Demolition approved for former church to make way for million-dollar townhomes in Aspinwall

The walls are set to come tumbling down at a former church as plans for a proposed high-end residential development progress in Aspinwall.

The former Aspinwall Community Methodist Church, located at 400 Center Ave., is scheduled to be demolished in the coming weeks, according to borough building inspector and zoning officer Ryan Santelli.

Santelli confirmed that Allegheny County approved the demolition permit and residents can expect the entire demolition process to take up to 90 days, according to Fox Chapel area developer Tony Pompeo Jr., founder of Amena Properties.

An exact demolition start date was not available during the May 28 public informational planning committee meeting held at the borough building, but Pompeo said the bulk of the demolition would last about a month, with the most tedious element of the demolition involving hauling everything off-site.

Santelli said the planning commission decided to host the May public meeting in an effort to provide transparency to residents about the upcoming demolition and to provide an opportunity for residents to chime in with their concerns and questions.

More public meetings will be scheduled to inform residents of the project’s ongoing development, Santelli said.

Pompeo was on hand May 28 to answer any and all questions regarding the proposed five-lot development that would include a two-story townhouse on each lot, expected to sell in the “million dollar range” each.

Pompeo is a 2011 Fox Chapel Area High School alumnus.

He stressed he’s invested in the Fox Chapel area because he’s raising his family in the Fox Chapel Area School District.

“I’ve been here in Fox Chapel since 1992 and I have a few properties here,” Pompeo said. “It’s something I want to be proud of. I’m not here to tear a church down, build homes and get away and never hear from me again. I want to do right by Aspinwall and I want to be proud of these.”

He bought the former church for $399,900 in early 2025.

The site is zoned residential and occupies nearly 0.29 acres and includes the church and former school building.

During the meeting, Pompeo presented conceptual drawings of the project that’s expected to take about 18 months to complete after demolition and remediation of the church and grounds.

He is seeking several variances for the project, but official engineering drawings haven’t yet been submitted.

Aspinwall Borough Manager Melissa Lang O’Malley said the expected variance applications will include front yard setbacks for Center Avenue units, side yard setbacks for all units, rear yard setbacks for Center Avenue units.

Additionally, Pompeo will need a variance to permit the townhouses in an AR-3 (residential) zone.

All development plans must be presented before the borough’s planning commission and ultimately must be approved by borough council.

“The zoning board will meet to review the application,” O’Malley said. “Council does not vote on the decision made by the zoning hearing board. Council will be involved in the subdivision and land development aspect of the project.”

Project details include the demolition of the church and attached buildings, filling the basements with suitable structural fill, constructing five new two-story town homes, each with rear decks on the first floor of each home and five patios at basement level. Front stoops will be at the entrance of each town home and each residence will have all new electrical, mechanical and plumbing equipment and systems.

Each residence will offer almost 4,000 square feet of living space.

Residents respond

More than 20 people filled the room, the majority Aspinwall residents residing next to or near the church building that was established in 1895.

Resident Mary Stewart lives on Center Avenue and said she appreciated the chance to participate in the Q&A meeting format, but remains concerned about the potential loss of three parking spaces on Center Avenue.

“It doesn’t seem like much — three spots — but everybody else is gonna be vying for those spaces that aren’t there anymore,” Stewart said.

Another resident in attendance asked how much tax revenue the borough would collect on the five homes, once completed, but that amount was not available.

O’Malley said Thursday if each residence sold for $1 million ($5 million total) the borough would receive about $42,000.

The 2025 borough tax revenue is $2,028,000 based on the current millage rate of 8.36.

Aspinwall has 1,207 homes in the historic borough and parking has been a significant issue for decades.

Resident Scott Zimmerman said his biggest concern was setbacks and having houses not aligned.

“I want it to maintain the look of the town,” Zimmerman said.

Construction will be done in phases and no roads are anticipated to be closed to accommodate construction.

The planning commission took no action after the information meeting and planning commission chairman Nick Scheid addressed the reality of a congregation of less than a dozen at the closed church.

“That church, while very well built, was down to 10 parishioners and I know from personal experience no parishioner wants to see their church torn down,” Nicholas said. “But it’s a fact of life.”

Aspinwall zoning officer Ryan assured residents in attendance that Allegheny County has approved the remediation of the asbestos.

Additionally, rodent abatement measures have been done, with pest control completed to avoid rodents running around when a building is taken down.

“A special inspector (required by Allegheny County) will be on site to monitor air quality control and to control dust and monitor catch basin concerns and a safety fence placed around the construction site,” Ryan said.

Three of the proposed townhouses will face Center Avenue and two will face Fourth Avenue.

Each unit will have a two-car garage for parking.

The next meeting on the proposed development will be a zoning hearing board meeting for the variances.

“That meeting won’t be scheduled until all the required paperwork is submitted,” O’Malley said. “The next step for the project at this time is the demolition of the building.”