Oakland Crossings project OK’d by Planning Commission

The city Planning Commission on March 22 voted 5-0 to support a revised proposal for Walnut Capital’s Oakland Crossings project.

The plan, which had been negotiated between Mayor Ed Gainey’s office and the developer, will include development of new apartment buildings on Halket Street, along with projects at the Quality Inn site owned by Pitt and the Isaly’s site on the Boulevard of the Allies. In all, the project would include about 400 apartments, as well as a grocery store at the former hotel site.

The commission did ask council to take a closer look at the heights that would be allowed on Halket and at the Isaly’s site, according to the Post-Gazette. It also recommended that council remove college or university campus as a permitted use in the zoning area.

The proposal will now be sent to City Council, which will have public hearings and consider the concerns raised by the planning commission, Councilman Bruce Kraus said.

UPMC hospital

The Planning Commission also approved plans by UPMC to build a 636-bed, 17-story hospital along Fifth Avenue in Oakland. Work on the building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and DeSoto Street is expected to start this summer.

Oakland Plan

The public comment period on the Oakland Plan, a 10-year plan developed by community groups and the city, has been extended to May 1. The plan, which has been in the works for two years, was released on March 7.

The Planning Commission had its first briefing on the plan on March 22 and will have another on April 5. The planning commission meetings, including a final hearing on May 17, will be available on the Pittsburgh City Planning YouTube page.

— Susan Jones

 

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