EAST LIBERTY, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday approved preliminary design plans for a controversial new development at the site of the former Penn Plaza Apartments in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood, Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE reported.
More than 30 East Liberty residents spoke during the 4.5-hour meeting, telling the planning commission that they don't want the new development, TribLIVE reported.
RELATED: Protesters want city to reject proposed development plan
Residents are concerned the development will further limit affordable housing in East Liberty, which has seen a transformation in recent years with the addition of Google headquarters, restaurants, stores and luxury apartments.
The Penn Plaza Apartments provided housing to low-income residents, who were evicted.
Even though the preliminary plans were approved by the planning commission, the developer was not completely happy.
TRENDING NOW:
- Police looking at Aliquippa woman's murder as 'crime of passion' or 'jealousy'
- Red alert declared on Hawaii's Big Island; major Kilauea eruption 'imminent'
- Wagner, Fetterman, Reschenthaler win as political challengers surge
- VIDEO: Hundreds of illegal dump sites found across Allegheny County
Developer LG Realty Advisors wants to build two 150-foot buildings, but the planning commission set the maximum height at 108 feet so it compliments nearby buildings, TribLIVE reported.
"I'm disappointed that the planning commission chose to make these kinds of changes and conditions, and candidly, I think it's inappropriate," Lawrence Gumberg, president of LG Realty Advisors, told TribLIVE. "The zoning that was authorized by the (Pittsburgh) City Council provides for appropriate height limits. ... Our plan complied with the zoning in every aspect."
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DV3D5PBQIZFEPANBGDDAZHIA5I.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/W3Q5W65YHVHNLFPJFHHN7P6Y6M.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/PGYZUR3ENVDKPEAUR253HQIJOI.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MCHNJ6IKGNHYHMG6QQJTP6ICJY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-19-2024/t_c091c1951d7141898980ea42c6448bdc_name_t_940de251e54b4db09cf9c3659504987c_name_towtruckcharges11pp041824_transfer_frame_344.jpeg)