Plans for Target in Downtown Pittsburgh set for January hearing

Plans for a downsize Target that will be located in the iconic Kaufmann’s building Downtown are set for a January hearing before the Pittsburgh Planning Commission.

Christine Mondor, the commission’s chairwoman, said Target presented the plans for review and a hearing is set for next month. The commission doesn’t comment on pending projects, she said.

Target officials also haven’t said much since the project was announced in July.

“We’re excited to bring an easy, convenient shopping experience to additional guests in the community with this new Target store,” said Aryn Ridge, spokeswoman for the Minneapolis-based retailer.

The store will be 22,000 square feet — far smaller than the 130,000 square feet that’s the store’s usual footprint.

It is supposed to have a “shopping experience tailored to serve local guests,” Ridge said.

Downtown business leaders are hopeful that when the store opens in fall 2021 that it will provide a needed boost.

“The Target location is going to be a great addition to the retail mix,” Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership President Jeremy Waldrup said. “With its smaller urban footprint, they are going to zero in on the Downtown office worker and resident and hopefully drive additional traffic into Downtown.”

The move should mean additional development in the area, Waldrup said.

“I think we’re going to see some additional retail announcements soon,” he said.

Despite the economic toll wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, Waldrup said developers and companies are still looking to locate Downtown.