Armstrong County’s first housing development since the 1980s, located in South Buffalo’s RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park, has been scaled back from 90 to 60 homes.
County Commissioner Pat Fabian told TribLive that Butler County-based developer America First Enterprises has pulled back on the plan it announced last year, which called for 45 single-family homes and 45 townhomes.
The mix of dwellings now envisioned by America First is unclear. A representative for the company declined to comment.
A spokesperson for D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest home builder by closings, confirmed the firm’s involvement in the housing project in the industrial park formerly known as Northpointe, but declined to share further details.
Fabian said the companies have received the necessary permitting from the county and hope to break ground this spring on a parcel between the South Buffalo government center and Route 128.
Homes will start in the $300,000 range — a downward departure from many of the new builds cropping up in neighboring Buffalo Township.
Michael Baker, chairman of the Armstrong County Industrial Development Council, believes the land could be purchased as soon as this month.
South Buffalo Supervisors Joe Charlton, Paul Bergad and Karen Babilon did not return requests for comment.
According to township Secretary Michele Brestensky, “nothing has come through” the township regarding the revised development.
She does not anticipate any discussion on the topic at the March 31 supervisors meeting.
America First Enterprises is owned by Jerry Oliver, who also runs outdoor billboard company Oliver Outdoor. America First is behind several Butler County subdivisions.
Butler County’s housing boom is part of how Armstrong County managed to break its dubious no-building streak, in the view of Fabian, who noted “the price point of these houses is going to be far less, or half of, what you’re seeing in the Cranberry corridor.”
While the Cranberry, Wexford and Sarver areas have enjoyed growth in the 21st century, Armstrong County’s population has wilted by 11%. South Buffalo has proved somewhat resilient to this trend, going only from 2,785 to 2,662 residents between the 2000 census and 2023 estimates — a 4% decrease.
“We haven’t had a new housing development in 40 years,” Fabian said. “So, yeah, this is a big deal.”
Extensive improvements to Route 28, particularly the interchanges at the Highland Park Bridge, also have cut down on drive times for Armstrong County residents who travel to Pittsburgh for work, health care and recreation, further improving the county’s attractiveness to developers, Fabian said. A typical commute from the industrial park to Downtown Pittsburgh takes about 35 minutes.
RIDC, the Regional Industrial Development Corporation, deferred TribLive questions to county planners. The organization oversees the South Buffalo industrial park as well as roughly a dozen others in Southwestern Pennsylvania with a mix of industrial, tech and residential assets.
Executive Director of Armstrong County Planning and Development Darin Alviano did not return TribLive requests for comment.
The latest in Buffalo Township
In Buffalo Township, 60 homes would hardly be a blip on the radar, especially with a 627-unit mixed-use development coming down the pike. Known as Sparrows, the subdivision calls for a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and retail space on 120 acres where routes 28 and 356 meet.
Buffalo Township supervisors will soon consider a conditional use request by builder and developer Charter Homes & Neighborhoods to permit certain units to be smaller than what’s spelled out in the specially created “town center” zoning district.
D.R. Horton also has its hands in Buffalo Township. Brian Scheetz, vice president of the city operations for the firm, said its Laurel Hills housing plan is expected to open for sales in early- to mid-2026. The community features 101 lots, and construction on its mix of single-family homes and townhomes has already begun.
Laurel Hills will be built along Route 356, about 3 miles from Route 28.
Homes will start in the high $200,000 range.