After losing fight to raze Froggy’s, developer moves to demolish adjacent building
After losing a battle to demolish several buildings in the Firstside Historic District Downtown, a developer apparently intends to move forward with the razing of another that is said to be in danger of collapse.
Troiani Group has notified at least some stakeholders in the district that it will begin the demolition of a vacant six-story building at 209 First Ave. this month, although it gave no exact date.
The decision to go ahead comes several weeks after the Pittsburgh Planning Commission rejected a proposal by Troiani to raze buildings at 100-102 and 104-106 Market St., including the old Froggy’s bar and restaurant adjacent to 209 First.
Troiani wants to demolish all of the structures to clear the way for the construction of a 30-story office, residential and retail tower that would border Market, First and the Boulevard of the Allies.
In making their decision to at least temporarily save the Market Street buildings, commission members questioned Troiani’s contention that the structures were beyond repair and that it was financially unworkable to attempt to salvage them.
However, the commission had no say on the 209 First Ave. building after Troiani got emergency approval from the board of appeals in the city’s Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections in late June to demolish it.
The developer argued at the time that the building was in such bad shape, with compressed bricks and falling debris, that it was in imminent danger of collapsing. It turned to the board after PLI department officials rejected its emergency application for demolishing the building.
Troiani paid $550,000 to acquire the property in 2015. It has been vacant for more than half a century, Troiani has said.
Michael Troiani, president of
Troiani Group, could not be reached for comment. Ken Doyno, Troiani’s architect, declined comment.
In his July 27 letter to stakeholders, Mr. Troiani stated that more than half of the demolition work will be done manually.
“Our intent was to gain approval to raze all of the decrepit, condemnable structures at 100-108 Market St. also and at once quickly using machines, but due to the planning commission disposition delaying this activity, we are compelled to
demolish the majority of 209 First Ave. by hand,” he wrote.
“This will increase the duration of the demolition activity, increase hazard to the workmen and, sadly, eliminate the ability to repurpose the magnificent timber joist within 209 First Ave. at their full length.”
All of the buildings Troiani wants to raze are part of the Firstside Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the designation does not prevent the buildings from being torn down.
The 30-story mixed-use tower proposed by the developer would feature 200,000 square feet of office space and 151 residences, plus retail.
Although the commission rejected the bid to demolish the Market Street buildings, Troiani does have the right to return to the board with another proposal to raze them if it is coupled with a formal plan to redevelop the site.
Last year, Troiani took down two buildings on the Boulevard of the Allies that once housed the former Tramps and Papa J’s Centro restaurants to make way for the new development.