URA to Advance Lower Hill Redevelopment Process
Board Set to Vote on $930,000 to Support Four Transformative Development Projects in the Greater Hill District
PITTSBURGH, PA (March 11, 2026) At its March Regular Board of Directors Meeting, the URA will present public notices of upcoming activity, taking place in April, that is intended to guide the redevelopment of the Lower Hill site forward.
The upcoming items that will be formally issued or voted on the day of the April 9 URA Regular Board Meeting include:
- The release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Lower Hill District Housing: This RFP will seek developers for the redevelopment of 6.82 acres of URA-owned land on portions of Block A and Block C on the Lower Hill site that are currently being used as surface parking into affordable and/or market-rate housing, with additional consideration for proposals that include mixed-use and commercial components.
- A vote to adopt and implement program guidelines for the Lower Hill Development Fund, reverting it to its original iteration: This will allow the URA and the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) to collect payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) from post-development property owners to capitalize the Lower Hill Development Fund. These PILOT payments will equal 50% of the real estate tax generated by development within the Lower Hill Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) District. The Lower Hill Development Fund will be used to support public infrastructure and public realm improvements in the Lower Hill District. The remaining 50% of taxes generated by development will continue to seed the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund.
- A vote to formalize site control for 1.75 acres on Block A of the Lower Hill site, with the intention to enter into necessary agreements with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) and Trek Development Group to advance the Bedford Dwellings/Hill District redevelopment project, a mixed-income housing development funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant program.
Further details of these items will be presented by URA staff during the March Board Meeting and will serve as a 30-day notice to the public, only. No votes will occur until April 9, 2026.
“These upcoming actions ensure that the Lower Hill redevelopment advances through a transparent public process and continue our ongoing goal to support inclusive growth and economic opportunities for the Hill District neighborhood, City, and Pittsburgh region through the development of the remaining parcels,” said URA Executive Director Susheela Nemani-Stanger. “Thank you to the community stakeholders for their continuous engagement with the URA, SEA, and local officials to ensure future development benefits residents and strengthens regional economic vitality.”
Members of the public may submit input on the draft RFP for Lower Hill District Housing and draft Lower Hill Development Fund program guidelines during a public comment period. The comment form will be made available on the URA website on March 12 after the board meeting through April 7, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Development Projects Moving Forward through Community-Driven Fund
Also at its March meeting, the URA Board is set to vote to approve a $930,000 investment from the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund (GHDNRF) toward four projects in the Greater Hill District as part of the Development Initiatives Program. Launched in November 2025 in partnership with the GHDNRF Advisory Board, the program was designed to provide "last-in" grant support for new construction or rehabilitation of commercial, mixed-use or housing development projects. The developments to be awarded include new commercial space, affordable residential units, artist studios, and office space:
- African Queens Apartments - Kingdom Rising LLC - $250,000
- Big Tom’s Barbershop Phase I - Big Tom’s Barbershop, LLC - $240,000
- Rhythm Square Phase I - Studio Volcy, LLC - $250,000
- Herron and Wylie Project - Communion, LLC - $190,000
This approval marks a meaningful step forward in advancing equitable development in the Hill District and represents the second major disbursement from the community-driven fund, ensuring that tax revenues generated by the Lower Hill redevelopment are reinvested back into neighborhood-serving projects that align with community priorities.
“The Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund was created to ensure that the redevelopment of the Lower Hill delivers real and tangible benefits for the surrounding community,” said Council President and District 6 representative R. Daniel Lavelle, who also serves as the URA Board Co-Chair. “These investments support neighborhood entrepreneurs, create new housing and commercial opportunities, and help ensure that the economic activity generated by the Lower Hill is reinvested back into the Hill District in ways that reflect community priorities. I want to thank the advisory board and community leaders who helped guide this process and ensure these funds are used to strengthen the neighborhood.”
###
About the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA)
The URA is the City of Pittsburgh's economic development enterprise. We are committed to building a prosperous and equitable economy for all of Pittsburgh. We help bridge public and private interests to invest in meaningful equitable developments that promote housing affordability, economic mobility, entrepreneurship and neighborhood revitalization. Our work creates and sustains quality jobs, thriving neighborhoods, healthy communities and sustainable businesses for the benefit of all Pittsburghers.
