Developer looks to build at Pittsburgh site housing property up for historic designation

A developer is looking to build a mixed-use development on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood — though the fate of the project may be determined by whether the Tito House, which is located on the site, earns historic designation.

Fountain Residential Partners — which specializes in college housing — wants to purchase and develop about two acres of property along Fifth Avenue.

Jon Clayton, vice president of Dallas-based Fountain Residential Partners, said the group has the land under contract, but the sale is not yet compete.

Their plan is to build an $87 million mixed-use development with about 11,000 square feet of commercial space and about 280 apartments.

Of those apartments, 5% would be affordable housing — for people earning 80% of the area median income.

Clayton said they hope to put a grocery store in the commercial space.

“It’s definitely a feasible location for some neighborhood-serving retailer of some kind,” he said.

He said nearby schools like the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University attracted them to the site. Another key element to the location, he said, is the Bus Rapid Transit line, which will run directly in front of the development.

“That’s one of the things that attracted us to the neighborhood, the great connection of Uptown and Downtown into Oakland,” he said.

Clayton said the developer submitted their plans to Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit representing residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the area, for review, and noted that they’re willing to work with the public to ensure the development meets the neighborhood’s needs.

“Our desire is to come in and work with the community to try to achieve their goals and our goals,” he said. “We think it would be a great benefit to the neighborhood.”

But the development faces a potential complication. A building on the site is nominated for historic designation, which, if granted, would prohibit Fountain Residential Partners from demolishing the building for their development.

Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh nominated the Tito House at 1817 Fifth Avenue for historic designation. Built in 1884, the Tito House was home to local entrepreneur John Tito.

In a 120-page nomination, the nonprofit explained that Tito was a prominent bootlegger during the Prohibition, and later became the owner of Latrobe Brewing Company.

The Tito Garage at 1818 Colwell Street — which is also nominated for historic designation — became the Latrobe Brewing Company’s first Pittsburgh beer distributor and was the first known place where Rolling Rock beer was sold, starting in 1935.

Tito, along with friend and business partner Gus Greenlee, contributed to the success of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, a professional Negro League baseball team, Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh wrote. The pair helped to construct and operate Greenlee Field.

The city’s Historic Review Commission has voted not to recommend the site for historic designation, though the City Planning Commission voted to recommend it for historic designation. The measure is now before City Council, who will make the final determination on the matter.

City Council will host a pubic hearing before a final vote. The public hearing has not yet been scheduled.

If City Council grants the building historic designation, the proposed development at the site will go “back to the drawing board on redesign,” Clayton said.

“It’s definitely not ideal for us, but we’ll look at any and all possibilities to move the project forward,” Clayton said, explaining the developer doesn’t intend to be “adversarial” about the situation. “We’re going to do what’s best for the neighborhood.”

If the historic designation isn’t approved, the building will be leveled for the new development.

Clayton said construction of the site would ideally start by the end of this year. The development is permitted under the current zoning in the area.

Construction of the development would likely take around 20 to 22 months, Clayton said.