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Commercial projects heat up
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)
STRIDE Fitness, boutique fitness studio—open ($320,000)
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)
South Hills Movers ($70,000).
Alpine Point also includes Hennecke Group and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania.
Other major construction permits issued in 2023 include:
Cigars International, 7,177-square-foot cigar store and lounge planned at Newbury Market, next to Topgolf ($4.25 million)
The Watson Institute, 230 Hickory Grade Road, 5,200-square-foot classroom addition and playground enclosure, tax-exempt—in progress ($3.5 million)
Taco Bell, 177 Millers Run Road—opened in November ($850,000)
Atomized Materials, 205 Parks Road, 5,520-square-foot storage building—in progress ($450,000)
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 tax-exempt 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.
Residential
A total of 257 residential building permits were issued last year, including 67 for new homes valued at $22.2 million. A total of 49 were single-family houses, and 18 were townhouses.
Most of the new homes were located in Stonegate, a 192-lot plan on Battle Ridge Road, and Hastings on Mayview Road.
Homeowners spent $3.7 million on 185 accessory structures such as decks (64), fences (30), rooftop solar panels (20), sheds (19), swimming pools/hot tubs (15), deck/ patio roofs (15) and retaining walls (5).
Looking Ahead
In 2023, the overall estimated construction value of all permitted projects was about $17.8 million less than in 2022.
But this decrease does not indicate a long-term development downturn, Barrett said.
Significant projects are in the pipeline for 2024 and beyond, including further development at Newbury Market and along the Southern Beltway, he said.
“Construction slowed down last year, but if you consider approved plans yet to be built, there is reason to believe we will see an uptick in numbers," Barrett said.
Here are some highlights of upcoming development projects:
Alpha Residential is building Apex Newbury, a 6-building, 416-unit apartment complex on 37 acres spanning Oakridge Road. Land preparation started in 2023.
Maronda Homes and Foxlane Homes continue to build in Stonegate.
Charter Homes & Neighborhoods continues to build single-family homes and townhouses in Hastings.
A developer plans 32 townhouses along Mayview Road, just north of Boyce Road, across from Three Saints Baking Company.
Traditions of America, a 497-acre mixed-use project, plans commercial and residential elements, including housing for adults age 55-plus.
At The Piazza, Clean Express Auto Wash proposes a car wash next to Raising Cane’s. Plus, a vacant site is available behind Firebirds Wood Fired Grill.
The former King’s restaurant site, 3049 Washington Pike, is approved for a 2-unit commercial building, including a bank and a retail store.
Chrome Federal Credit Union plans to build a bank at the corner of Millers Run Road and Route 50.
Newbury Market is expected to present plans for additional tenants to join BJ’s Wholesale Club, Carvana, Tesla and Topgolf.
Real estate developer Cozza Enterprises/Craig Cozza, owner of Pro Bike + Run, plans to redevelop the Foremost Auto site and adjacent land into Lafayette 180, a shopping plaza at the Millers Run Road entrance of Newbury.
As development at Newbury Market, The Piazza and the I-79 area continues to flourish, the township hopes to improve pedestrian connections among the shopping areas, Barrett said.
“We have a vision of this area as a welcoming gateway to the community,” he said.
