Construction starting to bring historic Pittsburgh buildings back to life
Construction is starting and millions of dollars are being invested to bring historic buildings back to life.
It’s all about preserving the history.
“This building was built for a distillery back in 1856, and that’s really why we wanted to bring it back as a distillery, because it was the last pre-Prohibition distillery licensed in Pittsburgh and at one point, was the largest rye distillery in the world,” said Eric Kraemer, vice president of retail operations for Talleyrand Holdings LLC.
That’s just a portion of this six-story rehab project on what developers are calling the South Shore.
The building sits between the Southside and Station Square, an area untouched by development for decades.
“This could be considered a food desert. There really is not a good place for people to buy food,” Kraemer said.
It’s the needs of the community that are at the forefront of these designs. The first floor will have a marketplace with fresh fruits and vegetables and a deli.
“There will be a tasting room for spirit sales and (an) artisan market with local vendors on the next level. Above that, a small galley setup for restaurants, (and) a small kitchen aspect where startup chefs can come in and start a business,” said Tony Mazzarini Jr., president and CEO of Talleyrand Holdings LLC.
Then, a cigar lounge and event space will finish it off on the rooftop, all while keeping the history and architecture of the building intact.
“We have a huge commitment to the community. This project will create a ton of jobs — there will be hundreds of employees,” Mazzarini said.
With a $20 million investment, this group is hopeful to revive the area and encourage more developments on the South Shore of the city.
“In this industry, more is more. The more entertainment and more venues you can bring to one area, the more that everyone thrives,” Kraemer said.
The project is expected to be completed and open for business this time next year.
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