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Over 50 Spring Garden Township residents filled the room July 15 for a zoning hearing to voice concerns about BHI Properties LLC’s request for a special exception to convert part of the former UPMC Memorial Hospital into a hotel.
Israel Weiss, a partner with BHI, presented his case before the board, which ultimately voted in his favor.
Following over an hour of public comment and nearly an hour of deliberation among zoning board members, a special exception was approved 4-1 to allow BHI Properties to convert part of the former UPMC Memorial Hospital into a high-end hotel.
The approval was subject to multiple conditions, including increased security, improving maintenance and partnering with a national hotel brand:
No outstanding property maintenance violations should be present at the time of the building permit application.24-hour third party security firm (excluding hotel employees) to be hired to monitor the premises and grounds.The hotel will be flagged by a national hotel brand such as Hilton or IHG.Parking lot to be renovated and repaved in accordance with the township and construction specifications.
Upon hearing the verdict, residents poured out of the room, shouting grievances, thanking the board sarcastically for “working for the people.”
In 2022, the Spring Garden Township Zoning Board approved plans to transform the former hospital into a 96-unit housing complex. So far, BHI Properties has constructed 49 apartment units and plans to transform the former ICU building into a high-end hotel with 50 suites, and possibly a pool and fitness center.
Weiss told the board his budget for renovations would equate to $5 million, which includes $100,000 per suite.
Longtime residents argue against potential hotel
Longtime residents of the Elmwood neighborhood where the former hospital is located expressed concerns about the idea of a hotel due to growing uneasiness among the current state of the 49 apartments and its tenants.
Jessica Bobb has lived in Elmwood for 34 years and said her daughter, who owned a home across the street from the current apartments, sold her house due to constant litter, witnessing suspected drug deals outside of her home and tenants parking at the end of her driveway.
“He has no control over his tenants, and where they’re parking and what they’re doing to the neighborhood,” Bobb said. “How is he going to have any control over what these people in this hotel are going to do to that property also?”
“The crime rate in that neighborhood has gone up since the apartments have gone in,” Bobb added.
One resident who walks his dog up and down the street past the former hotel expressed his frustration with the current state of the property, including overgrown trees, litter and an uptick in crime. “I wish you’d really think about changing your plans, because you’ve not really benefited our community with what you have there now, you just brought more disruption and crime and all the other things that come with it.”
Ryan Hash, a real estate investor and resident, asked Weiss why visitors would want to stay at his hotel rather than well-established hotels in the area, including the Yorktowne and Heritage Hills Resort.
“I can’t see anybody wanting to book a hotel room in a beat-up old hospital,” Hash said. “Five million would be a Band-Aid.”
Spring Garden Township Zoning Officer Dawn Hansen said the property has been issued violations in the past and that Weiss still has a year to complete a redevelopment plan.
“As far as property maintenance goes, we have issued numerous violations, we have talked with Israel, we have worked with property maintenance − it is an ongoing issue,” Hansen said.
Hansen added Weiss still has one year to complete a land development plan to outline the changes being made to the land, which includes addressing construction and altering infrastructure.
(This story was updated to add new information.)