Pittsburgh Planning Commission approves master plan for riverfront development in Strip District

A master plan laying out the general vision for riverfront development in Pittsburgh’s Strip District earned Planning Commission approval Tuesday.

New York City-based North River Company bought more than seven acres along the Allegheny River near the 31st Street Bridge in 2017. The developer is planning a redevelopment of the 31st Street Studios site that will include food and beverage space, retail, housing and parking.

The site now has eight industrial shed buildings that were originally used for the steel industry before being converted for movie studio use.

The developer is planning to knock down those buildings and create a four-building development set back 95 feet from the river. Plans presented to the Planning Commission show six-story buildings with parking and retail at the ground level with five stories of residential space on top.

Plans also include public riverfront access, outdoor courtyards, public restrooms, 255 bicycle parking spaces and 785 parking spots for vehicles.

The developer told the Planning Commission during its initial presentation two weeks ago that it could not offer a timeline for the project because of current economic conditions.

Matthew Seybert of the Pittsburgh-based architectural firm Perkins Eastman said the developers are hoping to turn the site into “the next great destination along the Allegheny River.”

Individual elements of the project will be presented to the commission for approval as the development progresses.