Greensburg has cleared the path for 99 new apartments to be built downtown by agreeing to a deal that would allow residents to park in one of the city’s lots — but only at night.

The decision waives Greensburg’s usual parking requirements.

Instead, developer Urban Communities will lease the Buncher parking lot on South Pennsylvania Avenue, which has 94 spaces. Tenants will, in turn, lease those spaces from Urban Communities.

The catch is that many of those parking spaces are already leased by commuters who come into the city every day — so apartment tenants would only be allowed to use them overnight. By morning, they would need to move their cars elsewhere or be ticketed.

Urban Communities, based in Arizona, has proposed renovating two buildings. The company wants to build 57 apartments at 225 S. Pennsylvania Ave. The building that once housed part of Troutman’s Department Store most recently was used by Seton Hill University, though it now stands empty. Another 42 apartments are planned at 114 S. Main St., which is mostly vacant. The first floors of both buildings would be used as commercial space.

Greensburg’s parking ordinance normally would require the creation of about 200 new parking spaces to accommodate the projects, but there’s no room downtown for a lot that big.

Ben Samson, a Urban Communities’ vice president of development, said the city’s parking rules are outdated.

“These codes were written in the mid-century, when cars were everything,” he said. “It’s our objective to help bring Greensburg into the 21st century.”

City officials agree. The Zoning Hearing Board voted 4-0 Wednesday to approve a variance allowing the plan, which several local development experts spoke in favor of.

Jon Reese, board president of the Greensburg Community Development Corp., said the city needs developments like this to continue its economic growth.

“Let’s not focus on why we can’t do this, let’s focus on how to do it, and get it done,” he said.

Brian Lawrence, though executive director of Westmoreland County’s redevelopment authority, said he addressed the board Wednesday as a Greensburg resident. He said prioritizing parking and requiring large number of spaces makes significant downtown development impossible.

“I think we really need to consider what sacrifice we’re willing to make if we were to deny this zoning request,” he said.

City Solicitor Zachary Kansler said the city had no problems with the plan.

City Councilman Gregory Mertz also spoke in favor of the proposal, though he said he was doing so as a resident, not in his official capacity.

Greensburg leases the Buncher Lot from The Buncher Co., a Pittsburgh property management firm. The city loses money on the deal, not making enough from leases and meter fees to cover the annual cost.

Urban Communities’ plan could change that.

“It’s actually an opportunity for the city to gain income,” said David Sahel, vice president of operations for Urban Communities.

Design work on the buildings will begin soon, with demolition set to begin in a few months pending final approval from the city.

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