Where
Lower Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When
After the Penguins win the Stanley Cup three more times.
Who
Go figure.
What
Park over the highway.
Why
Beats me.
Come Live Over Hill
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About the author
2 comments
Lower Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
After the Penguins win the Stanley Cup three more times.
Go figure.
Park over the highway.
Beats me.
About the author
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DISTRICT 6 APRIL E-NEWSLETTER
LOWER HILL DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
After years of planning and negotiations, the team that was assembled to work on the development of the Lower Hill site is poised to begin construction in the fall of 2019 and spring of 2020. Work is also expected to commence on the park over the crosstown expressway, which will link the Hill to Downtown, in the summer of this year.
The team put together to work on the housing component of the project is Intergen, a minority-owned developer led by KBK Enterprises. In the first phase of the project, about 274 units of housing are scheduled to be built, followed by 250 units in the second phase. 20% of those units will be designated as affordable housing.
In addition to housing, Buccini/Pollin Group, a real estate company based out of Delaware, will develop office space and other commercial aspects, including a 50,000 square-foot music venue and food hall. This work is expected to begin following the start of and in parallel with the construction of the housing component of the project.
As of right now the end goal for the redevelopment of the Hill calls for up to 1,420 units of housing, 810,000 square feet of office space, 190,000 square feet of retail, 50,000 square feet of entertainment, and a 220 room hotel. It is expected to produce more than $750 million in private investement, generate 4,000 construction and 3,000 permanent jobs, and raise about $25 million in annual state and local taxes.
After a long road, with the start of the redevelopment on the horizon, Councilman Lavelle expressed his enthusiasm and hopes for the project, with its potential to spur opportunity and economic activity in the Greater Hill District and beyond.
“I believe we are now poised to realize the great potential of the redevelopment of the Lower Hill District,” the Councilman recently stated after announcement of the development timelines. “Not only will we be able to physically reconnect the Lower Hill to downtown, but more importantly, there is now a team in place that understands and prioritizes the social and economic reconnection of the two communities. We are now in a place to realize the goals and objectives of the Community Collaboration and Implementation Plan. I look forward to working with PAR, Buccini/Pollin Group and Intergen moving forward.”
BUS RAPID TRANSIT UPDATE
The Bus Rapid Transit is a project being coordinated by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in cooperation with the Port Authority of Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. It will establish a bus line that will run between Oakland and Downtown, connecting two of the largest business districts in Pennsylvania.
All 61 and 71 buses will be included in the initiative. They will feature modern fixtures such as diesel-alternatives and more. The BRT will include bus stops on 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, turning around on Liberty. Additionally, each station will be equipped with real time bus location information and fare payment options.
The project’s estimated cost is $195 million with construction scheduled to begin in late 2019 if the program is awarded federal funding. The goal of the BRT is to improve travel times, offer more reliable service, have better on time performance, decrease bus bunching, and operate with cost savings. With a scheduled opening date of 2021, the BRT will streamline commuting while bettering Downtown Pittsburgh.