pictured above: The Otto Milk Condos at 25th and Smallman. Rendering courtesy of Kathy WallaceUrbanites rejoice! One of the most popular destinations in the 'Burgh is slowly but surely turning into a residential playground.
The Strip District is thusly named because it encompasses a "strip" of land between 11th and 33rd streets, and includes main thoroughfares such as Liberty Avenue, Penn Avenue, and Smallman Street. Keep your eyes on The Strip my peeps, because it is likely the area that will see the most dramatic transformation over the next few years. Why? For that answer we need to travel back to the early 19th century when the Strip was the main port of call for the 'Burgh.
Once Upon a Time....
Bordered by the Allegheny River, ships laden with goodies stopped at the shores of the Strip to unload. As a result, the area became rich with warehouses and factory buildings, such as the Armstrong Cork Factory, Chautauqua Lake Ice Company Warehouse, The Phoenix Brewery (which later became part of the Pittsburgh Brewing Company), Westinghouse (which established a factory producing air brakes in the Strip), and numerous others. As the Strip District established itself as the economic center of the 'Burgh, many wholesalers began to set up shop, selling fresh produce, meats, fish and poultry. This tradition exists today. Many Pittsburghers consider a Saturday morning trip to the
Strip District markets a staple of 'Burgh living.
As train and boat became less likely methods of transporting goods, almost 80% of the manufacturing plants and factories left the area, and their warehouses began to be converted to specialty shops, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The Chautauqua Lake Ice Company Warehouse is now a very familiar Pittsburgh landmark, The
Heinz History Center! The Strip District became an entertainment and shopping destination, and the idea of the area as residential became remote.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
So what changed? An empty warehouse is something that a pioneering residential developer finds hard to overlook. One of the first residential conversions took place in the late 90's. Known as the Strip District Lofts, these condos are located at 2901 Smallman Street, in a building that was, once upon a time, the Springfield Public School. So what else has emerged in the last decade or so that is hearkening change? Let's go down the list of the buildings mentioned above, and see what they have become.
The Armstrong Cork Factory: Undeniably the harbinger of change, the
Cork Factory is one of the most popular apartment complexes in the city. With a plan that looked beyond living space, to designing a vital neighborhood, the Cork Factory's foresight has opened the door for developers currently working in the Strip, and those that will follow.
Westinghouse Air Brake Company: The Brake Street Lofts welcome its first tenants in November of 2002. The units feature 9-12' ceilings, polished concrete floors and exposed duct work. Just what the urban doctor ordered.
The Phoenix Brewery/Otto Milk: Put a pin in it people, because
Otto Milk (pictured above) is the project that will put the Strip District on the map as the newest residential hot spot. The 56 condominium units are priced from the mid $200,000's to $1.35 million. The project currently boasts more than 65% pre-construction sales to date, and expects to move in its first residents by late fall of 2010. Eligible for the 10 year tax abatement, this project, like the developer's first project at 941 Penn Avenue, promises to be the place where all the cool kids live.
As the hustle and bustle increases, so does the demand for everyday amenities, and Pittsburgh's newest grocery store,
Right By Nature, has answered the call. The store boasts one-stop-shopping, meaning they carry organic and mainstream products, and recently joined forces with
Good Apples, Pittsburgh's grocery delivery service, so you can order online and pick up at the store. Super convenient! To make it even easier for you, they offer free, two hour, covered parking with purchase. You can even take a little breather at the Right Way Cafe. What are you waiting for? Go shopping!
The More We Change, The More We Need to Stay the Same
Amidst all of the change, what makes the Strip so significant is that it holds onto its roots.
Wholey is still a household name in the 'Burgh, and those that know their seafood make a Saturday morning stop part of their to-do list. The parking lot at 22nd and Penn hosts a seasonal farmers' market from May - November.
Mancini's Bread, at 17th and Penn, has my vote for the best bread in the 'Burgh and is a Pittsburgh icon. My Mom, all the way up in Erie, PA, turned me onto
Prestogeorge Coffee, located at 17th and Penn.
However you feel about the markets, there is something about picking out your food surrounded by the happy chaos and whirlwind of activity that makes it taste that much better when it hits your table. This tradition must remain intact for the Strip to remain viable as a residential location. It's what makes the Strip special, and the conveniences it provides are undeniable.
Interested in living in the Strip? I've mentioned I'm a Real Estate Agent - right? Feel free to contact me!
To the left, is Jim Krenn's celibridog Gizmo, and to the right, none other than my dog Basie. Is there a playdate in the future for these rescue ratties? 
