Oxford Development Co. is eyeing putting a new office building in the Pittsburgh Technology Center in Oakland.
The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority board is expected to vote Thursday on whether to enter into 90 days of exclusive negotiations with the developer for the sale of a 1.5-acre parcel along Technology Drive.
Shawn Fox, Oxford’s director of business development and marketing, said the company is considering putting a 45,000- to 65,000-square-foot office building on the riverfront site closest to Downtown.
The Pittsburgh Technology Center is on the site of the former Jones & Laughlin hot mill. Development on the 48-acre site began in the early 1990s. It’s considered one of the city’s most successful developments and houses numerous tech firms.
Downtown-based Oxford manages and leases and served as construction manager on the 2000 Technology Drive office building near the parcel being considered for the new structure and believes the new project would complement the existing structure. “We see it as a natural extension of the success of the Pittsburgh Technology Center and the type of tenants and buildings that have been successful in the whole mission of why that was constructed in the first place,” Mr. Fox said.
If Oxford can reach agreement with the URA, the new building probably would be three to five stories and similar to 2000 Technology Drive in terms of design. The company expects to market the building to technology and professional services companies, and those that need to be close to both Oakland and Downtown.
No cost estimates or construction timetable have been developed yet. The value of the land, based on a 2012 appraisal, is $690,000, according to the URA.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
