Pittsburgh's portion of Downtown building renovation could cost $3M over initial budget
Pittsburgh’s portion of the necessary renovations to create office space at 412 Boulevard of the Allies could cost more than $3 million over the initial budget.
Legislation introduced to City Council Tuesday would allocate an additional $3.2 million for the project, which aims to bring several city offices into the space.
The goal is for the building to house OneStopPGH, where people could get various licenses and permits, upload development plans and track violation notices in one spot.
Many of the offices that are set to move to the renovated Downtown building were previously housed in the John P. Robin Civic Center at 200 Ross St., a building that is more than a century old.
The city co-owns the 412 Boulevard of the Allies building with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which also will utilize their own office spaces at the site.
Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey, said the additional $3.2 million now needed for the project is allocated in the mayor’s proposed 2023 budget.
The added costs are related to supply chain issues and increased construction costs, she said.
“All of those things that are impacting anyone doing construction also impacts the city and what we’re doing,” she said.
The URA already has moved into its space on the site, but Montaño could not offer an exact timeline for when the city might move into its offices there.
“We would hope next year,” she said.
The city’s portion of the project will now cost about $8.8 million, including the $3.2 million that they are now looking to include in next year’s budget.
Legislation to approve the extra $3.2 million was introduced to City Council on Tuesday without discussion. Council members waived the rules of council so that the measure can appear on Wednesday’s standing committees agenda for further discussion and a preliminary vote.
It could be ready for a final vote as early as next week.
Related:
• Planning Commission recommends 412 Boulevard of the Allies for historic designation
Julia Felton is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jfelton@triblive.com.
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