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Plans approved for Mt. Lebanon Condominiums

By Harry Funk 2 min read
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Plans for Mt. Lebanon Condominiums

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Two buildings will be demolished as the first step in the construction of Mt. Lebanon Condominiums.

The long-vacant lot at Washington and Bower Hill roads in Mt. Lebanon is one step closer to development.

Commissioners on Feb. 22 unanimously approved the land development and subdivision plans for Mt. Lebanon Condominiums, a 46-unit residential project by Zamagias Properties.

“Every indication that we’ve gotten so far is that there’s going to be a strong demand,” David Martens, Zamagias president, said about prospects for selling the units, which will be mostly two bedrooms and range in size from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet. He previously estimated prices from the high $300,000s to high $500,000s.

“There’s just a real lack of inventory in the marketplace right now, and hopefully the execution that we’re putting together here in terms of style and format is something that people are going to be looking for,” Martens told commissioners.

Plans call for construction of three buildings on the two-acre site, which also abuts Oak Way and Kenmont Avenue, which will serve as the main access to the development.

The subdivision plan allows for the consolidation of three pieces of property, two smaller parcels of which were purchased by Zamagias in the past few years and still contain vacant houses.

“Those will probably come down in the next, I would say, four to six weeks, that we’re looking as kind of a kickoff to show people that something is starting to happen on the site,” Martens said. “Our goal is to, within four months, be well under way.”

The first building to be constructed would contain 16 units and be located nearest the corner of Washington and Bower Hill. Martens said half of the units would have to be under contract to meet requirements for bank financing.

An 18-unit building is to follow at Washington and Oak, and the final structure would contain 12 units along Kenmont.

The land development plan includes 18 parking spaces for municipal use on the property, along Washington Road across from St. Bernard Church. Also, an easement would allow for a dedicated right-turn lane from Bower Hill onto Washington.

Zamagias originally targeted the site for a development called Washington Park, which was to have included 60 condominiums, 11,225 square feet of first-floor retail space and a “gateway park” at Bower Hill Road. Despite approval of a tax increment financing plan by the municipality and Mt. Lebanon School District, plans eventually were abandoned in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

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