Business & Tech

'Upscale' Plans for the Former Consol Energy Site

Two local men have plans to convert the former Consol Energy site into a mix of retail, office and residential use.

Gerard J. Cipriani, of Upper St. Clair, and Hal Kestler, of Mt. Lebanon, have plans for the site of the former Consol Energy Headquarters on Washington and Fort Couch Roads. 

Charles M. Means presented the plans to Upper St. Clair's planning commission on Thursday night on behalf of 1800 Washington Road.

The group would like to "drop" the existing office and construct new buildings for office, retail and residential use. 

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The preliminary plan calls for the multi-family units to be built away from the main roadways, near the residential developments behind the land. Each unit would be no more than five stories or 20 units. 

After Means presented the initial plan, Kestler took the microphone to further explain their vision.

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"We're going to tear everything out and start again. It is an expensive endeavor." Kestler said. "There's nothing like it in Pittsburgh."

Scott Brilhart, Director of Community Development, said if you had to compare the plan to another, it may look something like a SouthSide Works.

Cipriani, who was unable to attend Thursday's meeting, wants the development to look like existing developments in Naples, FL. 

Kestler said they are in talks with two interested tenants, including at least one restaurant, but they cannot disclose the names. He assured the planning commissioners, the tenants are "upscale."

The planning commission asked the group to bring pictures and a sketch plan of their idea to the next meeting on March 17.

There were three other developments during the planning commission meeting on Thursday night.

received tentative approval for a nonresidential planned development. The owners plan to demolish a house located behind the current restaurant and build a new pizza shop. They do not know what they will do with their existing pizza shop, but said they may turn it into an ice cream, coffee or flower shop.

Plans for a new neighborhood were also introduced to the planning commissioners. The neighborhood would be located off Hays Road, adjacent to Hays Park. The developers would like the township to allow builders to allow for 30 feet from the curb to the new house instead of 50 feet. That would allow construction of houses with first floor master bedrooms and first floor garages that face the road.  Instead of the required open, green space for subdivisions, the developers would like to build sidewalks that connect to Hays Park. The price range for the new homes would be between $400,000 and $500,000. The next step for the developers is to fill out an application.

Simon Property Group's application to renovate and expand the former Boscov's store at South Hills Village Mall into a was tabled for the March 17 meeting.



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