The City of Pittsburgh has successfully applied for and received a $15 million grant from the U. S. Department of Transportation TIGER IV discretionary grant program. The grant will be matched with funding from the City and State as well as private and philanthropic funding and will allow for $34 million dollars in public infrastructure investment, including a new, multi-modal transit center that will serve nearly 1,000 bus arrivals and departures in East Liberty.

The project will create a transit center that facilitates pedestrian flow, provides resources for bicyclists, improves access to transportation services, and creates a visually intuitive and green gateway into the ever more busy East Liberty and Shadyside urban environment.

The new East Liberty Transit Center will replace the current East Liberty Busway Station. By creating a transit hub that supports alternative forms of transportation, the project will spur denser and “smart growth” development in the area, resulting in shorter travel times and better travel options.

The neighborhood’s recent growth includes over $440 million in new development either completed or underway. The new Transit Center will be at the heart of the proposed East Liberty Transit Revitalization District (TRID) and enable a $43 million privately-funded transit-oriented development called EastSide III,  which could include a combination of uses including retail, housing, office or hotel.

Read more here, here, here and here.

See a super cool aerial video of the project vision here. Then click the link for Video Strategy Elements Animation.

*Please note that this video shows a concept design and vision for the new Transit Center. Over the next 12 months, planning, design and construction logistics will be finalized dependant upon total project funding raised.
 

Doughboy Apartments, a new four-story, mixed-income, mixed-use building in the 3400 block of Butler Street in Lower Lawrenceville. It will contain 39 residential units and 18,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.

“It is centrally located around hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that’s going to be coming online over the next three years,” he said, “that includes the Lord & Taylor Building across the street that has been purchased by PNC, we’ll have 800 people working there.” - Robert Rubinstein, URA acting executive director.  Read more here and here.

“Right now, most of this property is vacant land, so it'll provide an attractive building to anchor a pretty strategic location in the corridor,” says Tom Cummings of the URA.  “It will bring additional residents to the community that will help to bolster the main street shopping district.”

“What about those who need the services and environmental services the most?” asked (Senator Jim) Ferlo, who plans to renovate the former Connelley Trade School in the Hill District. “That’s lower-income families and communities. The idea was to transform a vacant gas station into an environment and energy outreach center.”

"These are the next logical steps," Tom McMillan, a Penguins spokesman, said on Thursday. "Other than the arena coming down, this will be the first physical step of the next phase, then comes the infrastructure and then the vertical construction."

"As part of Project Pop Up Pittsburgh I was given this space rent free along with a grant to transform it into my proposal 'Fraley's Robot Repair.' This photo shows how rough the space was and how helpful Google SketchUp was in helping me illustrate the possibilities I saw there." - Toby Fraley, creator of Robot Repair

"It's important for us to continue to invest in our seniors, and we have done that here today," said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Read more here.

Council approves an $8.1 million tax-increment financing plan for the mixed-use Gardens at Market Square, proposed by Millcraft Industries. Read more here and here.

The programs were due to expire, or revert to a less generous incentive, June 30. With council's action, the programs will continue through June 2017.



 

...Rebecca Harris, Andrew Csech, Scott Kennedy, Angel Marschik, Steve Bilko, and David Stahurski to the URA’s Business Loan Review Committee (LRC).

Rebecca Harris is the director of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.  Ms. Harris has more than 20 years experience as an entrepreneur, consultant and marketing specialist.  

Andrew Csech is vice president, commercial relationship manager, for Allegheny Valley Bank.  Mr. Csech has specific expertise in SBA guarantee programs.
 
Scott Kennedy is a Partner with the law firm of Hergenroeder Rega Scotti Ewing & Kennedy, LLC.  Mr. Kennedy has extensive experience in business and finance law and is certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration as an expedited closing attorney.

Angel Marschik is vice president, SBA Lending Western PA at First Niagara Bank.  Ms. Marshick has several years of commercial and business lending experience.  

Steve Bilko is a senior SBA underwriter at First Commonwealth Bank.  Mr. Bilko is on the membership and marketing committee of the Western Pennsylvania Association of SBA-Guaranteed Lenders.  

David Stahurski is vice president, commercial loan officer with Fidelity Bank.  Mr. Stahurski has about 10 years experience in commercial and small business lending.

These appointments will enhance the URA’s small business lending capacity, further the URA’s mission to support minority-and-women-owned businesses, increase our deal flow with three previously unrepresented banks added to the LRC and increase the URA’s capacity to leverage U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) financing tools.

What you actually do: I manage planning and visioning in URA target areas.

Years at URA: Four

Best thing about working at the URA: We are involved in almost every exciting project changing the built environment in Pittsburgh; our work is transforming the city.

Favorite project/Most satisfying moment in career: Green Boulevard and getting Sustainable Communities funding for innovative planning along the Allegheny Riverfront.

Education: B.A. from Dartmouth College, M.S. from Carnegie Mellon University

Where you were before the URA: Downstairs at City Planning.  Before that, Carnegie Mellon.

If you were boss for the day:  I would have everyone spend the day out in the neighborhoods visiting their projects.  I would also install showers in 200 Ross Street so we could bike to work.

The Boss Says: "Lena is a bright and talented colleague, and among all URA employees, has the lowest carbon footprint." - Robert Rubinstein, Acting Executive Director

If you weren't at the URA you'd be ... outside.

First job:  Cashier/Garden Consultant at Darlington Nursery

Favorite athlete:  Andy Van Slyke

Favorite restaurant: Chaya

Favorite thing to do when not at work: Get outside – running, walking, biking, swimming, anything active.

Secret vice:  Yoga

What three words describe you best:  Energetic, Resourceful, Thoughtful

Favorite TV show when you were young:  We only got one channel.  Probably Sesame Street.

Three favorite foods or three things always in your refrigerator:  Yogurt, carrots, beer

Three people (living or dead) you’d like to have dinner with: Jane Jacobs, Jon Stewart, and my great grandmother.

Actor/actress who would play you in a movie: Maggie Gyllenhaal

People would be surprised to know that I ....used to live in Brazil.

Contact Info:  landrews@ura.org

Congrats!

To Marty Kaminski, who was named URA Director of Engineering and Construction on June 16, 2012.

Making dreams come true - one scoop at a time

Project Pop Up: Downtown participant Dream Cream is serving up dreams in a truly unique way.  Read more.

They're talking about us up in the air

Check out this great spread about Pittsburgh in the latest Delta Magazine.

We made the list again!

Forbes has again ranked Pittsburgh as one of the 25 Best Places to Retire in America!

Public Art Walking Tours

Curious about art in public places? Want to explore a neighborhood from an artistic point of view? Need to recharge your brain and take a walk? Spend an hour with expert guides on an Office of Public Art walking tour. Learn about the artists, how the works were made, and why the artworks call Pittsburgh home.  The next tour is July 20 in East Liberty.  Find out more here.