And that\u2019s just the first proposed phase of the 15-acre, $740 million Esplanade<\/a> project being built by Canonsburg-based Piatt Companies. The site of the new development is a largely vacant brownfield located on the North Side<\/a> in the city\u2019s Chateau neighborhood which sits on the banks of the Ohio River and is separated from the Manchester neighborhood by Route 65.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Esplanade is a great opportunity to expand the success of the North Shore,\u201d said Piatt CEO Lucas Piatt. \u201cIt\u2019s location also serves as an important juncture between the North Shore, Manchester and Chateau. Our hope is that it brings tons of opportunities to residents in those neighborhoods. We want it to be a place for everyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n After nine years of planning, Piatt Companies was joined on Monday, December 1st by Governor Josh Shapiro and other elected officials, plus members of several community organizations and trade leaders to break ground on the project.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lucas said that reaching this stage wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t done a project that\u2019s simple,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we\u2019re from here and we\u2019re trying to create a better Pittsburgh.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucas described the plan as \u201cauthentically Pittsburgh, but with a nod to world-class architecture.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Current is the most unique building in the project,\u201d he said. \u201cThat kind of indoor\/outdoor space just doesn\u2019t exist in Pittsburgh.\u201d<\/p>\n Renderings provided by AE7 Architects depict The Current as two three-story, riverfront buildings connected by a four-season atrium that\u2019s positioned next to the Ferris wheel.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe right side of The Current (closer to the Ferris wheel) will have more casual food options that are river and trail oriented,\u201d said Lucas. \u201cPlus, maybe a winery or a distillery similar to District Winery<\/a> in Washington DC. We really like that place.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucas said the left side of The Current will have lots of different culinary concepts on the first floor along the lines of the 63,000-square-foot marketplace and food hall Eataly Chicago<\/a>. There will be three permanent international-influenced restaurants on the second floor (think Mercado Little Spain<\/a> in NYC or El Nacional Barcelona<\/a>). The third floor will be home to a rooftop club.<\/p>\n The project will be completed in phases with the construction of the Ferris wheel, apartments, retail space, parking garage, and The Current expected to begin in 2026 and anticipated to open in 2028. A 126-condominium building will be built shortly after. The second phase of construction is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2029. This phase will include a marina with house boats, leased and day slips, marine safety facility, and a public pier, plus additional housing, a potential innovation workspace and hotel.<\/p>\n There are also plans to build a splash park that becomes an ice skating ribbon in colder months and to make upgrades to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.<\/p>\n Additional information and updates about the project can be found at esplanade-pgh.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.<\/p>\n \t\tTags:Image via Piatt Companies<\/a><\/p>\n
Image via Piatt Companies<\/a><\/p>\n
Image via Piatt Companies<\/a><\/p>\n
Image via Piatt Companies<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t412<\/a>, best of pgh<\/a>, best of pittsburgh<\/a>, drink local<\/a>, food<\/a>, lifestyle<\/a>, local businesses<\/a>, North Hills<\/a>, North Shore<\/a>, North Side<\/a>, PA<\/a>, pgh<\/a>, pgh made<\/a>, Pittsburgh<\/a>, Western PA<\/a>\t<\/p>\n