PITTSBURGH, PA — When Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor took office in January, one of the first initiatives he announced was to transform a dilapidated portion of Downtown.
That plan, which involves converting several storefronts on Smithfield Street beneath Mellon Square into a restaurant and provide outdoor dining in the park above them.
The idea became a step closer to reality on Thursday with the announcement that the Richard King Mellon Foundation has committed $250,000 to the city Urban Redevelopment Authority for preliminary work on what would be a transformational project.
"The Richard King Mellon Foundation shares my administration’s vision for growth through investments in economic development, jobs, vibrancy and making Pittsburgh every family’s first choice,” O’Connor said in a statement. “I’d like to thank them for their partnership and generous support of our vision for the future of Pittsburgh.”
O'Connor contends the restaurant concept would activate both Mellon Square and support the vision to rebuild Smithfield Street, where homeless people often congregate and occasional violent acts occur.
Richard King Mellon had a long history of investing in the city's economic development of the City of Pittsburgh, dating back decades to his partnership with Mayor David L. Lawrence for Renaissance I.
“The commencement of Renaissance I, 76 years ago next month, was a collaboration between Richard King Mellon and the elected leaders of Pittsburgh to pursue transformative economic-development initiatives to create a more vibrant and growing Pittsburgh,” foundation director Sam Reiman said.
The region's largest philanthropic foundation also has committed:
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