A historic garage located at 335 East 7th Ave. in Homestead is the site of a new $700,000 redevelopment project.
On Nov. 27, Allegheny County officials and business leaders broke ground on the mixed-use project.
Located within the Steel Valley Redevelopment District, the former garage is being transformed into office and flex-warehouse space. The renovated property will serve as the new headquarters for Franjo Construction, a commercial contracting company owned and operated by Homestead natives Frank and Joe Leonello. The building will also house Nello Foods, a food broker with business in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, West Virginia and Illinois that is owned and operated by Joe Leonello.
“This is a perfect example of successful public-private partnerships that are revitalizing Homestead and the Mon Valley,” says Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. “With a small investment of public money, we will see a condemned building transformed into the headquarters for two local businesses that have grown exponentially over the last several years, and provide space for additional growth in the future.”
Franjo, which will relocate from a 2,600 square-foot space, will occupy 20,000 square-feet and consolidate its entire operations within the new headquarters. The company began with four employees and today employs approximately 60 people. In 2008, Nello Foods will hire two new employees. Both Franjo and Nello expect to consider future expansion in Homestead.
The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County provided the project with a $50,000 loan. Construction is expected to be completed in February of 2008.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Megan Dardanell and Kevin Evanto, Allegheny County
Image courtesy of Allegheny County