PRESS RELEASE: Franklin West Launches 12 New Shadyside Loft Apartments – 100% Rented

More than twenty years of planning came to an end September 1 when Franklin West, Inc. moved tenants into its newest apartment community, a 12-unit loft-style apartment building located at 521 Shady Ave. All of the 12 apartments are already rented.

This three-story elevator building has four one-bedroom apartments on each floor, with monthly rents ranging from $1250 to $1350, plus utilities (electric, water/sewer). The apartments range from 615 sq. ft. to 743 sq. ft. in size. All of the apartments have large light-filled rooms, high ceilings, ceiling fans, bamboo floors, and kitchen with silver-finish appliances (refrigerator, range, dishwasher and built-in microwave). Each apartment in the building has a full size washer and dryer and high-efficiency central heat and air conditioning systems. The building also has three interior garage parking spaces and nine exterior parking spaces. The architect was Perfido, Weiskopf, Wagstaff & Goettel. The contractor was RDC Construction, Inc.

The story of 521 Shady begins in the early 1960s, when Frank West (1932 – 2005) purchased two dilapidated circa-1870 Second Empire homes located at 513 and 517 Shady Avenue and remodeled them into luxurious multi-family residential apartments. These first two apartment buildings marked the beginning of a 40-plus-year career wherein, by the time of his death in 2005, he had renovated or built nearly 65 such buildings in Shadyside (400 apartments), as well as built nearly 600 others in Oakmont, Gibsonia and Butler. Franklin West, Inc. is now managed by his daughter, Caroline West, and her husband, Antonio Castracani.

Frank West’s last creation, 521 Shady, now stands next to his first two, 513 Shady and 517 Shady; a fitting testament to his career and commitment to the neighborhood. Although the building was ready for occupancy September 1, Caroline West plans to include other elements in the near future that will mark it as a signature “Franklin West” property. Specifcally, a memorial to Frank West, which will be sculpted by his cousin, Jim West. Jim West recently completed the statue “Point of View,” depicting the meeting of a George Washington and Guyasuta, on Mt. Washington.

Located on the quiet residential streets of Shadyside’s East End, Franklin West’s apartments are only minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Moreover, they are just a few blocks from the sections of Walnut Street and S. Highland known for their shops and restaurants. Please call or email Franklin West, Inc. if you would like more information about 521 Shady Avenue or other Franklin West properties.