Active Projects

Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences

Description

Carnegie Mellon University is constructing a 278,000 square foot academic building at 4644 Forbes Ave on the corner of Forbes Avenue and South Craig Street. “The Mellon Hall of Sciences will house CMU's Mellon College of Science, the university's School of Computer Science and the public Institute for Contemporary Art” (Carnegie Mellon University).

Context

Construction of this building is allowing CMU to help lay the groundwork for a first ever sidewalk on Boundary street along Junction Hollow. While construction is forcing the closure of pedestrian access alongside the soutshide of the Forbes Avenue Bridge, CMU is endeavoring to complete improvements to the pedestrian experience that would include better lighting and safer sidewalks.

Status

This project is expected to be complete at the end of 2027.

Upcoming events

N/a

Engagement history

  • Planning Commission Hearing March 19, 2024

  • Development Activities Meeting January 25, 2024

project resources

217-239 Halket Street (Trinitas Ventures Project)

Description

Trinitas Ventures has submitted a building and development permit application to build a multi-unit residential development (12 floors with 300+ units) at 217-239 Halket St.

Context

This is the first project proposed on Halket Street using the new UC-MU zoning which was approved in 2021. This project will product at least 30 affordable units, in compliance with the Inclusionary Zoning overlay.

Status

Pending approval from Planning Commission

Upcoming events

Engagement history

  • The Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID), and Oakland Planning & Development Corporation (OPDC) hosted a Development Activities Meeting in collaboration with the Dept. of City Planning on Monday, April 14, 2025.

  • Planning Commission Briefing Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Project Resources

262 McKee Place

Description

Walnut Capital is constructing a 159-unit apartment building at 262 McKee Place, above Louisa Street. For visuals and more information about the project, please refer to the resources linked below.

Context

This site was previously the subject of a zoning amendment to alter the parcels from Urban Center-Employment to Residential-Mixed Use. This project will produce 16 affordable units, in compliance with the Inclusionary Zoning overlay.*

Status

In construction

*August 2025 Update: The Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (BAMP) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the city’s inclusionary zoning law, claiming the law would cause “irreparable harm” to BAMP member Walnut Capital.

Construction as of August 2025

450 Melwood Avenue

Description

Applicant Hudson Companies will convert an existing commercial building at 450 Melwood Avenue into a 42-unit multi-family residential development.

For visuals and more information about the project, please refer to the resources linked below.

Context

Hudson Companies proposed this project with their current development, The Parker.

Status

In predevelopment phase

Upcoming Events

N/a

Engagement History

Development Activities Meeting on July 8 at 5:30 p.m. hosted by OPDC

Project resources

Presentation from Hudson Companies

214 S Craig Street

Applicant Michael Wu is proposing the construction of a two-story restaurant at 214 S Craig Street, to be designed by Ryan Indovina Architects. The parcel is located in the Oakland Public Realm District zoning area. The applicant is requesting a special exception and a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

  • Special Exception: to be able to use the whole building as a two-story restaurant.

  • Variance: to not have to provide the two off-street parking spaces that the zoning code for this area requires.

For visuals and more information about the project, please refer to the resources linked below.

Status

The Planning Commission approved the construction of a 2-story restaurant on S Craig St. The applicant has adjusted the original proposal to no longer include the full and plans to propose the new construction of a 1-story structure with 2 small kiosk/window style restaurants along the Winthrop St side of the building.

Upcoming Events

N/a

Engagement History

Planning Commission Hearing on October 29, 2024.

Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing on June 13, 2024, at 9:40 a.m.

Developmental Activities Meeting: 214 Craig Street and RK Mellon on April 13th, 2024

Project Resources

Project Zoning Development Review Application

Project Presentation and Proposal

04/13/2024 DAM Meeting Recording

  • Comment below with input or questions regarding the project.

The Parker

Description

Applicant Hudson Companies is constructing a 12-floor multi-unit residential development at 435-445 Melwood Avenue. Currently, the parcel is located in an Urban Industrial zoning area. The developer equested three special exceptions from Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment:

  1. Requirement is that buildings must not exceed a Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 4:1. Hudson Companies is requesting to increase building surface area and expand the 4:1 FAR to 10:1 - 904.07.C.5

  2. Requirement is that buildings must not exceed a height of 60ft. Hudson Companies is requesting to exceed the 60 ft. max height - 904.07.C.4 

  3. Hudson Companies is also requesting permission to build off-site parking - 914.07.G.2 

For visuals and more information about the project, please refer to the resources linked below.

Context

This will be Hudson Companies’ second development following The Julian, another residential building on Melwood Avenue which has just been completed. The Julian was approved prior to inclusionary zoning in Oakland. The Parker will produce 17 affordable units, in compliance with the Inclusionary Zoning overlay. Its construction will be followed by the development of 450 Melwood Avenue.

Status

In construction

Upcoming Events

N/a

Engagement History

Zoning Board of Adjustment Hearing on June 20, 2024, at 10:40 a.m.

Development Activities Meeting: The Parker & 252 Parkman on May 13th, 2024

Project Resources

The Parker Presentation from The Hudson Companies

The Parker Full Drawing Set

05/13/2024 DAM Meeting Recording

3339 Ward Street

Proposed conversion of an office building to a 19-unit residential building. Paramount Construction presented preliminary plans for the project at the November 30, 2021 Oakland-Wide Meeting, requesting residents’ feedback on the design. Paramount returned on December 11, 2023 with updated plans.

Status Updates:

05/15/2024: Paramount Construction is in the process of scheduling a hearing with the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment. The company expects to secure a date within the next couple of months. Once finalized, the date will be posted.

Resources:

UPMC Presbyterian Bed Tower

About

UPMC plans to construct a new building on the former Children’s Hospital site on Fifth Avenue.

The Presbyterian Bed Tower would include 636 beds for ICU, stepdown, and discharge patients. The proposed building would be 288’ tall, at no more than 17 stories, occupying just under 900,000 square feet above Fifth Ave. Plans include room for 450 cars in its garage.

Plans include green space consisting of a tree canopy, native plant species, and on-site stormwater capture. Also part of the design is a lifestyle village that would invite both staff and community members into the hospital.

Updates

UPMC hosted two community meetings in late 2018 to answer resident questions and discuss how the development plans could include some community benefits. This hospital is consistent with the UPMC Institutional Master Plan (IMP) approved by the city in late 2014. This development requires City Planning Commission approval but does not need to go in front of the City Council as it is in their IMP.

As of early March 2019, UPMC is putting this project on pause and plans to re-engage the community with public meetings later.

April 2021 update - The project is still on hold. UPMC has re-engaged its architect and restarted the design process. UPMC plans to share its community engagement plan this summer and will then go through the approval process.

May 2021 update - UPMC announced that they expect to begin construction in summer 2022, with the building opening in fall 2026

UPMC presented at the August 31 Oakland-Wide meeting and returned for the November 30, 2021 Oakland-Wide/Development Activities Meeting. The project went to the Planning Commission meeting for a briefing on March 8. UPMC returned to the Planning Commission for a hearing on March 22, 2022 where the Commission unanimously approved the project.

June 2022: UPMC breaks ground.

Resources:

3730 Dawson Street

The owner of the vacant lot at 3730 Dawson Street seeks community input as they plan to redevelop the parcel of land. Current options include subdividing the lot to accommodate two homes with off-street parking in front or to retain the existing lot size and pursue variance to allow for a duplex with a driveway and rear parking.

Jerimiah Brooks, Senior Associate with Stantec Architecture, presented the initial concepts at the June 29, 2021 Oakland-Wide meeting.

This property has filed for lot subdivision.

Resources: