$600 million investment set to revitalize downtown Pittsburgh

Steel City’s downtown is set to get a huge boost thanks to an investment of over a half a billion dollars.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is announcing a historic collaborative initiative poised to transform Downtown Pittsburgh over the next decade. This announcement includes a nearly $600 million investment from the state to reimagine downtown’s core.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will spearhead this ambitious plan to rejuvenate Pittsburgh’s downtown and Golden Triangle, the city’s business district. Developed in collaboration with several public and private partners, the strategic plan will coordinate the next 10 years of transformative projects that will boost economic growth, create thousands of jobs and ensure Pittsburgh remains a hub for innovation and culture.

To kickstart investments for the Downtown Pittsburgh Revitalization plan, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will contribute $62.6 million to the initiative, including state grant funds, loan financing and low-income housing tax credits. The City of Pittsburgh will also invest $22.1 million through the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Garnering support from a diverse coalition of public and private partners, the plan will secure over $40 million from private sector leaders, professional sports teams and regional foundations, which is expected to pave the way for an additional $376.9 million in private sector investments.

Over the next 10 years, the Downtown Pittsburgh Revitalization plan will tackle a variety of locally developed projects, including mixed-used and residential developments, public space rejuvenations and clean, safe and culturally vibrant initiatives.

The plan will feature seven major mixed-use conversion, construction and improvement projects. Investing more than $500 million into these developments, DCED anticipates these projects will add nearly 1,000 residential units to preserve downtown’s core.

The seven mixed-used residential projects include:

The Gulf Tower building will be repurposed into a 225-unit apartment building and 147-room hotel. The building will also feature street-level commercial space and 24 affordable housing units.

The structure on 933 Penn Avenue will be converted from an office to a residential building, featuring a 70-unit apartment complex with commercial space.

The Porter office building on 601 Grant Street will be transformed into a 165-unit residential building and commercial space.

The City Club Apartment Complex will be constructed at the site of the former YWCA headquarters. The new building will feature 294 units and street-level restaurant and retail space.

The office space on 4 Smithfield Street will be converted into a new 46-unit apartment building. The Smithfield Lofts project will also make renovations to the remaining office space.

100 First Avenue will be repurposed into First and Market, a 93-unit affordable apartment building. Notably, this project is already entirely funded.

The May Building will preserve 86 existing units at 111 5th Avenue. Of those, 54 will be affordable units.

The revitalization plan also emphasizes the enhancement of public spaces in downtown Pittsburgh. It will feature three major public space projects that represent $85 million in downtown capital expenditure. These projects are designed to spur economic growth, encourage more business and improve public spaces for visitors to enjoy.

The Downtown Pittsburgh Revitalization strategy’s three public space projects include:

The 8th Street Block project will dedicate $30 million to repurpose underutilized parking lots in the cultural district into a new civic space. The project, led by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will include a green open lawn with outdoor games, a water play area and an amphitheater for public events.

The Market Square revitalization project will undertake major renovations at Market Square, featuring improved paving, benches and tables for the public space to hold farmers markets and outdoor events.

The Point State Park initiative will utilize $25 million in state funds to conduct a series of short- and long-term rejuvenation projects. As the park prepares for the 2026 NFL Draft, these projects will improve pedestrian access to Point State Park, update lighting at the park’s landmark fountain and add recreational activities.

To ensure that Downtown Pittsburgh remains a clean, safe and vibrant area, the plan includes various initiatives designed to improve community safety and local business support. These efforts will include the hiring of trained co-responders to assist in law enforcement calls involving individuals with mental health challenges, as well as the establishment of a dedicated youth violence intervention team.

In addition to these safety measures, the plan seeks to bolster local businesses through various funding initiatives. With support from companies like Duquesne Light and FNB, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will reopen its small business support programs and enhance efforts to clean up sidewalks and alleyways. This initiative is expected to not only attract more visitors but also encourage them to engage with local shops and restaurants.

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash