A Downtown developer is not shy about crossing the rivers.

Trek Development Group is ready to undertake significant new projects in the Garden Theater block of the North Side and at the Duquesne Brewing Company building on the South Side.

Regarding the North Side, city Urban Redevelopment Authority board members are expected to act Thursday on a proposal to sell nine parcels of land on Reddour and Federal streets and W. North Avenue to Trek for $140,000 for a new mixed-use development near the Garden Theater.

Trek is teaming with Q Development to reuse and restore existing buildings in the block and replace others lost to neglect and deterioration. The developers are planning 84 units of market rate and “workforce” apartments at the site as well as ground level retail space.

The development is “respectful of the historic structures, but also there’s new construction that will provide a modern twist to the residential that is there,” said William Gatti, Trek president and CEO.

Mr. Gatti said the $22 million redevelopment is still in the schematic stages, with variances still to be obtained and detailed design work still to be done. Trek hopes to break ground in March.

“We’re excited and we’re proceeding aggressively, but this is just the next step,” he said.

The plan is one of two the URA board intends to act on Thursday relating to the Garden Theater block, with hopes of jump-starting the long-stalled redevelopment of the stretch.

Board members also are expected to sell the former Masonic Temple at 118 West North Ave. to COA North Side LLC for $50,000 and award $1.81 million in grants related to its redevelopment.

City of Asylum is buying the building with plans to make the first floor its new home and convert the rest of the space into eight apartments — one one-bedroom, six two-bedroom and one three-bedroom, with rents ranging from $1,343 to $1,999 a month.

Trek also is in negotiations with Philadelphia developer Wayne Zukin about taking over the Garden Theater project from him, in part because it needs access to the building for its work in other parts of the block.

Concerned about the pace of development, the URA last year terminated Mr. Zukin’s rights to develop the Masonic Temple, opening the door for City of Asylum to become involved.

Tom Hardy, director of the Allegheny City Central Association, said the URA actions related to the block are “definitely a step in the right direction.”

“We’re pleased that the City of Asylum project is going to be under construction here hopefully by the end of the summer. That’s going to be a great anchor for the neighborhood,” he said, adding that Trek has “the horsepower” to get the rest of the block done.

Also on Thursday, the URA board will vote on whether to award nearly $1.9 million in loans to Trek for the development of 76 apartments and artist-related space at the former Duquesne Brewing building.

Mr. Gatti said the loans represent the last financing needed before construction can start in June. The work is expected to take about a year.

Trek is teaming with the Brew House Association, which owns the building, on the project. Besides the housing, the development will include work spaces for artists who live in the building, work studios for those who don’t, and art gallery and event space.

“I think it’s going to be a great product and something that doesn’t exist in Pittsburgh right now,” Mr. Gatti said.

Nine apartments will be affordable to those making 60 percent of the area median income, 32 to those making 50 percent, and seven to those at or below 20 percent. The rest will be market rate.

First Published: May 13, 2015, 4:00 a.m.