Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced today that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the development of scattered sites, including City, URA, and Pittsburgh Parking Authority owned properties, in the City’s neighborhoods of Homewood and North Point Breeze, Larimer, and East Liberty, pending authorization from the URA Board of Directors. The development of these properties will expand East Liberty’s renewal into abutting neighborhoods and provide quality affordable and mixed-income housing opportunities, new business development prospects, and create new green spaces. The Board meets this afternoon at 2 p.m.

By aggressively marketing neighborhood properties for new redevelopment opportunities, we are making sure that Pittsburgh’s Third Renaissance expands beyond downtown’s borders,” Ravenstahl said. “From Google to Target, the East End has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. The redevelopment of three more sites will build off of these successes, and expand East End’s revitalization into Homewood and Larimer.”

The three targeted areas include: a site located along North Homewood Avenue on both sides of the East Busway; a site located along East Liberty Boulevard and Larimer Avenue; and the former AAA/Police Investigations building located at 202 Penn Circle West, as well as adjacent surrounding lots owned by the City and Pittsburgh Parking Authority. Over the past three years, the URA has been assembling these properties for redevelopment and working with local community groups to strategize on the best economic development opportunities.  

“These communities have many aspirations and have worked hard to develop planning strategies to reposition their neighborhoods,” said Rob Stephany, URA executive director. “We’re looking for developers who will help these neighborhoods realize their visions.”

In the Homewood/North Point Breeze Corridor, the RFQ for Phase I development calls for mixed-income housing, mixed-used component(s), and potential parking, as reflected in the “Bridging the Busway” study* – a planning effort currently being conducted by the community.

“The Mayor and I announced a few months ago a renewed focus on Homewood. The release of this RFQ, and the community process it represents, is the culmination of three and a half years of hard work and planning,” said Councilman Reverend Burgess. “This is a new and exciting time for Homewood and North Point Breeze.”

In the Larimer neighborhood, the RFQ for Phase I development calls for new, mixed-income rental and/or for-sale housing. Subsequent development for the larger area would include for-sale housing located on properties adjacent to the Phase I site, and establishing a connection along Meadow Street between the Meadow Street Bridge and Larimer Avenue.

“Pittsburgh's Renaissance is unlike any other the City has experienced because it focuses on the City’s neighborhoods,” said Senator Jim Ferlo. “Residents of Larimer have done a tremendous job of empowering themselves around a consensus group, and partnering with us to establish a united community vision. Now it's time for years of effort and dedication to bear fruit, and I'm excited to see what kind of proposals we'll get.”

The East Liberty site calls for mixed-use development.

For all sites, the URA intends to select a developer for Phase I only; however, the URA will entertain working with the developer for future phases if the developer completes his/her plans for Phase I, works in conjunction with the URA to secure site control for future phases, serves as a good community partner, and encompasses values of greening, mixed-use, and mixed-income in its development plans. The RFQs will be posted on the URA’s website at www.ura.org on Friday, July 15. 

 *The “Bridging the Busway” study examines how to connect the South Homewood side of the busway with the North Point Breeze side by developing a mixed-income, mixed-use development on both sides of the busway, including portions of the Lexington Technology site and the vacant land along Homewood Avenue as far north as Hamilton Avenue.