LOWER HILL REDEVELOPMENT

Pittsburgh, August 10, 2023 –  The Lower Hill Redevelopment Project team members hosted a community conversation with residents and stakeholders in the Lower Hill District at the Energy Innovation Center to discuss – and community members to ask questions about – the development.

Topics included the FNB Financial Center on Block G; the live music venue and garage on Block E; the Curtain Call public art project on Block A; an update on plans for housing on Block B, however, the most exciting announcement came in the form of a new opportunity made available to homeowners in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. The URA plans to use $465,000 from the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund to launch a grant program for homeowners to receive up to $20,000 to cover the cost of home repairs. The cash being used for the grant program is part of a $7.1 million contribution by the Lower Hill Redevelopment team made back in September 2021 that went into the fund. This marks the first time Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund money will be available directly to Hill District residents.

The Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund takes diverted tax revenues from the Lower Hill redevelopment project — which is set to include a new live music venue, public safety station and other amenities — and provides funding for community needs throughout the Hill District. Its board is comprised of 12 Hill District community stakeholders.​​

For questions call 412-676-7550 voicemail system (calls will be returned within 48 hours) or email: hillrepair@ura.org
 
Mail Paper Applications to: 
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
Residential Lending & Investments
412 Boulevard of the Allies, Suite 901
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - People living in the Lower Hill District will soon start to see direct investment in the neighborhood from those leading the redevelopment of the former Civic Arena site.

Folks living throughout the Greater Hill have wondered how the Lower Hill redevelopment at the site of the former Civic Arena could help them.
Many tell KDKA, a vote on Thursday is a step in the right direction.
"We don't want it to be like Homestead when they built the Waterfront," said Dorian Moorefield, who lives and owns a business in the Hill District.

Moorefield went to the Energy Innovation Center with an open mind to learn more about future Lower Hill redevelopment projects. He lives in the Lower Hill and owns a business in the neighborhood, but has concerns.

"The people who live in the top of Homestead never benefited from that in regards to housing and funding and upgrades and things like that," he added.

Members of the public were invited to weigh in on the projects at the site of the former Civic Arena, which includes a music venue, multi-level garage, space for local businesses, and affordable housing.

But they also learned just hours earlier the Urban Redevelopment Authority unanimously approved a $465,000 fund for homeowners in the Hill District.
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"This is for the people in the older houses who need a roof fixed, who need plastering done, who need a new door, who need handicap accessible entries," says Dr. Kimberly Ellis, director of community, arts, and culture for the Buccini/Pollin Group.

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