Lawrenceville townhome construction moves forward
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Construction of five townhomes near the doughboy statue in Lawrenceville is poised to move forward with Pittsburgh City Council's blessing.
Council last week authorized the city Urban Redevelopment Authority to sell five parcels in the 3400 block of Butler Street to Central Real Estate Holdings LLC for $109,750.
"I am extremely excited to move forward," Councilman Patrick Dowd, who represents Lawrenceville, said.
Mr. Dowd said Alfred DePasquale and John Elash III, previously identified as the developers, are operating as Central Real Estate.
To make the project viable, council in June approved a lot swap on Butler Street with Carlotta Burgess, wife of Councilman Ricky Burgess. Mr. Burgess did not vote on the swap.
The trade gave Mrs. Burgess four lots in a row and the URA five, paving the way for the townhome development. Because her property had a higher appraised value, Mrs. Burgess also received $4,000.
The community was split over the proposed development, with some residents disliking Mr. DePasquale's previous work in the area and the design of the proposed townhomes. Others wanted a mixed development for Lawrenceville's Butler Street gateway instead of a purely residential project.
In the end, the developers made some design changes to bring the neighborhood closer together, Mr. Dowd and Matthew Galluzzo, executive director of Lawrenceville Corp., a community group, said.
"I think many of those issues have been quelled," Mr. Galluzzo said.
Mr. Galluzzo said commercial and office development around the signature doughboy monument may be possible in the future, noting that Central Real Estate has agreed to consider "a commercial building" if it undertakes a second project in the area.
He said he expects the townhome construction to be well under way by spring.
First Published September 28, 2010 12:00 am
