Politics & Government

Spring Construction Planned for New Thorn Street Office Development

The site of a former specialty cars site will soon house a Class A office facility, developers say.

Developers have received final approval to construct a 30,000 square-foot office building at the site of the former Ascot Imported Cars Inc. near the corner of Thorn and Walnut Street.  

Peter Friday, of the Pittsburgh-based Forbes Trails Development and project manager, said crews will break ground on the Class A office building in May. The building is the first of three planned phases for the project, Friday said. 

Sewickley Council approved a conditional use application for the development Monday. 

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Friday's company , purchased properties spanning 413 to 417 Thorn Street in June 2012. 

Friday said his firm is in talks with several entities interested in leasing space in the building, including a law firm and financial services company. 

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Construction on the building is expected to span eight to 10 months, Friday said. 

The next phases of the project could include residential units, retail and additional office space, Friday said.

"(Forbes Trails) will be talking to new businesses for the development, they're bringing in 50 new workers to town," said borough manager Kevin Flannery. "So I think it's an exciting development." 

The Sewickley-based nonprofit Village Theater Co. is eyeing the former car dealership as a site for a new borough theater. The theater recently received  501c3 status to validate its mission for a multiscreen, 350-plus seat venue in town.

The now-defunct Ascot motors sold a variety of high-end vehicles, including Rolls-Royce, Lotus, Bentley and Mercedes, before closing its doors at the Thorn Street location in October 2012. 

After Ascot's closure, First Commonwealth Bank acquired the lots from a sherriff's sale. Thorn-Walnut Managment purchased the properties from the bank. 


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