Here’s the Scoop
Otto in the News, what’s going on and what’s going to happen. It’s all right here.
Home Buyers Don't Factor in the Cost of Commuting
March 24, 2010... A study finds transportation costs are often not considered. Read the article in the Post Gazette:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10083/1045127-147.stm
Pittsburgh Mayor and Carnegie Mellon President Call on Community to Help Bring Google Fiber to Pittsburgh
March 17, 2010... Read the article here and nominate Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh Goes Google.
Forbes Names Pittsburgh Best Housing Market
February 22, 2010... Read the article here!
Winter Milk Delivery is here
February 3, 2010... Check out the latest Milk Delivery to find out what happening at Otto.
Ground Breaking Ceremony at Otto, with honored guest Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
November 2, 2009... See video coverage by KDKA. Read the article in The Trib. See the photos on Flickr.
Construction Photos posted on Flickr
October 21 , 2009... New pictures of construction are now online at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43810096@N08/sets/72157622495068593/
Read our Latest Newsletter
June 2009...Read what is going on at the building. http://www.ottomilkcondos.com/milkdelivery_may.htm
New Photos posted on Flickr
May 11 , 2009... We took some new pictures and posted them, a few of the views from the building and some on the floors that were too dark to see before, here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomilkcondos/.
Is it better to Buy or Rent?
Check out this nice Buy vs. Rent calculator from the NY Times.
Want to know what your payment will be?
There are lots of online tools that can help you estimate your payment. Here is one mortgage calculator from CNN. Remember the LERTA tax credit will keep your property taxes to a minimum. Call us if you need to know how much to plug in to the calculator.
Otto Milk is Twitter-ing
Sep 11, 2008 ...Follow us on Twitter, text “follow ottomilkcondos” to 40404 on your mobile phone and keep up with what we are doing.
Headlines
$85K Bike Center Creates Secure Indoor Parking
Pop City, Wednesday January 20, 2010... Pittsburgh will soon offer a secure parking situation for commuters who cycle rather than drive into town. The Bicycle Commuter Center has been built on the northern side of the Century Building in the Cultural District. The concept is simple... Read More>>
Last Piece of Funding Approved for $1.3M Strip District Public Market
Pop City, Wednesday January 20, 2010... The Strip District is one step closer to getting its long-awaited public market.
Last week, the Urban Redevelopment Authority approved a $100,000 grant that will help make improvements to the market's future site at the Produce Terminal on Smallman Street between 18th and 19th Streets. Read More>>
PDP Publishes LERTA Brochure
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership recently created a brochure to help condo buyers better understand the Downtown 10-year condo tax incentive program. It is a great tool, click here to view it online.Trading Places
Pittsburgh Magazine April, 2009... Living downtown and in the nearby Strip District is a growing trend, and the number of residents there is expected to increase by 20 percent this year. Meet three couples and two singles who left the sprawling suburbs for high-rise living and are loving city life. http://www.wqed.org/mag/features/0409/downtown-urban-living.php
Mayor sees city's construction levels as positive evidence of another renaissance
Sunday, March 01, 2009... By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kathy Wallace, vice president of development for Solara Ventures, walks through the Otto Milk Building in the Strip District, where she is lining up buyers to turn the site into condominiums.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09060/952438-28.stm
Otto Buyer Email Blast
February 10th, 2009...We sent out our first buyer newsletter "MilkDelivery" to keep everyone updated with the happenings at the building. Click here if you would like to see it.
Otto reaches 38% presold
January 25th, 2009...With 21 units sold and more reserved. In this economy that's amazing but of course our buyer's know the reason - because Otto is a great deal! I'll be sure to post construction photos soon so everyone can see what is going on.
RE/MAX Select is Selling Pittsburgh's Hottest Downtown Property
January 25th, 2009... When Philadelphia developer Jack Benoff was first shown Otto back in 2007 he told his agent that he’d “have to be crazy to buy this place”. Read more of our realtor email blast... http://www.ottomilkcondos.com/SellingOtto.htm
Just for fun!
December 16, 2008... I found a "Otto Milk Company" engraved Zippo lighter from 1938-1939 online in the Zippo Gallery. I thought it was so cool that I should share it with all of you... http://zippogallery.com/1937-42%20Zippos.htm
Pittsburgh's Renaissance holds lessons for Cleveland (This is a great story about Pittsburgh, has a great shot of the Mayor on top of 941 Penn Avenue.)
Nov 23, 2008...The city that once defined rust belt decay might show the rest of the nation how to weather a recession. by Scott Stephens / Plain Dealer Reporter http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2008/11/pittsburghs_renaissance_holds.html
$9M 941 Penn welcomes first residents, $8M Otto Milk Condos 25% sold - Pop City
Nov 19, 2008 ...941 Penn Avenue Residences is welcoming its first occupants, while pre-sales at Otto Milk Condos have reached 25%.
http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/941penn1119.aspxNatural foods grocery opens Thursday in Strip District - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nov 18, 2008 ... Nearly four decades later, Mr. Stone is back in the Strip, again hawking produce, this time as president and director of operations for Right by Nature natural foods market, a 22,500-square-foot grocery set to open Thursday at Smallman and 23rd streets. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08323/928735-28.stmMayor visits 941 Penn Avenue buyers
Nov 13, 2008... On Wednesday, November 12th, Solara Venture's other Pittsburgh project got a visit from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl as he welcomed several of the building's new buyers. 941's buyer's are the first in the city to take advantage of the LERTA tax credits. Media from most of the major news outlets covered the story. You can read stories from the Trib and PG below.
Dowtown Lures Residents
Nov 13, 2008... Pittsburgh's strategy to lure people to live Downtown with the promise of 10-year tax abatements is showing signs of success, city officials said Wednesday.http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_598165.html
Tax abatemet spurring city housing growth
Nov 13, 2008...John and Nasrin Jordan were getting tired of driving from Downtown events back to their home in Upper Burrell.
"We have symphony tickets and theater tickets," said Ms. Jordan, a managed care consultant. "We're a lot Downtown."
When they heard about a tax break for new Downtown housing, it occurred to them that there might be an alternative. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08318/927526-53.stm
LERTA education event was a sucess!
Nov. 6, 2008... The LERTA event last night was a big success. Over 75 people attended the event at the Heinz History Center to learn how buying, building and renovating in the Strip adds up to BIG tax savings. Check out our tax page to find out more.
SIgn up for our LERTA Information Session
Oct 26, 2008... Neighbors in the Strip and The Otto Milk Building will be hosting a LERTA Information session on November 5th at the Heinz History Center from 5:30 to 7:00 to answer all your questions about the BIG tax benefits of buying at Otto. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Otto's Flickr Gallery
Oct 10, 2008 ...We took some pictures today, check out the snapshots on Flickr. **Sorry, we had to take down the gallery for awhile. If you really want to see the pictures, please contact us and ask! **
Just the FAQ's
Oct 06, 2008 ...Otto buyers are an inquisitive bunch. Here are some of the questions we have been asked. Go to FAQ to read them and if you have more questions, feel free to email us or give us a call at 412.288.2566.
Downtown condo buyers to get tax break - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Oct 16, 2007 ... A tax savings bonanza awaits those who build housing -- or significantly improve residences -- Downtown and in 28 other neighborhoods. www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_532812.htmlAnimal owners find Downtown apartments accommodating - Pittsburgh
Jun 4, 2008 ... Otto Milk Co. building, 25th and Smallman streets. Weight: Less than 80 pounds. Limit: Two. • Gateway Towers, 320 Fort Duquesne Blvd. ... www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_570958.html
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation » More condos proposed
Jul 07, 2007 ...The company is planning to convert the Otto Milk Building on Smallman Street between 24th and 25th streets into condos, with smaller units starting at ... www.phlf.org/2007/07/11/more-condos-proposed-for-strip-district/
Pop City - Up to 70 new condos planned for the Strip District
Dec 13, 2006 ...Jack Benoff, president of Solara Ventures, plans to bring up to 70 new condos ranging in size from 800 to 2,000 square feet, to the Strip District. Read more here. http://www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/41solara.aspx
Pop City - The Strip District Investment and Business Guide
Oct 18, 2006 ... The same goes for the Otto Milk Building, which, with a lot of TLC and extensive rehab, could furnish a buyer with five stories and 15750 ... www.popcitymedia.com/features/24stripinvest.aspx
Pop City - Downtown Living More Affordable Than You Think
Apr 19, 2006 ... Living in Downtown Pittsburgh is not only less expensive than you might think, but you might actually save money (not to mention time) by ... www.popcitymedia.com/features/downtownliving.aspx
More housing slated for Strip - Pittsburgh Business Times
Dec 12, 2006 ...He compared the potential of the Otto Milk building with the nearby Armstrong ... Otto Milk equipment still inside the building suggests to Benoff that much ... www.pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2006/12/11/story1.html
Pittsburgh PA: Otto Milk Building in Strip District on Flickr
Smallman Street. Otto Milk Company delivered milk to front porches in Hendersonville, Pa. in the 1950's. In school we had to bring our own lunches (most ... www.flickr.com/photos/45501032@N00/2596926954/
Pittsburgh Signs
May 01, 2004 ...The Otto sign caught someone’s attention. Lots of interesting comments about the history of the building and the company as well. http://pittsburghsigns.org/archives/2004/05/otto_milk_1.html