Horizon Properties

Horizon Properties Announces Hilton Hotel Relationship

Horizon Properties

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Horizon Properties, through its affiliate Horizon Hospitality, announced today that the Hilton Hotel Franchise of Hampton Inn & Suites will be the flag at its first hotel project on Racetrack Road in Washington County and at the Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort in Blairsville, Pa.

Rod Piatt, the original developer of Southpointe and whose Horizon Properties is developing Southpointe II along with the Washington County Authority, stated that “ we are very excited to announce the relationship with the Hilton Hotels Hampton Inn & Suites for our two hotel projects. We always believed that Racetrack Road was the next growth corridor in the region and that was the driving force for the development of the Meadowpointe I and II office buildings. Having the hotel directly in front of the Meadows Race Track provides a high opportunity for success. The Racetrack Road Hampton will consist of 107 rooms of which 40% will be suites; the hotel will be under construction in July 2006 with a completion date of May 2007.

Our hotel opportunity at Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort allows Horizon Hospitality Group to participate in the expanding economic region along Route 22 in Indiana County. The Chestnut Ridge Hampton will have 93 rooms and will be under construction in July 2006 with a completion date of May 2007.

Horizon Hospitality is currently developing four other hotel projects in the tri-state area including an extended stay hotel at Southpointe II.

Horizon Properties vision for Southpointe II validated in Las Vegas

Horizon Properties

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Southpointe-Canonsburg, PA—June 1, 2006 – Horizon Properties reconfirmed today its plans to develop a retail life style center at Southpointe II. This style of open-air retail shopping was the theme at the 2006 International Council on Shopping Centers (ICSC) spring convention, recently held in Las Vegas. Horizon Properties’ Master Plan for Southpointe II was unanimously adopted by the Governor’s task force in recent years and includes over 500,000 square feet of retail shopping, movie theater, grocery, and other specialty retail stores.

Mike Swisher, Principal of Horizon Properties, stated, “There has been much said about creating housing and retail in downtown Pittsburgh. However, the real story sweeping the county is that people want the sense of place created in the suburban neighborhoods and that is what we are going to create at Southpointe. A place where people in the South Hills and Washington County can go to shop, recreate, be entertained and experience a complete lifestyle without having to drive over bridges and through tunnels to get to out of the way places and congested retail centers.”

Horizon Properties has worked closely with the Washington County Authority to create the finishing touches on a one of a kind development like Southpointe. The creation of the retail lifestyle center will truly make Southpointe the most successful and unique commercial park in the state.

Southpointe, when complete, will have over 3.5 million square feet of office space, including its last success that being the attraction of Consol Energy to its long list of successful companies choosing Southpointe as their home.

Rod Piatt, CEO of Horizon Properties, stated that the Southpointe’s Vision Plan was presented to Consol’s executives two years ago and we are delighted that they believe in the vision we set forth. The environment we are creating at Southpointe II is exactly what Consol wants for their employees and customers. We are just happy we were able to have them as our lead company at Southpointe.

Racetrack Road Hotel

Horizon Properties

Friday, December 09, 2005

Canonsburg, PA—Monday December 19, 2005 – Horizon Properties announced today that they plan to develop a limited service hotel complex on Racetrack Road in North Strabane Township. The project will be the final phase of the Meadow Pointe project developed by Horizon Properties. Meadow Pointe consists of two separate 43,000 sq ft buildings adjacent to the Meadows Racetrack, which will soon house the regions first slot casino venue. The hotel will consist of 86 suite rooms and will be part of a prominent national franchise system. Rod Piatt, President of Horizon Properties, states that this will be the first of four hotel projects that Horizon Properties will undertake in 2006. The other projects will be located in Southpointe II, Allegheny County and Blairsville, Pa.

The hotel site will front on Racetrack Road near the I-79 interchange and will be under construction by March 2006 with an expected opening of March 2007. General Industries of Charleroi, Pa will be the general contractor.

Southpointe II Ground Breaking

Horizon Properties

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Southpointe-Canonsburg, PA—Friday, December 16, 2005 – Ground-breaking ceremonies were held today at Southpointe II. The 217 acre mixed use development in Canonsburg, PA that is an extension of the highly successful Southpointe project.

Horizon Properties, along with the Washington County Authority, broke ground on the first building at Southpointe II, a 63,000 square foot; three-story building that will house USG Insurance Services, Inc. USG has ten offices throughout the United States and employees over 40 people. Local employment is scheduled to grow from 40 to 150 over the next three years.

Horizon Properties was the successful developer working with the Western Center Task Force to create the Vision Plan for Southpointe II. Rod Piatt, President of Horizon Properties, stated that “ today’s announcement was the culmination of the focus and dedicated efforts of the Washington County Authority Board, the Washington County Commissioners and Cecil Township officials to bring about this significant economic development plan for the region.

This is the first of many new office buildings to be developed at Southpointe II and is being designed by Astorino Architects and constructed by General Industries of Charleroi, Pa.
The building is scheduled to be completed by October, 2006 with USG Insurance Services, Inc. occupying 21,000 square feet. They are scheduled to take occupancy in October 2006.

Southpointe II Press Release

Horizon Properties

Monday, October 10, 2005

PRESS RELEASE HORIZON PROPERTIES SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 Horizon Properties and the Washington County Authority jointly announced today that the Washington County Authority has approved the sale of Parcel 10 to Horizon Properties for the development of a 60,000 Class A office building at Southpointe II. This is the initial development phase of this significant mixed use development project that will include office, retail shops, restaurants, education, cultural district and residential housing in a traditional neighborhood setting. This lifestyle project will compliment the highly acclaimed and successful Southpointe project that has created over 6,000 jobs and over $250 million dollars of private investment in Washington County. This initial building is part of a three building 175,000 square foot complex that is next to the proposed retail shopping district. Horizon will be announcing the tenants for the two additional buildings at a later date. Horizon announced that the anchor tenant for the building will be USG Insurance who will be relocating from Manor Oak in Greentree. USG Insurance has enjoyed strong growth since the company was founded by Gerald and Susan Horton in 2000. Since that time USG, which specializes in the excess and surplus insurance sector, has grown from 27 employees to 163 employees and 10 offices throughout the U.S. Tim Horton, the executive Vice President and General Manager of the flagship Pittsburgh office said the Southpointe office will grow from 45 employees to 100 employees by 2008 and a projection of 100 to 150 by 2010. USG is slated to occupy the new facility in the fall of 2006 and will likely have an ownership position in the building. Horizon Properties has listed 30,000 square feet as available for lease in this building by other potential tenants. Rod Piatt, Principal of Horizon Properties, stated that the building will be a dramatic addition to the Southpointe community and will set the standard for the type of buildings that will be developed at Southpointe II. “Our goal was to set the bar high and offer cutting edge architecture in a spectacular setting next to the proposed retail shopping district. We are pleased with the design that Astorino has conceived and are confident that we will create a very desirable business address at Southpointe II. We have worked very hard over the past several years on the planning for Southpointe II and are pleased to initiate the development of the first building in conjunction with the tremendous efforts of the Washington County Authority” Piatt added. Horizon Properties is a full service real estate development company with extensive experience in the development of office buildings and corporate headquarter facilities. The company is headed by Rod L. Piatt who is one of the key individuals responsible for the successful development of Southpointe. He was instrumental in overseeing the development of Southpointe from conception in 1984, through the excavation of the first shovel of earth in 1991 and ultimately the successful development of several key components of Southpointe including the Southpointe Golf Club. The Horizon Properties team includes Michael Swisher who was responsible for the master planning of Southpointe while serving as Vice President of the international planning firm of Team Plan Inc. of West Palm Beach, Florida. Collectively, they initially developed all residential areas of Southpointe, conceptually planned the Pittsburgh Penguin’s Iceoplex, and have developed over 500,000 square feet of commercial space since 1993. For information on this project or leasing information please contact Rod Piatt or Mike Swisher at (724) 743-7722.

Demolition pact OK'd for Southpointe II Site

Observer-Reporter

Friday, February 11, 2005

BY BARBARA S. MILLER, Staff writer
bmiller@observer-reporter.com

Except for the snow cover, Western Center looks pretty much the same now as it did last summer when the state Department of General Services sold the 221-acre tract to Washington County for $2 million.
But change is in the wind, and it isn't just the change of seasons.
"You'll see some action at the site pretty soon," said William Sember, director of operations for Washington County Authority, which is developing the site with Horizon Properties.
Sember appeared before Commonwealth Financing Authority last month in Harrisburg, the first step in obtaining a $1.5 million grant and a $2 million loan at 2 percent interest for 20 years from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Both the grant and loan will be used for infrastructure not previously needed when the land was part of a state school and hospital for the mentally retarded.
Stores, about 300 homes, a movie theater and a year-round open-air market are planned for Southpointe II, which the county and Horizon are billing as a "lifestyle center" that will complement the original Southpointe business and residential park.
Rod Piatt, president of Horizon, said there has been a trend in the past five to 10 years toward outdoor shopping venues with on-street parking and parking lots rather than large, regional malls. The residential portion will have "walkable neighborhoods."
The Southpointe II project was one of seven applications being considered by the financing authority, and Sember said he attended the meeting in Harrisburg to answer any questions the panel might have about the project.
On Wednesday, the board of the county authority voted to pay Strategic Consulting about $14,600 for its preparation of the grant application submitted through the "Business in Our Sites" program.
The board also voted unanimously voted to award a contract Wednesday for the demolition of 13 buildings at the former Western Center.
Low bidder was Titan Wrecking of Kenmore, N.Y., which will do the job for $1,475,150. The board unanimously awarded the contract to Titan contingent on a final review and completion of paperwork, including performance bonds.
Once the contract is signed, Titan will have 105 days to complete its work. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a $1,000-per-day fine.
Construction equipment will continue to use the Western Center bridge, but eventually a single bridge will serve both Southpointe developments.
Sember also informed the board that Kimball Engineering will be designing a widened Southpointe bridge, which is owned by the county, over Chartiers Creek to accommodate traffic to be generated by the Southpointe II project.
Southpointe was built on the farmland that was used to grow crops and as pasture for dairy cows providing food and milk to residents of Western State School and Hospital, and its predecessor, Morganza, a home for delinquent boys.
When the state began purchasing food in bulk, state institutions no longer operated the farms, so the county developed the idle land as Southpointe while Western Center continued to operate.
The center closed in 2000, and last year, the state sold the land to the county for the 221-acre Southpointe II development.
Western Center and Southpointe have had separate bridges connecting them to Morganza Road, but a single, yet wider bridge and a wider Southpointe Boulevard will be the entrance to both tracts.
The bridge to Western Center will either be torn down or be deeded to Canonsburg-Houston Joint Authority, which operates a sewage treatment plant along Chartiers Creek.

Washington County plans Southpointe II in 3 phases

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Thursday, October 28, 2004

By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A former institution for the mentally retarded would be transformed into a new-age development with commercial buildings, various types of housing, boutiques, a cultural center and a cinema, according to plans unveiled yesterday in Washington County.
Officials cast the project as something like a shining city on a hill, actually a mixed-use development to be built on three plateaus. The 225-acre complex on the grounds of Western Center in Cecil will be called Southpointe II and is expected to draw about $200 million in private investment.
A hotel and 11 commercial buildings would border Southpointe, the residential and business park the county formed in the 1980s with about 600 acres of Western Center land. But the new development would offer greater amenities than the original.
"You're really seeing the future of Washington County," said state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville.
Beyond the band of commercial buildings on the first plateau would be a town center complex with shops, some with offices and apartments on upper floors. Officials predicted that the retail area, with tree-lined thoroughfares designed to accommodate pedestrians, would attract upscale boutiques, trendy restaurants offering outdoor dining and maybe a farmers market.
Western Center's historic administration building would be converted into a cultural center, and officials said programs there would give Southpointe II a sense of community missing from many suburban neighborhoods.
On the third and highest plateau, within walking distance of the retail sector yet sheltered from the traffic, officials envision a band of 200 or more townhouses and single-family homes.
"I'm as proud today with the birth of this project as I was when all my children and grandchildren were born," Stout said.
But he joked about the unusually long gestation period. In 1998, then-Gov. Tom Ridge appointed Stout and County Commissioner Diana L. Irey leaders of a task force to recommend new uses for the prime real estate.
The Southpointe II master plan, developed by Horizon Properties of Southpointe with assistance of the Dorsky Hodgson & Partners architectural firm of Cleveland, grew out of the task force's work.
Rod Piatt, principal in Horizon Properties, is owner of Southpointe Golf Club and some of Southpointe's commercial buildings. His father, Jack Piatt, was Southpointe's lead developer.
Horizon previously announced general plans for a development that would include office buildings, shops and housing. The plan unveiled yesterday was described as a more detailed framework for development.
"It certainly will supplement and enhance Southpointe," County Commissioner Larry Maggi said.
The county bought the 225 acres from the state for $2 million, to be paid over 10 years without interest. The commissioners turned the property over to the Washington County Authority for development but retained oversight responsibilities.
Bill Sember, authority operations director, said the first contracts for infrastructure work may be let in January. He said he has $1 million from the state and $2 million from the federal government for work on the first 80 acres.
Sember said a number of developers likely would have pieces of the project. He said companies already have committed to two of the commercial parcels; he did not identify them.
Brett Kratzer, a representative of Dorsky Hodgson, said the town center and walkable neighborhoods were designed to re-create the sense of community that's gone by the wayside in an era of suburban sprawl and superstores.
Some described the plan as merging the charm of Shadyside and the amenities of the Waterfront development in Homestead.
A couple dozen economic development leaders, government officials and business leaders packed Southpointe Golf Club to learn about the master plan.
"I know with the power of God and the power in this room, we'll move forward," Cecil Supervisor Ben "B.C." Coleman said.

Five Minutes With: Rod Piatt

Pittsburgh Business Times

Friday, January 04, 2008

Rod Piatt, president of Cecil-based Horizon Properties LLC, recently won a deal to develop a new headquarters for Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. in Findlay Township near Pittsburgh International Airport. Piatt's company also is the master developer of Southpointe II in Cecil, Washington County, and is working on other projects throughout the region.

What are the details of the deal with Dick's Sporting Goods?
We would do the development of the project and enter into a long-term lease with Dick's Sporting Goods. The project that has received preliminary approval from Findlay Township is a 670,000-square-foot headquarters facility. It is basically one large connected building, but there's several wings to it. And that all sits on 116 acres of property that will be leased from the (Allegheny County) Airport Authority.

The Dick's site is part of the North Field site that the Airport Authority has hoped to develop into a major business park. Will Horizon be involved in future phases there?
We're always out there looking at opportunities, and certainly this project is a real catalyst for what happens out there. And I would expect that there will be continued growth in that area. And if there is, Horizon will certainly keep their eyes out for additional opportunities.

Horizon is obviously involved heavily in Southpointe II. What other future projects are you scouting?
We're pretty actively involved in Greene County, (specifically) the Evergreene Technology Park, which is a very exciting project for Greene County because of its fiber-optic connectivity to (the University of Pittsburgh) and (Carnegie Mellon University).

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/01/07/focus4.html

$12M 130-room Cambria Suites Hotel planned for mixed-use Southpointe II

Pop City

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

A new 130-room Cambria Suites Hotel is in the works for Southpointe
II in Canonsburg. The 120,000-square-foot hotel, which is being developed by Horizon Properties, LLC, will be located 15 miles south of Downtown Pittsburgh.

With more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space, the $12 million Cambria Suites will serve several Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Southpointe, as well as 150 businesses with a presence in Washington County. The five-story hotel will also feature Reflect, a casual dining area with a full-service coffee bar and breakfast and dinner menus. In addition, the hotel will house Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a resort-style indoor pool and spa and Refill, a 24-hour convenience specializing in gourmet and organic foods.

â€œThe concept of the lifestyle hotel is sweeping the country. Itâ€™s a step up from the standard limited service hotel. You can get a moderately priced hotel environment with full-service amenities and a wide range of food and beverage offerings," says Rod Piatt, with Horizon Properties, who is also developing a 123-room Hilton Homewood Suites at Southpointe II. "With it being integrated into our retail lifetstyle center, we think itâ€™s a perfect fit for what weâ€™re trying to attract."

The contemporary hotelâ€”a new concept for Choice Hotelsâ€”marks the brandâ€™s entrÃ©e into the greater Pittsburgh market, and is part of the development's goal to provide short-term corporate lodging, as well as extended stay options for regional visitors.

The Cambria Suites Hotel will open during the summer of 2009, in conjunction with the opening of the 500,000-square-foot Southpointe II retail, office and residential development.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Rod Piatt, Horizon Properties Group

Image courtesy Horizon Properties