The plan calls for 700 residential units, 159,000 sf of retailand entertainment, and a four-star hotel on primarily blighted landacquired by the trust over the past 20 years. The trust selectedConcord Eastridge, which has headquarters in Phoenix andWashington, DC, as lead developer for the plan, and the leadarchitect is Stuttgart, Germany-based Behnisch Architekten.

The state funding kicks off the opening $90-million phase of theproject to help with demolition and site preparation of thetwo-block area on Fort Duquesne Avenue between Seventh and Ninthstreets. This phase will contain between 180 and 220 residentialunits along with retail space. It is expected to break ground thissummer for opening in early 2009. The entire project will take fiveto seven years.

The funding consists of $7 million in Redevelopment AssistanceCapital Funds, $3 million in Housing and Finance Authority taxcredits, $1 million in Growing Greener II funds to develop theunderground garage and two mixed-use sites, another $1 million fromthe Growing Greener II industrial sites reuse program, and $300,000from a state community conservation partnership program.