A tentative agreement is in place to build a 320-unit apartment complex with four buildings and a clubhouse next to the South Hills Village T station.

The Port Authority Planning & Stakeholder Relations Committee endorsed the $41.5 million project at its monthly meeting Wednesday, according to the Allegheny County Executive's office.

“The goal of transit-oriented development is create compact, livable communities centered around a high-quality transit system,” stated Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Massaro Dawson Group has put forward an exciting plan to develop a 298,000 square-foot residential complex at the South Hills Village T Station, and we look forward to working with them to make this vision a reality.”

The proposal now moves to the full Port Authority Board of Directors for consideration.

If approved, Port Authority management, with assistance from the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, would enter into an exclusive negotiation period with Massaro Dawson to determine the material terms and conditions of a lease agreement, which would be subject to final review and approval by the Board and the Federal Transit Administration.

In exchange for the right to develop the complex, as well as the use of 160 parking spaces in the garage, Massaro Dawson has proposed a 52-year lease with Port Authority totaling $5,576,218. The exact terms of the agreement will be determined during the negotiating period.

On April 2, the Redevelopment Authority and Port Authority jointly issued a Request for Development Proposals for the site. Massaro Dawson Group, a special purpose entity consisting of Massaro Properties LLC and the Dawson Company LLC, proposed a 298,080 square-foot apartment community. Fore Property Group proposed a 236,250 square-foot residential development consisting of a 229-unit apartment community in three buildings.

Massaro Dawson’s proposal was selected as the highest rated and most responsible by an evaluation committee.

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