URA was able to get the Wendy's building at a "good price." He said at one point it had been on the market for $1.2 million. The building is assessed at $500,000, according to the Allegheny County real estate website.

"We think we got a great deal," he said.

Once it takes possession, the URA initially will market the building for another tenant. It also may work with Pop Up Pittsburgh to get a temporary restaurant into the location.

During today's meeting, the URA board also is scheduled to consider selling seven properties it owns on Forbes Avenue near Market Square to a subsidiary of Washington County developer Millcraft Industries for $2.4 million.

The URA paid nearly $5.3 million to amass the properties over a period of years. Millcraft plans to use the real estate for a proposed $76.6 million office and hotel development.