Pittsburgh officials seek proposals to develop former Beltzhoover Elementary

Pittsburgh officials and a community group are seeking a developer partner to renovate the historic Beltzhoover Elementary School into senior housing and a community center.

It’s a project more than three years in the making led by city Councilman Bruce Kraus, who represents the neighborhood, and the Beltzhoover Consensus Group led by Jennifer Cash Wade.

Developers have until May 14 to submit proposals to the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority.

“I’m so overwhelmed that it’s all finally coming together,” Cash Wade said.

The close-knit neighborhood has just under 2,000 residents now, but once was home to more than 8,000 people. The school, which closed in 2004, has always been a focal point for the community and the multi-generational residents who live in Beltzhoover have fond memories of the school, Cash Wade said.

Renovating it into senior housing and a community center is a starting point for major redevelopment of the neighborhood, she said.

“Every community has its time and this is now Beltzhoover’s time,” Cash Wade said.

The 60,000-square-foot school at 320 Cedarhurst St. sits on just under 2 acres, is more than 100 years old and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Last year, the URA and city spent $72,000 from the URA’s Neighborhood Initiatives Fund on a new roof. The proposals now being sought will deal with how the interior of the school can be renovated to become senior apartments and a community center.

The work also has the support of the Heinz Endowments and the Birmingham Foundation.

“A lot of cooperation has paid off,” Kraus said.

The effort to preserve the “magnificent” school was worthy, Kraus said, and the hope is to begin construction by 2022.

“It is a new beginning for Beltzhoover and its residents,” Cash Wade said. “We’re glad we are at this point.”