In 1998, Pittsburgh’s last operating steel mill closed, leaving 178 riverfront acres vacant; 28 years later, 700,000 sq ft has been built or is underway for robotics, biotech, housing and parks
For decades, 178 acres along the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh remained largely vacant after the collapse of the steel industry. The site was once home to the Jones & Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh Works, one of the city’s major steel-making sites.The steel works closed in the 1980s as the steel industry declined, leaving the Hazelwood Green property unused for decades, according to Axios. Most of the old industrial structures were demolished in the 2000s, while preparations for a new development began in the 2010s.The redevelopment has taken time to gather pace. One of the first major projects was Mill 19, which was renovated and opened in 2019 as a tech-flex office space. However, development slowed for several years after that.Now, Hazelwood Green is seeing a new wave of construction, with robotics, life sciences, housing, sports and public spaces becoming part of the former industrial site. Developers say around 700,000 square feet has been developed or is currently being built since 2022.
Robotics and biotech projects
Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Innovation Center opened at Hazelwood Green this year. The facility is now one of the main features of the developing neighbourhood and is located next to a public plaza and park.Pitt’s BioForge facility is also set to open this autumn. It will join the growing group of technology and life science projects at the site, including Mill 19.Several technology companies already have offices in Hazelwood Green. These include life science company ElevateBio, artificial intelligence company Hellbender and autonomous vehicle company Motional.The development is also moving beyond offices and research facilities. Woodlawn Lofts, the first apartment complex at Hazelwood Green, is under construction, with its first phase expected to open in December.The complex will have 160 residential units. These will include market-rate homes, affordable homes for low-income residents and units reserved for single parents who are working towards their degrees.
700,000 square feet developed
The scale of the recent construction is considerably larger than the development seen during the first phase of the project.According to Tishman Speyer managing director Austin Gelbard, around 250,000 square feet was developed at Hazelwood Green between 2010 and 2022. Since 2022, around 700,000 square feet has been developed or is in the process of being built.The change is also visible in the site’s public spaces. The Hazelwood Green park hosted movie nights this summer, bringing visitors to an area that was previously known mainly for its industrial past.
The Hazelwood Green park hosted movie nights this summer
The U.S. Steel Community Field has also started being used. It hosted its first high school football game recently, giving thousands of people a look at the developing neighbourhood.Gelbard said the public plaza and park next to the Robotics Innovation Center are expected to help shape Lytle Street as Hazelwood Green’s main street as more retail and housing are added.“We want to bring folks down to the site for something fun. There hasn’t always been a reason to visit Hazelwood Green.”
More housing, technology and retail planned
Despite the recent construction, a large part of Hazelwood Green is still waiting to be developed.There are 58 acres of mixed-use space available at the southern end of the site. Gelbard said this area could eventually include more technology companies, light-industrial businesses and retail.The northern end has space for around 1,200 multifamily housing units, adding significantly to the residential development already under construction.The project has received support from several philanthropic groups. Gelbard said hundreds of millions of dollars have been donated by organisations including the Richard King Mellon Foundation, U.S. Steel and the Heinz Endowments to help drive development in the neighbourhood.Another small park is expected to open next month near the entrance to the U.S. Steel Community Field. According to Gelbard, it will act as an entrance to Hazelwood Green and help connect the development with Second Avenue in Hazelwood.
