Major New Downtown Restaurant Proposed

PITTSBURGH, PA — Mayor Corey O'Connor would like to transform a dilapidated portion of Downtown by adding a new restaurant with outdoor dining.

O'Connor on Thursday announced a trio of what he termed "vibrancy initiatives" designed to spruce up Downtown and provide new small business opportunities in the central business district. The restaurant is one of them.

“Downtown is the economic heart of our whole region and we need to provide it with resources to make growth happen,” O’Connor said. “We are serious about hitting the ground running and taking steps that create a strong and inclusive Downtown where there’s opportunities for small businesses, families, housing and redevelopment.”

O'Connor wants the city Urban Redevelopment Authority to investigate the possibility of transforming the several storefronts under Mellon Square into a restaurant in the building and provide outdoor dining in the park. He contends this concept would activate both Mellon Square and support the vision to rebuild Smithfield Street, where homeless people often congregate and occasional violent acts occur.

The URA also is poised to authorize a study to establish a Downtown Pittsburgh Transit Revitalization Investment District to provide long-term funding that provides incentives for infrastructure investment, small business support, residential conversions, facade renovations and large development projects.

The authority also will undertake an initiative to work with artists to create lighting installations aimed at creating vibrancy, creative destination points and safer, better-lit streets throughout Downtown.