PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS HAS SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER IN THE FORMER IRISH CENTRE BUILDING NEAR FRICK PARK. PHIPPS CAN ONLY PURSUE THE ENDEAVOR IF A PROPOSAL FOR A 162-UNIT CONDO COMPLEX IS REJECTED BY THE PITTSBURGH ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. | PHOTO: GOOGLE MAPS (https://goo.gl/maps/n7oMqAxY5Ud2Etk87)

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has submitted an alternate proposal for the vacant Irish Centre space next to Frick Park that would help expand its Homegrown program that reaches underserved communities.

The conservatory’s board of trustees submitted a letter to the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment on Sept. 8 with its vision to create an outreach center to serve more members of the community while maintaining the landscape of the Squirrel Hill site.

Phipps hopes to purchase the building in the event that the zoning board rejects four variances requested by Toronto-based Craft Development Corp., developers of a controversial proposal to build an 8-story, 162-unit condo complex with more than 180 parking spaces on the site. Craft’s plan would involve demolishing the current Irish Centre building.

Phipps has been looking for a site to expand the Homegrown program, which installs raised-bed vegetable gardens in people’s backyards within the city’s food desert areas or where residents do not have access to fresh, healthy food.

Since its inception, the program has installed nearly 400 gardens in Homewood, Larimar and Hazelwood. 

The proposed community outreach center would also work with local residents to establish green spaces in their neighborhoods, as well as serve as additional nursery space for growing plants for flower shows at Phipps.

Phipps does not intend to demolish the current building, which according to Allegheny County real estate records was built in 1969.

“Phipps restored an old, dilapidated cinder block public works building on its lower campus into one of the greenest buildings in the world,” its website reads. “We would expect to do the same thing with the Irish Centre building. The site would also be landscaped to enhance the general appearance of the building.”

Vicki Yann of the community group Frick Park Friends told CBS News the group feels Phipps’ proposal would fit within the current zoning requirements and would not require zoning variances.

“We feel that it would be a great neighbor, and the impact to Frick Park would be negligible, if at all,” she said. 

Condo Proposal

At least 3,000 community members have signed a petition by UpstreamPgh in opposition of the condominium development, citing concerns with traffic, landslides, negative impacts to Nine Mile Run and drastic changes to the landscape of Frick Park.

Raymond Baum, who is representing Craft Development Corp., told Pittsburgh Magazine in June the complex would improve stormwater runoff that is currently not being maintained, which would help protect Nine Mile Run.

He also said a traffic study on the twisty, two-lane road by the center showed no indication of further congestion from the complex and plans would call for road improvements and the addition of safety features, such as sidewalks.

Baum told CBS News it is too late in the process for Phipps to attempt the plan, adding Craft has an agreement of sale for the Irish Centre.

Yann told the Tribune-Review in July that the group still opposes the condo proposal because there are no guarantees the development will improve stormwater issues or that safety plans will be approved.

The group is also concerned parking will not be adequate to support the development, potentially forcing residents to park along nearby Commercial Street.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment is expected to make a decision on the requested zoning variances later this fall.

Involved parties have until Sept. 14 to submit their arguments and supporting documentation, after which the board will have 45 days to make a decision.

The variances include permitting the construction of a multi-unit residential development in an area zoned for parks, a 15-foot retaining wall, the height and scale of the building and the permitted floor area ratio.

Current zoning only permits a three-story, 40-foot high building. The condo complex would be eight stories and nearly 90 feet tall.

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition on July 31 said it was in favor of approving the first two variances, but added the proposed building would be too high for the nearby park’s landscape.

David Vatz, founder of Pro-Housing Pittsburgh, an organization that advocates for abundant city housing and reforms to zoning and permitting laws, told Pittsburgh Magazine in June the proposed apartments could create a “positive feedback loop” that Pittsburgh needs.

Building new housing not only increases supply and reduces costs of housing overall, Vatz says, but also brings in tax money that can improve transit systems, support infrastructure developments and fund bridge and street repairs.