Four items relating to development opportunties in Homewood, Beechview, LIncoln Place and Downtown will be presented Thursday to the board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA).
The Economic Development Department, in partnership with Camo Customz and Oasis Creative Space, will present the concept design of the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum re-boarding artwork.
- The URA Board awarded the re-boarding contract to Camo Customz and Oasis Creative Space at its December 2019 meeting. The artists worked jointly with Homewood Collaborative to produce a final design. The artists and URA staff attended the January 16, 2020 Homewood Collaborative Meeting and the January 21, 2020 Homewood Community Meeting to show the community the artwork, and it was met with positive feedback. The URA is funding the project with $15,860.
The URA will be issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for 1600 Broadway Ave in Beechview, and recently issued an RFP for Commercial Market Analysis in Lincoln Place.
- The URA acquired the property located at 1600 Broadway in 2008 through foreclosure. Over the years the URA has worked with multiple developers, but none have been the correct fit for this key structure in Beechview’s business district. The URA will reissue an RFP seeking developers to purchase and redevelop the site.
- The property in Lincoln Place, located at 1201 Mifflin Road, was acquired by the City of Pittsburgh in 2003. Formerly a mobile home park, this approximately 7.19-acre site is now vacant land. The URA is in the process of acquiring the property from the city with the intent of conveying it for redevelopment. The URA is in the early stages of planning and is seeking proposals from commercial market professionals to help understand the types of businesses and square footages that can be supported by the market in this location. The URA has been working closely with Councilman O’Connor’s Office and the 31st Ward Community Action Group on this redevelopment.
Finally, the Board is expected to vote to approve a redevelopment proposal and contract for the sale of 604 Liberty Avenue, Downtown, to Hitchhiker Holdings, LLC for $120,000 plus costs.
- 604 Liberty Avenue is an 1,875 square-foot building located next to Liberty News and across from Heinz Hall, with a unique vantage point onto 6th Street and the Roberto Clemente Bridge. The property is located within two blocks of Market Square. Hitchhiker Holdings, LLC is a Pittsburgh-based brewing company currently with two locations: one in Sharpsburg, a 15,000 square-foot tap room that opened in 2017; and one in Mt. Lebanon, a 1,500 square-foot tap room opened in 2014. Hitchhiker Holdings is proposing to redevelop 604 Liberty into a retail taproom for the brewing company. The company also plans to debut nitro-brewed cold coffee during daylight working hours.
- Total estimated project costs are $547,500, with cost of improvements to the property estimated at $427,500. In the event Hitchhiker sells the property within 20 years of the URA-Hitchhiker closing, the URA will receive 5% of the sale price. Prior to the sale of this property, the proposed development will again be presented to the URA Board for approval of final working drawings, evidence of financing and authorization to execute the deed.
Contact:
Gigi Saladna
Senior Communications Manager
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
412.255.6434
gsaladna@ura.org
