PHOTOS BY ED ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

While most Pittsburgh residents don’t typically think about living in the heart of Downtown, there are almost 5,000 residents who call the neighborhood home. With this amenity-filled new listing from Howard Hanna, one special buyer could add themselves to that number.

Located at 951 Liberty Ave. on the edge of the Cultural District, Keystone Lofts is home to 12 units of varying size and layout. The exterior of the historical building has retained every bit of charm through the decades, including detailed metalwork featuring a floral design that has been restored and brightly painted with minute detail. 

The condos themselves are nestled into a four-story building that was erected in 1880, when the region was bustling, thriving — and clogged with sooty air at all hours of the day and night. 

These days, the view from unit 202 2B is much clearer. Listed for $325,000, the home has a prime location that overlooks vibrant Liberty Avenue’s shops, restaurants and cultural hot spots. The entire front wall is composed of windows that not only let in natural light on those rare sunny days in Pittsburgh, but provide a perfect spot from which to watch the city. 

Directly across the way is the August Wilson African American History Center, which regularly hosts music and educational events. It’s also only a short walk to Market Square’s many dining spots, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and multiple theaters. 

Listing agent Rosina Scalamogna calls this unit both “chic and contemporary.” She likes to call it a “New York-style condo” and is excited to see who may call this condo their home next — it’s one of her most unique listings. 

Scalamonga shares that the owner adored this home, but it’s time to let someone else enjoy his prime location. 

“He loved living there to be in the center of all the big events such as the Pittsburgh Marathon,” she says. “The starting line is right in front of the condo.” 

There are various other festivals and events that use this block of Liberty Avenue year-round, and the owner enjoyed being central to those experiences. 

“There’s close access to the rivers, the Strip District, and the Eliza Furnace Trail, too,” Scalamonga says.  

A 2007 renovation of the building focused on adding luxury while retaining that historical charm Pittsburgh is known for. Exposed brick walls run along both sides of the loft, adding plenty of character. There’s even the outline of a former doorway that can still be seen. It’s bricked in now, but provides clues to the building’s long history in the city. 

Hardwood floors run through the condo, which measures 885 square feet. The ceilings rise to 12 feet and have exposed historic beams and joists. The visible ductwork and electrical conduits give an industrial feel to the home. 

As for the layout — it’s truly an open concept. 

The oversized bathroom spills into the main living space, while the bedroom is partitioned off behind rolling glass barn doors and pony walls that open to the soaring ceilings above. The bathroom itself has a large walk-in shower, ceramic flooring and a marble sink; laundry is tucked away behind closet doors. 

The kitchen is well equipped for any enthusiastic home chef, though with the Korean-inspired Bae Bae’s Kitchen occupying the retail space on the first floor of this building, it may be tempting to order out every night. 

Cherry cabinets outfit the open kitchen design, which is adjacent to the living area. A large, granite-topped island provides seating for two. Stainless steel appliances and gray subway tile round out the space. 

For a compact home, this condo is not short on storage. A large closet equipped with an organization system is located in the bedroom; residents also have use of a storage locker and bike storage area on the main floor. While there is no onsite parking, there are leased spots available close by. 

This building does have a homeowner’s association and is pet-friendly.

Meg can be reached at megstesprit@gmail.com. Have an upcoming or active listing you want to be considered for Hot Properties? Submit that here.

About: Downtown Pittsburgh (downtownpittsburgh.com)
Population: 4,621
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: This property is ideally situated to usethe city’s public transportation system. Situated within walking distance of bus stops and the T, residents can get by without a car. Downtown Pittsburgh has also committed to improving its bike infrastructure, and Liberty Avenue has bike lanes with access to trails and routes throughout the region.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: Downtown Pittsburgh, often called The Golden Triangle after a local paper coined the moniker in 1914, is a neighborhood bound by all three rivers. Of Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods, this one is considered to be the heart of the city — containing our skyscrapers, business and cultural districts and Point State Park. There are endless entertainment options here ranging from theater productions to al fresco dining and live music. 

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.