A housing development for residents is on its way to the RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park in South Buffalo.
The 90-house project will include 45 individual houses and 45 townhomes on 23 acres owned by the nonprofit Armstrong County Industrial Development Council.
The houses will be available for purchase starting at around $300,000.
The new development, the first of its kind at the park, was described as significant by Darin Alviano, the council's executive director.
There were few details released about the developer, America First Enterprises, except that it has constructed multiple housing plans in Butler County.
Jerry Oliver, the owner of billboard company Oliver Outdoor, also owns America First Enterprises. Both are located in Butler County.
Oliver did not respond to requests for comment.
Armstrong County commissioners, citing a confidentiality agreement with the developer, declined to comment.
The new housing complex will have amenities, but those have not been revealed.
More information will be provided after the sale is finalized, according to Alviano.
Construction is set to commence in late spring.
The Industrial Development Council, established in 1968, was formed to promote economic growth, community revitalization, and job creation in the county, aiming to enhance the overall well-being of the region, according to its website.
Aside from Innovation Park, the council also manages Parks Bend Farm Industrial Park on Route 66 in Parks Township, Manor Township Business Park, and West Hills Industrial Park in West Franklin.
RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park is a 925-acre area offering residential and retail development. This marks the first residential development at this location.
The industrial park was previously known as Northpointe Industrial Park. In 2021, RIDC collaborated with the development council to market property on the site. It was around that time, according to Alviano, that initial work began on the residential development plans.
RIDC, located in O’Hara, oversees 15 business or industrial parks in Allegheny, Armstrong, and Westmoreland counties, including New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park and RIDC park in O’Hara.
Currently, no name has been chosen for the new residential neighborhood in Armstrong, which will be part of the Freeport Area School District.
Alviano did not reveal the purchase price but indicated that he anticipates the sale to be finalized in the coming weeks.
The park is located off Route 28’s Exit 18. It is a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone, meaning eligible companies will not be responsible for most state and local property taxes for 10 years.
Business tenants at the site include BNY Mellon, Penn State Electro-Optics Center, and Teledyne FLIR Surveillance.
