Pittsburgh residents concerned about reconfiguration of East Liberty's Enright Parklet

Several Pittsburgh residents voiced concerns Monday that a land swap between the city and developers planning a $50 million office and retail complex in East Liberty carries no written guarantee for public access to a city park behind the development.

City Council is scheduled for a final vote Tuesday on the property swap and an easement that the developers say will guarantee public access to Enright Parklet.

Two members of the Friendship Community Group attended a public hearing Monday and asked council to hold off on a vote until an easement agreement is finalized. They said the agreement, to be filed with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, would contain legal requirements and enforceable conditions for both sides. They said council’s legislation contains none of those details.

“If you’re protecting the public interest, there need to be enforceable conditions,” said John Axtell, a member of the Friendship Community Group. “We’re seeing nothing right now. We can’t even raise questions because we don’t know what’s going to be recorded in an easement agreement.”

The dispute centers on 9 acres along Penn Avenue, where the demolished Penn Plaza Apartments previously stood. Plans for redevelopment of the property include reconfiguration of Enright Parklet, which has served as a playground and gathering spot for residents of East Liberty and neighboring communities.

Pittsburgh and Pennley Park South, which owns the property, agreed through lengthy court negotiations to swap small parcels that would allow for redevelopment of the former Penn Plaza property and the park.

Under the agreement, Pittsburgh would give 55,443 square feet of the park to the developer. Pennley Park would give 48,701 square feet of its property to the city and allow access to the park from South Euclid Avenue. The company would own and maintain Eva Street, one of the main streets leading to the park.

Larry Gumberg, founder and president of L.G. Realty Advisors, the parent company of Pennley Park, said residents would have full access to the park as they do now from five existing streets, including Eva. The company, he said, is providing additional access by reconstructing South St. Clair Street. The property swap also would allow access from South Euclid Avenue, he said.

“In addition to all the access that they have which is public access … we also agreed to enter into an easement agreement that allows them to come across the new street that we’re building here (South St. Clair) and to come down Eva street there,” he said.

Jennifer Haven, another member of the Friendship Community Group, said the agreement should spell out when Pennley Park can close Eva and for how long.

“They do state that they would only close it for construction or emergencies — fingers crossed, pinkie swear — but there’s no actual contract stating that, and the building of this development is going to go on for multiple years,” she said.

Gumberg said the easement agreement would provide permanent public access.

Pennley Park is planning a nine-story office and retail building in the first phase of construction, with a second phase in the works that will likely mirror the first. Construction is scheduled to start before year’s end.