Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the master plan for a riverfront development that intends to bring a nearly 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel, housing, entertainment and shopping to the city’s North Shore.

Dubbed Esplanade, the development would revitalize a roughly 15-acre brownfield along the Ohio River in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood.

Canonsburg-based Piatt Companies has been working to bring the project to fruition for about eight years, said Lucas Piatt, the company’s CEO.

The commission’s decision paves the way for the development to move ahead, though specific construction plans will need to come before the commission for additional approvals.

The goal is to begin work in the spring, said Jim Holcomb, Piatt’s development director.

The massive Ferris wheel promises to be a focal point of the development, which includes plans for a 126-unit condo complex, a 13-story hotel and a nearly 200-foot-tall apartment tower. Twenty percent of any housing built in the development will be designated as affordable housing for low-income residents.

The project, to spring up near the West End Bridge, will restore riverbanks, blend residential neighborhoods like Chateau and Manchester with the North Shore’s entertainment district and boost the local economy, Piatt said.

“We made it very clear this is a project for everyone,” Piatt said.

An Allegheny Conference analysis of the development estimated Esplanade would create about 9,300 construction jobs, plus about 4,500 permanent jobs once it’s complete, Piatt said.

Job training will be offered to nearby residents who want to land construction jobs or permanent positions at the site, Holcomb said, and incubator spaces will be available for local entrepreneurs. There will be entertainment space and areas for pop-up events.

The development also is expected to include public restrooms, retail, restaurants, a grocery store, park space, a marina, a winter garden, office space and parking for vehicles and bicycles.

“We want to create a wonderful destination for the region,” Piatt said.

Tom Chunchick, chief operating officer at North Shore-based Paramount Construction, credited Piatt for investing in Pittsburgh at a time when its property tax base is slipping. Such a development, he said, will help revitalize Pittsburgh, build jobs and generate tax revenue.

It could eventually become “the heart of the city,” he said.

“Adding jobs, stores and affordable housing — this is a win-win for our community,” said Frederick Mannion, co-founder of the Manchester Historic Society.

Planning Commissioner Phillip Wu lauded the development’s efforts to bring affordable housing, create jobs and include a grocery store to serve neighbors who have limited access to fresh food now.

“You’re taking a brownfield property that sat vacant for 20 years and you’re cleaning that up,” Wu told Piatt’s development team. “That’s always important, especially in a riverfront environment.”

Commissioners unanimously supported Esplanade’s master plan. Dina Blackwell and Mel Ngami were not present for the vote, and Chair Lashawn Burton-Faulk recused.

“We think it’s going to be a huge catalyst for the surrounding area,” Vice Chair Rachel O’Neill said.

The project has been tweaked several times since it was first proposed. The developer has lowered proposed building heights and eliminated a public swimming pool from the design.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)