Steel City aims to transform downtown into a cultural and residential hub
Writer: Mirella Franzese
November 2024 — Pittsburgh is set to receive a sweeping $600 million investment from private and public sectors to transform its historic downtown into a vibrant cultural and residential hub, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced last month. The decade-long strategy, blending public and private funds, aims to revitalize the heart of Pittsburgh with affordable housing, renovated public spaces, and dedicated arts funding.
“Pittsburgh is a great city, and in order for our Commonwealth to thrive, we need to ensure downtown Pittsburgh is a hub of innovation, opportunity, and culture,” said Gov. Shapiro during an Oct. 25 announcement speech. “With the Commonwealth’s significant support, we have a plan to invest in and revitalize downtown and help it reach its full potential as a great neighborhood where thousands of Pennsylvanians can live, work, enjoy safe public spaces, and contribute to our vibrant culture.”
More than 80% of the funding will be dedicated to seven mixed-use residential projects, with nearly one-third of the 1,000 new units earmarked for affordable housing.
Pittsburgh’s affordable housing push comes at a time when many U.S. cities, including San Francisco and New York, are converting excess office spaces to residential units to combat high costs and accommodate urban living demand. Pittsburgh ranks among the top cities for feasible office-to-residential conversions, leveraging lower conversion costs compared to these larger metro areas. In 2022, the city converted office space into 174 apartments, ranking among the top 10 cities for converted apartments. (Los Angeles led all cities with 692 apartments converted.)
Pittsburgh is also investing in the arts at a significant level. The city will contribute $400,000 to the Downtown Arts District, marking the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ (PCA) largest single investment in state history for the creative community.
“This investment in Pittsburgh will allow us to reimagine the downtown experience, where everyone can enjoy all the downtown will have to offer. These funds will help position the downtown community as a place that attracts more residents, businesses, and those looking for social and recreational activity for years to come,” said State Representative Aerion Abney in an assembly convened by Shapiro.
Another major objective behind the project is the development of an artistic and cultural community — which the Shapiro administration believes is the key to driving economic growth in the region. Further bolstering this endowment, Pittsburgh’s civic leaders have announced plans to partner with local creative entrepreneurs in an Artist-in-Residence program that will both host and promote cultural exhibitions and other arts-related events.
“The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is thrilled to join this collaborative funding effort, recognizing that a vibrant creative sector is catalytic to the health and vitality of our communities,” said Emmai Alaquiva, Vice Chair of the PCA. “As an artist based in Pittsburgh, I’ve seen firsthand how arts and culture impacted my life and transformed neighborhoods throughout the Commonwealth. From grassroots arts initiatives to the iconic Cultural District, home to treasures like the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and the many festivals that animate our streets — Pittsburgh simply wouldn’t be the same without its rich artistic landscape.”
Additionally, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will lead the implementation of a $30 million project meant to transform the city’s Cultural District into a new outdoor recreational center for performances and festivals, known as 8th Street Block Civic Space.
The transformation plan also includes infrastructure improvements for Market Square and Liberty Avenue Medians, aligning the city’s vision with broader trends seen in cities like Philadelphia and Chicago, where enhanced public spaces have spurred local business revenue by as much as 30%. With these renovations in place, Pittsburgh officials anticipate the Square will be able to host an all-encompassing range of events, from smaller community gatherings and weekend farmers markets to larger international festivals, like Oktoberfest.
With the 2026 NFL Draft on the horizon in downtown Pittsburgh, an additional $25 million will go toward infrastructure and recreation upgrades in Point State Park. High-profile events like the NFL Draft have proven lucrative, bringing up to $213 million in economic impact to recent host city Detroit this past April. The city’s investment is intended to showcase Pittsburgh on a national scale, capturing the spirit of this historic city as it moves toward a future of cultural and residential vibrancy. “With sustained focus on key areas, Downtown Pittsburgh will continue to be a hub of growth, innovation, and community,” stated Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
“What is happening here is unprecedented, not just the dollars that are being invested but the way everyone is coming together and everyone believes in this mission…we can do big things in Pittsburgh when we come together,” said Gov. Shapiro.
For more information, visit:
