Post-Gazette: 'Pop-ups' seen as quick fix for vacant city stores

Hoping to capitalize on a trend in other cities, Pittsburgh officials on Monday kicked off an effort to fill vacant Downtown storefronts with quickly-designed exhibits and boutiques.

The new program, to be operated by the city and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, is called "Project Pop Up: Downtown." It aims to fill as many as 15 storefronts with "pop-up" exhibits and stores that would begin operating in the fall and last six months, a year, or, with luck, longer.

The city would give the artists or operators start-up grants ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. The Urban Redevelopment Authority will provide an initial $25,000 for the program, and city officials hope to supplement that with gifts from philanthropic and nonprofit groups.