At the crossroads of the city and region, the Lower Hill Redevelopment is a mixed-use destination filled with vibrant places to work, live, celebrate and play. The vision calls for a dynamic and seamless development that connects north, south, east and west through activated green spaces, pedestrian friendly retail corridors and multi-modal, urban environments. The project's welcoming open spaces will support festivals and large-scale celebrations as well as smaller gatherings and community events. A linear parkland will extend through the neighborhood, anchoring activity across the 28 acres and redefining Wylie Avenue as a pedestrian corridor. A diverse mix of program uses and building scales express a unique and authentic Pittsburgh character, supported by numerous entertainment venues and a lively year-round streetscape experience. From Freedom Corner to the new CAP park connector to the downtown, Lower Hill Redevelopment will attract visitors near and far to a center of energy featuring culture, commerce, and celebration.

Groundbreaking Held for FNB Financial Center and Lower Hill Redevelopment

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​PITTSBURGH, PA (September 1, 2021) F.N.B. Corporation (FNB), the Pittsburgh Penguins, Clay Cove Capital and The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) today joined members of the Historic Hill District community and elected officials to break ground on FNB Financial Center, the 26-story mixed-use tower that will kick-start the redevelopment of the historic Pittsburgh neighborhood and serve as the corporate headquarters of FNB, the parent company of First National Bank.
 
With more than 150 years of service to western Pennsylvania, construction of FNB Financial Center further marks FNB as one of the greatest drivers of Pittsburgh’s revitalization through its commitment to raising the quality of life for all in the region. The tower is expected to generate 1,250 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs and $40 million in investments in the Middle and Upper Hill District. It will contain more than 475,000 square feet of Class A office space, consolidate the company’s regional headquarters operations and include open space and terraces for community events at the adjacent Plaza at FNB Financial Center.

Read more here

IN THE NEWS​

Penguins Development Team Report Dollar Value of Minority Contracting So Far at Lower Hill Redevelopment
March 2022 / The Business Journals
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Penguins Plan Summer Construction Start for Music Venue at Former Arena Site
March 2022 / Pittsburgh Post Gazette

FNB, Penguins set to break ground — finally — on first development at former Civic Arena site 
September 2021 / Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Can A Demolished Neighborhood Build Back Better?
June 2021 / Bloomberg

Former Civic Arena site in Lower Hill gets key approvals for $230-million redevelopment
​June 2021 / Pittsburgh Post Gazette

First Source Employment Opportunity Center Opens In Lower Hill District
June 2021 / KDKA CBS Local Pittsburgh 

Lower Hill First Source Employment Opportunity Center opens
June 2021 / KDKA CBS Local Pittsburgh
You won't want to miss this!
The Lower Hill District
News & Updates
July 2022
Summer, Summer, Summer Time! 

The sun is blazing, the tower crane is hot and the concrete climber in the Lower Hill Redevelopment Site is steadily building up the core of the First National Bank Financial Center and it’s all so inspiring! Finally, we are able to see much more than surface parking lots, giant piles of dirt and bulldozers, we are seeing our goals, promises and plans come to fruition.

Like the seniors in the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education Program, we have graduated! We are steadily expanding our commitments and payments to minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs). The Lower Hill First Source Center Job Fair and Open House was a major success. After delivering over $7 million of LERTA funding directly to the Historic Hill District last Fall for community use on housing, development, programming and more in the neighborhood, we are working on the next round of LERTA funding for the community.

With the Community Collaboration and Implementation Plan as our guide, we have the best reinvestment program in the nation and we are not too shy to say it! There is so much to report, from our recent Industry Award to our gifts to CTE Seniors to our our celebration of Juneteenth and the August Wilson Block Party, we are having a blast this Summer as we get ready to break ground later this year on the Block E mixed-use project with parking, entertainment, retail and much more.

We are showing up and showing out this Summer on all of the work we have done to get to this point!
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
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Development Project Coordinator

The Buccini/Pollin's Lower Hill Redevelopment Team is searching for a Development Project Coordinator with a great skill set! Are you detail oriented? Love charts, forms and reports? An excellent writer?

Then this may be the job for you! Please see the job description and how to apply by clicking the button below!
Lower Hill Team Kicks Off Open Space Call for Artists
The Lower Hill Redevelopment team seeks to commission artworks for the first phase of the Lower Hill, as part of its Open Space Arts Program. The artworks will complement the initial phases of public open spaces across Washington Place from the newly-opened Frankie Mae Pace Park and are an important element of the team’s reinvestment in Historic Hill District cultural and legacy initiatives. Artists will have an opportunity to submit proposals over the coming months for areas of the Lower Hill site that will open in the Winter of 2023.
VIRTUAL INFO SESSION | JULY 28, 2022 | 6 PM

All submissions must be turned in no later than August 8th at 11:59 PM. Click 'Read more' for event details and the application link.

Read more
www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
RECENT NEWS
FNB’s Closing Cost Assistance Program Boosts Home Ownership Initiatives
Lower Hill partner and anchor tenant First National Bank (FNB) recently increased its Closing Cost Assistance Grant to $5,000. To address a common financial barrier to home ownership, FNB expanded its closing cost assistance program in urban markets. In doing so, FNB is advancing its commitment to borrowers who have low or moderate income or who are purchasing a home in a low- to moderate-income (LMI) community. 

The Closing Cost Assistance Grant further builds on FNB’s overarching focus on promoting economic equality since the majority of the LMI areas where it is available include historically underserved minority communities.
Pittsburgh’s Equal Opportunity Review Commission Approves the Next Phase of Commercial Development on the Lower Hill

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, the Lower Hill team presented its plans to engage minority- and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) in the design, construction and operations of the mixed-use project on Block E to the Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) for the City of Pittsburgh. The Commission also received an update on M/WBE inclusion in the under-construction FNB Financial Center project, where over $42 million in construction contracts has been committed to M/WBEs. 

The Commission approved these plans for Block E. The Block E project, previously approved by the URA and SEA in 2019, is advancing later this year after delays related to the pandemic. The $100 million+ project will deliver much-needed public parking infrastructure and a vibrant entertainment venue along Wylie Avenue – in the center of the Lower Hill District – along with continued reinvestment across the Middle and Upper Hill.  

Stay tuned for upcoming Block E information sessions from the Development Team and diversity consultant eHoldings.
The First Source Center Celebrates Year Anniversary!
It's almost hard to believe but the Lower Hill First Source Center just passed its One Year Anniversary! We held a Grand Opening celebration last June after the center was built out using 100% M/WBE contractors and specifically African American contractors. The opening celebration featured members of the Historic Hill District community, elected officials, business owners and operators and a joyous Lower Hill Team!

Despite opening during the pandemic, the First Source Center has momentum across its workforce development initiatives and some solid accomplishments to date in training, recruiting and job placement into family-sustaining careers in fields such as construction, operations and hospitality. Learn more about the FSC by downloading the brochure and please fill out the intake form if you wish to take advantage of these opportunities or know someone who should.

Lower Hill Artist Meetup at Frankie Mae Pace Park

The Lower Hill Team welcomed artists to Frankie Mae Pace Park on Saturday, July 9, for the in-person, Artists Meetup in response to our Call for Artists. The M Robinson Group, originally from the Historic Hill District, served as the event planner.

Read more
www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
The CTE Program - An Award Winning Partnership!
Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis of BPG Receives Partnership Award

"It was a great day for the Lower Hill District! Forming a partnership with the CTE Program is something David Morehouse had always wanted to do and had mentioned to State Representative, Jake Wheatley, many years ago."

Read more
www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
On May 5, the Pittsburgh Public School's Career and Technical Education (PPS-CTE) Program held its graduation for Seniors. It was a beautiful event honoring all of the young people who have stayed committed to the CTE process. Their teachers, parents, mentors and representatives of their future career paths (be it the Carpenter’s Apprenticeship Program or LaRoche College), were all in attendance. 

At the beginning of the program, the Pittsburgh Penguins' David Morehouse and The Buccini/Pollin Group’s Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis were both honored with an Industry Partnership Award. Morehouse’s vision for building strong connections between the Lower Hill Redevelopment and students in the CTE program along with Dr. Ellis’ diligence in delivering initial programming elements to build toward that vision were acknowledged during the ceremony.  
CTE "Career Exploration Day" at PPG Paints Arena

Thursday April 28th, 2022 the Lower Hill Redevelopment Team kicked off a partnership with Pittsburgh Public School's Career Technical Education program at PPG Paints Arena.

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www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
Welcome Denna Zenmon, First Source Center Street Team Lead

Denna Zenmon joins the Lower Hill's First Source Center Street Team! As a Team Lead, she adds to a career crafted around supporting and uplifting others - traits mirrored for her in her youth as she observed her mother, as well as her community,...

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www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
The "I Am So Hill" Block Party

The "I Am So Hill" Block Party on Saturday, July 9, was a childhood memory-filled experience. It was created by Historic Hill Resident, Renarda Walker, who lived in public housing but always experienced a sense of community in her neighborhood.

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www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
Street Team Kicks off Summer at August Wilson Block Party

The Lower Hill Street Team underwent two different trainings during this quarter and we are out and about in the city of Pittsburgh! Our first event for the Summer was tabling at the August Wilson Birthday Block Party.

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www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
Lower Hill Team Marches Joyfully in Juneteenth Parade!

The Pittsburgh Penguins took part in the Grand Jubilee Juneteenth Parade with a beautiful float accompanied by young people from the region and the Penguins' Senior Director of Strategic Community Initiatives, Delvina Morrow.

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www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
The Hill Community Mixer

​On June 14, 2022, District Six City Councilman, Daniel Lavelle, partnered with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to offer a Hill District celebration of the activities happening in the Historic Hill District, particularly around development.

Read more
www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
DIAPER DISTRIBUTION | July 23 | 10 AM - 2 PM
Diaper Distribution | July 23, 2022 | 10AM-2PM

Development partner, First National Bank, will be partnering with Carnegie Library for a Diaper & Book distribution on Saturday, July 23 from 10 am - 2 pm CLP - Hill District, Central Baptist Church’s lower parking lot.

Read more
www.lowerhillredevelopment.com
AUGUST WILSON HOUSE
August Wilson's JITNEY | Friday, August 12 - Sunday, September 18
Directed by Mark Clayton Southers, August Wilson’s Jitney is a compelling drama which depicts the lives of the drivers at a jitney cab station in the Hill District in 1977. This is an outdoor production at August Wilson House, 1727 Bedford Avenue in the Lower Hill.
August 12th-September 18th, Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM, and Sunday at 5 PM
For more info: August Wilson House
August Wilson Grand Opening | Saturday August 13, 2022
For more info: August Wilson House
Questions, Comments or Content Suggestions? Send us your feedback at LowerHillOpportunities@bpgroup.net. We will do our best to answer quickly and accurately. Your question may just be featured in our next newsletter!