Downtown Revitalization

The URA is part of a local coalition working to reposition Downtown Pittsburgh as a vibrant, world-class destination with diverse housing options, enhanced public spaces, and improved safety and cleanliness.

Downtown Pittsburgh skyline and Point State Park seen from Mount Washington at dusk

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.

READ INVESTMENT PLAN

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.

APPLY

New users must create an account to submit a Downtown LERTA application.

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 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.

Visit IndexPGH