PITTSBURGH — It’s out with the old in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.
Developers are looking to build brand-new massive apartments in an old gas station lot, but not everyone in the area is on board with the proposed project.
Chicago developer CA Ventures has a vision for the former Sunoco on Forbes Avenue.
They are proposing a 10-story, 300-unit apartment building that would stand more than 100 feet tall and include a parking garage; but the plan has apparently hit a snag.
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Nearby neighbors including the Family House, which is a nonprofit that offers housing for patients needing medical treatment in the area, believe the project is problematic.
“I feel like there could be like a lot of implications, of like them being really expensive. You know just a lot of working pieces I guess,” said Pitt student Julia Kooser.
People we spoke with say the building is too big, would block views, create serious congestion and cause major noise issues.
They hope city officials listen to their concerns before any major moves are made.
Channel 11′s Mike Holden reached out to the developer and gave him this statement:
“While we were excited to share our plans at the Pittsburgh Planning Commission meeting originally scheduled for yesterday, the decision to postpone was driven by our commitment to being collaborative partners and thoughtful neighbors. Over the past year, we have worked closely with the Department of City Planning, Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC), Port Authority and several other stakeholder groups that are responsible for representing the broader community perspective. Our plan for 3500 Forbes Avenue, in its current configuration, has been significantly and positively influenced by these groups and for that we are very appreciative of their partnership. We look forward to gathering additional feedback over the next two weeks and exploring any further opportunities to capture the essence of the Oakland neighborhood while also providing a true live, work, play community.”
- Ryan McBride, Executive Vice President of Devellopment for CA Student Living
The developer is set to go back before the planning commission in the near future.
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