Popular Pittsburgh Pizzeria Could Become Homeless Shelter

PITTSBURGH, PA — Dominic Reale has seen firsthand the decline and deterioration of Smithfield Street. From the window of Villa Reale, his Downtown pizzeria, he has witnessed the street being overrun by homeless people.

"I've seen them urinate. I've seen them defecate," Reale told Patch. "I've seen them getting beat up and bullied, and I've seen all the drugs they take there out there on the street. They're bothering people, they're scaring people."

Most people would be appalled at those sights. Reale is not. He wants to help clean up the street, even if means the end of the business his family has operated since 1976.

Reale, 51, of Green Tree, said he has preliminary discussions with Allegheny County redevelopment officials about converting the pizzeria into a shelter and resource center for the homeless. He said conversations with those officials, who could not immediately be reached for comment by Patch, have been positive.

Reale wants to call it Sal's Safehouse, in honor of his father, Salvatore Reale, who started the pizza business.

"He passed away on March 7th," Reale said. "This would be a great legacy. My father gave so many people a new start in life over the years with the people he hired. This way, he could still keep doing it."

There is little doubt the Downtown area could use more homeless housing. Second Avenue Commons, operated by Pittsburgh Mercy opened in November with 95 beds. The Second Avenue Commons Health Center is operated by UPMC. The building also has 43 single-occupancy rooms run by NDC Asset Management.

Overflow capacity was reached there almost immediately, so another 70 beds were made available at the Smithfield United Church of Christ on Smithfield Street - 50 for men and 20 for women.

Reale said he believes his building would have the capacity for about 100 beds on the second and third floors. He envisions the first floor, which currently houses the pizzeria, would be an intake facility.

Homeless people "could come in and register, get a physical and medical evaluation. There would be job training and wellness programs offered. We'd have a clothing department so they don’t walk around with urine and feces all over themselves."

Reale envisions that he and the county could partner on the project and perhaps get funding to convert the building to the shelter from health care operators such as UPMC, corporations such as PNC that are known for their charitable giving and local foundations.

If that happens, does Reale see a role for himself in the repurposed building?

"I'd like to volunteer there as much as my time would permit," he said. "But this isn't about me at all.

"I don't want to see Downtown die. I want to see it thrive."