by Kelsey Shea

Though the Northside is known for historic rowhouses and Victorian mansions, there are redevelopment and new construction happening here as well, like these ongoing projects…

Federal Hill Homes
Central Northside

The last few townhomes in the popular Federal Hill project will be completed this summer.

The project’s final phase includes six townhomes and one single-family home that are still under construction on Federal Street.

All homes in the final phase have sold, and the project has a waiting list of interested families who hope to call the Northside home.

The completed project includes 40 three-story homes that were built in the Central Northside by developer S&A homes in collaboration with the Central Northside Neighborhood Council and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.

Jacksonia townhomes
Central Northside

With the help of October Development, The Central Northside Neighborhood Council is looking to fill in the “missing teeth” of its neighborhood with new townhomes.

The six townhomes planned for the 100 block of Jacksonia Street will be the first phase of a plan to bring 50 new homes to vacant lots in the Central Northside.

Ground was broken last year, and the developers hope to finish the project by this summer.

The homes will sell for around $200,000, depending on fixtures that the homeowners choose.

These vacant properties were acquired with the help from a $75,000 contribution from the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The URA also awarded the CNNC with an additional $200,000 grant.

Columbus Square
Manchester

Manchester’s Columbus Square project is one of the most ambitious and successful housing developments on the Northside.

The first phase of Columbus Square included five new homes and was completed in 2012.

Fourth River Developers announced that they’ve closed on their first second phase home, which will be completed in early spring.

The 31-home development is done in collaboration with Manchester Citizen’s Corporation and looks to offer the best of both city and suburban living.

“We continue to have daily inquiries and are anxiously awaiting the start of phase 3,” said Fourth River Development’s Sally Flinn.

St. John’s Site
Brighton Heights

In late November, the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation celebrated the completion of three new homes on McClure Avenue near the former site of St. John’s Hospital.

The three completed houses were phase on¬¬e of an initiative that hopes to fill the vacant land where the St. John’s Hospital stood with 17-20 new homes.

The three neighboring three-bedroom homes at 3301, 3303 and 3307 McClure Ave. each sold for $135,000.

The BHCF has also worked with the city to tear down eight vacant houses on city property to further improve the aesthetics of the lower part of Brighton Heights

BHCF Prsident Pete Bellisario said that the BHCF hired a contractor to estimate what needs to be done to ready the hospital land for construction, and Tom Cummings of the URA said they hope to access state funds to make the project happen.