Built on a former brownfield along the Monongahela River, the Riverside Mews on the South Side contains 48 townhomes built over several phases by Sota Construction with sustainability and revitalization in mind.

For one local resident, who asked to be anonymous, 20 S 19th Street #29 — which is part of the townhome community, but unique in that it stands alone — caught her eye.

“I already loved living in the South Side,” she says. “When I saw that there was an opportunity to have a yard for my dog, no shared walls and also be able to work with the builder on the custom features that I wanted, I knew that it was a great decision.”

Built in 2016, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom house measures 3,500 square feet over four, finished levels and has a rooftop deck overlooking the confluence of Pittsburgh’s three rivers.

“It is a great house for entertaining with a large open floor plan on the main floor, a party room on the top floor, as well as outdoor space such as the rooftop deck,” the owner says. “We have had a lot of great times entertaining family and friends.”

Also unusual in the densely populated South Side Flats, this home has a two-car garage on its first level. That level also includes a full bathroom and a bedroom that can be utilized as a home office, gym or storage space. In addition, there’s a four-story contemporary bamboo staircase that leads up to the main living level.

Warm and inviting, the open-concept main space doesn’t contain the typical white builder-grade cabinets. Instead, the owner chose dark wooden cabinetry with visible wood grain and glass insets as well as light stone countertops. As high quality as they are aesthetically interesting, the cabinets were built by a custom cabinet maker whom the owner has known for years.

A bar-height breakfast bar seats four, and the dining space adjacent to the kitchen is roomy enough for a table that seats six. With no shared walls, the home has windows on all sides, plus a standout stone fireplace in the living room.

“It brings a cozy vibe to the living room and is really lovely in the winter, especially with a big Christmas tree in the front corner of the living room,” the owner says.

The main stairwell leads up to the third level, which contains the primary suite and another full bathroom as well as a customized laundry room with tons of built-in storage.

“What I love about the laundry room is the layout, functionality and custom cabinetry,” says the owner. “I worked with the cabinet maker on the layout for maximum storage, functionality and convenience.”

The primary suite includes a well-appointed bathroom with double sinks and a steam shower. The owner adds she had long wanted a steam shower at home after learning about the health benefits on a vacation years ago.

“It was one of the first things on my list of upgrades, and it was a great decision,” she says. “I used it every day.”

The fourth floor has what the owner refers to as “the party room” because it is adjacent to the rooftop deck with its views of Downtown’s iconic skyline.

Besides a small yard, the home has two additional outdoor spaces; a patio off the first level includes a hot tub with privacy screens and there is a deck adjacent to the main living area, which offers expanded entertainment space during warm weather.

The versatile home is now listed by Kelly Frey of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices for $845,000.

“It has everything you want in luxury city living … yet provides privacy and oodles of outdoor space,” Frey says.

She calls the hardline gas fireplace table on the rooftop deck her favorite feature out of the home’s outdoor perks, though the fully fenced yard is a major plus for pet owners, too.

Frey also loves the central staircase, but acknowledges four floors may be too much for some homeowners.

“For those who might desire a ‘lift,’ I’ve compiled an estimate to install an elevator by Access Elevator,” she says. “It is much more affordable than you might think. And this residence would look stunning with a glass elevator installed in the center of the cascading bamboo staircase.”

Frey says that while this space has the benefit of being a standalone unit, it is considered a townhome and is part of the Riverside Mews HOA, which has a $170 per month fee.

The owner says the South Side gave her access to every amenity one could want, water views — and a sense of belonging. She says walking or biking along the river trail to the local marina for a day on her boat is a classic Pittsburgh experience she will miss.

“I have always loved the eclectic and historic nature of this neighborhood,” she says. “There are many different demographics of people, there are houses that have been families for generations and there are renovated or new homes, like the Riverside Mews, which is such a cool little niche pocket of the South Side.”

About: SouthSide Flats
Population: 7,429
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: Located within minutes of most of Pittsburgh’s major arteries, the South Side Flats is a great location for residents who need to access the airport regularly via Interstate 376 or Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Airport Flyer route. The South Side is extremely walkable, and residents enjoy many amenities without having to leave their community. There are plentiful bus stops in the neighborhood, and the T can be picked up easily from Station Square for access to the South Hills, Downtown or the North Shore.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: The South Side Flats is home to many commercial spaces, including restaurants, bars and retail shops. It’s also a popular night spot that can draw raucous crowds on weekends. Residents can walk to small delis and local eateries as well as an Aldi and a Cheesecake Factory in the SouthSide Works complex. It’s an eclectic and diverse community with a wide range of residents, from students in apartments to character homes. The South Side is also home to the largest clock face in the country— just one of the neighborhood’s many claims to fame.