Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved transferring development rights for new apartments in Downtown to a New York company that is looking to redevelop the former GNC headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The move clears the way for Victrix LLC to build 254 apartments at the site on Sixth Avenue.

Victrix already was allowed to develop 216 apartments there. It sought to buy development rights for an additional 38 units not being used at other sites owned by Landmark Development Corp. and then have those rights transferred to the former GNC property so it could develop more apartments there.

Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission previously recommended allowing the transfer. City Council unanimously approved it on Tuesday.

Plans for the GNC site include retail stores and services on the first floor and nearly 5,000 square feet of rooftop amenity space. The project would bring 34 new parking spots for cars, plus 101 for bicycles.

The former GNC building was designed by architect Daniel Burnham and dates back to the early 1900s.

Sean Beasley of Strada Architecture told the Planning Commission that the project would reuse the entire shell of the existing structure. He estimated that it would take about 15 months to complete the work.

GNC announced last summer that the company was relocating its headquarters to Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

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