Spotlight On: Jeremy Waldrup, CEO, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
Key points:
- • Public and private investment is accelerating Downtown Pittsburgh’s transformation.
- • Residential growth and small businesses are creating a more vibrant urban core.
- • Office conversions and walkable amenities are central to downtown’s future.
September 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, discussed the public and private investments reshaping Downtown Pittsburgh, the growing residential and small-business base, and the importance of building a more resilient urban core. “Our goal is to make sure that anyone living in Downtown Pittsburgh has everything they need within a short walk of their doorstep,” Waldrup said.
Join us at caa’s upcoming leadership summits! These premier events bring together hundreds of public and private sector leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors. Find the next summit in a city near you!
How would you describe the state of Downtown Pittsburgh and the progress made over the past year?
Downtown Pittsburgh is experiencing a transformation. With support from the corporate, civic, philanthropic, and government communities, we have embraced a long-term vision for creating a vibrant and welcoming downtown for everyone.
Following the pandemic, downtowns around the world faced significant challenges, and Pittsburgh was no exception. We developed a strategy that builds on our strengths while addressing our biggest challenges through collaboration.
In October 2024, Gov. Josh Shapiro launched our downtown revitalization strategy, backed by approximately $600 million in public and private investment. We are already seeing those investments take shape.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust recently opened Arts Landing, a 4.5-acre park in the Cultural District featuring recreation space, a playground, and an amphitheater. We also completed the $15 million renovation of Market Square, creating a more welcoming civic space that supports more than 30 surrounding businesses while serving as a place where the community gathers for celebrations, civic events, and public life.
These public investments are helping accelerate additional private investment throughout Downtown Pittsburgh.
How are major events and public investments being used to generate long-term economic growth?
We used the NFL Draft as a catalyst to accelerate projects by creating a firm deadline while the national spotlight was on Pittsburgh. We raised several million dollars to invest in improvements that will benefit downtown long after the event ended.
Through the Vibrancy Initiative, launched in late 2025, we invested about $1.2 million across more than 100 projects, averaging roughly $25,000 each. Those investments supported small businesses, infrastructure improvements, pop-ups, startups, local artists, and public spaces.
Some of the work is not highly visible, such as repairing sidewalks, restoring historic structures, and improving public spaces, but those investments make downtown feel more vibrant and welcoming for residents and visitors alike.
What makes Downtown Pittsburgh distinctive for businesses, investors, and prospective residents?
Downtown Pittsburgh is a unique place. It is historic, walkable, connected by strong public transit, and surrounded by thriving neighborhoods. It is home to a nationally recognized Cultural District, three major sports venues, and historic architecture that has benefited from significant reinvestment.
We are also focused on making downtown more economically diverse. Historically, it was centered on office space, but building a stronger residential community will be critical over the next several decades.
Our residential population has more than doubled over the past 10 to 15 years, and our goal is to nearly double it again to about 16,000 residents. That growth will support more neighborhood amenities, including parks, restaurants, coffee shops, and other services.
Our goal is to make sure that anyone living in Downtown Pittsburgh has everything they need within a short walk of their doorstep.
What role will office-to-residential conversions play in Downtown’s future?
The pandemic highlighted how dependent downtown was on office space. Today, we recognize that some historic office buildings will have a different future, and many are well suited for residential conversion.
Making those projects possible requires strong partnerships. We work closely with the city, county, and state to develop financing tools that help investors redevelop these buildings.
Demand for premium Class A office space remains healthy, but the bigger challenge is finding resources to reposition Class B and Class C buildings. Government support is essential because the market alone often cannot justify those large redevelopment costs.
What kinds of small businesses are finding opportunities downtown?
Over the past two years, Downtown Pittsburgh has welcomed more than 50 new small businesses across retail, restaurants, and services.
We have seen custom clothiers, immigrant-owned restaurants, pet boutiques, salons, and new music venues establish themselves downtown. Existing restaurants are also reinvesting by renovating their spaces and adapting to changing customer preferences.
Tourism also creates opportunities. With a large share of the region’s hotels located downtown, we want visitors to stay longer and support local restaurants, retailers, and entertainment venues.
How is the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership strengthening the environment for local entrepreneurs?
We want downtown to remain uniquely Pittsburgh. National brands play an important role, but we have intentionally created programs that help local businesses succeed.
Through rent-abatement programs, pop-ups, and public art investments, we encourage entrepreneurs from across the region to establish downtown locations. That includes businesses such as Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s downtown taproom and a Black-owned taproom created through a partnership between a Black-owned brewery and a women-owned distillery.
Those projects reflect entrepreneurs’ vision combined with our ability to connect them with property owners and provide targeted support. Beyond helping these businesses establish a downtown presence, we (the PDP) are committed to their success through marketing support and frequent engagement to help them thrive. Our goal is to create experiences that cannot be found in every other downtown and strengthen the regional economy by investing in local businesses.
What are the central priorities in the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s strategic plan?
Our strategic plan focuses on three areas: core services, activation, and transformation.
The core mission is maintaining clean, welcoming public spaces while providing the services downtown needs. Strong partnerships with city and county agencies have been essential, particularly in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness through coordinated services that help people access housing, family support, and long-term stability.
Activation focuses on creating public spaces that attract people beyond work or scheduled events. Investments such as Arts Landing, Market Square, and Frankie Pace Park, along with new entertainment venues, help create a downtown where people want to spend time because of its art, culture, and sense of community.
Transformation is about accelerating investment. We use data and advocacy to demonstrate the value of investing in downtown while ensuring those investments build a more diverse and inclusive economy for the region.
What would success for Downtown Pittsburgh look like over the next five years?
Success means continued private investment, job growth, new restaurants and retailers, additional hotel development, and renewed life for historic buildings.
It also means continued collaboration among government, businesses, nonprofits, and investors to create innovative financing strategies that encourage private reinvestment.
Ultimately, success comes from maintaining a shared vision for Downtown Pittsburgh and continuing to invest in its people, businesses, buildings, and public spaces so it remains a place where people want to live, work, visit, and invest.
Want more? Read the Invest: Pittsburgh report.
