Loft apartments set for Penn Ave.
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Pittsburgh is in the midst of an apartment boomlet.
A New York developer won approval from the city planning commission Tuesday to convert two Penn Avenue buildings into a 29-unit apartment complex.
The proposal comes just as work is starting on a $45 million project to convert the former State Office Building at Liberty Avenue and Commonwealth Place into 218 apartments. About a block away, on Stanwix Street, Philadelphia-based PMC Property Group is putting 158 apartments in the former Verizon Building.
Foris Property Group plans to start work in August transforming 10-story and eight-story buildings at 711 and 713 Penn, near the Benedum Center, into a single complex.
The renovated building will house 29 apartments, including four top-floor penthouses. The units will range in size from 700 to 1,500 square feet. The penthouses will be as large as 2,400 square feet.
Foris plans to reserve the first floor for retail and restaurant uses. The second floor will be devoted to office space.
The total project cost is expected to reach $5.5 million. The units should be ready in about a year.
Architect Mark McCormick said the apartments would be "loft-style." He would not divulge the rental rates.
Foris plans to seek historic designations for the buildings and intends to clean and repair the exterior brick and replace windows. "We're not changing the appearance of the buildings," Mr. McCormick said. "The attempt is to reinforce the historic character of the buildings."
The commission also endorsed a plan to build three townhouses on Market Street near the former Froggy's restaurant and nightclub. The units will each be 3,500 square feet and include garages. They involve renovations to an existing three-story building at Market and First Avenue, where work already has started, and a one-story addition.
Wayne Gregg, owner of Market First LLC, the developer, said two of the townhouses would be for his personal use. He said he did not know what he would do with the third. All will have three bedrooms.
Also Tuesday, the commission approved plans to rezone a vacant building on South Atlantic Avenue in Bloomfield for a 65,000-square-foot LA Fitness. The $12 million to $15 million project will be the first LA Fitness in the city. It is expected to open next year.
First Published June 1, 2011 12:00 am
