Century III Mall Owner Hires Redevelopment Consultants

PITTSBURGH, PA - A former high-ranking Pittsburgh official and his company have been hired as consultants on redevelopment plans for the nearly-abandoned Century III Mall.

McKnight Realty Partners and its chief operating officer, Yarone Zober, have been hired by a subsidiary of Moonbeam Capital Investments, the Las Vegas-based company that owns the West Mifflin mall.

From 2006 to 2014, Zober served as chief of staff to former Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. While in that position, he also served as chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.

McKnight develops, owns, operates, and provides services for a real estate portfolio of more than seven million square feet of office, industrial, retail, hotels, parking facilities, film production sound stages, and mixed use property. Its Pittsburgh holdings include the Grant Building, Oliver Building and Heinz 57 Center, all Downtown.

Zober and McKnight's hiring was disclosed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court filings and first reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times.