Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato got a VIP tour of Downtown's first new condominium building in nearly four decades this morning, from the well-appointed lobby off Fort Pitt Boulevard to an unfinished 18th floor penthouse with spectacular views of the South Side, Mount Washington and the Monongahela River.

Both said that 151 First Side, which held its grand opening today, has paved the way for a residential renaissance Downtown.

"This project was key," Mr. Onorato said before the tour. "If this doesn't sell, it would have put the brakes on new housing Downtown."

Instead, sales at 151 First Side, where units sell from $200,000 to $1.8 million, have taken off.

Developer Ralph Falbo said 62 of the 82 units have already sold, with 40 percent of those buying coming from out of town.

"We're just happy as hell," he said.

The VIP tour was one of two events scheduled to mark the grand opening of the $28 million building. Mr. Falbo, Mr. Onorato, residents and others will gather at 5 p.m. for a ribbon cutting, tour and reception, which will be held in the unfinished penthouse.

"I really believe we're turning the corner [Downtown]," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "We're creating an environment where people want to live, work and play."

First Published: October 23, 2007, 3:45 p.m.