Millcraft Proposes $269 Million Downtown Development

The Post Gazette is reporting that Millcraft Industries, Inc., the developer of the former Lazarus Department Store, is proposing a $269 million redevelopment plan for the Fith/Forbes corridor in Downtown Pittsburgh. The plan would include 45,000 square feet of office space, 200,000 square feet of retail and 805 residential units. Millcraft stated that it was not requesting any public subsidy for the project, only an exlusive option to purchace City owned property in the corridor.

As I have posted many times before, the key to a vibrant Downtown is a critical mass of residential units coupled with the ammenities that make up a "neighborhood". The addition of office and retail space to the current boom in residential construction downtown is a great step towards a successful district.

The South Side is a great example of this type of synergistic neighborhood. The residents make the commercial Main Street ( East Carson Street ) successful, and the commercial business provide the services that residents desire. I am seeing the same energy in the plans for Downtown, that I have seen over the past 20 years on the South Side.

It is critical that existing downtown neighborhood organizations band together to ensure that the plan is well thought out and that it is executed properly. The South Side Works development is the result of great planning by The Soffer Organization, combined with an intelligent, engaged and vigilant community. Downtown needs to develop a similar structure.

Residential development has been the key missing ingredient in our previous "Renaissances". It seems that this time we are on the right track for sustainable Downtown development and growth.

Read more at the Post Gazette