To be clear from the outset, multi-family construction in Pittsburgh pales in comparison to most major cities (or even Columbus). Our boom of 3,227 units started in 2013 would be an average month in Houston or LA. But, compared to an average of 731 units annually for the previous 15 years, 2013 (and the last three years) have seen a surge in apartment construction.
Like in the rest of the country, lending and investing appetite for multi-family has cooled in Pittsburgh. Rents have stopped growing. Vacancies are rising. This is very normal following a time of increased construction and, in fact, the occupancy levels have been ticking up again in recent months. What is interesting is that senior living is picking up where apartment development dropped off. Since the start of 2016, almost $300 million in new senior living projects (representing about 900 units) are under construction.
Graziano has started construction on the 128-unit Residence at Whitehall project (pictured below) and Lecesse Construction is building the $30 million expansion of the Friendship Village campus in Upper St. Clair. Work is well underway on Continental’s project, The Waters in Marshall (plans are moving for one in Peters as well). Approvals have been received to start the $23 million Stonecrest of Pittsburgh in McCandless, which will be built by BRIDGES & Co.
In project news, CORE Realty is taking bids from subcontractors on the 174-unit apartment, The Chatham Center, a $20 million-plus conversion of eight floors of One Chatham Center. DGS selected Mascaro Construction, Renick Brothers, Shipley Plumbing and Westmoreland Electric as the best-value team for the $43.8 million Tippin Gym project at Clarion University. A. Martini & Co. landed the $3 million Fogo de Chao restaurant in the Oliver Building. Turner was selected for the $5 million Bio-Tech Vivarium renovation at Pitt’s Second Avenue research facility. UPMC is in talks with CMs for its major projects at South Fayette, Jefferson Hills and UPMC Mercy and Children’s campuses. Construction manager J. E. Dunn is in the process of qualifying contractors for the trade packages on Trinity Hospital’s $60 million new bed tower in Steubenville.