Whirl Magazine
Balancing Act
By Carrie Walker
September 2007

The Metropolitan Shadyside exudes all that its name implies: sophisticated city living. Its pale facade, sweeping balconies, and stretching terraces make the newest luxury condominium residences look like a sumptuous resort. For this venture, real estate powerhouse Howard Hanna has partnered with real estate management and development company Walnut Capital and Astorino.

The project has struck a balance between aristocratic city living and the relaxation of a lush outdoor retreat. It’s an oasis that escapes the city and makes use of every inch of land. The inviting benches and plush grass are accessible from the building's balconies and terraces.

Four distinct floor plans range from approximately 1,750 square feet to 5,000 square feet, yet each of the six-story building's condos have different structural features. Some have an 84-square-foot balcony where residents can sit and overlook blooming gardens, while other s have 715 square feet of terrace space with a bird's eye view of their own putting green. And though some new residences are moving into the condos as they were designed - with marble baths, polished granite countertops, and Jenn-Air appliances – some are exercising their right to change their mind and their new home by calling in the help of interior decorators or the onsite design teams.

“What is so distinct about the Metropolitan is that you have people moving in just as-is, but there is a distinct level of customization,” says Walnut Capital principal and CEO Gregg Perelman. And the development is addressing the needs of its new tenants by including attributes characteristic to condominium living. “This has really been a serendipitous project for us,” says Howard Hanna agent Roz Neiman. “There’s nothing that they didn’t include here.” The common areas alone are fully outfitted: Residents have access to a fitness room with a pool and personal training room, a library stocked with worldly art books, and a wine cellar with temperature-controlled lockers. Two guest suites are equipped with comforts such as flat-screen televisions and full kitchens. But Neiman’s favorite extra? The valet parking? The catering kitchen? “I love the spot at the mail center designed for junk mail,” she says.

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