The Braddock building that housed an abandoned vertical farming operation could become a state-of-the-art food manufacturing and cold storage facility under the latest proposal for its redevelopment.
Green Tree-based RDC, the building owner, says it is working with a “food manufacturing company” interested in relocating to Pennsylvania to occupy the 60,000-square-foot plant at 1050 Talbot Avenue.
RDC made the statement in an application for a $3 million state redevelopment assistance capital grant that would be used to help with the plant’s conversion.
Shawn Fox, RDC president, declined to give any additional details about the company or the status of any discussions.
But he did say that RDC has determined that an advanced food manufacturing and cold storage facility represents the “highest and best use” for the property, which sits in the shadow of the brawny Edgar Thomson Steel Works.
In its application for the state grant, the firm stated that the repurposing of the property would create manufacturing jobs for as many as 200 people — a big increase over the 30 who worked inside the building when it was a vertical farm.
“I’m really excited about what this facility can create for the Mon Valley and the food industry in Pittsburgh,” Mr. Fox said.
RDC constructed the building in 2019 for Fifth Season, a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff that created the vertical farm inside, one that grew about 500,000 pounds a year of spinach, lettuce, and other leafy greens at its peak by utilizing robotics, artificial intelligence, other high-tech equipment, and data analysis.
But after starting operations, Fifth Season abruptly shut its doors in October 2022, leaving RDC with a very sophisticated growing facility and no one to run it.
For a time, the firm focused on trying to find someone else to operate the vertical farm, while also working to cultivate a contingency plan that would involve converting the plant to an advanced food manufacturing and/or cold storage facility.
RDC ultimately decided that the latter route was the way to go because it offered more flexibility and addressed an urgent need, not only locally but across the country.
Mr. Fox said that the COVID-19 pandemic showed how fragile the food supply chain can be and how product shortages can create spikes in prices.
“From what we have learned and from what we have researched, there is such a need for food production and cold storage facilities, not only in our region but in our country,” he said.
The overall redevelopment is estimated to cost nearly $17.5 million, including $3 million being requested of the state.
According to the application, the project involves the conversion to an advanced manufacturing and cold storage facility “with cutting-edge food processing equipment and capabilities.”
Among its components, the rehab work would include “demolition and removal of specific vertical farming operations; modifications to the specialized refrigeration, HVAC and central cooling tower systems; and construction of new manufacturing rooms with insulated metal panel walls and ceilings that will be food grade.”
Other modifications will be made to support the 200-employee workforce.
In addition, new shipping and receiving docks will be built to accommodate the proposed food manufacturing company’s packaging operations for shipping.
Changes also will be made to the centralized cooling plant in anticipation of a possible future expansion.
“The facility was originally designed for advanced processing and includes specialized building systems that will be modified to provide food grade temperatures and safety features,” the application stated.
RDC has set an aggressive schedule for the renovations, hoping to have them completed and the relocated company in place and operating sometime later this year.
Mr. Fox said food manufacturing and production work will involve turning raw product into finished goods, mentioning as examples items like pasta sauce, salad dressings, or jams and jellies.
He believes such a facility is needed now more than ever.
“It’s amazing to understand the delicate and fragile nature of our food supply chain. With a small investment, we’re providing over 200 manufacturing jobs, family-sustaining wages, and food production development,” he said.
Last June, RDC had put the Braddock property up for sale, with an asking price of $12 million. It was built at a cost of more than $30 million. At the time, Mr. Fox said that RDC had found that many potential operators would rather own the facility than lease it.
He declined to say whether the property was still for sale.
Mr. Fox has said that the land on which the plant was built is large enough to support another 60,000-square-foot space that could be utilized for cold storage.
Fifth Season, meanwhile, ended up filing for chapter seven bankruptcy last October, a year after it shut down, after efforts to find a new buyer failed.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com
First Published: March 1, 2024, 11:07 a.m.
Updated: March 1, 2024, 4:31 p.m.