51 apartments planned in Pittsburgh's Uptown

A proposed development in Pittsburgh’s Uptown would bring 51 new apartments to the neighborhood.

The Standard on Fifth would be situated on what is now vacant land at Fifth Avenue and Moultrie Street.

The four-story building would include a mix of market-rate and affordable apartments, according to information presented to the Planning Commission. Amenities would include a fitness room, pet washing area and bicycle parking space.

Boston-based Beacon Communities and the local nonprofit Uptown Partners are collaborating on the project.

“Understanding the importance of community partnerships and the need to preserve Uptown’s affordability and maintain a mixed-income community, Uptown Partners was brought in as a partner with 30% ownership in the project to see this through,” Uptown Partners Executive Director Brittany McDonald said.

The proposed development would include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, McDonald said.

McDonald said the project aligns with several goals the city has outlined for the area, including putting vacant land to use, creating more public green space and embracing alternative transportation by offering bicycle parking and its close proximity to the new bus rapid transit line set to come through the neighborhood, McDonald said.

She said the project is committed to ensuring that at least 12% of work hours on the project are filled by minority employees, and about 85% of the apartments would be affordable for people making no more than 80% of the area median income.

The area median income in the region ranges from $66,400 for an individual to more than $125,000 for a family of eight.

The development team said it is hoping to begin construction by the end of the year. It has not provided a timeline or cost estimate for the project.

The Planning Commission is expected to vote on the proposal at its next meeting in two weeks.