Mosites breaks ground on Allegheny Shores, 'the Sharpsburg Riviera'

A groundbreaking along the Sharpsburg riverfront Monday marked the beginning of a project to reshape the land and reconnect it to the community.

The Mosites Co., best known for its redevelopment of the East Liberty commercial corridor, celebrated the launch of a project formerly dubbed R47 and now called Allegheny Shores.

It will see more than 50 acres redeveloped for commercial, housing and retail use along the Allegheny River from Sharpsburg to O’Hara.

Steve Mosites introduced the idea more than seven years ago and celebrated the groundbreaking, saying the work will provide unprecedented access to shorefront property.

“I like to think of it as the Sharpsburg Riviera,” Mosites said during the ceremony at 19th Street.

“It’s only 1.5 miles of riverfront, but you gotta think big.”

Take a look at the plans for Allegheny Shores (formerly Riverfront 47)

The property, thick with slag, was abandoned long ago by the railroad and operated for decades as a scrap yard. Somewhere under all that slag were fields once used to grow horseradish and tomatoes for the H.J. Heinz Co., Mosites said.

His project intends to reclaim the property for civic benefits that include affordable housing and healthy living amenities, such as parks and trails.

“Taking a brownfield and turning it into something that provides housing and job opportunities is a win-win for the borough,” Sharpsburg Councilman Jon Jaso said.

Susan Mosites Bicket, project partner, said 15% of the development will be committed to housing. The company partnered with ACTION Housing to ensure quality, inclusionary units.

Last week, Mosites was awarded a $5 million state grant for site work, demolition, utility installation and road construction.

The money will help dismantle three old tunnels at the entrance to the property and taper the land to open access to the riverfront.

“This project marks a major state investment in our community,” said state Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny.

“When you were driving in to the groundbreaking, you might have seen all the pride flags flying in the borough to go with their motto of ‘All Are Welcome Here.’

“When we see developments like this, we need to make sure we’re connecting this work back to the neighborhood and the people and culture that were here before.”

State Sen. Jay Costa said the Sharpsburg project will impact not just the borough but the surrounding region. He applauded the vision of making the scenic property accessible to people for the first time in more than 100 years.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald added: “The scrap yard was not the most visually appealing place, but this will be beautiful and it will connect the region.”

Work is expected to complete missing links of the larger 33-mile Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Initial grading work is scheduled to last up to six months.

“I’m super excited,” said Roman Mason, a Fox Chapel Area senior and Sharpsburg junior councilman. “This is good for all ages. We love this community, and it’s a place where people want to stay and raise their families. This will give it that extra boost.”

Despite its current eyesore condition, Mayor Brittany Reno said the people of Sharpsburg owe a lot to the property. From riparian zone to farmland to light industry, it has “given us a lot,” she said.

“Now, it’s going to give us public health and economic development,” Reno said. “It represents opportunity and hope.”