Landmarks in the city in line to be developed, URA says
Two city landmarks — the former detective building in East Liberty and the site of the old Poli restaurant in Squirrel Hill — are getting a new lease on life.
Schoolhouse Electric and Supply Co. of Portland, Ore., plans to spend $8.2 million to turn the dilapidated East Liberty structure that once housed city detectives into a base for its East Coast operations.
Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority board members are expected to vote Thursday on the plan and a loan of up to $300,000 to help finance the project at 206 North Euclid Ave.
Schoolhouse Electric, which has grown from a small Portland company into a national lighting, housewares and furnishings provider, intends to use part of the building as a light manufacturing/assembly and distribution facility for its products.
It is planning basement distribution space, street-level retail and a coffee shop, as well as office space on the second through fourth floors. A design library and community space round out the redevelopment.
According to a report accompanying the URA board action, Schoolhouse Electric will work with the Beauty Shoppe, a Pittsburgh-based co-working space operator, to provide 310 coworking seats in the building for creative startups and operating businesses.
Schoolhouse Electric, which developed a fondness for Pittsburgh while serving as a supplier for the Ace Hotel in East Liberty, paid $250,000 to acquire the detective building from the URA last year. The URA estimates that at least 60 jobs will be created through the Schoolhouse and co-working spaces.
Also Thursday, the URA board plans to consider a loan of up to $500,000 to ACTION-Housing Inc. to help in the financing of its $16.6-million Squirrel Hill Gateway Lofts development at the site of the former Poli restaurant on Murray Avenue.
ACTION-Housing intends to build a six-story building on the land featuring 33 affordable apartment units, as well as 11,700 square feet of space on the first two floors for Jewish Residential Services Inc. A 23-space parking deck is planned across the street.
Of the 33 units, 29 will be onebedroom apartments — four for households at 20 percent of the area median income, 13 at 50 percent of the area median income and 12 at 60 percent. The other four will be two-bedroom units for households at or below 60 percent of the area median income.
About half of the units are targeted for those with intellectual or mental health
disabilities.
Based on a report accompanying the agenda item, JewishResidential Services will pay $3.8 million for its space, considered a separate condominium unit. The space will house administrative offices and an expanded Howard Levin Clubhouse, a licensed psychiatric and social rehabilitation program.
City Councilman Corey O’Connor, who represents Squirrel Hill, said construction is expected to start this summer.
“It’s exciting. It’s the gateway into Squirrel Hill. We’ve been trying to do something there for many, many years. This is a great opportunity to house a great organization that helps a lot of people in the community,” he said.
Mr. O’Connor said another 34 units of market-rate housing are planned near the ACTION-Housingcomplex.
The URA board also plans to take steps Thursday to find a new retailer for the vacantformer Cartridge World space at 566 Smithfield St., part of the Mellon Square parkinggarage.