Developers provided a first glimpse Monday at three dramatically different proposals to redevelop Shadyside's historic Alfred E. Hunt Armory, a sprawling building that was a venue for multiple presidents and Led Zeppelin.

Shadyside-based Walnut Capital is proposing 106 high-end apartments with an indoor courtyard and garden. Downtown's McKnight Realty Partners and the Mosites Co. would make offices with recreational space, including large climbing walls. Harmar's Kratsa Properties would build an ice rink.

Each proposal drew positive reviews and some criticism from East End residents at a jam-packed community meeting. Many complaints dealt with the would-be projects' impact on traffic congestion, parking and the neighboring Sacred Heart Elementary School and Parish.

“It's going to have an impact. ... But doing nothing is not an option,” said city Councilman Dan Gilman, noting an Urban Redevelopment Authority committee is expected to pick a preferred option in December.

Walnut's apartments would occupy less than half of the armory space, with the rest reserved for a picturesque indoor garden and landscaped courtyard that would be open to the public most of the day. Walnut would make perhaps the biggest alteration to the historic building, cutting a large hole in the roof that would remain open to the elements and bring in light from outside.

Monthly rents would range from $1,100 to $2,300. About 80 percent of the apartments would be one-bedroom units. Seventy-nine parking spaces would be inside. Walnut predicted having fewer spaces than units wouldn't be a problem, noting many tenants in its newest apartment buildings choose walking, bicycles and transit over cars.

“I am sick of the congestion already. This will destroy our neighborhood ... we don't need further apartments, further madness,” said Shadyside's Virginia Flaherty.

McKnight and Mosites' $30 million project would develop 80,500 square feet of shared-office and incubator space and a 40,500-square-foot climbing and fitness facility modeled after Brooklyn Builders developments in New York, Boston and Chicago.

It would develop Emerson Street as a pedestrian-oriented street. A total of 180 parking spaces would be available on and off-site. “I am skeptical about (the demand for) coworking and incubator space,” said Shadyside resident David Bird.

Kratsa's ice rink proposal drew the loudest applause from residents. It would build one regulation-sized hockey rink and two smaller skating rinks on a newly added second floor with spectator seating, party rooms and a cafe. About 140 spaces would be on what's now the ground level. Sacred Heart students would be able to use the rink.

The century-old armory is named for Capt. Alfred E. Hunt, a guardsman who co-founded the Pittsburgh Reduction Co., which became Alcoa.

The National Park Service added the armory to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and City Council designated it a historic structure last year. The Pennsylvania National Guard used the facility until it closed in 2013.

Tom Fontaine is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7847 or tfontaine@tribweb.com.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---