The Strip District Moving Guide

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Strip District 

Until recently, very few people ever considered moving to the Strip District. Except for a few scattered row-houses along Penn Avenue, the Strip has appealed more to business owners than residents. But now that this dynamic neighborhood has transformed into a commercial hot spot, more real estate developers are taking interest. And in a way, it’s about time.

Like so many warehouse districts before it (the Garment District in New York, San Francisco’s SoMa), the Strip suffered a major downfall with the collapse of industry, and many of its buildings were abandoned and eventually condemned. The Cork Factory was reduced to a brick-and-steel husk and neglected for decades.

Now the old brick buildings have become a hot commodity for developers interested in creating one of a kind lofts. For city-dwellers of a certain tax bracket, the Strip is rapidly becoming a touchstone of hip urban living, where the ceilings are high, the windows are tall, and luxurious spaces can still be rented for less than cramped, ordinary tenements in larger cities.

Got milk? 

The latest residential development activity in the Strip is at the Otto Milk Company building which is being renovated into 57 lofts  and called -- what else?--the Otto Milk Company Condos. The location right near the heart of the shopping district is superb and the amenities in the one to three bedroom units sound quite   promising: rooftop terraces, panoramic views, brick walls, ceilings up to 11-feet high--you get the picture.  Also encouraging to homeowners are the special tax credits. Check their website for details.

Further up the street you'll find the Brake House. Formerly the Kerotest Building, the Brake House was named for the air brakes which were invented right here, the former site of the Westinghouse who invented it. Located at 2501 Liberty Avenue, this place is an 18-unit dream, where tenants enjoy exposed original masonry, chic steel beams running along the ceiling, and – most innovative of all – moveable, semi-transparent walls, so residents can enjoy privacy but still receive a generous flood of natural light.

Thanks to a $2.5 million makeover in 2001, the 30,000-sq. ft. building broke new ground in the Strip for luxury living. 

“I was the first guy in,” says Greg Rogers, a retired Federal Agent who is now director of the Intelligence and National Security Program at Duquesne University. “As a matter of fact, when I came in to look at it, they were telling me how it would look.”

This was a common tour when no wall productions first began showing the spaces; they built frames inside the lofts to mark where future walls and dividers would be installed. Rogers, who has lived all over the world – including such exotic locations at Bangkok – had no intention of staying in Pittsburgh. He had only planned to conduct some Agency work in the months after Sept. 11. When he decided to stick around, he perused some loft spaces Downtown. “They were nice. They had these skylights, which are perfect for artists. But it’s not what I was looking for.”

Instead, he settled on a Brake House unit – a room with a view. “It’s really just the third floor, but you can see the whole city skyline,” he says. “I like the open space. My furniture is from all over the world. You put this furniture in an eight-foot-ceiling room, it’s just ridiculous.” And the windows: “There are 14 of them. And they’re big.”

He also enjoys its proximity to local groceries and restaurants. “Wholey’s is great. I like the produce, I like the price.” Rogers enjoys cooking, and the Wholey’s selection, he says, is a great luxury.

The Brake House, where the movie "Flashdance" was filmed, has attracted a range of residents, from attorneys to an erotic dancer (who likes the space because it’s close to her job). 

The Cork Factory

For locals who have, over the years, passed by the old Armstrong Cork Factory hoping for a renovation, the Cork Factory Lofts have been a long anticipated and welcomed project. Take a look at them now! Located on the river's edge and standing a full seven to ten stories high, the buildings were originally designed by John Osterling, a famous local turn-of-the-century architect, and the restoration has been nothing short of remarkable. Now there are 297 units, many occupied, and featuring striking architectural elements such as tall windows for ample daylighting and open floor plans with exposed brick walls and dramatic high ceilings. To help all those residents connect, top-notch amenities include a fitness center, full business center, outdoor pool and hot tub and a garden patio wtih firepit. Not to mention laundry facilities in each unit, stainless steel sinks and peninsula kitchens – all the amenities fit for a true Dwell Magazine enthusiast. Where there once was an engine room, there will soon be an expansive community room, a great gathering spot with a bar area and fireplace, two plasma TVs, pool table and game table and more. Guest suites? Check. Wi-fi? Check. It's available in the common area. Nothing is overlooked on this long list, including the exclusive private marina so tenants can park their boats. Newly opened Cioppino's is a welcome addition on the ground floor. As for cars, a full-scale garage is going up across from the building. With all the activities offered and the lively Strip shopping nearby, there's no chance of boredom here, ever.

The one, two and three-bedroom lofts feature 35 different floor plans ranging in size from 682 square feet to 2, 327. Prices start at $1130 a month and beautifully furnished models are available for viewing.  Phase One, which includes 100 units and the Factory Building and Engine Room, will be ready for moving in November 15th.

The hip new Cork Factory with its blend of old and new will likely appeal to a wide range of people, from the young (or anyone) who want to be in the middle of it all to upscale professionals with an offbeat sensibility – attorneys and doctors with a penchant for collecting fine art, perhaps.But even with 297 units, better hurry. They have already begun pre-leasing units, and the demand is high with a surge of early renters. No surprise there. This building rehab has been a long time coming but the Cork Factory promises to be worth the very long wait. 

The Strip Lofts

Two building projects in the Strip offer condos for those who want to own. In one example, Unit 3E of the Strip Lofts features polished concrete floors, 3,500 square feet of open space, and a panoramic third-story view from the expansive outdoor walkway. The tile-and-stainless-steel bathrooms are prime examples of sleek Modernist perfection. The price: A cool $749,000. The building, located at 2901 Smallman Street, was a former warehouse that has attracted a people who not only love the idea of living in the Strip District, but are willing to bet on a long-term investment. Architect for the project was Dutch MacDonald of edge studio.

Think Pink

Aside from its darling nomenclature, the “Pink Building,” located at 3052 Smallman Street, may soon offer some of the finest living in the city: The nineteenth century schoolhouse, long-abandoned, will offer 14 luxury condos, where lucky owners can stretch their legs beneath the 14-foot-high ceilings or lounge in the commons rooms, gazing through large, vintage windows. Bonn and Art McSorley, co-owners of The Pittsburgh Decorative Center, bought the property in 2000, and the $2 million renovation project is expected to be completed in 2007. While it will require a lot of time and investment, condos will range from 1,200 to 2,600 square feet and will sell for $250,000 and up. The (literally pink-painted) building already houses the offices and studios of a muralist, a film producer, a national artist and a graphic design artist, as well as the headquarters for the Decorative Center. 

The Pedestrian Life

The Brake House and Cork Factory both boast their own garages; the Cork Factory’s, when complete, will stand on the opposite side of the street and hold up to 427 vehicles. More importantly, the Strip is pedestrian-friendly: Wide sidewalks, slow traffic and flat terrain make for safe and easy promenades. Residents who work Downtown can enjoy an easy stroll down Penn Avenue or Smallman Street. There is also a fleet of Port Authority buses that run through the Strip, including the 54C, the 86A, 86B, 91A, 77D, 77F, 77G, and countless others.

Greg Rogers is a major proponent of walking to work – from the Brake House to Duquesne – in the spring and fall. When the weather dissuades him, he opts for one of several Downtown buses that stop directly outside his building’s front door.

For residents like Rogers, the Strip has two seemingly contradictory benefits: The neighborhood is a magnet for discriminating shoppers, tourists and history buffs, who arrive from all over the city and, indeed, the world, making the three-mile stretch one of the most cosmopolitan in the city. On the other hand, the pedestrian nature of the Strip offers residents a face-to-face familiarity with locals, so that, over time, the neighborhood can seem like a small-town. Retailers are fond of boasting how well they know their clientele – a familiarity that will grow with the neighborhood’s population.

Whatever residents’ reactions, today is a key moment in the Strip’s evolution – from a warehouse district damaged by industrial fallout to a touchstone of new development. By moving to the Strip, new renters and owners become part of a cultural movement, boldly transforming a commercial sector into an increasingly residential one. A row of once-abandoned warehouses now offers limitless possibilities – spaces like the Otto Milk Company property is on its way with its five buildings and thousands of square feet of unused interior. As upscale renovations attract newcomers, we can expect that the row houses along Penn Avenue will experience makeovers as well, making the Strip not only more livable, but a magnet for new tenants and ideas.

For more information on the Strip District visit the PopCity:
- Visitor Guide
- Investment Guide

Directions to Strip District

From the North:
Take 279 South and take the East Street exit, Exit 8B, toward PA-28 North. Stay straight to go onto East St and then turn left onto E Ohio St. Turn right onto Chestnut St, which becomes the 16^th Street Bridge. Cross over the river and arrive in Strip District.

From the East:
Take I-376 West toward Pittsburgh and take Exit 1C on the left for Grant St. Turn slight right onto Grant St, which becomes Liberty Ave. Arrive in Strip District.

From the South:
Take PA-51 North toward Pittsburgh and take the ramp toward I-579/Downtown/South Side. Turn right onto West Liberty Ave and turn slight right onto Liberty Tunnels. Liberty Tunnels become Liberty Bridge. Stay straight to go onto Crosstown Blvd and take the 7^th Avenue exit on the left toward Convention Center. Turn slight right onto Grant St. Grand St. becomes Liberty Ave, arrive in Strip District.

From the West:
Take I-279 North toward Pittsburgh. Take the Ft. Duquesne Blvd exit, Exit 6C, toward Convention Center/Strip District. Take the ramp toward the Convention Center/Strip District and stay straight to go onto 10^th St. BYP. 10^th St. BYP becomes 11^th St. Turn left onto Smallman St and arrive in Strip District.