Downtown Pittsburgh category, Page 8
Pa. pledges $3.4 million to upgrade Point State Park ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
A $3.4 million state investment will help upgrade amenities, walkways and lighting at Point State Park ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The sprucing-up project, announced Thursday by the state, will include improvements to lighting at the park’s iconic fountain, which sits in Downtown Pittsburgh at the confluence...
Market Square facelift pitched by urban design group behind NYC’s High Line
A proposal to reimagine Market Square, a hub of Downtown Pittsburgh since the 1700s, would limit vehicle traffic, add more greenery and seating and install a semi-circular trellis canopy under which events could take place throughout the year. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership pitched the plans to the city’s Historic Review...
Dueling bills propose conflicting approaches to affordable housing in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has 90 neighborhoods, but only four of them require large housing developments to include affordable units for lower-income people. Mayor Ed Gainey wants to expand that mandate, known as “inclusionary zoning,” to all parts of the city. Gainey’s administration is pushing for a blanket strategy, arguing that affordable housing...
Pittsburgh CLO’s ‘Who’s Holiday!’ is naughty and nice
Fair warning, there will be no rhyming in this review. The red-and-green tinsel-tassled march toward Christmas has begun, a time of merriment, cheer and family — and it can be a bit cloying at times. Pittsburgh CLO’s “Who’s Holiday!” is a very R-rated 90-minute show that will turn all of...
‘I will never forgive you’: Moms of teens killed in North Park crash tear into driver after his guilty plea
Aiden Saber cried Monday in a Pittsburgh courtroom as he apologized for killing two teenage passengers and ruining the lives of their families last December when he crashed his SUV into a tree. “I stand before you today fully aware of my actions and the irreversible pain I have caused,”...
Pittsburgh’s purple curb parking program to remain indefinitely
Pittsburgh City Council on Monday voted to indefinitely extend the city’s smart loading zone program, which aims to encourage drivers to get in and out of parking spots quickly, freeing them up for the next car. Designated with purple curbs and matching signs, the smart loading zones use graduated payment...
Pittsburgh expands program offering free spay, neuter services to cats, dogs
Pittsburgh pet owners next year will be able to have their cats and dogs spayed for free, though there are new guidelines on the program. Only low-income residents will be eligible for spay and neuter services for dogs. There will be no income limits for cat owners to access the...
Pittsburgh counts on Light Up Night to polish Downtown’s reputation
Light Up Night doesn’t just mark the beginning of the holiday season in Pittsburgh. Officials say it also draws visitors to Downtown businesses and helps the Golden Triangle burnish a sometimes less-than-stellar image. Fewer people have been commuting to Pittsburgh offices since the covid-19 epidemic spurred a widespread shift to...
Victim in critical condition after Strip District shooting
Pittsburgh Police have charged a man with attempted homicide after they say he shot another man early Friday morning in the city’s Strip District neighborhood. Police were called to the 1100 block of Penn Avenue around 2:15 a.m. for reports of a man brandishing a weapon and threatening people inside...
2 light installations will illuminate on Light Up Night, along with fireworks and Christmas trees
Soaring more than two stories high, a new art installation will transform Mellon Square Park. “Aurora: Illuminating the Holiday Magic of Mellon Square Park” in Downtown Pittsburgh will debut on Light Up Night at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Aurora refers to arches of light, which is fitting. “It was amazing...
Pittsburgh to deploy more than 100 police officers Downtown for Light Up Night
Pittsburgh Public Safety will have a strong presence at the city’s Light Up Night celebration Downtown Saturday. More than 100 police officers will be deployed throughout the area, and the bomb squad will perform protective sweeps ahead of events, officials said Friday. The police bureau’s motorcycle and mounted units will...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 22-24
This Saturday is Light Up Night, and just a few days later we’ll officially usher in the holiday season with Thanksgiving. It’s time to embrace the cheer — or not — with festivities around Pittsburgh this weekend. Here are five ideas for things to do. Phipps Holiday Magic Embark on...
Dozens of Pittsburgh residents speak out about controversial zoning proposals
A public hearing before Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday at times grew raucous, with dozens of residents sharing conflicting opinions about dueling zoning bills that have divided Pittsburghers and city leaders. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration has pitched a comprehensive zoning reform bill. Among many other things, it includes a...
Severe storms knock out power to thousands; possible tornado being investigated
Did a tornado move through east-central Allegheny County on Wednesday? That’s what the National Weather Service in Moon Township will look to find out as they conduct a survey Thursday, according to a post from the agency on social media. Heavy rain and wind blew through the region Wednesday, knocking...
Free Thanksgiving food available at Pittsburgh convention center
Are you in need of Thanksgiving dinner this holiday season? Free Thanksgiving food items are available Saturday at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center. As part of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual Thanksgiving Distribution and Health and Human Service Fair, people can receive meal items on Saturday. The...
‘MJ The Musical’ is a groovy tribute to the King of Pop at the Benedum Center
Michael Jackson was an innovator, an icon, a musical prodigy, a multitalented superstar and a controversial figure in the world of pop culture. It was only a matter of time until a Broadway musical about his life hit the stage. After a delay due to the covid-19 pandemic, “MJ The...
Pittsburgh council members pitch new proposal to build tiny houses for city’s homeless
Frustrated by a year of delays, two Pittsburgh City Council members on Tuesday renewed their efforts to enact legislation that would permit tiny houses and other temporary managed communities for the city’s homeless. Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said he initially hoped those communities would be available last winter. But the...
Pittsburgh resumes in-person permitting Downtown for first time since pandemic
For the first time since March 2020, Pittsburgh is providing in-person services for people seeking various types of permits. City officials on Monday unveiled the new One Stop PGH permitting counter at 412 Boulevard of the Allies in Downtown. Residents and developers will be able to seek help in person...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 15-17
Does music rule your free time? Do you love a good beer on a cool night? How about checking out some new flicks? Pittsburgh is bursting with opportunities for every hobby this weekend. Check out a few here. Beers of the ‘Burgh Winter Warmer Get into a fancy holiday mood...
Gainey’s 2025 austerity plan plays well with Pittsburgh council budget director
Pittsburgh City Council’s budget director indicated Wednesday that Mayor Ed Gainey’s austerity plan for 2025 makes sense given the fiscal pressure facing the city. Presenting an overview of Gainey’s budget and financial forecast to City Council, Peter McDevitt acknowledged that several city departments will likely ask for additional resources during...
Pittsburgh eyes extending controversial purple curb parking program
Pittsburgh may indefinitely extend a controversial program that aims to discourage drivers from monopolizing much-needed parking spots in certain busy areas. Marked by purple curbs and matching signage, smart loading zones are areas where a graduated payment system encourages drivers to get in and out of parking spots quickly, freeing...
Pittsburgh officials want to resume free spay, neuter services for cats, dogs
Pittsburgh City Council will consider resuming a program offering free spay and neuter services for pet cats and dogs as well as stray cats. Proposals introduced Tuesday would expand contracts for Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh to perform the work from 2025 through 2027. Contracts for spay and neuter services...
‘Mission remains the same’: Gainey focuses 2025 budget on boosting core services
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Tuesday used his annual budget address to applaud his administration’s efforts to improve core city services, make bridges safer, respond faster to snowstorms and revitalize a Downtown that has seen increasing vacancies since the covid-19 pandemic. The mayor told City Council his proposed budget for...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 8-10
Enjoy being in the thick of the Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas pipeline this weekend! Whether you’re getting ready to Jingle Bell Rock — or still trying to avoid carols and ornaments for just a little while longer — here are a few things to do around town this weekend. Holiday Market and Tree...
Harris and Trump make final pushes in Pittsburgh stops
The next American president rallied Pittsburgh-area voters Monday as a contentious campaign comes to a close. Both candidates — Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic heir to President Joe Biden, and former President Donald Trump, who has transformed the Republican Party with his bombastic, populist rhetoric — visited the region...
