Nearly $600M of investments to help revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh with more housing, public spaces, safety

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday announced nearly $600 million worth of investments in Downtown Pittsburgh will aim to create more housing, revitalize public spaces and improve safety and cleanliness in the Golden Triangle.

“Pittsburgh is a great city, and in order for our Commonwealth to thrive, we need to ensure Downtown Pittsburgh is a hub of innovation, opportunity and culture,” Shapiro said in a statement.

The 10-year strategy officials unveiled Friday focuses on creating more opportunities for people to live Downtown, reinvigorating major public spaces and making the neighborhood cleaner, safer and more culturally vibrant.

The state will invest more than $62.6 million as part of an effort to create in Downtown Pittsburgh a neighborhood that serves as a hub for economic growth and culture. Nearly $600 million as already been committed to shovel-ready projects that are set to be completed by the end of 2028.

The city of Pittsburgh is committing $22.1 million through the Urban Redevelopment Authority, with private sector, nonprofit and development partners adding millions more.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development predicted the plan will create more than 3,500 construction jobs over the next four years.

“Downtown Pittsburgh, like many core urban neighborhoods, was hit hard by the pandemic and has struggled to regain its footing,” Pennsylvania Sen. Jay Costa said. “But by banding together, we have restored our downtown before, and we are prepared to do it again, sparking a new and better era.”

Since the covid-19 pandemic spurred a shift to remote work, Downtown has been plagued by partly empty office buildings and decreasing property values. Officials have outlined a vision to convert empty Downtown offices into housing and revitalize the area as a residential neighborhood.

The revitalization plan includes seven mixed-use development projects that will convert to housing: Gulf Tower, City Club Apartments at the former YWCA headquarters, The Porter, the office complex at 933 Penn Ave., Smithfield Lots Building, and a former office complex at First and Market streets. Eighty-six existing apartments will be preserved at the May Building.

In total, those projects — totaling over $501 million in investments — will create and preserve about 1,000 residential units, as well as street-level commercial space, restaurants and hotel rooms.

Also included in the plan is significant investment to transform public spaces Downtown into areas that will attract residents and visitors.

A $30 million project led by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will convert underutilized parking lots and open space in the Cultural District into an outdoor destination that will host festivals and performances, provide restrooms and offer green space, public art and a family play area.

Another $30 million investment will renovate Market Square and Liberty Avenue Meridians. That initiative will include improving paving, adding benches and tables, expanding dining spaces and creating more space to host events.

The commonwealth is also working to improve pedestrian access to Point State Park, improve lighting at its iconic fountain and add recreation activities to the park’s lawn. At least part of the $25 million investment will be completed ahead of the city hosting the 2026 NFL Draft.

Shapiro’s plan also sees additional investments for small businesses looking to relocate to or expand in the city and a $400,000 grant to create an artist-in-residence program to spearhead events where local artists and musicians can showcase their work.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates are each contributing $1 million to invest in public safety. That will include bringing on board new co-responders to help people suffering from mental illness or drug addiction, a new youth violence intervention team and funding for additional police officers for daytime and evening Downtown patrols.