Pittsburgh’s last steel mill closed in 1998; 178 acres are being transformed
After decades of lying vacant, Pittsburgh’s former steel mill site Hazelwood Green is finally seeing major redevelopment. Since 2022, around 700,000 square feet has been developed or is under construction, including Carnegie Mellon’s robotics centre, Pitt’s BioForge facility, housing, parks and a football field. More technology, retail and housing projects are planned across the 178-acre…
In 1998, Pittsburgh's last steel mill closed, leaving behind 178 acres along the Monongahela River that had been the site of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh Works. The vacant property had remained unused for decades, according to Axios. The dismantling of old industrial structures took place in the 2000s, with preparations for a new development beginning in the 2010s.
Among the first major projects was the renovation and opening of Mill 19 in 2019, which transformed into a tech-flex office space. However, development slowed for a few years. Now, the Hazelwood Green site is experiencing a new wave of construction, with robotics, life sciences, housing, sports, and public spaces now part of the former industrial area.
Since 2022, around 700,000 square feet has been developed or is currently being built at the site. Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Innovation Center, Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Innovation Center, and Pitt's BioForge facility are set to open this autumn, joining other technology and life science projects at the site. Numerous technology companies, including ElevateBio, Hellbender, and Motional, already have offices in Hazelwood Green.
The scale of recent construction is substantial, with 250,000 square feet developed between 2010 and 2022 and another 700,000 square feet developed or in the process of being built since 2022. The site also boasts public spaces, such as the Hazelwood Green park, which hosted movie nights this summer. The U.S. Steel Community Field, a sports venue, has begun using the site for high school football games, attracting thousands of spectators.
Real estate development is also underway, with Woodlawn Lofts, the first apartment complex at Hazelwood Green, currently under construction. The complex will have 160 residential units, including market-rate homes, affordable homes for low-income residents, and units reserved for single parents pursuing their degrees. The development extends to the northern end of the site, which will accommodate around 1,200 multifamily housing units.
Despite the recent construction, there are still 58 acres of mixed-use space available on the southern end of the site, which could eventually house more technology companies, light-industrial businesses, and retail. The northern end, in particular, has the potential for significant residential development.
Support for the development of Hazelwood Green has been provided by various philanthropic groups, including the Richard King Mellon Foundation, U.S. Steel, and the Heinz Endowments. As of now, around 58 acres remain available for further development in the southern part of the site.
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