The residential boom that has overtaken the Strip District is spilling over into neighboring Polish Hill.
Green Tree-based RDC Design Build has acquired a three-acre industrial site at 3250 Liberty Ave. near the old Iron City Brewery where it plans to develop 370 apartment units spread over three buildings.
The site borders the Strip and Lawrenceville, with easy access to the East Busway, making it a prime spot for residential development, said Shawn Fox, RDC president.
“We feel it will be a very authentic neighborhood development that fits the character of the communities around us,” he said.
RDC is planning to reuse one existing three-story building at the site, while demolishing two others to make way for the new development, known as Brewers Block.
In their place, it will build two new six-story buildings to house apartments. It also will add a fourth level to the existing structure to accommodate a swimming pool and a deck with fire pits.
Other amenities include a basketball court, a CrossFit gym, co-working space, a demo kitchen and coffee bar.
Among the 370 units, a mix of studios and one- and two-bedrooms, RDC is building five townhouses that will run along a rebuilt alleyway.
RDC at one time had been considering offices for part of the development but ultimately decided against it. “We consider it a neighborhood development. Apartments best fit the site,” Mr. Fox said.
The apartments will be market rate and designed to be “comparable to the new developments in the Strip and Lawrenceville,” he added.
Both of the adjacent neighborhoods have seen a surge in residential development over the last decade. In the Strip alone, by one estimate, some 2,000 luxury apartments or condominiums have been added in the last six years.
Mr. Fox is counting on the Brewers Block location to separate the development from others in the vicinity. The site sits on Liberty between 32nd and 33rd streets at the nexus to the three neighborhoods.
“We kind of see ourselves connecting these three neighborhoods,” he said. “We’re really excited about the access to the busway and having the ability of residents to connect to Oakland, Downtown and East Liberty.”
The development is expected to cost more than $50 million. RDC hopes to get started by the end of the year. It is partnering on the project with Commonwealth Development Partners, which has offices in New York and other locations.
It is not unfamiliar with the area. RDC built the District 15 office building at 15th and Smallman streets in the Strip that is home to Facebook’s Pittsburgh office. It is partnering with the Burns Scalo real estate firm on a companion building across the street.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
Correction, posted Sept. 25, 2020: The location of RDC offices has been corrected.
First Published: September 25, 2020, 3:44 p.m.
