The 19th century Brew House on the South Side, former home of the Duquesne Beer brewery and an artists haven for more than 20 years, will be renovated as a artists space and apartments.
The exciting news is while the building will be transformed into a mixed-income housing development, the artists, who have long claimed the iconic building as their own, will benefit from a major upgrade to the facilities, says Tim Kaulen of The Brew House Association.
“Development allows us to make sustainable our long-term goals, building on what we’ve already accomplished: providing affordable, live work space, exhibition opportunities and professional development for emerging artists,” he says.
Pittsburgh-based Trek will be the developer. Plans call for the creation of 75 apartments including 14 efficiency units, 55 one-bedroom apartments and six two bedroom units. A percentage of the units will be designated for “affordable” rent.
Helping to make it possible is a tax credit from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). The Brew House project was selected as one of five grant recipients of the credit totalling $4.3 million. The funding will support the development of more than 292 apartments in the city, all affordable multifamily housing developments.
Since 1990, The Brew House Association has operated in the 103,000 square-foot stone and brick building, providing individual artists and associated groups affordable living space, gallery exhibition and studio space.
“The redevelopment will help us to better serve artists in the community by supporting our programming with beautiful new space in which to create and show art,” says Kaulen.
The architect on the project is Lab 8 Designs and Clearscapes.