Salvation Army close to sale of ex-Downtown headquarters

The Salvation Army is close to selling its former headquarters building Downtown, and is eyeing purchase of a large complex in Mt. Lebanon to house some of its operations, officials said.

When the Downtown building is sold, it could be used for student housing, with The Art Institute of Pittsburgh among those interested.

That depends on a pending sale to a Cleveland-based development group that may adapt it to residential or commercial uses. Polaris Real Estate Equities has a sales agreement on the 93,000-square-foot building and is weighing proposals to determine how to make use of it, said Guy Totino, a partner in Polaris with Rob Vadas. Both are former Pittsburgh-area residents, he said.

"We have had interest from various companies and organizations concerning what use can be made of the building, but no decision has yet been made," said Totino.

Totino said he expects to close on the sale in nine months to a year, but the Salvation Army is not confirming a pending sale.

"We are not ready to comment until everything is solidified," said Ginny Knor, spokeswoman for the nonprofit social services organization.

As reported by the Tribune-Review, Salvation Army in December moved its Western Division headquarters into a two-story, 36,500-square-foot building at the Carnegie Office Park in Carnegie that was renovated extensively for its use.

Knor said most of the organization's remaining operations Downtown have moved or are planning to move soon to new locations. The exception will be its Pittsburgh Temple Corps worship and services center, which is expected to remain for an extended period.

The Salvation Army is considering purchase of the former Toner Institute/Bradley School property on McNeily Road in Mt. Lebanon as the potential new site for the Downtown worship center and a emergency disaster services operation currently in Green Tree.

If a purchase is finalized, the Salvation Army would likely keep two of the multiple structures at the eight-acre site, totaling about 15,000 square feet.

Polaris is awaiting an evaluation of the sales contract for the Downtown building by its legal counsel as well as the approval of Salvation Army's national headquarters, said Totino. He declined to disclose a sales price.

Depending on what final use is made of the building, portions would require extensive renovation, Totino said. Work could begin by spring or summer with Massaro Properties Inc. as the contractor.