Last October, we celebrated the opening of Mellon’s Orchard South and the groundbreaking of the second phase of the mixed-income complex, Harvard Beatty Housing, at Station and North Beatty Streets in East Liberty. Together, the two developments represent $27 million worth of mostly affordable units in the neighborhood.
Mellon’s Orchard South has:
- 37 affordable units,
- 10 market rate,
- and 8 reserved for HACP project-based voucher holders.
Harvard Beatty Housing has:
- 33 affordable units,
- 9 market rate,
- and 8 units for HACP project-based voucher holders.
For both developments, leasing priority is given to former Penn Plaza residents.
Harvard Beatty Housing is going up quickly, so we checked in with the developer, Trek Development, to see how things are progressing.
Here’s what they told us:
“The wood framing and windows of the upper floors are complete, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are being installed. The exterior brick and siding will be complete by the end of the summer, so a more complete image of the building will be visible then. Construction completion is expected in December of this year.
The building is designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards as well as the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home Certification which will create a healthy, comfortable living environment and ease utility costs for residents. The 36 apartments on the upper floors will be accessible by elevator and have large windows that offer great views of the surrounding neighborhood. The ground floor will have six apartments with their own entrances directly from the street, and five of those will have lofted bedrooms which take advantage of the fifteen-foot ceiling on the first floor. The building will also feature a fitness room and community room which will activate the street level.
Trek is excited to see this phase of Mellon’s Orchard South taking shape, and we look forward to reaching full occupancy next spring.”