North Shore development project gets an extension — again
A Columbus developer working on behalf of the Steelers and the Pirates is getting more time to complete its next project on the North Shore.
The Pittsburgh Stadium Authority board voted unanimously Tuesday to give Continental Real Estate Companies another six months — to Feb. 27, 2019 — to develop Lot 4 on North Shore Drive adjacent to the Hyatt Place Hotel and PNC Park.
Without the extension, Continental would have had to start the work by Aug. 31 under its option agreement with the stadium authority. Continental was hired by the Steelers and the Pirates to develop the land between Heinz Field and the ballpark.
Stadium authority officials tied the decision to grant the extension to the ongoing construction of the seven-story office building across the street from Lot 4. That building, the headquarters of German software company SAP, is scheduled to be completed in the spring.
Stanley Lederman, the authority’s board chairman, called the extension “necessary and proper” given the circumstances.
“We want to get that SAP building open to lessen the potential problems with
construction at the site,” he said.
Mary Conturo, SEA executive director, said it was prudent to get the SAP building construction “well underway” before any new endeavors are undertaken.
The parcel in question is the last to be developed on North Shore Drive.
“From our standpoint, it made sense to get the construction well underway and understand the impact of that to help define what the next development could be,” Ms. Conturo said.
Mark Hart, the Steelers’ vice president of planning and development, said Continental and the teams appreciated the additional time.
“We have a project we’re all excited about. We’re working on the final details. Given the construction with SAP Ariba, it seems irresponsible to put another shovel in the ground until we have all the details and plans worked out,” he said.
Continental had been considering a $65 million, 250-unit apartment complex at the site but backed off those plans because of the dramatic jump in the number of residential dwellings that have been built in or near Downtown over much of the past decade.
Mr. Hart said the developer and the teams are now generally looking at a fourto six-story mixed-use development with additional multipurpose entertainment amenities and replacement parking.
He described the entertainment option as an “open air fan entertainment amenity.” The parking would be needed to replace the surface lots that will be lost to the construction.
The new project will be one of the last major developments to be done on the North Shore. Over the past 15 years, Continental has completed three office complexes (including one housing the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), a concert venue and a variety of restaurants and nightspots.
Ms. Conturo said there are still several parcels along West General Robinson Street to be developed.