Pittsburgh City Council postpones vote on Penn Plaza development

Pittsburgh City Council will host a public hearing before voting on a land swap necessary for construction to begin on a $50 million retail and office complex on the site of the former Penn Plaza Apartments in East Liberty.

Council on Wednesday postponed a preliminary vote on the land swap between the city and developer, Pennley Park South.

The exchange of several parcels is needed for the reconfiguration of Enright Parklet. The parklet borders the rear of the development along Penn Avenue between South Negley and South Euclid avenues.

Council members scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 28 and a final vote for Oct. 29. They said they would discuss the swap during a Standing Committee meeting on Oct. 23.

Neighborhood groups are concerned about public access to the park from Eva Street, which would be owned by Pennley Park under the land swap and other aspects of the development. Former residents of Penn Plaza and community activists have staged numerous protests over the development, saying it will compound neighborhood gentrification and arguing for inclusion of affordable housing to replace apartments lost with the demolition of Penn Plaza.

About 228 people lived in Penn Plaza in 2015, when LG Realty, parent company of Pennley Park South, notified residents it intended to close the apartments.