Marimba Milliones-President and CEO of Hill Community Development Corp.
The Hill District recently completed a design plan for Centre Avenue, a guide for developers and for the city as the neighborhood sits poised for more than $400 million in residential and commercial investments.
In large and small groups, about 300 residents and other stakeholders took part in a year of meetings to form a vision of what they want the Hill to be. Besides housing and retail, their goals include a multi-use redevelopment around the New Granada Theater, a heritage trail, green space, a storm water collection project, pop-up recreation and cultural programming. The plan can be viewed at http:// hilldistrict.org/ centreave.
"It is so exciting to see the vision of the community in a plan that reflects market opportunities," said Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill Community Development Corp. "From that process we have been able to capture the essence of what the Hill District envisions -- not a flashback to who we were but how to use our legacy to form our future."
City Councilman Daniel Lavelle said the plan will not only drive development of Centre Avenue but help flesh out what happens in the Lower Hill "because now we are able to see how the two can connect."
Hill District stakeholders hired evolveEA Sustainable Architecture and 4ward Planning to prepare the plan with a grant from the Design Center. This plans incorporates previous market and feasibility studies and trends in population, housing and retail.
Data show a decline in the number of housing units but an upswing in housing values and in population, from 18,037 in 2000 to 19,654 in 2014.
A housing study commissioned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority will explain that trend and evaluate housing needs.
Christine Mondor, a principal at evolveEA, said one of the strongest ideas to emerge is relocation of the Zone 2 police station and creation of "a community and cultural landmark" on that site, pairing it with the New Granada.
Historically, a stream ran where Reed Street meets Centre at the Chauncey Street steps. Below the steps is a marshy area, "a great opportunity for a storm water park," Ms. Mondor said.
Representatives of several developers attended planning sessions with Hill District residents, including KBK Enterprises, TREK and McCormack Baron Salazar.
Tisha Germany, assistant vice president at KBK, said phase three of the redeveloped Addison Terrace will reflect community feedback for housing that reflect the Hill District's historic building inventory, so much of which is gone.
Based on growth projections, renters and buyers will be demanding new homes, townhouses and garden apartments in the Hill. The plan calls for commercial amenities that include cafes, fitness studios, a bakery and boutique clothing shops.
"One of our primary needs is infrastructure improvements on Centre Avenue and to communicate with potential developers," Ms. Milliones said. "It's an extremely diverse plan that calls for a mix of parties to bring it to life."
The plan comes on the heels of an agreement forged by the city, county, Sports and Exhibition Authority, the Pittsburgh Arena Real Estate Redevelopment LP [representing the Penguins] and the Lower Hill Working Group over the use of the former Civic Arena site.
The agreement outlines opportunities for minority-owned businesses, job training of residents and affordable housing.
"The Lower Hill development is so huge that investors want to know what is happening up and down the street," Ms. Milliones said, adding that having a plan provides clarity. "We have been preparing for years, and we are ready."
Source: Diana Nelson Jones / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
djones [at] post-gazette.com or 412-263-1626