EXPLORING OPTIONS
Shadyside residents hear, question pitches on the future of the Hunt Armory
More than 150 Shadyside residents gathered in Calvary Episcopal Church on Wednesday evening to hear four proposals addressing what to do with the historic Alfred E. Hunt Armory, a cavernous facility that — in its day — was a storage center for weapons and ammunition.
The 93,671-square-foot structure covers nearly an entire city block and is revered by residents who are adamant that the venerable exterior be kept as it is.
City Councilman Dan Gilman and the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority hosted the session giving neighbors a chance to size up alternatives that included:
• An “urban beach” resubmitted by Sutton Management Corp. featuring a pool, sand, palm trees and walking track incorporated into a mixed-use development that also would include 50 residences for “active seniors”; a 20,000-squarefoot health club; 20,000 square feet of restaurants, boutiques and medical offices; and 80 parking spaces for cars and 50 spaces for bicycles.
Architect Art Lubetz said the site would be “an oasis from Pittsburgh winters unlike anything in the city,” yet promised that the massive East End armory “would maintain its grandeur.”
• A 10,000-square-foot forest-style landscaped skating pond that would be converted into a water feature during the summer. The plan pitched by Brinton Motheral and Victory Plaza LLC also includes a one- or two-screen movie theater, a 5,500-square-foot restaurant pub pavilion with outdoor seating, 38 condominium units with access to a landscaped deck, and parking for 50 vehicles.
Mr. Motheral, who grew up in the neighborhood, said the recreation-oriented use was a better option than residential use because there are enough apartments in Shadyside. “I’ve never seen so many ‘For Rent’ signs in 40 years,” he said.
• A “world-class” multisport facility with the capacity for 12 regulation volleyball courts, six
regulation futsal courts, six regulation basketball courts, three soccer fields, three baseball diamonds and an elevated running/ walking track, along with multiple studios for yoga, spin and other types of classes. Cozza Enterprises also is proposing a sports shop, a restaurant overlooking the playing field, community event space, a 159-space parking garage, and a “historic wall” honoring the armory.
Company president Craig Cozza promised those in attendance “if it’s not good for the community, we’re not interested in doing it.”
• A regulation ice rink and squash center that would share space in the main hall. During the summer, the rink would be converted to an all-sports surface for soccer and other field sports. The development team of Steve Mosites, David Light and Lafe Metz also is proposing to build a one-story addition over part of the armory to house medical offices.
The plan includes a 100space parking garage, said architect Rob Pfaffman, who stressed the recreational focus of the development.
Though residents were given the opportunity to ask questions — which ranged from parking concerns to the burden on the neighborhood’s aging plumbing network — Mr. Gilman emphasized at the outset that it is “very early” in the process and much of the deeper impact studies have yet to be started.
Right now, he said, the community project is in “the conceptual stage.”
The proposals were sought by URA board members after a plan to redevelop the building into an Olympic-size ice rink collapsed because the developer was unable to secure financing.
No fiscal details were available for any of the new proposals, but URA board members have said that any project brought before them must make financial sense.