Student Housing Redevelopment Opportunity: Heart of Oakland
Student Housing 5,288 SF of Land
Marketing description
Redevelopment Opportunity: 0.12 Acres/5,288 SF of Land for Sale
Own a Piece of Rock N' Roll History at 219-223 Atwood Street in Oakland
Property Overview
This mixed-use apartment building is located in the heart of Oakland, above the former Garage Door Saloon and the former Pizza Romano Restaurant. Located just one block from Forbes Avenue, the building is an easy walk to the university campuses. Each apartment features a private bathroom and an equipped eat-in kitchen, and offers the convenience of laundry right in the building. Parking is on-street by city permit.
Historic Significance
This building is more than just a piece of real estate — it’s a piece of Pittsburgh’s cultural legacy. Once home to The Decade, one of the city’s most iconic live music venues, the property hosted performances by future legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, U2, The Police, R.E.M., and The Ramones during their early touring years.
The Decade was a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s rock and alternative scene, drawing students, locals, and music fans alike. Its story is woven into the fabric of the city’s creative history — a legacy that presents a unique opportunity for the next owner to honor the past while shaping the future.
Investment highlights
Zoning District:
- UC-E: Urban Center – Employment District
- (City of Pittsburgh Zoning Code, Title 9, § 905.03)
- Located in the heart of Oakland, the UC-E district supports high-density, employment-oriented, and institution-serving mixed-use development.
- This zoning aligns with the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC corridor vision for innovation, housing, and urban vibrancy.
District Intent:
- To foster a compact, walkable urban center that promotes collaboration between institutions, housing, and commerce.
- The UC-E encourages projects that integrate:
- Academic, medical, or research facilities
- Residential uses serving nearby institutions
- Ground-floor retail, dining, or amenity space
Permitted Uses (By-Right):
- Educational, Medical & Research Facilities
- Office / R&D
- Retail, Restaurant, & Service Use
- Residential (Multi-Unit or Group Living) as part of a mixed-use project
- Parking (Accessory) and Structured Parking
Conditional Uses (Special Review)
- Stand-alone residential or dormitory developments not tied to institutional use
- Large-scale campus or group-living facilities (>20,000 SF)
- Parking structures above code thresholds
- Overlay Districts in Effect:
- Oakland Civic Design Overlay (CDO): Pedestrian orientation, façade articulation, and open-space standards.
- Inclusionary Zoning Overlay (IZ-O):
- Applies to projects with 20+ units
- Requires 10% affordable units (rental ≤ 80% AMI)
- Applies to new residential or mixed-use construction across Oakland
Zoning Summary:
- Ideal for student housing redevelopment in a mixed-use format
- Ground-floor activation (retail/café/coworking) encouraged
- Height and density flexibility with bonuses
- Planning Commission review likely required for large-scale or multi-building development
Location & Market Context
Oakland is one of Pittsburgh’s most dynamic, institution-anchored neighborhoods — often referred to as a “city within a city.” Located directly east of Downtown Pittsburgh, the area combines major educational, medical, cultural, and residential uses in a dense, walkable environment. The subject property at 213-223 Atwood Street lies less than a five-minute walk from the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus and within walking distance of Carnegie Mellon University, positioning it squarely within the city’s highest-demand student housing district.
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