Allegheny County – April 26, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana announced $12.25 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants has been awarded to multiple projects in Allegheny County. The funding is in addition to the $12 million in state funding Sen. Fontana announced yesterday, and to the $9.3 million he announced in December, bringing over $33.5 million in RACP grants to the 42nd Senatorial District in the last 5 months.
“These substantial investments will make a tangible difference in our communities and neighborhoods,” said Sen. Fontana. “This funding supports both new development and the rehabilitation and maintenance of housing, office space, and entertainment and recreation areas- all elements that are important to the makeup of Allegheny County and the future of our communities. The projects funded by RACP signal opportunity and growth, and I’m pleased to see multiple plans get the funding they need to become a reality.”
Grants awarded in this round of funding include:
1501 Penn Avenue Redevelopment, $1 million
The project will demolish the existing cold storage building located at 1501 Penn Avenue in the Strip District. The existing foundations will be retained and incorporated into a new mixed-use office building. Exterior improvements including sidewalks, public plaza, tree pits and trees, plantings, curbs, and bicycle racks will also be installed.
3 Crossings, $750,000
The project will transform a former cardboard factory in the Strip District into a sustainable mixed-use neighborhood. Phase 2 will develop 600,000 SF of office space, 50,000 SF of retail space, 300 residential units, and over 1,300 parking spaces on a 10-acre brownfield site.
Bayardstown Revitalization, $500,000
The project will renovate an underutilized historic building located in the Strip District in Pittsburgh to create leasable office and retail space. It will include upgrades to the exterior of this historic and underutilized building, and the building’s façade will be improved. Critical improvements will be made to the street level including new sidewalks, lighting, and pedestrian enhancements.
Avenues of Hope Site Preparation & Development, $1 million
The project is Phase 1 of the Centre Avenue Revitalization in the Hill District and will address site preparation needs, engineering, and rehabilitation of dilapidated structures for community development, and new construction of mixed-use structures.
Centre Heldman, $500,000
This project will split a 40,000 SF grocery store space in Centre Heldman Plaza in the Hill District into two separate retail spaces, one side for a grocery store and the other for community and entrepreneurial programming. The project also includes a storefront and loading area re-design along with the installation of a code-compliant bathroom in the retail space.
City’s Edge, $1.5 million
The project is new construction in the Hill District of a 12,000 SF community healthcare center/pharmacy, 4,000 SF of outdoor space, required infrastructure, and a 508-space parking facility. It includes 110 mixed-income apartments featuring 92-affordable units for residents with incomes between 20% to 60% of area medium income (AMI). It will also provide service-enriched facilities including daycare, after school programs, MBE/WBE business incubation space, diner, primary and urgent/primary healthcare facility/pharmacy, bike storage, exercise room, business center, and space for community art.
Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine, $2 million
The project will develop a state of the art, three level building in The Bluff which will include an open-air lobby, shared student lounge, academic excellence study lounge, faculty co-workspace, standardized patient suite, a simulation hospital, a learning lecture hall, and a virtual anatomy classroom. Duquesne University has engaged a nationally known architectural firm with vast experience in designing innovative and highly functional academic medical facilities for renown institutions across the country.
Hilltop Community Center, $1 million
The project will construct a new, multi-purpose building with parking underneath in Knoxville. It will provide space for a market, classroom and office, wellness and fitness space, bathrooms, and a common area. The two vacant structures currently on the properties will be demolished.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Campus Improvements, $1 million
This project will continue campus improvements to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in the Strip District by creating two crossing squares on Liberty Ave., avoiding major intersections. This will create a pedestrian-friendly gateway to the riverfront. Other improvements to the campus will include a 30% increase in office space and hardscape and landscape redesign of the campus.
First Division Street Maintenance Facility Relocation, $500,000
The project will relocate the City of Pittsburgh’s First Division Street Maintenance Facility from Riverview Park in Perry North to a more industrialized and centralized location along the Allegheny River. The project includes the deconstruction of the existing facility, purchase of the new property, design, and a geotechnical survey. Upon completion of the design process, the building will be deconstructed on the newly acquired property and a new facility will be constructed along with site work surrounding the new building to house the necessary vehicles and equipment.
Sheraden Park Rehabilitation, $500,000
The project will include improvements to the Rest Area/Park Building, Grill Area, Hiking Trail Additions, Children’s Discovery Garden, Hillside Dog Park, Wilderness Education Area, ADA-Accessible Community Garden and Apiary. The funding will also include site preparation, grading, landscaping, signage, stair repair, pedestrian lighting, and safety improvements. Also included is the addition of roughly 6,800 linear feet of cleared, graded trail additions and water control elements within Sheraden Park.
Warrington Recreation Center, $1 million
The project will completely renovate the current 3-story building and site in Beltzhoover to update the existing structure to meet contemporary building codes, including greatly increasing ADA accessibility, and properly protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Riverfront 47 Site Preparation, $1 million
The project is part of a larger effort to rehabilitate and develop the brownfield site in Sharpsburg along the Allegheny River. It will include site preparation activities, such as environmental remediation, earthwork, utility infrastructure/relocation, and pad preparation. The site preparation activities will support future mixed-use development at Riverfront 47.
RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. More information about the program is available online.
###