On Jan. 17,
Millcraft Industries celebrated the groundbreaking of Piatt Place at the corner of Fifth Ave. and Wood St. downtown. The $65-million project will feature 65 condos, 180,000 square feet of office space and 50,000 square feet of national retail. “Hammers are flying, demoing has begun and trucks are moving in," says Brian Walker, chief financial officer with Millcraft. “It’s great for downtown.”
Downtown-based
Strada is designing the project, which involves
converting a former 265,000-square-foot Lazarus department store;
construction manager is
Turner Construction. "It’s the first mixed-use project of its kind that incorporates
housing," says project architect Tom Price. "It you look at a cross
section of the buiding, it's great to see that kind of diversity." A contemporary design will feature
metal panels and glass that reflect the building's original color
scheme. "The three levels of condos are organized around a central
courtyard--the ones facing the city are all about transparency and
views," adds Price, who says the project is incorporating green and
recycled materials.
Amenities include a 500-car garage, fitness and community rooms, and balconies overlooking downtown. This week, Millcraft also announced that Orgeon-based
McCormick and Schmick's, named the country’s best seafood restaurant by
Consumer Reports, will open their second Pittsburgh location in a 10,000 square-foot space in Piatt Place.
Capital Grille steakhouse will open at Piatt Place in 2007. “There’s an awful lot of discussion going on with retail tenants--a couple of announcements will be made soon,” says Walker.
Approximately 23% of the condos, which are expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2008, have been pre-sold. “We’re ahead of pace,” says Walker.
Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Brian Walker; Tom Price
Image courtesy of STRADA