By Sam Spatter
Pittsburgh Tribune Review Business • February 8, 2008

Christine Goodis likes what she sees in a district she calls “the fastest-growing area” in Pittsburgh.

That’s why, after spending 12 years at a location on Wood Street, Downtown, she moved Salon Christine, her beauty salon and spa, to the 900 block of Penn Avenue in the city’s Cultural District late last year.

So much is her faith in the block that she sold her house in the North Hills and moved into the 117-unit Penn Garrison Apartments at 915 Penn Ave.

“I feel very safe there and have found people living or working there as very progressive, professional and urban,” said Goodis, whose business at 954 Penn offers eco-friendly hair and skin care products and a variety of beauty items.

She says she likes the “sense of the neighborhood” she’s found.

Herb Mathias wasn’t surprised Goodis selected to operate out of his building. But he is amazed at what has happened in the 900 block over the past years.

Since 1976, when he purchased the two-story building at 950 Penn Ave. for his reprographics firm, A.H. Mathias & Co. Inc., he’s seen restaurants open, older buildings turned into condominiums and apartments, and a host of office and retail tenants locate in the block between Ninth and 10th streets.

“I can remember when the Greyhound Bus Station on 10th Street at Penn was probably the major traffic generator on the street,” he said.

Although he sold his company to Ridgway’s Ltd., which is still in the building, he and his sons, Todd and Chris, are involved in other venues there.

Todd Mathias has opened August Henry’s City Saloon at 946 Penn, and Chris Mathias operates Allegheny Visual Solutions on the second floor at 950.

Their father remains active, serving as building manager.

A major investor in the 900 block over the past few years is Aaron Stauber, president of New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Rugby Realty Co. He estimates that between $150 million and $200 million in new investment has occurred there during that time.

He owns at least seven buildings there, housing everything from rental apartments and residential condominiums to restaurants, retail and office space. His apartment building at 930 Penn, a former office/warehouse, is nearly fully leased, and two restaurants — Seviche, a chic Latin American bistro, and a Subway — are popular spots on the first level.

“Seviche is amazing in that regardless of what night of the week it is open, it is packed,” he said.

His most recent acquisition is a two-story building at 936 Penn, with 5,000 square feet, where he hopes to land a restaurant.

Last year, he purchased 925 Penn, a six-story, 45,000-square-foot building that is to be converted to house 30 luxury condominiums, with retail on the first floor. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2009.

Jack Benoff of Philadelphia-based Solara Inc. said some of his friends and associates branded him “as crazy” for starting a condominium project along Penn.

“But I felt good about the street and what was happening there,” he said.

His decision proved to be the right one, he said. All but three of the 18 units he’s developed at 941 Penn have been sold, priced from about $350,000. Owners will begin moving in by May or June, he said.

On the first level of the building, a buyer plans to place a commercial office, Benoff said.

One of the earliest changes on the street occurred about the turn of the century when Oxford Development Co. converted two former office buildings at 911-15 Penn into the Penn Garrison apartments. Later, Oxford converted two former office buildings into the 182-guest room Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 945 Penn.

Still another investor in the area is Bill Gatti of Trek Development, who converted 900 Penn into 22 apartment units. That’s also the location for Nine on Nine, a restaurant and bar.

Now, there are 162 residential units between 8th and 10th streets along Penn, and another 22 units under construction, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

David P. Bridge, a piano and classic organ consultant for Trombino Piano Gallarie at 942 Penn Ave., said that store has been at its present location since the 1980s.

Of the activity on the block, he said, “It’s very exciting … and bringing things back to life.”