In just two to three years, a permanent Ferris wheel with climate-controlled cabs may be added to Pittsburgh’s riverfront landscape, as well as up to 300 plus rental apartments, 160,000 square feet of retail space, a parking garage and a three-story culinary hub referred to as “The Current” that flanks an outdoor amphitheater.
And that’s just the first proposed phase of the 15-acre, $740 million Esplanade project being built by Canonsburg-based Piatt Companies. The site of the new development is a largely vacant brownfield located on the North Side in the city’s Chateau neighborhood which sits on the banks of the Ohio River and is separated from the Manchester neighborhood by Route 65.
“The Esplanade is a great opportunity to expand the success of the North Shore,” said Piatt CEO Lucas Piatt. “It’s location also serves as an important juncture between the North Shore, Manchester and Chateau. Our hope is that it brings tons of opportunities to residents in those neighborhoods. We want it to be a place for everyone.”
After nine years of planning, Piatt Companies was joined on Monday, December 1st by Governor Josh Shapiro and other elected officials, plus members of several community organizations and trade leaders to break ground on the project.
Lucas said that reaching this stage wasn’t easy.
“We haven’t done a project that’s simple,” he said. “But we’re from here and we’re trying to create a better Pittsburgh.”
Lucas described the plan as “authentically Pittsburgh, but with a nod to world-class architecture.”
“The Current is the most unique building in the project,” he said. “That kind of indoor/outdoor space just doesn’t exist in Pittsburgh.”
Renderings provided by AE7 Architects depict The Current as two three-story, riverfront buildings connected by a four-season atrium that’s positioned next to the Ferris wheel.
“The right side of The Current (closer to the Ferris wheel) will have more casual food options that are river and trail oriented,” said Lucas. “Plus, maybe a winery or a distillery similar to District Winery in Washington DC. We really like that place.”
Lucas said the left side of The Current will have lots of different culinary concepts on the first floor along the lines of the 63,000-square-foot marketplace and food hall Eataly Chicago. There will be three permanent international-influenced restaurants on the second floor (think Mercado Little Spain in NYC or El Nacional Barcelona). The third floor will be home to a rooftop club.
The project will be completed in phases with the construction of the Ferris wheel, apartments, retail space, parking garage, and The Current expected to begin in 2026 and anticipated to open in 2028. A 126-condominium building will be built shortly after. The second phase of construction is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2029. This phase will include a marina with house boats, leased and day slips, marine safety facility, and a public pier, plus additional housing, a potential innovation workspace and hotel.
There are also plans to build a splash park that becomes an ice skating ribbon in colder months and to make upgrades to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.
Additional information and updates about the project can be found at esplanade-pgh.com.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
