Opponents of proposed Frick Park apartment development speak out
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A plan to build 162 apartments next to Frick Park is on hold for a month after some neighbors rallied against it.
A group of neighbors called the Frick Park Friends are against the proposed development. It's set to be built at the former Irish Centre, which is underneath the Parkway and borders Frick Park on three sides.
Vicki Yann lives in nearby Swisshelm Park and doesn't want to see 162 apartments pop up.
"It's a nice little community that loves each other and fights with each other on Facebook, but we are all united in opposing this development," Yann said.
The variances requested by the Toronto-based developer include a variance to build because it's a zoned park, a variance to build something higher than the permitted three stories and a variance to build retaining walls taller than 10 feet.
"We're not against development at the Irish Centre," Yann said. "We want development that fits within the guidelines of the zoning, and the whole issue with this project is it's asking for four exceptions to the zoning."
KDKA-TV reached out to Ray Baum, a Squirrel Hill native and the attorney representing the Toronto-based developer Craft General. He said the abandoned building and swimming pool are an unattractive blight.
The developer made this proposal smaller, reducing it to two stories of underground parking and six stories of apartments, instead of eight. He said you'll only see it directly across the street and it's hidden with the tree canopy.
Yann says neighbors worry about traffic, but Baum argues the developer offered to throw $100,000 toward traffic calming and a sidewalk for safety, adding the backups on that road are a city problem.
The next zoning board hearing regarding the proposal is on Aug. 3.