Part of Ex-Nabisco Plant Razed

A portion of the former Nabisco plant in East Liberty has been demolished as Walnut Capital Partners, the new owner, proceeds with plans to develop to site into Bakery Square, a $113 million "green" project housing both offices and retailers.

"We want to join other developers in East Liberty in promoting green buildings that are more innovative and environmentally friendly to help make East Liberty a showcase of LEED-certified buildings," said Anthony Dolan, a partner in the Shadyside-based development company.

The U.S. Green Building Council must approve LEED certification (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) for the project along Penn Avenue.

"We will use solar energy, wind energy and green roofs to make the complex environmentally friendly," Dolan said.

Plans include renovation to provide space for 260,000 square feet of office space, and new construction to house other uses. Renovation will probably occur first to accommodate office tenants, Dolan said.

"We are negotiating with potential office tenants who need large space and those needing smaller space," he said. He declined to identify names of potential tenants.

However, he said that a fitness facility has committed to lease about 40,000 square feet of 170,000 square feet of retail space.

Under its Bakery Square Holdings L.P., Walnut Capital purchased the site for $5.4 million from the Regional Industrial Development Corp. of Southwestern Pennsylvania, according to a deed filed in Allegheny County.

The Nabisco Bakery was built in 1918 as part of a nationwide expansion by the National Biscuit Co. The RIDC bought the plant in 1998 when Nabisco shut it down and leased it to Atlantic Baking Co., which was eventually taken over by the Bake-Line Group of Oak Brook, Ill. The group declared bankruptcy in early 2004, ending jobs for 290 bakery workers.

Other elements of Bakery Square include a 110-room Marriott SpringHill Suites hotel planned for 2008 as part of a joint venture with locally-based Concord Hospitality, and an 850-car parking garage, according to Todd Reidbord, another Walnut Capital partner.

Recently, the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority approved $10 million in tax-exempt financing for the project. Allegheny County Council approved the plan Sept. 11.

City Council and the Pittsburgh Public Schools board also must approve the financing plan.

Back to Overview