You Can’t Build That Here — 1703 Broadway
February 28, 2024
Our tenth entry in the You Can’t Build That Here series takes us to an early 20th century apartment building close to two Red Line stops in Beechview .
For our tenth entry in our “You Can’t Build That Here!” series, we hop on the T from last entry’s adventure in Allegheny Center to today’s destination in Beechview.
Each entry in this series highlights a currently existing building that would be illegal to build under the existing zoning code. The purpose is to highlight how flawed our zoning code is.
Today, we’re looking at 1703 Broadway Ave - a 12 unit, 3 story apartment building. While none of the units are currently for rent, Unit 101 was on the market 2 years ago for $800 a month - below the average rent for a 1 bedroom in Beechview.
This brick building sits on a triangular shaped lot where Realty Ave merges into Broadway, on the hill overlooking Beechview’s main commercial street. It is three stories tall, approximately 7,860 square feet, and has 12 units - 3 two-bedroom units, 5 one-bedroom, and 4 studios.
It is directly on the Red Line, about halfway between the Belasco and Hampshire stops (roughly a 4 minute walk going either way up or down Broadway).
I am unable to find the history of when it was built, but it existed on the 1923 map, predating most of the city’s zoning ordinances.
The lot it sits on is parcel 35-K-192 - which is 9,020 square feet and is zoned .The building has no setback from Broadway Ave, a 10 ft setback from Realty Ave, and is attached to the multi-unit apartment building next door, 1705 Broadway Ave. It also has no off street parking.
