Wexford Science + Technology ready to demolish Oakland building to make way for new tower
The developer of the Assembly in the Baum Centre corridor is starting the process to pursue demolition to move forward with the long-delayed plan to build a new research tower in Oakland.
Wexford Science + Technology's plan to build a tower for research on Forbes Avenue, Oakland has been so delayed that an international pandemic is over and the building at 3440 Forbes Ave. it intends to replace still stands.
Maybe not for much longer.
Wexford, located in suburban Baltimore, is scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss development activities on Monday, May 8. This will be the first step towards moving forward with the plan to demolish the 3440 Forbes Ave. building, which was formerly the site of a CVS pharmacy that has since moved to another building.
Michael Dembert, vice president of Wexford, explained that the DAM meeting was the first step in pursuing a demolition permit before the firm could move forward with its approval process with city officials on the building plan for the site. Wexford still needs to submit the new project to the Pittsburgh Planning Commission to be approved.
Wexford's proposal to build a 10 story research tower on 3440 Forbes Ave. has been delayed for a long time, largely due to legal challenges from community groups regarding its height.
Last August, the Commonwealth Court approved Wexford’s plan to construct a 10-story, 153-foot building, which was a compromise with the city in place of a plan that would have reached 188 feet.
Wexford has moved forward with its 3440 Forbes project after completing the Assembly, which is a mixed-use development of a historic Ford Motor Co. Building in the Baum Centre Corridor.