Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 2:59PM |  59°
MENU
Advertisement

Urban Redevelopment Authority draws developer's ire

Urban Redevelopment Authority draws developer's ire

A developer who tried for nearly three years to rehabilitate a former cigar wrapping facility on Liberty Avenue, Downtown, is upset that the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is seeking new proposals for the property.

Michael Clements, president of Iron City Ventures, is demanding the URA reimburse him for more than $4,000 he estimates he spent on trying to redevelop the vacant building at 604 Liberty Ave.

The URA terminated Iron City Ventures’ exclusive negotiations for the property in November and last week requested a new round of proposals from developers interested in rehabbing the structure.

Advertisement

“I am deeply disappointed, as I possess the means, commitment and experience to deliver on this project,” Mr. Clements said in an email.

The URA declined comment on the developer’s complaints.

Iron City Ventures won the right to redevelop the property in 2012, proposing to turn the three-story building into a two- or three-bedroom townhouse with a street-level cafe or bistro.

It also had plans to return the building’s exterior to its early 1900s appearance when a restaurant named Rudy’s occupied the site.

Advertisement

But Iron City Ventures never was able to deliver on the proposal, and the building has now been vacant for about four years. Mr. Clements said one reason he couldn’t deliver was that an in-kind contribution and a grant he was to get through the URA never materialized.

When he realized the aid wouldn’t be available, he said he offered the URA a number of alternative proposals to turn the building into a full commercial use, such as a restaurant, a bank or a bakery. But those ideas, he said, went nowhere.

Mr. Clements said the agency did invite Iron City to submit another proposal in its latest request to developers. But he has flatly rejected that “as a matter of principle” and because he still thinks Iron City has exclusive rights to the property. He said he has never been formally notified that those rights were terminated.

In the new request for proposals, the URA stated that it is seeking a developer to complete a “unique small scale redevelopment” at the site, one that does not involve demolition.

“Due to this building’s location with respect to the many recreational and cultural amenities within Downtown Pittsburgh, it has the potential to be a showcase development,” the agency stated.

Proposals must be submitted by Feb. 13.

Before getting involved in 604 Liberty, Mr. Clements successfully redeveloped a three-story building on Forbes Avenue, where he converted the upper floors into two loft-style apartments and recruited the Penn Avenue Fish Co. to open a restaurant on the first floor.

Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.

First Published: January 13, 2015, 2:24 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks during a Senate Transportation Committee hearing to examine FAA reauthorization and aviation safety on May 14, 2025 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Following a fatal midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport earlier this year, aviation safety remains a major concern, especially as Newark Airport continues to grapple with air traffic controller shortages and a radar outage last week.
1
news
Pennsylvania progressive group pressures John Fetterman to resign
A view of Downtown Pittsburgh with PNC Park in the foreground. The Downtown Neighbors Alliance on Monday unveiled an expansive plan to revamp a portion of Liberty Ave, which includes new restaurants, storefronts and entertainment venues.
2
business
Expansive plans for Cultural District include new restaurants and entertainment venues
Fran Reiland, 80, of Carnegie, (back to camera) embraces a veteran who came off the bus with VetsRoll, a program providing trips t Washington D.C. for veterans, on Monday, May 19, 2025.   Eleven buses full of veterans and volunteers made a stop for lunch at Cefalo’s Banquet & Event Center in Carnegie. Ms. Reiland is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, and her brother was a soldier. She said the Marine she hugged was a stranger, but she felt compelled to greet him.  She came to Cefalo’s looking for possible high school classmates, but found none.
3
local
More than 400 veterans headed to Washington are greeted by cheers and hugs in Carnegie
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes heads to the dugout after finishing the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Philadelphia.
4
sports
Paul Zeise: Pirates' best course of action? Blow it up and start another 5-year plan
Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor, left, and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.
5
news
High-stakes Pittsburgh mayor’s race, key court seats on the ballot as voters head to the polls
Advertisement
LATEST business
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story