Strong demand drives East End apartment developers to expedite next project

Brisk leasing of upscale apartments at the newly opened Bakery Living complex in the East End is prompting developers to push up construction of a second apartment building by about a year.

It's another signal of the appetite for apartments in Pittsburgh, where hundreds of high-end units catering largely to young professionals and empty nesters are being built from the ground up in areas including the East End, South Side and Strip District.

Demand has been better than expected, Todd Reidbord, president of Shadyside-based developer Walnut Capital, said of leasing at Bakery Living's first building along Penn Avenue.

Reidbord said about 75 percent of the building's 175 apartments are leased. It opened in June, with rents ranging from $1,150 to $3,200 a month.

Reidbord briefed the Pittsburgh Planning Commission about the proposed second building at a meeting Tuesday. Like the first, it would be U-shaped, five stories tall and have 175 apartments ranging from so-called micros to two-bedroom units.

It's essentially a twin of the other building, Reidbord said.

The second building would be accented with different colors than the first, including slate blue, gray, white and black. Reidbord said it also might offer more fitness amenities, including yoga and Pilates classes.

Planning Commissioner Lucy Spruill voiced concern that only four of the units would be fully accessible to people with disabilities meeting minimum requirements.

I would like to see you do more than the bare minimum, said Spruill, who uses a wheelchair.

Construction is expected to cost up to $25 million. Pending approvals, work could begin in November or December and be completed by June 2016, Reidbord said.

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Strong demand drives East End apartment developers to expedite next project