New Grocery Store, Apartments Planned For Oakland Site

PITTSBURGH, PA — The University of Pittsburgh plans to bring a grocery store and apartments for non-student residents on the site of the former Quality Inn & Suites on the Boulevard of the Allies in Oakland.

Pitt on Monday announced the plans for the property, which it has owned for years. Quality Inn leased the space from the university until vacating the location earlier this year. A Panera Bread restaurant remains open on the building's ground level.

“In nearly every conversation the University of Pittsburgh has had with Oakland residents about Pitt’s presence in the neighborhood, the same two items—a grocery store and more resident housing—came up as priorities,” said Lina Dostilio, Pitt’s associate vice chancellor for community engagement.

“It was obvious there was a need, and we are excited to partner with our community to help realize these long-desired amenities.”

Pitt and city officials said the new apartments could provide university faculty and staff new walk-to-work options and cement their presence in Oakland.

“The addition of walk-to-work housing and a grocery store at this critical intersection is a win for the entire Oakland community,” Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto said in a news release. “I appreciate the university’s partnership in bringing a needed grocery store back to the community and making an investment in workforce housing.”

Pitt did not indicate how many apartments would occupy the site or what grocery store might be pursued for the property. Redevelopment efforts will be handled by Walnut Capital of Shadyside.

Walnut Capital last month announced plans to purchase and raze 11 condemned row houses that begin at the Boulevard of the Allies intersection with Bates Street, about a block from the Quality Inn site. Pitt then announced plans to buy the property from Walnut Capital.

Neither Pitt nor Walnut Capital have announced a long-term use for the site, which will be used as green space for the time being.

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