A three-story development with retail space, engineering offices and condominiums is expected to fill the site of a former funeral home in Sewickley.
The R.D. Cole Funeral Home at 328 Beaver St. was demolished more than a month ago.
It had ceased services in September and reopened late that month under the same name at 1316 Fourth Ave. in Coraopolis.
Sewickley resident Bob Lewis, founder of Orbital Engineering, plans to relocate his company’s headquarters from Pittsburgh to the borough.
Council voted 6-1 on March 11 to approve a conditional use application for the mixed-use building along Beaver Street. Councilwoman Anne Willoughby dissented. Vice President Julie Barnes and Councilman Thomas Rostek were absent.
Council held a public hearing shortly before the vote.
Joe Motznik, Sewickley zoning officer and building code official, said the public hearing was necessary under the borough’s zoning ordinance. The planning commission had recommended the project’s approval on March 5.
Lewis did not attend the public hearing or the council meeting.
However, development team members, including Desmone senior architect Stuart Coppedge, Red Swing Group project manager/civil engineer Phil Karanovich and L&L Builders co-founder Mike Lewandowski did attend and discussed the project.
Karanovich and Coppedge displayed artist renderings and some of the building’s specifications.
Lewandowski said it is about a $15 million investment in Sewickley, including $2.5 million for land acquisition and funeral home demolition. Building construction is estimated to be about $9.5 million and about $3 million for interior furnishings and design.
The property is about 25,000 square feet. It includes 3,000 square feet for two retail spots on the first floor and three 2,500-square-foot condos with balconies on the third floor.
There are three garages, one for each residential unit with room for two cars each. Plans also show 18 parking spaces total for the office and retail spaces.
“Sewickley is a place where a lot of people do want to live and work and play,” Lewandowski said. “We have a building where it’s got offices in it. It’s got a place to live in it, and it’s got some businesses on the first floor. That mixed-use character of a building, I think, fits right into Sewickley.”
The development team did not disclose whether there were any retail partners already signed up.
Lewandowski said the next step is to get building permits in the coming weeks and break ground in mid-April.
“A lot of preparation (is) happening right now,” he said.
Property owners within 100 feet of the development will be notified of the construction.
Construction is expected to take about 18 months, with the goal of having a grand opening in December 2026.
Mayor George Shannon said he is a friend of Lewis and lauded his proposed building.
“I know his intentions are very good,” Shannon said. “He could have put a Motel 6 in there because of our ordinance. I know he’s trying to do the right thing, and I know not everybody agrees with it.
“I think it’s going to be a great building for Sewickley. Financially, it’s going to be a great building for Sewickley.”
Willoughby, after the meeting, said she welcomes new development in the borough, and her vote against the conditional use application was because of aesthetics.
She said she would have liked to see more wood used instead of all red brick walls, an adjustment to the roof line and the proposed use of glass block removed.
The building is not in any of the borough’s historic districts, which would have made it subject to review by the historic review commission and stricter facade regulations.