Pittsburgh Public Schools Unveil Project Bids for Schenley Redevelopment

By Adriana Pop, Associate Editor

Officials at Pittsburgh Public Schools have revealed proposals from four bidders interested in purchasing and redeveloping the former Pittsburgh Schenley High School in North Oakland.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that in order to qualify, the bids were required to include an acquisition price of at least $4 million. This amount covers the remaining debt on the historic property.

The four bidders and the bid amounts are:

• PMC Property Group, $5.2 million
• AWSVPA/Edward Alexei, $4.1 million
• Ralph A. Falbo Inc., $4 million
• Kossman Development Co., agent for Provident Charter School, $4.6 million.

The candidates intend to convert the property into apartments and/or create a new school. The highest bid came from Philadelphia-based PMC Property Group. The developer is proposing 175 residential units, along with parking and an on-site fitness center. The development will incorporate the existing basketball gym, while the uses of the pool and auditorium will be determined at a later date. The estimated cost of the project is around $37 million.

Kossman Development Co. is planning to spend $36.8 million for the development of both a charter school for 336 dyslexic children in grades 2-8 and 115 housing units for college students.

The AWSVPA proposal includes the creation of a private secondary school called the Andy Warhol School of Visual and Performing Arts. The estimated cost of the development is approximately $25 million.

Local developer Ralph A. Falbo, an alumnus of Schenley, is planning 123 market rate apartments (99 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom units), with an on-site fitness center. The estimated cost of the proposed project is $32 million.

The Request for Proposals process is being managed by Fourth River Development. A final vote from the School Board is expected on Feb. 27 during its regular public meeting.

Photo credits: www.frd.us.com/pghschools/schenley.htm