Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey requests 2nd 30-day pause on Oakland Crossings proposal

Consideration of Pittsburgh’s proposed Oakland Crossing zoning ordinance had been put on hold for another 30 days.

Walnut Capital, the Shadyside developer that revitalized Bakery Square, has proposed a major transformation of a portion of the city’s Oakland neighborhood. Oakland Crossings, a 17-acre project, would require a zoning amendment, which is being considered by the city’s Planning Commission.

The developer’s plans include about 1,000 housing units, a neighborhood grocery store, an addition of urban green space and an elevated pedestrian bridge spanning the Boulevard of the Allies.

The proposal has drawn criticism from residents who object to the development moving forward before the community finalizes the Oakland Plan, which is meant to be a roadmap for future developments in the neighborhood. It is expected to be finished early this year.

Shortly before leaving office, former Mayor Bill Peduto sent Pittsburgh City Council a proposal that would change the zoning requirements to allow the development. The measure would create a fifth open public realm subdistrict in Oakland.

City Council amended and ultimately approved the measure, which was then sent to the Planning Commission. It raised alarms with some commissioners, who questioned the process through which the proposal was introduced by Peduto and the fact that the developer wouldn’t wait for the Oakland Plan to be finished.

Mayor Ed Gainey last month requested a 30-day continuance on the project to allow time to meet with residents, stakeholders and the development team. Gainey’s office said he used that time to participate in several community meetings hosted by the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation and to meet with the Oakland Business Improvement District’s board of directors. His administration also hosted its own community forum and received input online.

Gainey announced his request for another 30-day pause on Tuesday, hours before the matter was to be revisited by the Planning Commission. Gainey said the request was made after consulting with the Department of City planning and the development team.

“Long-standing issues of displacement and inequity have become more acute during this time of public health and economic crisis. For that reason, it is important that we consider this zoning ordinance in a thoughtful and deliberate manner through a phased approach,” Gainey said.

Gainey said his administration would continue to “advocate for a solution that prioritizes equitable development, inclusionary zoning, food access and aligns with the priorities in the Oakland Plan.”

During this second pause, Gainey said he wants Walnut Capital to coordinate with his office and the Department of City Planning on a process “that includes a thorough review of the development through a phased approach as outlined in the Oakland Plan.”