Clairton celebrates project, points toward brighter future
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
A large portion of a city block in downtown Clairton is getting a multi-million dollar makeover.
Elected officials from the city, as well as state and county officials and other stakeholders held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the Clairton Inn Development — a $16.7 million project made possible through a public-private partnership of multiple organizations, businesses and state and county agencies.
The mixed-use redevelopment project will result in a new life for the historic Clairton Inn building, a former hotel built in the early 20th century. It will also include the demolition of several surrounding blighted buildings on the block between Miller Avenue and Mulberry Alley and St. Clair and Halcomb avenues.
New buildings filled with living and commercial space will be erected in place of the torn-down structures.
The project is funded through state tax credits authorized by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority as well as funding from the state Department of Community & Economic Development’s Keystone Communities Program, Allegheny County Economic Development, the City of Clairton, Mon Valley Initiative, Economic Development South and PNC Financial Services Group and others.
MVI Real Estate Developer Andrew Ritchie said Mistick Construction of Pittsburgh hopes to begin work in November. He expects tenants to be able to start signing leases in early 2022, but cautioned that construction and finishing work within the development may be delayed slightly as a result of slowdowns and shortages of construction supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MVI CEO Laura Zinski said she’s grateful Clairton residents, community stakeholders and elected officials insisted on being part of decisions made about what the development, which is in the heart of downtown, would look like and what purpose it would serve.
Zinski and Mayor Richard Lattanzi commended residents for regularly and heavily attending steering committee meetings where the project was discussed over a three-year period.
One thing residents wanted to see come from the project was a chance for Clairton residents to be able to have access to new, affordable living spaces.
Their wish is coming true.
The approximately 70,000-square-foot development will offer 49 housing units — 22 one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom units. Seven units will be fully Americans with Disabilities Act accessible. There will also be around 10,000 square feet of street-level commercial space within the development, including four storefronts and a new location for the anchor tenant, the Clairton Public Library.
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