North Side Esplanade project, with Ferris Wheel, plans to move forward

The Ferris Wheel that has been getting a lot of attending during Downtown Pittsburgh’s Oktoberfest could become a mainstay, albeit in a different place.

Piatt Companies, the group behind a large, Esplanade project on the North Shore is moving forward, with plans to begin construction early next year.

The first phase of the project will feature a permanent Ferris Wheel, along with a 300-unit apartment building, trail improvements, a marina and what Piatt is called the “Current”, a “building that will have food and drink experiences and a 4-season public garden that connects the inside of the project to the riverfront.”

Molly Onufer with Piatt tells KDKA Radio they hope to have Phase 1 open to the public in 2027.

Onufer says the project, that has been in the words for the past several years is ready to move forward.

We will be briefing the City Planning Commission this month and next for approval of the project as a whole. If the project is approved in November, we will start our construction in early 2025 to prepare the site for the construction of the buildings and trail improvements. At the same time we are doing our site work, our team will also be designing the actual buildings so that we can start the construction of those once the site is ready.

While the Ferris Wheel made its grand debut during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, it was built in Pittsburgh by George Ferris.

For more information on the project, visit this site .