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When Carolina Vélez and Adam Quatrini decided to purchase a to-be-built condominium in the Strip District in January of 2020, they thought they were building their forever home. 

“At the time we designed this unit, we lived in another condo in the Strip District, Smallman Place,” says Vélez. 

The newlyweds were thinking about growing a family and dreamed of living in a unit with more bedrooms and storage; they already knew they loved the neighborhood. 

“We absolutely adored grabbing coffee at De Fer, sandwiches at Pane è Pronto or Colangelo’s, and walking along the riverfront,” Vélez says. “We loved the mix of new and old in the Strip.” 

A little more than three years later, they are now selling the home they designed — but never got to live in. Located at 2635 Penn Ave., Unit 504 is listed for $1.15 million. 

“The building got caught in the worst of the Covid construction,” says Vélez. “We really wanted to make it work, but in three years our family had exponentially grown from two to five.” 

Vélez and Quatrini welcomed their daughter in February 2021, followed by their son in March 2023. Because they both work full-time, the couple also has an au pair who lives with them. 

“We knew that we couldn’t move into the unit we had already outgrown,” Vélez says. 

Instead, the family purchased a historic home in Shadyside that was built in 1897. While it’s a totally different vibe from the condo they intended to live in, the couple says it works well for their family. 

Their loss is the next owner’s gain, says Realtor Laura Kingsbury of New City.  

“This stunning, brand new Strip District condo is truly a rare find in that it has a city skyline view, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, two private outdoor spaces, more than 2,000 square feet and two deeded parking spaces,” she says. 

Kingsbury adds that with the limited home inventory on the market, most buyers will need to concede on some of these top wish list items, but not with this property, which she says checks all the major boxes.  

“The vast majority of condos in the Strip have two bedrooms and only one parking space with hit-or-miss views,” she says. 

The unit is listed with Kathy Wallace at Compass Real Estate, who is working in conjunction with Kingsbury and her team. 

Vélez and Quatrini also made some specific changes to their unit that set it apart from others in the same building. When they met with the developer, they learned they could actually build on the roof because their unit was on the top floor — and that’s just what they did. 

The couple added the third bedroom, a flexible space for play and work, a terrace and a laundry room. When the pandemic hit, the couple reimagined the laundry room, which has sweeping city views, as a home office. There’s also a balcony on the main level in addition to the roof deck. The complex itself has a fitness center and shared courtyard for residents; there are HOA fees associated with this home. 

Inside the condo, the finishes are far beyond builder basics. The couple also chose light floors to keep attention on the sweeping views and vast windows. 

“We selected a waterfall countertop, and Café Select GE appliances, as we wanted the kitchen to be an elegant gathering space for when we host dinner parties,” says Vélez. “We are so sad to not be able to enjoy this space that we lovingly designed and built from the ground up.” 

Over the course of three years, Vélez and Quatrini had planned their furniture selections, made art choices to cover the expansive white walls and thought about how they would organize their lives there. 

“It is disappointing, of course, but we built it for another time in our lives,” Vélez says. “As parents with two young toddlers, what we need has changed. We know that the next owners will be so very happy here — it is a very special place.” 

About: The Strip District
Population: 1,383
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: While this home has two deeded parking spaces, the next owners would not necessarily need vehicles. The home is positioned near public transit including buses and the T. The location also means it’s a snap to get on any major highway to access the suburbs and the airport. There are also bike lanes that connect the neighborhood to other areas of the city, plus ample storage for bicycles.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: The Strip District is a hub of commerce and retail shops as well as a home to some of the city’s best restaurants. Those who live in the neighborhood have instant access to shopping, dining and entertainment every day of the week. From outdoor concerts and festivals to the Heinz History Center, there is always something going on.