Developer eyes 4-acre Irish Centre of Pittsburgh site
A local developer has an option to buy the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh property in Squirrel Hill, but that does not mean the cultural organization intends to sell, a board member said.
The center last year granted an option to Summerset Land Development Associates, which built the Summerset at Frick Park neighborhood, on the 4.2-acre Irish Centre property, said board member Jeff McCafferty.
“We're not actively looking to sell it. They came to us,” McCafferty said. “We don't have to sell it to them, but we can't sell it to anyone else while they have the option.
“If they make an offer, we would have to go to the membership and see if they want to sell it.”
On Thursday, the Urban Redevelopment Authority will consider applying for a grant from Allegheny County that would provide Summerset Land Development with $125,000 to investigate the feasibility of putting housing on the Irish Centre site.
Tom Cummings, the URA's director of housing, said the developer is considering a residential development, but he could not provide further details. The firm did not return a phone call.
Summerset at Frick Park, which is near the Irish Centre, encompasses 230 acres of a former industrial land site and has about 260 single-family homes, town homes, condominiums and rental apartments.
McCafferty, 54, of Swisshelm Park, said the Irish Centre would move if it sells the property, which includes a large hall, swimming pool and a house the organization leases.
Founded in 1966 by Irish immigrants, the organization opened the hall three years later during a ceremony that featured then-Ireland Ambassador William Fay and John J. Wright, former bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, who later became a cardinal.
The centre has been the site of Irish music events, organizational gatherings and dances over the years. It's also the home of the Burke-Conroy Irish Dancers, which perform in the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade and other functions each year.
“I'm a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and we've had many, many events there,” said Pat O'Brien, 60, of West View, the 2012 St. Patrick's Day parade chairman. “I'd hate to see it go.”
McCafferty said the facility is aging and its overhead costs are high, so members would consider a sale, but he vowed that the organization would live on and continue promoting Irish culture in Western Pennsylvania.
“It's kind of a treasure that nobody knows about,” he said.
Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com.
