Pittsburgh moves forward with plans to buy North Side property for new Public Works site

Pittsburgh’s Public Works facility in Riverview Park will move to a new site on the North Side, after City Council approved the relocation despite ongoing litigation involving the new property.

The Department of Public Works’ First Division will move out of the popular park as some community members have repeatedly requested.

The division will relocate to a site on River Avenue. City Council approved plans to purchase that site from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

This comes despite concerns voiced at a City Council meeting last week that the property is involved in ongoing litigation regarding a billboard located on a corner of the property. The URA is currently involved in litigation with the advertising company Lamar.

That litigation is ongoing, but Councilman Bobby Wilson said Monday it should impact the city’s plans for the site.

“It doesn’t affect any sort of build on it,” he said.

David Geiger, the URA’s assistant director of strategic affairs, acknowledged the lawsuit last week and said it involved a potential breach of contract.

Stan Geier, a territory manager with Lamar, said he had no comment while litigation is ongoing.

The city plans to construct a “net-zero” building that officials said would produce at least as much energy as it consumes — similar to the Fourth Division building being built in the South Hills — at the new location.

When the proposal was announced, city officials touted it as a win-win, by moving the Public Works division out of the popular park and giving the Public Works crew in that district a modern new facility.