URA Releases Request for Proposals for Former Carnegie Library in Hazelwood

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 17, 2019) – The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is requesting proposals from developers and/or development teams to purchase and redevelop the site of the former Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Branch, located at 4748 Monongahela Street, as well as several adjacent parcels.

The goal of this RFP is to select a developer who can complete a high-quality, residential, community or special purpose facility as permitted by zoning while preserving the historic character of the former library.

The URA has been working closely with City Councilman Corey O’Connor and members of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative (GHCC) to develop this RFP.

“The community, City, and URA are dedicated to preserving one of Pittsburgh’s first Carnegie Libraries,” said Councilman O’Connor. “We have a unique opportunity to bring a new use to a building that has been vacant for many years while investing in a historic asset.”

The library was designated as a Local Historic Landmark in 2004. Any proposed redevelopment project should also be reflective of the concepts and principles contained in the community’s neighborhood plan, the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan - also known as Greater Hazelwood: Our Hands. Our Plan., which is nearing completion.

This plan, led by the GHCC and the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning, will provide goals, policies and programs, and implementation tools to help guide future growth, protect neighborhood character, create new economic opportunity, and enhance the quality of life for all who live, work, visit, and invest in Greater Hazelwood.

The draft plan was unveiled to the community last night for feedback and can be found here. The final plan is expected to be released in fall 2019.

The full RFP can be found here. Responses are due Monday, December 16, 2019. Interested developers should plan to attend the site tours as described in the RFP.

The URA uses Public Purchase, a web-based e-Procurement service for the automatic notification and transmittal of RFPs, RFQs, and bid opportunities at no charge to vendors. All parties interested in responding to this RFP or receiving notifications when the URA releases an opportunity must register with Public Purchase and then register with the URA. Instructions for the two-step registration process can be found here. All questions regarding this RFP should be submitted through Public Purchase.