Pittsburgh City Council gave final approval yesterday for the rezoning of land in Mt. Washington that will streamline the construction of One Grandview. Following the unanimous 9-0 decision, the project must still be approved by the city planning commission before construction can start.
Groundbreaking could occur as early as next year.
"The zoning is key to move forward with the project, because without this change to mixed-use zoning, we would not be allowed to put a structure on that parcel that is consistent with a five-star hotel and condo," says Chris Beichner, executive director of Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation.
The 115-room luxury hotel and 55-condominium project, which is estimated to cost about $90 million, will be built on the site of the former Edge restaurant, which has been vacant for some 30 years. It will include a 500-car parking garage; a spa and fitness center; a public grand plaza with an outdoor dining area; and one, two and three-story condos. Some proposed elements include a classroom space where students could learn about the site's coal mining history and how the energy sector is still key in the Pittsburgh region, as well as a grand staircase from Station Square to the top of Mt. Washington that would serve as a tourist attraction. Additionally, One Grandview plans to connect the Mt. Washington hiking trail system through the site, says architect Luke Desmone.
Developer Steve Beemsterboer and architects Desmone & Associates have engaged the Mt. Washington community over the course of about 30 meetings in shaping what the project will look and feel like, and how it will impact the neighborhood. The original concept was scaled back so the building will not impair residents' views of Downtown. Desmone describes the asymmetrical shape of One Grandview as a "sail" that will bookend Mt. Washington and preserve the integrity of the skyline.
"I live in Regent Square. I frequently come down the Parkway, and when I pass through the tunnels, there's a spit second where the topography allows me to see our site. It's just a flash, a poof, then it's gone. The road turns and I lose it. Then I go around another bend and I see it again. And then I drive into the city, and it's there all the time," says Desmone. "It's going to be fun for me to watch this thing grow up from the ground. It's going to be an amazingly delightful experience I'm very much looking forward to."
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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Chris Beichner, executive director, Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation, and Luke Desmone, AIA, LEED AP, principal, Desmone & Associates Architects
Image courtesy Desmone & Associates Architects