Living in the city: Embracing the lifestyle of Downtown Pittsburgh

Adele Morelli’s morning commute to work is seven minutes — on foot.

Morelli is the owner of Boutique La Passerelle on Wood Street, a European fashion boutique in Downtown Pittsburgh. She resides a few blocks away.

“It’s definitely a lifestyle,” Morelli said on a recent Thursday evening during a Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership tour called Views & Brews, featuring several city residences. “I love it. Everything is within walking distance and you can access the city’s bike trails, which is also a benefit.”

According to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the population estimate for the city is 7,017 residents. The most recent data from 2023 for those living in the nearby Strip District is estimated at 3,214. There are places to rent or buy. Morelli has been renting after moving from Ross more than two decades ago.

She said there are so many options for those who want city living.

Guests on the tour had access to 10 properties, including 930 Penn Ave., Press House Apartments, Encore, Gateway Towers, Apartments at River View, The Carlyle, Kaufmann’s, Maginn Lofts, Piatt Place and Lumière.

“We have an interesting mix of properties,” said Cate Irvin, senior director of economic development for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “People love taking these tours because it gives them a sneak peek inside some pretty incredible living spaces and the building owners love collaborating with us on the tours because it gives their residences exposure. Pittsburgh has a robust residential market — if you build, it they will live there.”

Irvin said there is currently 90% occupancy of apartments and condominiums in Downtown and the Strip District.

A monthly rental is $1,600 for a studio. Condominium prices start in the $300,000 range. Pittsburgh offers places to live in restored historic buildings as well as spaces in brand-new buildings.

The views

Several residences offer rooftop decks showcasing Pittsburgh’s skyline. Some provide parking, many are pet-friendly. There can be additional homeowners association fees.

“Downtown is continuing to see so much energy through events, businesses, amenities, pop-ups, entertainment and recreation — all within walking distance if you live in the Golden Triangle,” said Denise Bortolotti, a real estate adviser for Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s no surprise that we’re seeing that same energy in the residential market, including several multimillion-dollar sales this year.”

The ticketed tours introduce people to places they may not have known about, Irvin said. This is the second such walk-through that the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has hosted. Guests meet in Market Square and are offered beer tastings at some of the stops, where they can do a docent-led tour or a self-guided one.

Irvin said there are so many benefits to living Downtown, from being close to shopping as well as the Cultural District if you want to attend a performance, have dinner or peruse art in one of the galleries.

The Strip District filled with shopping and dining destinations along Penn Avenue and Smallman Street, including The Terminal development.

Transportation is accessible via Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and light-rail system and there are multiple bicycle lanes and accessibility to walking trails. The green space in Point State Park is steps away. PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore and PPG Paints Arena in Uptown are close by. Station Square is right across the Smithfield Street Bridge. The city is also home to Point Park University and Duquesne University, City Charter High School, Urban Pathways Charter School, Pittsburgh CAPA and several churches.

“We want people to think of Downtown as a neighborhood,” Irvin said.

Former department stores

Three residences are in sites of former department stores.

Lumière is the newest of the properties. Recently constructed, it is located on the former spot of Saks Fifth Avenue. Lumière condominiums offer three years of free parking and a year of membership at the UFC Gym near Market Square. It also has a 10-year property tax abatement in which there are reduced or eliminated taxes on real estate in a specific area. It has open floor plans, rooftop entertainment, a dog park and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Piatt Place is located in the former Lazarus. Kaufmann’s Grand is housed in what was Kaufmann’s and later Macy’s.

At Piatt Place, every unit has 10-foot ceilings and a private covered balcony. The kitchens have large islands and granite countertops.

“There are so many amenities to living Downtown,” said Mark Jennings of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty as he gave tours of Piatt Place. “There is culture and sports. You can get to where you need to be in minutes.”

Kaufmann’s Grand has the famous Kaufmann’s clock on the corner — known for being the meeting place before people had smartphones to text their location.

The store has been converted into luxurious apartments with 62 different floor plans. The building was constructed in 1873 and the original elevators with black-and-white checked flooring remain. Various images of the store are framed in the lobby, including one of the famous Tic Toc Restaurant.

There is a podcast room, a gym, a rooftop heated swimming pool and basketball court that becomes an ice-skating rink in the winter. The cost is $1,600 per month for a studio.

Located in the former Union National Bank built in 1906, the Carlyle Pittsburgh has 22 floors. There are 20 inches of concrete between each floor for quiet living, a gym and a gathering space. A theater is currently being renovated. A bank vault remains in the basement. There are wood floors and high ceilings and windows that provide lots of natural light. One of the two-bedroom, two-bathroom units that encompasses 1,485 square feet on the tour is listed at $424,000.

Event access

Brittany Brophy with Compass Real Estate said being able to walk everywhere is such an advantage. She said amenities such as the holiday happenings from the UPMC Rink at PPG Place and the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square to events such as the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, this month’s Picklesburgh and the upcoming Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race in September are advantages to living in the city.

“It’s about convenience,” Brophy said. “When things are happening in the city, you are close by.”

The Maginn Lofts building is a former commercial warehouse built in 1891. It has seven full-floor condominiums, which include a 10-year tax abatement. Prices start at $1,095,000. The units feature European cabinetry and hardwood floors. There are plans to develop the rooftop.

Bortolotti said these spaces offer a vibrancy to Downtown living and give people a different look at Downtown and unique experiences.

“Downtown living is the best,” Morelli said as she stood on the rooftop at Kaufmann’s Grand. “Just look at this view.”