'Our Downtown is doing well,' but there's still work to do, Pittsburgh mayor tells forum

Local leaders expressed optimism Tuesday about the state of Downtown Pittsburgh, pushing back against criticism that the Golden Triangle has become unsafe, dirty and plagued by office vacancies and business closures.

“Our Downtown is doing well,” Mayor Ed Gainey said during a forum at Point Park University’s University Center.

Gainey touted his administration’s efforts to revive the city’s Downtown in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in many offices and businesses being shuttered Downtown and across the country. Gainey said his administration helped to increase the police presence Downtown, ensure more frequent cleaning in the area and install public bathrooms.

He also touted the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s ambassador program, which includes a team of people who patrol the Downtown area and connect with residents, businesses and visitors.

The mayor said people are returning to Downtown after the pandemic, with the Cultural District seeing about 80% of its pre-pandemic clientele returning and restaurants and coffee shops doing “phenomenal” compared to the pandemic years.

Gainey also acknowledged there’s more work to do Downtown, as some people say they feel unsafe in the area and others worry about the office buildings that sit empty as work-from-home options have become increasingly popular since the pandemic.

Gainey said local leaders were working to address major issues such as homelessness and revitalizing an area hit hard by the pandemic.

Gainey said Downtown Pittsburgh likely won’t ever look like it used to be before the pandemic — but he said people should see that as an opportunity for change rather than a reason to worry.

“Who we’re going to be tomorrow is going to be dependent on us and how we build a city we’re proud of,” he said.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said further improving Downtown Pittsburgh will require a collective effort from local government entities, the philanthropic community, corporate partners and residents.

“It really is going to take all of us working together … to make sure people feel good about Downtown Pittsburgh,” he said.

Gainey and Fitzgerald pointed to large events that happened Downtown this summer, from the city’s Fourth of July celebration to Picklesburgh, as proof that people still want to come Downtown.

Fitzgerald said getting more people back to the office also could help drive more people into the area.

John Valentine, executive director of the Pittsburgh Downtown Neighbors Alliance and moderator of Tuesday’s discussion, voiced frustration with narratives disparaging Downtown.

“When you hear people say Downtown’s not safe, I kind of disagree with that,” he said.

Five businesses closed or moved out of Downtown Pittsburgh so far this year, but 39 businesses have moved in or are planning to do so this year, Valentine said.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” he acknowledged.

Some of that will be done through a $2 million investment from the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, which will help strengthen and beautify Downtown, said Stefani Pashman, the organization’s CEO.

That investment will help the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership nearly double its cleaning and safety efforts, help fund the Pittsburgh Potty pilot program, increase daily programming in Market Square and Mellon Square and provide streetscape improvements such as flowerpots and lighting, Pashman said.

She encouraged residents and other Downtown stakeholders to voice their experiences and ideas for further Downtown improvement at the recently launched IndexPGH site, which provides a dashboard of facts about the state of Downtown and a platform for community engagement.

Pashman said local businesses are facing “really challenging economic conditions” and facing questions about bringing employees back to the office and what to do with real estate they own in the city.

She urged people not to leave Downtown Pittsburgh, even if there are challenges.

“Pittsburghers know how resilient we are. From the ashes, we build and rebuild and rediscover and recreate. You have a moment and an opportunity to change the future,” she said.