Julia Felton stories, Page 30
$7M contract extension considered for security at Pittsburgh’s City-County Building, other sites
Pittsburgh City Council is considering spending $7 million over five years to extend a contract with a Pittsburgh-based firm that provides security at the City-County Building and other city sites. The proposed contract would pay security guards a fraction of what guards are making at some county-owned facilities, according to...
Pedestrian, traffic safety improvements planned on Strip District’s Liberty Avenue
A portion of Liberty Avenue running through Pittsburgh’s Strip District will see major pedestrian and traffic safety improvements, according to city officials. Councilwoman Deb Gross said the city will partner with PennDOT on the nearly $1 million project. The city will be providing just $4,500 of that cost, with the...
Giant Eagle Market District, apartments, additional retail coming to Shadyside
A proposal to develop a Giant Eagle Market District, along with more than 200 apartments, additional stores and restaurants and a small park, in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside has earned Planning Commission approval. The development from O’Hara-based ECHO Realty will sit on a Penn Avenue site that previously was home to a...
Mall at Robinson sold to New York firm in $46M deal
The Mall at Robinson has been sold to New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group for $46 million. Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle, the real estate company that brokered the deal, announced the sale Tuesday. The two-level, 874,533-square-foot mall sees more than 4.8 million visitors per year, placing it among the top...
Fern Hollow Bridge to be finished by end of year, officials say
The new Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh’s East End is expected to open by the end of the year, city and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials said. “We are anticipating the bridge will be open by the end of the year, and perhaps before Christmas,” PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said....
Despite concern it’s not enough, Pittsburgh OKs $900K for summer youth food program
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved a measure to provide $900,000 for a food service program that provides meals to local students over the summer when they aren’t served meals at school, though one council member raised concerns about whether that’s enough funding for the initiative. The amount of money...
Gainey, Pittsburgh council debate plan to move cable bureau under mayor’s office
Pittsburgh City Council members said they aren’t comfortable with Mayor Ed Gainey’s proposal to move the city’s cable bureau under the control of the Mayor’s Office. Gainey’s proposed 2023 budget calls for moving the cable bureau, the print shop, the nonemergency 311 line and various communication staff under his office’s...
Pittsburgh looks to expand lease for police headquarters for 6 years
Legislation introduced to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday would extend the city’s lease for its police headquarters site in the North Shore for six more years. The proposal includes a more than $1.3 million annual price tag for the Western Avenue space each year. The city sold the last police...
Pittsburgh’s portion of Downtown building renovation could cost $3M over initial budget
Pittsburgh’s portion of the necessary renovations to create office space at 412 Boulevard of the Allies could cost more than $3 million over the initial budget. Legislation introduced to City Council Tuesday would allocate an additional $3.2 million for the project, which aims to bring several city offices into the...
Pittsburgh seeks ‘snow angels’ to clear sidewalks for elderly, disabled neighbors
Pittsburgh officials are looking for volunteer ‘snow angels’ to help elderly or disabled neighbors clear their sidewalks and walkways of snow throughout the winter. The city’s Snow Angels Program pairs volunteers with neighbors who can’t shovel their own sidewalks to ensure that sidewalks are shoveled and salted during inclement weather....
Over 30 Pittsburgh organizations receive nearly $1 million in Stop the Violence Grants
Over 30 Pittsburgh organizations received nearly $1 million in Stop the Violence Grants, according to city officials. Organizations could get funding for a variety of community initiatives, ranging from academic supports and sport programs to family-strengthening activities and mental health counseling for high-risk individuals. “These grants are valuable for the...
Allegheny County to close covid testing sites
The Curative covid-19 testing sites located throughout Allegheny County will close by the end of the year, officials said Monday. County officials cited lower numbers of daily infections, deaths and hospitalizations from the virus as they announced changes to testing options. “For the past two and a half years, Curative...
5 things to know about new covid subvariants
Though new covid-19 subvariants continue to crop up, a local infectious disease doctor said there likely won’t be another massive wave of severe infections because of them. New subvariants of the covid-19 omicron variant — like XXB, XBB and BQ.1 — are spreading throughout the United States, said Dr. Matt...
City Controller Michael Lamb to run for Allegheny County Executive
Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb on Monday announced he will run for Allegheny County executive next year. “As county executive, we will have a county government that is transparent and accessible,” Lamb said. He said he hopes to provide “county leadership that is committed to making Allegheny County work better...
South Negley Avenue bridge sidewalk to close for repairs
Pittsburgh officials on Wednesday said they are closing the east sidewalk on the South Negley Avenue bridge in Shadyside. The bridge, which spans the East Busway and Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, had sparked concerns about its safety earlier this year, as many residents grew alarmed about the state of the...
Gainey to replace all members of Pittsburgh Art Commission
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has dismissed all of the current members of the city’s Art Commission. Commission members, who are appointed by the mayor, serve their terms under the same timeframe as the mayor who appointed them, said Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Gainey. That means the commissioners Gainey dismissed...
Pittsburgh City Council considers proposal to shift $3M in Land Bank funding to new food justice fund
Pittsburgh City Council members said Wednesday they support creating a $3 million food justice fund, but several are concerned about taking money from the city’s Land Bank to do so as Mayor Ed Gainey proposed in his 2023 budget. The budget, which the mayor introduced to council this month, is...
Second Avenue Commons shelter opens in Downtown Pittsburgh
A new homeless shelter in Downtown Pittsburgh opened its doors Tuesday. Second Avenue Commons, a new year-round shelter on Second Avenue, opened at 2 p.m. It will be available for overnight shelter starting Tuesday night. The daytime program, known as the Engagement Center, will open for walk-in support starting at...
Pittsburgh extends ‘smart loading zone’ program for delivery drivers for 3 years
Pittsburgh City Council is extending a pilot program designed to make it easier for delivery drivers to find parking spots for brief periods of time. The pilot, launched in the spring, was scheduled to last one year. Council voted Monday to extend it for another three years. The smart loading...
Gingerbread houses on display at City-County Building in Pittsburgh
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the City-County Building. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday officially unveiled the city’s 20th annual gingerbread display, which will adorn the City-County Building lobby through the New Year. “It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season,” Gainey said. For...
Pittsburghers skeptical of mayor’s snow removal goals
A goal of clearing all city streets within 24 hours of each snowfall sounds too ambitious for some Pittsburghers who have experienced hellacious waits for snow removal in the past. “I just don’t think it’s realistic,” said Margaret Loria, of Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood. “Pittsburgh is hills.” It would be “awesome”...
Pittsburgh council looks to extend parking zone program for delivery drivers
Pittsburgh City Council members this week advanced a proposal to expand parking zones for delivery drivers which, they said, could be improved by tickets by mail for unregistered motorists. The pilot program, unveiled in the spring, was initially scheduled to last one year. Legislation advanced by council Tuesday would extend...
Planning Commission again denies Point Park’s plans for fence at Pittsburgh Playhouse
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission this week declined to approve Point Park University’s proposal to build a fence at the public open space at its Downtown Pittsburgh Playhouse, a move university officials said is necessary to ensure security at the site. The school has twice presented proposals to the Planning Commission...
Pittsburgh City Council to reject Gainey’s proposal to control cable bureau, print shop
Pittsburgh City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith on Wednesday said council would reject Mayor Ed Gainey’s proposal to move the city’s cable bureau and print shop under control of the Mayor’s Office. When he released his preliminary 2023 budget, Gainey said he would like to see changes to where some city...
Duquesne University looks to build 12-story dorm on Forbes Avenue
Duquesne University is looking to build a 12-story dormitory building at its Pittsburgh campus. The Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved plans for the new dorm, which the university wants to build along Forbes Avenue. Currently, a private parking lot for Duquesne students sits on the site. “The building represents...
