With a 5-3 vote the city planning commission approved the master plan for a new arena and opens the door to development of the Hill District. This major decision will assist in helping upgrade an important part of Pittsburgh.
In my opinion, it is now evident that the city and county governments recognize the importance of a new and improved Hill District. I believe that the Hill District holds a key to linking Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh. The importance of accomplishing this will assist in Pittsburgh’s goal of keeping new graduates and young professionals here in the city. This will also assist the economy of these areas by opening the door to our college and university students for living, shopping, entertainment, and most importantly keeping them here after graduation.
I can foresee a future in which students go to school in Oakland; live in Oakland and the Hill District. Graduates and young professionals work in Downtown Pittsburgh; live in Downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District. The Hill District has a unique opportunity of establishing itself as the connector of Pittsburgh’s educational institutions with its corporate establishments.
It will be nice to see that area revitalized. It’s been 14 years since I left there and I remember it well. I worked at UPMC (formerly Eye & Ear Institute) I couldn’t wait to get through the Hill District on my way from Oakland to downtown. Pittsburgh has been so creative in turning around its less desirable property. i.e. steel mills that were on the southside, strip district (i loved metropol). there is a lot of forward thinking within the architects and planners in Pittsburgh. Had it been as cool as it is now, i would’ve never left. but of course, the sun in sarasota would’ve kept calling me, but for city living, i loved downtown, south side, north side, mt. washington and all the surrounding areas.
The UDA (Urban Design Associates) in Pittsburgh has done some amazing things with the city. The new stadiums are awesome. What a landscape. now fix the nightmare of 4 lanes coming into 2 lanes entering the tunnels and everything would be fine
LETS GO PENS!