Perspectives: April 2025

A message from our President & CEO

Momentum is building in Downtown Pittsburgh

Since releasing our 2025-2028 Strategic Vision in January, the PDP team has remained focused on attracting new investment, with a particular emphasis on growing our retail base.

At the heart of this momentum are PDP’s retail development programs: Downtown Rent Abatement Program and Project Pop-Up. These tools are directly supporting small business growth, lowering barriers for entrepreneurs, reactivating ground-floor spaces, and bringing new energy to our streets.

Read the full message

Strategy in Action

Working towards our Strategic Vision is year-round effort. Here are some of the highlights from this month.

Core

Sign Up to Spruce Up Downtown | Redd Up Week Returns April 26 – May 3

Roll-up your sleeves and help us make Downtown shine. Join us for a fun, community-building volunteer opportunity for you and your team.

Last spring, over 200 volunteers joined us for our inaugural Redd Up week to help beautify Downtown. This year, we’re excited to bring back this opportunity for individuals and teams who are passionate about helping us make Downtown shine with hopes to welcome over 400 volunteers.

Learn more and sign up today!

On-Street Services: Latest Impact Metrics

Our on-street services work around the clock to keep Downtown clean, safe and welcoming. Here are a few highlights from the previous month:

• Collected nearly 79,000 lbs. of trash
• Removed 336 stickers and 18 graffiti tags
• Made 195 business contacts with local merchants
• Engaged the public with 2,589 public interactions
• Supported a new festival, The Thaw, in Market Square
• Collaborated with the Department of Public Works on post-St. Patrick’s Day parade clean-up
• Coordinated with Renewal Inc. to power washing and clean up sidewalks and alleyways
• Assisted with Sixth Street clean in preparation for Pirates Opening Day celebrations

Activation

Compete for a Cause: Human Foosball Returns on May 1 – Sign Up Your Team Now

Have a ball and help us raise funding for youth programming in Downtown! Create a team and join the tournament in support of youth programming in Downtown! 

How it works: 

1. Pick a team of five
2. Provide your preferred time slots and the names of each player in your team
3. Each team will be asked to provide a $500 donation that will directly support youth engagement and programming for Downtown school students
4. Lace up, stretch, and have fun!

Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity to support a great cause!!

Learn more and sign up your team today!

Pedestrian Wayfinding Project: Foundations Installed, Next Steps

Last month, we unveiled the first downtown kiosk installed in the Pedestrian Wayfinding Project. As the first wayfinding system of its kind in the city, this project represents a significant step forward in making Pittsburgh streets easier to navigate and more welcoming for residents and visitors alike. 

As of now, nearly all of the 31 kiosk foundations have been installed, with remaining few to be incorporated as a part of other projects, such as the Market Square Modernization and BRT station construction. Foundation installation, which requires excavation, pouring of concrete, and resurfacing, is the most time-intensive portion of the project.

Starting on May 5th, wayfinding signs and kiosks will be installed by neighborhood, starting in Oakland, followed by North Side, and ending in Downtown. Impacts to pedestrian travel at each site will be minimal, with work taking less than one day at each site. Installations are expected to be complete by early June.

See a map of the installation progress and learn more about the Wayfinding Project here.

Transformation

Recap: State of Downtown Pittsburgh – Q2 2025

On Tuesday, April 22nd, we hosted our second quarterly State of Downtown virtual event. Thank you to all who attended and engaged in a thoughtful discussion about Downtown Retail. We’re grateful to our special guest Catherine Timko, Founder & CEO of The Riddle Company, who shared key insights on what Pittsburgh and other cities are doing to support retail growth.

Watch a full recording of the event below.