With its striking statue and historic architecture, the Penn Avenue entrance to
Lawrenceville is one of the grandest neighborhood gateways in the whole city. Yet Doughboy Square, as it currently stands, lacks much of the revived vigor of Lower Lawrenceville just a block down Butler Street.
The area, however, could soon be the site of a $30 mixed-use development spearheaded by October Development, which has been instrumental in reviving the North Side's Deutschtown (still known to many as the East Allegheny neighborhood). At a community meeting last week held at Enginehouse 25 on the Square, October Development leadership--along with the Lawrenceville Corporation and Lawrenceville United--presented the plan, which includes new residential, commercial, office and senior housing space along Penn Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets.
The plan, which will be done in several phases, will include about 25,000 square feet of retail, 40,000 square feet of office space, five to 30 residential units and lots of off-street, tree-lined parking.
The development team includes Bob Baumbach (residential architect), Ralph Murovich, Sr. (commercial architect), Grant Street Associates (commercial agents) and Coldwell Banker (residential agents). Al DePasquale of October Development said Dollar Bank is financing the project.
As for a timeline, DePasquale said they could start building in three to six months, but could not yet commit. Construction will depend on October Development's ability to acquire certain properties, and also on community feedback. Many community members expressed excitement about a collective vision for developing Doughboy Square, but would like to see more attention go into the design--they would like to see architecture with a "wow factor" that integrates into the area's historic aesthetic, and also speaks to Pittsburgh's role as a leader in innovative, green building.
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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Al DePasquale, October Development
Image of previous Doughboy Square plan courtesy of Lawrenceville Corporation, Pfaffman + Associates