Renovations proceed at city-owned 412 Blvd. of the Allies in Downtown Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh officials said this week that progress is being made on renovating 412 Boulevard of the Allies, which the city bought three years ago to house offices for several city departments.
The city bought the nine-story Downtown building so it could relocate several offices and services there from the John P. Robin Civic Center, a building more than a century old at 200 Ross St. It borrowed $40 million to pay for the acquisition and renovations.
Officials said they are working to make the new facility better equipped to serve the public and offer efficient services.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s space is renovated and operational, while other departments are working to complete their renovations.
In addition to the URA, the building will house the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and the Departments of City Planning, Mobility & Infrastructure and Permits, Licenses & Inspections.
The entry level of the building will serve as a “one-stop-shop” for a variety of residents’ needs, complementing the city’s online OneStopPGH permit and licensing system. It also will house housing authority resident services. Residents will be able to apply for any kind of permit or license at one place instead of having to go to various floors and offices as they had to at 200 Ross St.
Mayor Bill Peduto said the building will be “a more modernized, welcoming experience for our visitors.”
City offices will be housed on the second, third and fourth floors. HACP will have offices on the fifth floor, while the URA is currently occupying the eighth and ninth floors.
Officials said it would not have made financial sense to renovate 200 Ross St., noting that the building was over 100 years old and had malfunctioning and antiquated heating and cooling systems, as well as unreliable elevators and an unwelcoming floor plan for visitors.
The city plans to sell the building, which was originally built as the administrative headquarters for Jones and Laughlin Steel Co.
Julia Felton is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jfelton@triblive.com.
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