Someday soon you’ll be able to stroll past the Kaufmann’s clock Downtown and enter a Target store.
The retailer’s plan to open a 20,034-square-foot store on the first floor of Kaufmann’s Grand on Fifth Avenue is on the Dec. 8 agenda for the Pittsburgh Planning Commission to consider.
Desmone Architects of Lawrenceville says in its presentation on behalf of the landlord that the project was presented to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on Nov. 12. Target officials “participated in that meeting as a courtesy to provide a holistic review of the project, as well as to present their proposed project signage.”
Desmone’s renderings note that Target will occupy the northern half of the building’s first floor, with a primary entrance on Smithfield Street and a secondary entrance on Fifth Avenue; both are existing entrances. Target’s distinctive red and white bullseye logo would hang over each entrance, not far from the landmark Kaufmann’s clock.
Loading docks for the store would be on Smithfield Street. The plan for the storefront is pending approval via the National Park Service Historic Review process, according to Desmone.
Sidewalks will be closed to pedestrian traffic during construction, which will include replacement of the storefront windows, Desmone notes.
Target, based in Minneapolis, confirmed in July that it would be locating one of its smaller, “urban stores” in the Downtown development sometime next year. The store will be about one fifth of the size of its typical suburban stores.
Kaufmann’s Grand on Fifth has new ownership, headed up by Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds in Philadelphia. The development of the one-time Kaufmann’s and Macy’s store also includes residences, eateries and an Even Hotel.
