For Immediate Release
February 12, 2008
Contact:
Hollie Plevyak
(412) 325-0153
(412) 780-6709 – cell
hplevyak@downtownpittsburgh.com
PITTSBURGH, PA — With more than $3 billion in investment, commercial and residential occupancy levels at their highest in years, a thriving Cultural District and the region’s largest employer joining its neighborhood, Downtown Pittsburgh is fast becoming one of America’s great urban centers. More than 300 people attended the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s (PDP) 2008 Annual Meeting today to hear about Downtown’s progress and plans for the year, which included details on two new economic development programs.
Paris to Pittsburgh: Streetscape Enhancement Program
The PDP is bringing a bit of Paris to Downtown Pittsburgh via a new economic development program funded by a $1 million grant from the Colcom Foundation. “Paris to Pittsburgh” is a matching fund incentive program for Downtown retailers, restaurants and businesses to enhance their façades and sidewalks to more closely resemble the charming cafés and stores common in France.
“Activating the sidewalks and creating more dynamic spaces will make coming Downtown a much deeper experience for shoppers and pedestrians,” said Michael Edwards, President and CEO for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
The first approved project of the “Paris to Pittsburgh” program is MixStirs Café in Market Square, which has already implemented some improvements, including awnings to extend sidewalk dining and outdoor lighting. Open since November, the café expects to spend $60,000 on streetscape improvements, of which the PDP will pay half. In the spring, the café will install NanaWalls—a versatile wall system that opens up the space allowing for open-air dining. The PDP has funding for 68 projects and hopes to complete about half of those in 2008.
Vacant Upper Floors: Loan Fund
With approximately 260 underutilized properties in the Golden Triangle and a need for lower cost housing options Downtown, the PDP is providing financing for property owners to convert upper floor space into residential units. Grants in the amount of $1.75 million each from Heinz Endowments and the City of Pittsburgh/Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), and $250,000 from the McCune Foundation, will allow the PDP to offer market rate loans to building owners with eight floors or less. The PDP hopes to complete five or six loans in 2008, which will result in 50 units of housing.
“Converting now vacant and unused space into residential units will not only provide more affordable options for Downtown living, it will also improve public safety, activate our streets and restore historic façades,” said Edwards.
2007 PDP Stats and Facts
As the management entity for the Downtown Business Improvement District, the PDP oversees the implementation of enhanced public services, which includes a clean and safe program. Last year, PDP Safety Ambassadors patrolled 16,570 miles, helped 17,084 pedestrians, distributed 13,306 PDP marketing materials and addressed 3,908 panhandling situations.
The PDP Clean Team collected 100,319 bags of litter, removed 8,196 graffiti tags, stickers and handbills, spent 624 hours removing leaves or snow and maintained 565 tree grates
For more information about “Paris to Pittsburgh” or the Vacant Upper Floors Loan Fund, visit www.DowntownPittsburgh.com and click on the “New Initiatives” box in the middle of the page.
About the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is a dynamic, nonprofit organization comprised of business and community leaders, property owners, civic organizations, foundations and residents who provide energy, vision and advocacy for Downtown Pittsburgh. Working collaboratively with its partners, the PDP strives to create a positive Downtown experience for residents, workers and visitors alike. The PDP’s strategic initiatives include clean and safe services, transportation, housing and economic development and advocacy. For more information, visit www.DowntownPittsburgh.com.
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