No tricks, only treats: Settlers Ridge will officially open this Friday, October 30. The $100 million mixed-use open-air shopping center brings food, fashion, recreation and more to a 77-acre former coal mining property that had been vacant for two decades.
At full-build out, the center will be 600,000 square feet and create 2,100 jobs. Project developer CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., of Chattanooga, Tenn, is currently completing the 450,000-square-foot first phase, and hopes to begin the second phase in 2010.
The project broke ground about 18 months ago, and has been seven years in the making, says David Locke with CBL & Associates.
Businesses include a 16-screen Cinemark Theatre, P.F. Chang's, Omaha Steaks, Panera Bread and REI, as well as a 150,000-square-foot Giant Eagle Market District, which Locke describes as "different than anything else in the area, probably even the country." Opening the first week in November, it is the first entirely new Market District location (the Shadyside and South Hills Market Districts were retrofitted), and will also be one of the first two area supermarkets granted a license to sell beer, a decision approved by the state Liquor Control Boar last week. Future Settlers Ridge businesses include a Barnes & Noble, LA Fitness and 124-room Courtyard by Marriott.
Green design features include an energy-conserving white roof and a bio-retention storm drain system, which funnels rainwater under the facility instead of sending it into neighborhood creeks.
Located off Campbells Run Road along the airport corridor, Settlers Ridge is at the hub of more than 4.5 million square feet or retail space, including The Mall at Robinson and Ikea, and is about 20 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh.
The Civil engineer for project was GAI Consultants. KA Inc., based in Cleveland, was architect. The general contractor was EMJ Corporation based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: David Locke, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.
Image courtesy of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.