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Station Square's Freight House Shops Set For Massive Redevelopment

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Think Station Square, you think the Sheraton, Commerce Court, the Freight House Shops, Bessemer Court, and, of course, the Grand Concourse -- but that's about to expand.

"It's a new trend. It's really been growing in the last four or five years, and we're happy to be part of that trend," James Murray-Coleman, of Trammell Crow Co., told KDKA money editor Jon Delano.

On the parking lot east of the Smithfield Street Bridge, developer Trammell Crow hopes to build a $60 million residential complex with an initial 319 apartment units.

Architects briefed the City Planning Commission on the project Tuesday afternoon.

"There is no residential soul over there right now," architect Chris Harvey, of Hord Coplan Macht, told the commission.

But that changes when up to 600 residents are connected under the bridge to the retail shops of Station Square, and that has great potential for Station Square owner Forest City.

"We're really looking forward to the new residents down at Station Square," said Jim LaRue, asset manager for Forest City.

With residential housing coming to Station Square for the first time just 500 yards past the Freight House Shops, Forest City says it's time for a major upgrade in the shops.

"We think the Freight House Shops need an update, an upgrade, so we're looking at doing some structural work to the Freight House Shops, getting some better sight lines within the Freight House Shops," said LaRue.

And, equally important, attracting new retailers and restaurants to serve both visitors and residents.

"The retailers will love the fact that there will be 600 new residential people living there," he said.

Work should be finished on both the apartments and the shops by 2019.

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