A $2.63 million renovation of the University of Pittsburgh's Chevron Science Center has been approved by the Board of Trustees' property and facilities committee. The work will include renovation of 3,500 square feet on the third floor to update instructional labs currently, and provide additional flexibility to the labs that are designed to accommodate both chemistry and general chemistry. A laboratory ventilation system will be replaced, along with energy and water conserving upgrades, American with Disabilities Act improvements, reconfiguration of the exhaust infrastructure on the roof and lighting systems improvements.
A proposal by Catalyst Building Lawrenceville LP to obtain a zoning exception to renovate a building at 141 41st St. into 20 residential units with 32 parking spaces will be heard Thursday by the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment. S&A Homes and Oxford Development Co. will request an exception for a new four-story building with 41 units for housing for the elderly and commercial space on the first floor, at 524 N. Homewood Ave., Homewood. Andrew D. Moss will seek approval to use vacant commercial space at 4300 Butler St., Lawrenceville, for a frestaurant. Steve Zumoff of Beehive will seek approval to use 3,700 square feet at 1323-27 E. Carson St., South Side, for a first floor restaurant. Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh seeks zoning variances for a 283.8-square-foot sign, UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, at 1400 Locust St., Hill District, and in Squirrel Hill. Jonathan Kamin of 210 Washington Pittsburgh LLC will seek approval for a two-story addition atop the three-story building at 5750 Forbes Ave The Jewish Education Institute of Pittsburgh seeks approval to expand the parking lot at 2740 Beechwood Blvd. by 22 spaces.
A public hearing will be held July 2 by the Upper St. Clair board of commissioners to consider the transfer of a restaurant liquor license to the proposed Bonefish Grill at South Hills Village Mall. The hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the commissioners' meeting room, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road.
Jennifer Cloonan, the former governmental affairs director for the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, has joined the Federal Home Loan Bank Pittsburgh as its government relations manager.
John Pelusi, executive managing director, and Claudia Steeb, managing director, of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler's Pittsburgh office led a team that arranged refinancing of Crystal Mall, Waterfront, Conn. A 10-year, fixed-rate securitized loan was obtained from UBS Real Estate Securities Inc. The mall is owned by Simon Property Group, the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America. The amount of the loan was not disclosed.
Woodcrest Retirement Residences has helped Allegheny County earn the Department of Housing and Urban Development's "Doorknocker Award" for affordable housing. The county is one of 11 local communities and three state agencies honored. It obtained funding for the project through HUD's Home Investment Partnership Program. The facility was redeveloped using green building techniques, including day lighting strategies, right-sized ventilation and super insulation, which led to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold rating. The 59-unit facility is in the former nuns' residence on the campus of the Felician Sisters convent and school in Moon. A covered bridge connects the residence to a high school, promoting intergenerational activities.
LEASES
Party City leased 21,943 square feet at Township Marketplace in Monaca. The 253,100-square-foot shopping center, 105 Wagner Road, is anchored by Michaels and PetSmart. Party City should open this summer. Karen Lanham with DDR represented EPN Investment Management LLC, the landlord.
DEALS OF THE WEEK
A quick look at recent retail, commercial and industrial projects, sales and leases of note in Western Pennsylvania:
$3.75 million
Property sold: 515 Smithfield St., Downtown
Seller: Penn-Smithfield Partners, Pittsburgh
Buyer: PNC Bank, Pittsburgh
Details: Acquired vacant former Mellon Bank headquarters building, which was converted into a Lord & Taylor Department store that closed in 2004.
Comment: "Our plan is to renovate both the exterior and interior and eventually bring up to 800 PNC employees into the building by late 2013 or early 2014," said PNC Spokesman Fred Solomon.
$1.45 million
Property sold: 17 Brilliant Ave., Aspinwall
Seller: VJ Development LLC, Pittsburgh
Buyer: Vazirani Group LLC, Pittsburgh
Details: A 20,000-square-foot three-story office/retail building with a 10,000-square-foot parking lot.
Comment: "Buyer is a commercial real estate investor. The building was renovated in 2005 from a former use as Humes Ford Motor Sales," said Porter Scott of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.
$1.25 million
Property sold: 9070 Saint Simon Way, McCandless
Seller: Adventure Champion Partnership, N. Carolina
Buyer: Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio
Details: Purchased the four-acre site in front of Lowe's at McCandless Crossings, near Cumberland and McKnight roads.
Comment: "We have land banked the property for a future bank location," said Jill Sandilla, senior vice president, retail executive, Fifth Third Bank.
TOP-DOLLAR HOMES
Recent home and condominium sales that brought top prices in Western Pennsylvania.
$2.03 million
Property: 533 Macleod Drive, Pine
Seller: Primrose Homes Inc.
Buyer: Sandeep and Shaifali Sharma
Details: Four levels of living, with a master suite, an open balcony and covered porch with fireplace on fourth floor. House qualifies for National Association of Home Builders 2009 Green qualification, overlooks Lake MacLeod, has custom-built cabinets by Heart-of-the Home Design.
Comment: "Buyers loved the house built with quality materials such as custom-built cabinetry, one that is a green home built to gold level, have a vista of Lake Macleod," said Christina Helen Schmidt of Primrose Homes.
$1.8 million
Property: 1040 Highmont, Shadyside
Seller: Mark and Jenifer Evans
Buyer: J. Harrison
Details: Georgian Colonial on landscaped lot, on quiet cul de sac, completely renovated with quality materials, high tech media room.
Comment: "Buyer found house a fabulous blend of traditional home features such as impressive entry, detailed woodwork, covered porch, modern baths and kitchen, billiard room, large bright exercise studio and state of the art wine storage," said Leda Kwadrat of Howard Hann Real Estate.
$530,000
Property: 415 Glen Arden, Point Breeze
Seller: Kris Stotler
Buyer: Nicholas Khoo
Details: Colonial, hardwood floors, central air conditioning, master suite with large walk-in closet and laundry, three bedrooms on second floor and two baths, two bedrooms and bath on thrid, log-burning fireplace.
Comment: "Buyers loved the location, great backyard and updates this home offered," said Julie Treemarchi, Howard Hanna Real Estate.
