South Hills Village Mall to undergo major renovations
Big changes are coming to South Hills Village Mall.
Speaking on behalf of South Hills Village Associates and Simon Malls, Mike Takacs of Kohler Engineering described a redevelopment plan for the mall now that Sears and Sears Automotive are vacant.
Takacs said during the Upper St. Clair commissioners’ meeting March 4 that the mall’s remodeling plans include a 120,000 square-foot building at the former Sears Automotive site and a nearly 40,000 square-foot pool deck for Life Time Athletic, a luxury athletic resort.
The Sears store will see part of the lower level filled in, with the remainder of the lower level housing stores that would access the lower level of the mall. On the upper level of Sears would be a bump out area and outward facing retail shops on the exterior of the building.
Takacs said the food court would come off to allow for additional parking closer to the mall entrance, along with outer facing retail shops.
As part of the redevelopment, the applicant is requesting two modifications from the township, both related to the proposed Life Time Athletic facility. Upper St. Clair requires a 100-foot setback between principle structures and the property line. Takacs said they are seeking a 66-foot setback to provide more functional parking. Without the change, there would be the same amount of parking, but some of it would be behind the building and less likely to be used.
The second modification is a waiving of Upper St. Clair’s requirement of three dedicated loading berths for a 120,000 square-foot building. Takacs said that while athletic equipment would be delivered prior to opening, the business would not need a loading dock, as deliveries would come through the main entrance or pool deck.
Commissioner Robert Orchowski had concerns about having no loading docks, asking what type of deliveries the facility would typically receive after the initial opening. Takacs said after the initial delivery of equipment, most deliveries would be food for the kitchen or chemicals for the pool.
The public hearing for the redevelopment will be continued on April 1.
In other business, the board approved contracts for its 2019 street improvement program, awarding a contract for $1,739,564 with Mele, Mele & Sons for paving, and a contract for $44,000 to Russell Standard for crack sealing.