Raising Cane's built a $3.5 million restaurant at The Piazza in South Fayette in 2023. The fast-food chicken tenders eatery is opening in February. (Photo by Andrea Iglar)
Commercial projects heat up Development continues around I-79 interchange in South Fayette By Andrea Iglar Construction investment in South Fayette Township last year totaled nearly $48 million for commercial, residential and community projects. Commercial development in 2023 focused on the Interstate 79 interchange in South Fayette and The Piazza, a 50,000-square-foot shopping center developed by Burns Scalo Real Estate. The biggest project at The Piazza was a $3.5 million restaurant and drive-thru for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. The fast-food eatery is expected to open in February. These businesses received permits to outfit the interiors of spaces in The Piazza: •
Pizzaiolo Primo, pizza/pasta/bar—open ($502,000)
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STRIDE Fitness, boutique fitness studio—open ($320,000)
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Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, flatbreads/bowls/pockets—in progress ($150,000)
Township Manager John M. Barrett said The Piazza, Newbury Market, the Gateway Shops and other projects at I-79 are creating a concentrated commercial hub convenient to motorists and close to local neighborhoods and business parks. “Development in that I-79 interchange area has really ramped up,” he said. “It's what we always thought would happen, and we've really seen it come to fruition." Elsewhere, along Alpine Road, two tenants moved into a 40,000-square-foot light industrial building, 2000 Energy Drive, at Alpine Point Business Park and renovated their interiors: •
Hartman & Hartman Construction ($275,000)
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South Hills Movers ($70,000).
Alpine Point also includes Hennecke Group and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. Other major construction permits issued in 2023 include: 18 |
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Cigars International, 7,177-square-foot cigar store and lounge planned at Newbury Market, next to Topgolf ($4.25 million)
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The Watson Institute, 230 Hickory Grade Road, 5,200-square-foot classroom addition and playground enclosure, tax-exempt—in progress ($3.5 million)
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Taco Bell, 177 Millers Run Road—opened in November ($850,000)
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Atomized Materials, 205 Parks Road, 5,520-square-foot storage building—in progress ($450,000)
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Elevation Medical Weight Loss, 3033 Washington Pike, The Crossings at South Fayette next to Jimmy John’s ($250,000)
Building Permits The township Building and Code Department issues permits and conducts inspections to ensure projects are safely built to code. The department collected $146,505 in building permit fees in 2023. Last year, the township issued 326 building permits—91 fewer than in 2022, mostly because of slowed housing construction and fewer residential improvements. A total of 69 are commercial permits, including five for new construction, 55 for accessory features, and nine for alterations, renovations, additions and demolitions. Total estimated value of all building permits in 2023 was $47.8 million, including commercial, residential and community projects. The 2023 commercial figures include permits issued for taxexempt projects, such as a new concession stand at Morgan Park; a salt shed for Public Works at Fairview Park; and the splash pad/ pavilion/restrooms project on the Mayview site at Fairview Park, which is expected to open this summer.
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