November 19, 2009 - Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania announced today that it selected a site in Lawrenceville area for its new headquarters.

Goodwill's board of directors approved moving its headquarters and main client service center to the site at 51st Street, just off Butler Street, the non-profit agency said.

"We signed a preliminary lease-to-own agreement with the Rubinoff Co. for what has been known as the 51st Street Business Technology Center," said Michael J. Smith, Goodwill's president and chief executive officer.

The value of the deal was not disclosed.

The center contains two Class A buildings with a combined 106,000 square feet of space.

The final step will come in January with the closing on the sale of its current headquarters at 2600 E. Carson St., South Side, to Burns & Scalo Real Estate Services of Green Tree, Smith said.

At that time, Goodwill will execute its lease with Rubinoff. That's when the build-out of its new headquarters will begin once Strada Architects completes plans for the renovation of the Lawrenceville buildings.

Goodwill plans to relocate several hundred employees from the South Side to Lawrenceville in late 2010, Smith said.

"The Lawrenceville site is a good fit for us. It is easily accessible by public transit for our clients and, when renovated, will accommodate all our current requirements and foreseen future needs," he said.

In March, Goodwill selected Burns & Scalo from among three bidders to purchase current headquarters building and several surrounding lots, but not the Goodwill store at 2700 E. Carson St., which will continue operations.

Jim Scalo, Burns & Scalo president, has outlined plans for the seven-story building that would be converted into 64 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with retail space on the first level and a 75-car underground parking garage.

The $20 million development would take from 12 to 14 months to complete, he said. It would be geared for younger workers.

Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_653984.html?source=emailthis

Publication: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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