Thomas Bost and his wife, Christina, tried for quite some time to find a place in Downtown to call home. But they could never really find the right fit.
So they tried a different approach. They bought a building — and a storied one at that.
Bost Development, Mr. Bost’s company, is converting the eight-story building that housed the Smithfield Cafe for decades into a residential complex featuring six to 13 condominiums.
The 19th-century building at 635 Smithfield St., designed by famed architect Frederick Osterling, has fallen on hard times as of late. It has been vacant since the Smithfield Cafe closed its doors in 2012 after a 79-year run as one of Downtown’s busiest dining spots.
“That building has been an eyesore on that part of Smithfield for quite some time,” Mr. Bost said. “We’re excited to bring that back to its original glory.”
The new project comes just as the surrounding section of Smithfield is once again showing signs of life after years of struggle.
“The northern end of Smithfield certainly is seeing a significant amount of private investment spurring new storefronts and new residences in a corridor that hasn’t seen a lot of investment in over a decade,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Mr. Bost is hoping his project, estimated to cost between $8 million to $10 million, can be a catalyst.
Mr. Bost will build out the shell space for each of the units, ranging in size from 1,700 square feet to more than 10,000 square feet, and then leave it to buyers to customize their condos the way they see fit.
Some may want to include a home office in their space. Others may prioritize a walk-in closet. In each case, it will be up to the buyer, Mr. Bost said.
“The idea behind it is that everyone is different,” he said.
All but the smallest unit will have their own balconies, which can be substantial in their own right. They will run from 540 square feet to as much as 1,800 square feet coupled with a two-floor condo.
The balconies will be big enough for an outdoor kitchen, firepits and perhaps even an area for pets, Mr. Bost said.
“The idea was to provide all of those creature comforts that you get used to [in the suburbs] but have them in the city,” he said.
The condo shells themselves will be on the pricey side, with the smallest unit starting at $727,000, while the largest, stretching over two floors, would go for $3.2 million.
Residents can purchase a half floor, a full floor, or two floors.
Mr. Bost sees a market for the condos with empty nesters wanting to move into the city, athletes, business professionals and snowbirds who may want a summer home in Pittsburgh.
He and his wife also will be living in the building, which dates back to the late 1800s and bears some similarities in design to Downtown’s Union Trust Building, an Osterling masterpiece.
Howard Hanna is marketing the units. While no deals have been made yet, “We feel like there’s a lot of people out there interested,” Mr. Bost said.
Mr. Bost is planning to clean the existing facade, replace the windows and doors, and modernize the HVAC and building infrastructure.
In addition, there will be access to the Smithfield-Liberty garage, where parking will be available for residents, through a private entrance. Bost is also planning a rooftop swimming pool.
As part of the development, Bost intends to demolish two existing adjacent structures at 639 and 641 Smithfield, including one that housed the Smithfield Cafe’s bar, and replace them with a one-story building that will be marketed for retail. The first floor of the old Smithfield Cafe also will be used for that purpose.
Bost decided to go with condos because of the recent surge in apartment building in Downtown, with some 822 units currently in the pipeline.
“There’s a lot of product coming online. We see the need for home ownership Downtown,” Mr. Bost said. “It’s good to have a mix.”
Mr. Bost hopes to start construction this fall and to have the shell completed in six to eight months.
The PDP, which will hold a development activities meeting on the project Thursday, is supportive of it, Mr. Waldrup said.
“It’s a great addition to that block of Smithfield Street. It’s a beautiful historical structure that hasn’t been used for a long time,” he said.
Just a few doors down, at Smithfield and Seventh Avenue, Douglas Development, based in Washington, D.C., recently took over ownership of Centre City Tower with plans to invest millions to upgrade the offices.
At the very northern end of Smithfield at Liberty Avenue, Hullett Properties is planning to convert what is known as the Triangle Building into 15 residences.
In the middle of Smithfield, Minneapolis-based retailer Target is hoping to open an urban format location next month, possibly the week of July 10, in the former Kaufmann’s department store. Mr. Waldrup toured the space earlier this week.
“It’s great to see large format retail once again in the Kaufmann’s building,” he said. “So that’s a great addition.”
The city also is planning a major overhaul of Smithfield, with projects to reduce and narrow traffic lanes, widen sidewalks and create a more pedestrian-friendly experience.
A $9 million first phase will focus on the three blocks between Forbes and Sixth avenues. Mr. Bost said he is talking to the PDP about having that work extended to cover his development in the next block.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: June 9, 2022, 10:00 a.m.