An Allegheny County Common Pleas judge has cleared the way for the construction of two condominium buildings on Grandview Avenue on Mount Washington, dealing a blow to residents who had opposed the projects.

President Judge Joseph James, in a ruling and order filed April 6 and made public today, upheld decisions by the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment that allowed proposed condo buildings at 501 Grandview and 341 Grandview to exceed 40-foot height restrictions in that area.

Developers sought special exceptions from the zoning board to go above that limit based on a provision in the city's zoning laws that permits new buildings to exceed 40 feet if they are located within 500 feet of another structure that is more than 40 feet tall. In this case, both projects are located within 500 feet of St. Mary of the Mount Church.

James said those residents opposed to the projects had the burden under the law to show that the buildings would have a detrimental effect on the area. The zoning board had determined that opponents had not been able to prove that.