A Shadyside-developer’s effort to expand apartments and retail at the nexus of East Liberty and Larimer is one step closer to being realized after receiving approval from a city panel.  

Pittsburgh’s City Planning Commission approved Walnut Capital’s proposal to create retail and housing space after overcoming issues related to parking and sidewalk space. The commission unanimously approved a positive recommendation to City Council, which will now consider the matter. 

In July, the commission delayed making a decision on plans to expand retail and apartment housing capacity in Bakery Square by 14 acres along Penn Avenue. The panel wanted Walnut Capital to address concerns about parking and sidewalk space. During Tuesday’s hearing the developers agreed to several amendments including limiting parking to on-street and adjacent to streets. 

Then-City Councilor Ricky Burgess proposed an expansion bill in 2023. Walnut Capital’s representatives have been working on expansion plans with community members in Larimer and East Liberty. 

Tuesday’s approval is the result of several meetings in August between members of the City Planning Department, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Walnut Capital’s representatives, according to Senior Planning Manager Kate Rakus.

“It was a little bit of work but we got there,” said commission chair LaShawn M. Burton-Faulk. 

Eric Jankiewicz is PublicSource’s economic development reporter, and can be reached at ericj@publicsource.org or on Twitter @ericjankiewicz.

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Bakery Square expansion wins first approval

by Eric Jankiewicz, Pittsburgh's Public Source
September 3, 2024

<h1>Bakery Square expansion wins first approval</h1> <p class="byline">by Eric Jankiewicz, Pittsburgh's Public Source <br />September 3, 2024</p> <p>A Shadyside-developer’s effort to expand apartments and retail at the nexus of East Liberty and Larimer is one step closer to being realized after receiving approval from a city panel.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Pittsburgh’s City Planning Commission approved Walnut Capital’s proposal to create retail and housing space after overcoming issues related to parking and sidewalk space. The commission unanimously approved a positive recommendation to City Council, which will now consider the matter.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.publicsource.org/bakery-square-expansion-vote-pushed-back-again/">In July</a>, the commission delayed making a decision on plans to expand retail and apartment housing capacity in Bakery Square by 14 acres along Penn Avenue. The panel wanted Walnut Capital to address concerns about parking and sidewalk space. During Tuesday’s hearing the developers agreed to several amendments including limiting parking to on-street and adjacent to streets.&nbsp;</p> <p>Then-City Councilor Ricky Burgess proposed an expansion bill in 2023. Walnut Capital’s representatives have been working on expansion plans with community members in Larimer and East Liberty.&nbsp;</p> <p>Tuesday’s approval is the result of several meetings in August between members of the City Planning Department, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Walnut Capital’s representatives, according to Senior Planning Manager Kate Rakus.</p> <p>“It was a little bit of work but we got there,” said commission chair LaShawn M. Burton-Faulk.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Eric Jankiewicz is PublicSource’s economic development reporter, and can be reached at ericj@publicsource.org or on Twitter </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ericjankiewicz"><em>@ericjankiewicz</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publicsource.org/bakery-square-walnut-capital-pittsburgh-east-liberty-larimer-commission-approve/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publicsource.org">Pittsburgh's Public Source</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.&nbsp;<img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-ps_circle_favicon_blue.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="16" height="16" style="width:1em;height:1em;"></p> <img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://www.publicsource.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1308317&amp;ga4=G-CCLXQK5C14" style="width:1px;height:1px;"><script> PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://www.publicsource.org/bakery-square-walnut-capital-pittsburgh-east-liberty-larimer-commission-approve/", urlref: window.location.href }); } } </script> <script id="parsely-cfg" src="//cdn.parsely.com/keys/publicsource.org/p.js"></script>

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