90-home development slated for portion of industrial park in South Buffalo
A residential housing development is coming to the RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park in South Buffalo.
The 90-home development will feature 45 single-family homes and 45 townhouses on 23 acres owned by the nonprofit Armstrong County Industrial Development Council.
The residences will be sold beginning in the $300,000 range.
The development, the first residential project at the park, was touted as “big news” by Darin Alviano, development council executive director.
Limited details were released about the developer, America First Enterprises, except it has built several residential plans in Butler County.
Jerry Oliver, owner of billboard company Oliver Outdoor, also owns America First Enterprises. Both are based in Butler County.
Oliver did not return calls for comment.
Armstrong County commissioners, citing a nondisclosure agreement with the developer, did not comment.
The new housing complex will have amenities, but those have not disclosed.
More details will be made available after the sale closes, Alviano said.
Construction is expected to begin in late spring.
The Industrial Development Council, founded in 1968, was created to promote economic growth, community revitalization and job creation in the county, with a goal of enhancing the overall well-being of the region, according to its website.
In addition to Innovation Park, the council oversees Parks Bend Farm Industrial Park on Route 66 in Parks Township, Manor Township Business Park and West Hills Industrial Park in West Franklin.
RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park is a 925-acre development offering residential and retail development. This is the first residential development at the site.
The industrial park formerly was known as Northpointe Industrial Park. In 2021, RIDC partnered with the development council to market property on the property. It was at about that time, Alviano said, preliminary work began on the residential development plans.
RIDC, based in O’Hara, runs 15 business or industrial parks in Allegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties, including New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park and RIDC park in O’Hara.
So far, no name has been selected for the new residential neighborhood in Armstrong, which will be part of the Freeport Area School District.
Alviano did not disclose a purchase price but said he expects the sale to close in the coming weeks.
The park is off Route 28’s Exit 18. It is a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone, meaning qualified companies will not be responsible for most state and local property taxes for 10 years.
Business tenants at the site include BNY Mellon, Penn State Electro-Optics Center and Teledyne FLIR Surveillance.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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