The Hill House Economic Development Corp., in partnership with developer McCormack Baron Salazar, has announced a plan to bring a Kuhn’s Market to Pittsburgh’s Hill District as the anchor for a 100,000 square-foot commercial development.

The June 25 announcement came six months after St. Louis-based discount grocery Save-A-Lot first expressed an interest in building in the Hill and began meeting with the community. Kuhn’s is a local, family-owned chain with seven local stores. The Hill District has been without a grocery since the Shop-N-Save at the Phoenix Hill Mall across from the Hill House closed nearly 30 years ago.

“This development would not only address the community’s current needs for a full-service grocery store, it would have long and lasting impact on the Hill District’s efforts to attract new businesses, helping to restore a main street that was once a bustling center of retail activity,” said Hill House President and CEO Evan Frazier.

McCormack Barron was the lead developer for the Crawford Square project in the lower Hill and is currently working to finish the Bedford Hope VI housing development. The planned development would occupy the same property across Centre Avenue from the Hill House

Frazier said the proposed project has received positive feedback during informal meetings with the community.

No dates have yet been confirmed, but the partners plan to hold formal public meetings. On June 30, they submitted the proposal to the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, which owns a portion of the proposed site.

Though none of Kuhn’s stores include pharmacies or drop-off dry cleaning service, the initial Hill proposal calls for a full-service grocery store with a pharmacy, dry cleaning drop-off service, a bakery, a deli and a flower kiosk. The partners plan to secure additional retail providers such as a bank, restaurant and other retail outlets.

Joe Dentici, president of Franklin Square, Inc., which operates Kuhn’s Market in the Pittsburgh region, said the Hill offers a favorable business opportunity.

“The Hill District is an up-and-coming neighborhood with a promising future and a specific market need that Kuhn’s is prepared to meet,” he said.

Frazier confirmed that the proposed development calls for using the entire existing parcel, including the space now occupied by PNC Bank, Two Cousins, Star Optical, Mr. D’s and a Covenant Church day care. The site also includes a branch of the Carnegie Library, which is slated to close sometime in September before moving to its new building at the intersection of Centre Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street.

“It’s our hope that we won’t lose businesses. We hope to accommodate new and existing businesses into the project,” said Frazier. “The first step is to make sure the broader development serves to spur growth in the Centre Avenue Corridor toward Oakland, toward Uptown and throughout the community.”

City Councilwoman Tonya Payne and Landmarks Community Capital Corp., CEO Howard Slaughter, who have been facilitating the Save-A-Lot community meetings, said they did not know enough about the Hill House proposal to make any comments. Slaughter said the interest of another applicant is good for the community.

“No matter what store goes in there, it must have staying power, and must maintain its commitment for the long term,” he said. “Save-A-Lot has demonstrated that commitment in urban markets across country.”

Slaughter said Save-A-Lot transmitted its 40-page proposal to the URA June 30, which calls for a 17,000 square-foot grocery, with adjacent retail space for a pharmacy, bakery or any other entrepreneur. He said the company-owned store would cost about $5.5 million to build, adding the company would avail itself of any assistance including the $2 million pledged to a Hill grocery by the city and the Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Club.

“Any grocery locating there would bring other businesses—regardless of size—due simply to foot traffic,” said Slaughter. “Save-A-Lot cannot be all things to all people, but what it does—it does very well.

After meeting briefly to discuss the submissions July 1, Rob Stephany, URA executive director, said the authority would schedule a date for both applicants to make presentations to secure public feedback within the next two weeks. The details of both proposals will be made public at that time.

“We’re going to try to do that simultaneously rather than sequentially,” he said. “We are anticipating making a selection between the two, to enter into a exclusive negotiating arrangement, at our Aug. 14 meeting.”

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