Category Archive: City Living
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South Vo-Tech sold to become housing
Old South High site closed in 2004
Friday, February 29, 2008
By Eleanor Chute
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe now-empty South Vo-Tech High School, built in 1897, will have a new life as an upscale residence.
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board Wednesday approved selling the high school building, originally known as South High School, to lone bidder Gregory Development for $1.1 million. The district had set a minimum bid of $500,000.
The sale includes the original building and addition, which are bounded by Carson, 10th, Sarah and Ninth streets, but it does not include the annex located across 10th street, behind a gas station. The school has been closed since 2004, but the annex is in use.
Gregory Coyle, president of Gregory Development & Management Inc., said, “It’s going to be a high-end residential project. It will be probably 75 units, in that range.”
Whether it will be condominiums or rental units will depend on the market down the road, he said.
“I’m very excited about the prospect of developing it. I think the historical aspect is something we’re going to work very hard to maintain,” he said.
Kevin Hanley, manager of real estate and housing programs for the nonprofit South Side Local Development Co., which is not involved in the project, called the building “a gateway to the neighborhood.”
“It’s a key parcel, based on historical and architectural significance and location,” he said.
Mr. Hanley said Gregory Development previously has done some “solid work” on the South Side.
Mr. Coyle said the approval process could take up to 12 months, and construction could take another 12 months.
Mr. Coyle, who lives on the South Side, said the project is not intended for student housing, which some South Side residents had opposed.
The building was purchased as is, so the developer has to pay for the necessary environmental remediation, estimated at $700,000.
Other Gregory developments on the South Side include 1205-1213 E. Carson St. and 2026 E. Carson St.
Mr. Coyle also is a partner in ASC Development, which has been involved in projects such as a Wal-Mart-anchored shopping centers in Ebensburg, Edinboro, Bradford, Delmont and Shippensburg as well as one in Kilbuck, which was canceled after the planned site was plagued by landslides.
The school board also approved a resolution authorizing the chief operations officer and the solicitor to “expeditiously move forward with the disposal” of 20 closed buildings, for which the ongoing maintenance costs exceed a total of $1 million.
If a building fails to sell “in their initial attempt,” then the two are authorized to find a “responsible entity, within the immediate community of the school,” which could receive the building at a nominal cost.
The 20 buildings are Beltzhoover, Boggs, Burgwin, Chatham, Columbus, Connelley, East Hills, Gladstone, Knoxville, Lemington, Letsche, Madison, Mann, Miller, Morningside, Prospect, Rogers (in 2009), Vann, Washington and West Side.
Education writer Eleanor Chute can be reached at echute@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1955.
First published on February 29, 2008 at 12:00 am -
Stanwix Street closure hurts, businesses say
By Adam Brandolph
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, February 19, 2008The tunnel-boring machine for the North Shore Connector project is more than 50 feet underground, but businesses on the other side of the river at Stanwix Street are feeling the shock waves.
Some business owners say they have lost customers since July, when the road closed to motorists between Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Penn Avenue, Downtown. The street is open to pedestrians.
Howard Kernats, owner of Hair Fashions by Howard, estimated business is down 60 percent. “It’s been tough,” said Kernats, 66, of Robinson. “Everybody on this block is hurting bad.”
Others aren’t so sure.
Bob Zilch, owner of Metro News newsstand, said foot traffic usually slows down this time of year. He might have lost some business, but construction workers who buy cigarettes, soda and lottery tickets have made up the difference, he said.
Merrill Stabile, president of Alco Parking, said his nearby garage at Sixth Street and Penn Avenue still fills daily. “There might be some inconvenience to customers, and we want to see the congestion cleared up as soon as possible, but it’s not hurting us,” Stabile said.
Stanwix Street is serving as a receiving ground for the boring machine, which is digging a tunnel under the Allegheny River from the North Shore as part of the $435 million project of the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s light-rail system.
The machine is moving about 25 feet a day toward Stanwix, where it will turn around and dig a parallel tunnel.
Port Authority planned to plate over Stanwix and reopen the street in December, but delays with securing retaining walls pushed the opening to April 1, spokesman Dave Whipkey said.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2011. About 14,300 daily riders are expected to use the connector, Whipkey said.
Port Authority has posted signs to let people know the stores still are open, he said.
“It’s one of those things,” Whipkey said. “(Construction) could be taking place anywhere else, and another set of shops could be taking a hit. We hate the fact they’re losing business.”
More than 30,000 motorists a day are detoured around the construction, Whipkey said.
Kristen Trohat, general manager of Max & Erma’s restaurant, said the closure hasn’t affected the lunch crowd.
“But it’s hurting us at dinner time and on the weekends,” she said.
To help alleviate a 15 percent to 20 percent loss in business since construction began, Trohat said, the restaurant brought back its happy hour and is working on a marketing campaign with nearby parking garages.
Sol Gross, 86, owner of a mixed commercial and residential building in the heart of the closure, said the construction has hurt his ability to lure renters.
Fifteen percent of his apartments are vacant, the same as before construction began, he said.
When finished, the North Shore Connector will help his sales pitch, giving him “an added amenity” to offer prospective tenants, Gross said.
Adam Brandolph can be reached at abrandolph@tribweb.com or 412-320-7936.
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Save-A-Lot Grocery Store Provides Video Presentations
Save-A-Lot Grocery Store has expressed interest in locating in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District neighborhood. Save-A-Lot has provided two rather interesting videos and one commercial that highlight their business, design of the grocery store, and focus on customer satisfaction.
This video highlights a Save-A-Lot Grocery Store, it’s business model, and focus on how Save-A-Lot strives to offer the best possible customer experience.This video requires Adobe Flash Player to view
Click Here to Download
This video shows how Save-A-Lot focusses on the quality of their store and ensuring that the customer has the best experience possible. This gives you an insight on the quality oriented shopping experience Save-A-Lot strives to achieve.This video requires Adobe Flash Player to view
Click Here to Download
This is an example of a Save-A-Lot Commercial.This video requires Adobe Flash Player to view
Click Here to Download -
Restaurant, grocer signed for Cork Factory retail space
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe owner of the Clark Bar and Grill on the North Side and Caffe Amante, Downtown, plans to open a restaurant and cigar and wine bar as part of the Cork Factory development in the Strip District.
The restaurant is one of two businesses planning to occupy the retail space located directly across the street from the Cork Factory, a 297-unit apartment complex at Railroad and 23rd streets that opened in May.
A specialty grocery store also is in the works. It will occupy nearly half of the 45,000 square feet of retail space available in the 3.5-acre Cork Factory development.
Both the restaurant and the grocer have executed leases and are expected to open for business this spring, according to a news release issued yesterday by Cork Factory developer McCaffery Interests.
“This is a catalyst project that I believe is going to create great change, not only for the Strip but for Downtown Pittsburgh,” said Katie Pliscott, leasing director of McCaffery.
The restaurant will be operated by Angelo Lamatrice and his son, David. The Lamatrices currently own and operate the Clark Bar and Grill on the North Side near the stadiums and Caffe Amante in Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown.
Angelo Lamatrice did not want to talk about the Cork Factory venture yesterday, saying plans were still being finalized.
“It’s early,” he said.
But according to the developer, the restaurant will occupy about 10,000 square feet of space and will feature a “sophisticated” wine and cigar bar. There also will be VIP rooms, Ms. Pliscott said.
The operator of the specialty grocery store has not been identified. Ms. Pliscott would give few details about the store, but said it would be operated by a Pittsburgh businessman.
With the plans for the restaurant and grocer, only about 11,000 square feet of retail space remains in the complex.
Since opening last year, the Cork Factory has rented 87 percent of its units, which range from studio apartments to three-bedroom lofts. Rents run from $1,200 a month to $3,900 a month.
Besides the retail development within the complex, there are plans to develop a full-service marina on the Allegheny riverfront.
Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First published on January 30, 2008 at 12:00 am -
Save-A-Lot once again considering store for Hill
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteA St. Louis-based grocer might be ready to give the Hill District a second chance.
Five years after passing on a chance to locate in the Hill, Save-A-Lot, a national chain with more than 1,200 stores in 39 states, has a renewed interest in the location.
Landmarks Community Capital Corp., a subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, plans to introduce the operator at a breakfast meeting today at the Grand Concourse restaurant in Station Square.
Howard Slaughter Jr., Landmarks Community chief executive officer, said the group has been working for months to attract a grocery to the Hill.
The effort, he said, is independent of the negotiations between Hill leaders and the city, Allegheny County and the Penguins over a community benefits agreement as part of the plan to replace Mellon Arena. One of the major demands in those talks is support for a Hill grocery.
While not naming Save-A-Lot, Mr. Slaughter said the grocer involved already has visited the Hill and completed a preliminary assessment of its viability to support a store.
“I would say they have a serious interest in locating in the Hill,” he said. “They’re very interested in that location. Their interest is in serving Centre Avenue, that main corridor from the Hill to Downtown.”
Save-A-lot, a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu Inc., a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest grocery-related companies in the United States, considered the Hill for a store in 2003.
But the company ended up deciding against it, with a spokesman saying at the time that it was unable to find a suitable location. He did not, however, rule out a possible return to the Hill at some point.
Mr. Slaughter said a lot has changed in the five years since Save-A-Lot last considered the location. He said there has been much redevelopment in that time, including the new Oak Hill development and more senior housing.
“When you see the new development occurring in the Hill District … it’s a world of difference and it makes the marketability much more plausible,” he said.
Known for its no-frills approach, Save-A-Lot currently has stores in Crafton, Lawrenceville, Wilkinsburg, Duquesne and North Versailles. Its parent, Supervalu, not only supplies Save-A-Lots in the Pittsburgh area, but Shop ‘n Save and Foodland stores as well.
Save-A-Lot boasts of annual systemwide retail sales in excess of $4 billion and claims to offer savings of up to 40 percent compared with conventional grocery stores.
According to a news release from Landmarks Community Capital, the Hill store would offer fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, dairy items, bakery goods, and other assorted grocery and household items. Mr. Slaughter said it is open to the possibility of minority ownership. It also said the operator hires from within the community.
“We believe this grocer provides an opportunity for residents to have quality food,” Mr. Slaughter said. “This is the best operator who we have found who is interested in coming to the Hill District.”
Save-A-Lot officials could not be reached for comment.
Carl Redwood, chairman of the One Hill Community Benefits Agreement Coalition, said it didn’t matter how a grocery operator was secured. What was important, he said, is that the operator “consult with and work with the community.”
“It’s good that operators are interested. It’s important that the operator share with the community as part of the process and let the community know what their intentions are prior to it happening,” he said.
The city Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Penguins each have pledged $1 million to help bring a grocery store to the Hill, and the team has been working to attract an operator to the area. Mr. Slaughter said there also may be state-financed low-interest loans available to the grocer.
The preferred site for a store is a vacant tract of land near an existing strip mall on Centre Avenue, just above Crawford Square.
Penguins President David Morehouse welcomed the interest by Save-A-Lot. He said the team has been approached by a “couple of other operators” about locating in the Hill.
“We look forward to talking to [Save-A-Lot] as well as other operators who have expressed an interest in opening a grocery store on the Hill,” he said.
City, county, Penguins and Hill representatives have been invited to today’s breakfast.
Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First published on January 29, 2008 at 12:00 am
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Save-a-Lot may put a food store in the Hill District
By Jeremy Boren
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, January 29, 2008A St. Louis-based grocery store chain that specializes in serving inner-city neighborhoods could set up shop in the Hill District, according to the Landmarks Community Capital Corp.
“This is a grocer who has a great connection to this market, is interested in developing in urban markets and is open to minority ownership,” said Howard B. Slaughter Jr., CEO of Landmarks Capital, part of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
Slaughter declined to identify the company, but he would not deny speculation that it is discount grocer Save-a-Lot, which is based in St. Louis and has five stores in the Pittsburgh area, including Duquesne, Wilkinsburg and Lawrenceville.
“It has to be Save-a-Lot. It matches up in terms of the number of stores, and it likes those demographics,” said industry consultant Burt Flickinger III, managing director of Strategic Resource Group in New York.
Slaughter said in a news release that the grocer has 1,200 stores in 39 states and is the nation’s fifth-largest chain. Those figures mirror statistics about Save-a-Lot on the company’s Web site. A spokesperson did not return a call seeking comment.
Slaughter said he and the grocer will discuss a market analysis and site inspection of a possible Centre Avenue location for the store at an 8:30 a.m. news conference today at Station Square.
The grocery store operator could be eligible for up to $2 million in loans from The Reinvestment Fund of Philadelphia to cover start-up costs such as buying land and recruiting employees, Slaughter said.
Separately, the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Pittsburgh Penguins have offered up to $2 million in start-up financing to a company willing to open what would become the Hill District’s lone grocery store.
The commitment is in response to neighbors who are demanding an agreement that includes provisions for a grocery store from the city, Penguins and Allegheny County before the $290 million Uptown arena is built for the Penguins.
“It’s always positive to have operators that are interested,” said Carl Redwood Jr., chairman of the One Hill Coalition, a group seeking a community benefits agreement. “We just need to make sure that the community needs are met. There are some people in the community that wouldn’t call this their ideal store.”
Redwood said some members of One Hill might not like a discount chain that lacks the amenities of some supermarket chains such as a pharmacy.
In 2006, some Hill District residents rejected efforts by Aldi, a German-owned discount chain, to open a store on Centre Avenue because they believed it would ruin chances to attract a full-service grocery store.
The neighborhood hasn’t had a full-service store since Shop ‘n Save closed its AUBA Plaza store on Centre Avenue in the early 1980s.
Jeremy Boren can be reached at jboren@tribweb.com or 412-765-2312.
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Hill District Could Finally Get Grocery Store
January 29, 2008
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)The Hill District may be one step closer to getting a much-anticipated, much-needed grocery store.
Our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report that a Saint Louis-based company has confirmed its interest in building a “Save-A-Lot” store in the Hill.
The preferred site for a store is unknown but one location under consideration is at Centre Avenue and Heldman Street.
Company officials said the process is still in the preliminary stages at this point.
Save-A-Lot has 1,200 stores in 39 states.
The company looked at the Hill District in the 2004 and decided against putting one there.
Watch the video at this link: http://kdka.com/local/Save.A.Lot.2.640355.html
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Save-A-Lot confirms interest in Hill District grocery
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
By Rich Lord,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteOfficials of a St. Louis-based grocery chain confirmed today that they are interested in locating a store in the Hill District, a city neighborhood that has long sought a full-service grocer.
But officials from Save-A-Lot said during a breakfast meeting at Station Square that the process is still very preliminary.
The company is reviewing “multiple” sites, but a map distributed at the meeting indicated a possible candidate is at Centre Avenue and Heldman Street.
Save-A-Lot, which has several stores in the region and distributes food to Shop ‘n Save and Foodland stores, typically builds $3 million groceries with about 15,000 square feet and 20 to 25 employees, officials said today.
It has not decided on how it would finance a Hill store.
First published on January 29, 2008 at 9:52 am