Downtown Revitalization
Deployed$15M+toward residential conversions to date
Deployed$90Kin grants for outdoor dining initiatives
1,000housing units coming Downtown
Downtown Pittsburgh Today
Downtown Pittsburgh is at a pivotal moment. Like many other downtowns across the nation, we have faltered post-pandemic. While occupying only a one square mile radius in the geographic and emotional heart of southwestern Pennsylvania, the Golden Triangle has an enormous economic, social, cultural and psychological impact on the entire 10-county region. As our most prominent main street, and our region’s calling card, whatever is happening Downtown has ripple effects across the whole 10-county region.
That's why the URA has partnered with leaders and organizations across the city to create a 10-year investment plan to revitalize Downtown.
Our Toolbox
The URA has implemented the following tools as part of the larger vision for Downtown's revitalization.
Downtown LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance) Program
To address the challenges facing Downtown, and stimulate new opportunities in housing and job creation, the URA structured a 10-year Downtown Tax Abatement Program. The Downtown Tax Abatement Program aims to expand the existing City of Pittsburgh LERTA and Enhanced LERTA program, making it accessible across all three taxing bodies. This comprehensive initiative combines a robust local incentive pledge with the Downtown Conversion Program.
Office-to-Residential Conversions
In 2023, the URA launched the pilot Pittsburgh Downtown Conversion Program, designed to stimulate the economic recovery of Downtown Pittsburgh by providing funding to developers for the conversion of vacant and underutilized office buildings into new affordable housing.
URA-funded development pipeline:
- Triangle Building
- First and Market
- May Building
- Smithfield Lofts
- City Club Apartments
- 933 Penn Avenue
- 601 Grant Street
“Downtown is the heart and soul of the entire region, and these conversion projects are a critical piece of making sure that Downtown remains that way for generations to come,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Everyone who works Downtown, should have an opportunity to live Downtown, and as we move to transform historic office space into housing, we must have affordability in mind in order to build a Downtown for all.”
The First & Market office-to-residential conversion will bring 93 units of affordable senior housing to Downtown.
The First & Market office-to-residential conversion will bring 93 units of affordable senior housing to Downtown.
The Triangle Building office-to-residential conversion project
The Triangle Building office-to-residential conversion project
Shapiro Administration press event on October 25, 2024
Outdoor Dining Grants
The URA's Outdoor Dining Grant Program provided grant funding to eligible business-supporting nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, business improvement districts, and chambers of commerce to allocate towards outdoor infrastructure that allows restaurant activity to occur safely outdoors while preventing or mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The URA awarded the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership $90,000 for general improvements outside nine businesses on the Penn Avenue corridor. These grants allowed the businesses to expand their operations footprint to the public right-of-way including outdoor dining on the sidewalk, outdoor dining in the cartway, outdoor cooking, and outdoor retail display.
The program was made possible through a $999,900 American Rescue Plan Act allocation from the City of Pittsburgh.
Check the Heartbeat of Downtown
Explore the IndexPGH dashboard to gain insights into the indicators and how they work together to provide a comprehensive narrative about the well-being and vitality Downtown Pittsburgh.