Developer promotes nature-inspired luxury living in Fox Chapel, O'Hara
Tranquil woods, waterfalls, streams, wildlife and plenty of room to roam are just a few of the natural amenities at two niche luxury residential developments in Fox Chapel and O’Hara.
Described as “ultra-private,” The Oberoi in Fox Chapel and The Cascades in O’Hara are the culmination of years-long research and planning from Fox Chapel real estate developer Danielle Katz.
Katz grew up surrounded by nature in Fox Chapel and developed each plan with a conscious effort to offer privacy for homeowners on secluded former farmland in the two municipalities.
She’s often found traipsing through the woods of both plans, boots muddy and working up a sweat, as she checks on each and every aspect of the development.
During a July walking tour of The Oberoi, a deer popped out of the brush and the lilting, clear call of a bird permeated the stillness of the woods.
“It feels like an incredibly special opportunity to steward land like this,” Katz said. “To provide the ultimate in luxury/bespoke estate living while simultaneously maintaining the luxuriousness of nature, it’s a dream that I’m excited to share.”
There are three home sites for sale in each plan, all offering lot sizes ranging from 1.9 acres to 10 acres, with varying listing prices from $1.9 million to almost $5 million per site, including the home’s construction.
“My development vision is about the luxuriousness of nature,” Katz said. “When you develop something, you only have one shot at it. It takes a lifetime to grow a tree and a day to cut a tree.”
Katz co-owns Cascade Custom Homes and Cascade Custom Renovations alongside her father, James Katz, also of Fox Chapel.
Cascade Custom Homes is the exclusive builder for both developments located in the Fox Chapel Area School District.
Preserving some of the last remaining undeveloped woodlands in Fox Chapel and O’Hara is a priority for Katz, a 2002 Shady Side Academy alumnus.
“I really focus on the environmental impact of how we’re changing the environment, but also what the architecture says and makes you feel,” Katz said.
Onufer said he’s fielded healthy interest from potential buyers, including a recent couple from Colorado who were impressed with the woods of Western Pennsylvania.
The Cascades, O’Hara
Katz chose The Cascades’ name in reference to several naturally occurring waterfalls on the property located off of Kirkwood Road onto Cascades Way, a dirt road in O’Hara.
The Cascades occupies land that was used for smelting to create cannonballs for the Union Army during the Civil War.
When Katz moved back to Fox Chapel 10 years ago to pursue real estate development, she knew preserving the organic, natural lay of the land was essential to offering a unique living concept so close to urban amenities such as restaurants, universities, hospitals, culture and entertainment.
Rocks from the ice age dot the acreage and up to five spring houses once provided water on The Cascades lots.
“I like maintaining the feel of a country residence, like found in Fox Chapel and Ligonier. For me, I want to maintain the feel of the luxury in nature. There is something so calming and sophisticated about it,” Katz said. “I want to craft and experience for the buyer.”
For Katz, showing off her hometown borough to potential buyers is a source of pride.
Growing up in Fox Chapel, Katz had a pony and enjoyed barn time and the great outdoors.
“I loved the lifestyle that the woods provide,” she said.
Katz earned a degree in Eastern religion from Trinity College in 2006 and later, a master’s in public health from Columbia University.
After living in Manhattan in her late 20s, she boomeranged back to Fox Chapel when she was 29.
“It’s very special and hard to put into words. To be able to shape my own neighborhood and build it in the image that I want it to be in and to maintain the historic image I love,” Katz said.
Potential buyers can choose from suggested home packages provided by Katz, with each home designed with each lot’s topography in mind.
Home design amenities include laundry rooms on each floor, multiple wet bars, an additional butler’s pantry, wood and gas burning fireplaces, elevator-ready construction, high ceilings, pool-ready, scaled rooms and plenty of windows — with one home plan featuring 97 windows.
A stream runs through the three Cascades parcels. Katz said all three lots could be purchased together for an ultimate build-your-estate-over-the-stream à la Fallingwater experience.
Cascades lots are sized at 1.9, 3.7 and 1.5 acres.
Howard Hanna Realtor David Fintan Onufer has hiked both properties multiple times and said living among nature but having a quick 15-minute drive time to Downtown Pittsburgh provides the best of both worlds for potential buyers.
Onufer and Katz recently hosted a “Muddy Boots Tour” of both plans that ended with a launch party for The Oberoi in August.
“You can’t get this anymore,” Onufer said. “It gives you a really close commute to everything.”
The Oberoi, Fox Chapel
A month-long luxury vacation in northern India last October proved inspirational in naming The Oberoi.
Katz said the Oberoi left a lasting impression on her and her life partner, James Snyder.
“We knew the Oberoi was the best hotel in India and it blew everything out of the water,” Katz said. “I like that it’s different.
“They have no presence in the U.S., so I can use the name,” Katz said.
The Oberoi is off of Old Indian Trail, historically called Campbell’s Run Road, that goes all the way to Harmarville.
Originally called The Enclave, then The Wellington, The Oberoi is a recent rebranding with two lots, dubbed the Walden and the Easton, sized at 5+ acres, and the Hawthorne with 10+ acres.
The old-growth woods of The Oberoi were originally one of eight farms located in Fox Chapel and are situated at the second-highest elevation in the borough.
“I don’t want to take down trees and want each lot ot have its own vibe,” Katz said.
The Walden at The Oberoi features a suggested house design with cottage-style architecture with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a four-car garage on almost five acres and lists for $4,770,000.
A dead end, seclusion and privacy await buyers here and old-growth trees include oak, elm, walnut and cherry.
Both plans already have sewer and utilities installed and gas, electric and water brought to the property line to each home during construction.
Each community has a private road maintenance agreement (maintained by the homeowners) with no covenants or HOA fees.
Tours are available by appointment only.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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