Plans move forward for 254 apartments above former GNC headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission this week approved a plan to transform the former GNC headquarters in Downtown into an apartment complex.

The commission approved a plan that would allow the developer, New York-based Victrix LLC, to convert the building on Wood Street into a 254-unit apartment complex.

Development rights would allow Victrix to develop 216 housing units at the site. The Planning Commission recommended allowing the development rights for 28 additional units from Landmarks Development Corp. projects in the city to be transferred to the GNC site, clearing the way for 254 units to be developed there.

Pittsburgh City Council will need to approve the transfer of the development rights.

Plans for the site include retail stores and services on the first floor and nearly 5,000 square feet of rooftop amenity space, as well as 34 new parking spots for cars and 101 for bicycles.

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

“We are reusing a very large part of the existing building, the entire shell,” said Sean Beasley of Strada Architecture.

Construction is expected to take about 15 months to complete, he said.

GNC announced last summer that it was relocating to new headquarters in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

All members of the Planning Commission present for Tuesday’s meeting voted in favor of approving the project and recommending that City Council permit the additional units. Commissioners Dina Blackwell and Fred Brown were not present.