A prominent Downtown property could become the latest addition to the neighborhood’s residential revival following Legacy Development Partners’ purchase of 610 Smithfield St.
Why it matters: Legacy, led by Pittsburgh developer and restaurateur Herky Pollock, added the four-story retail and office building across from Mellon Square to its growing real estate portfolio this month.
The big picture: The purchase comes as momentum builds behind efforts to remake Smithfield Street into a more pedestrian-friendly corridor, alongside a $600 million state plan to bring new life to Downtown through residential conversions.
- Pittsburgh-based McKnight Realty previously owned the 85,000-square-foot building. Financial details were not disclosed.
Zoom in: The new owners are exploring plans to convert the building’s upper floors into residential units and, potentially, a rooftop hospitality venue overlooking Mellon Square — as part of a larger mixed-use redevelopment strategy, developers said in a news release.
- Brooks Brothers and the Downtown branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh are among the building’s existing lower-level tenants. Legacy said its redevelopment plans will preserve its tenant base.
What they’re saying: “The future of Downtown belongs to those willing to adapt,” Pollock said. “We’re excited to study how 610 Smithfield can become part of that future — not just as a historic building, but as a catalyst for bringing more life, more residents, and more momentum back to the center of the city.”…