The Downtown Blog

The official blog of Downtown Pittsburgh. Read up on what's new, what's happening, and what stories are being told in the neighborhood.

Perspectives

Perspectives: October 2025

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

A message from our President & CEO

Progress Over Perfection: Downtown Clean and Safe Effort Marks One-Year Milestone

Progress > Perfection.

Last week, Governor Josh Shapiro’s office and community leaders joined together for a milestone event that reminded us how far Downtown Pittsburgh has come in just one year.

Thanks to a $600 million investment from the Commonwealth, the commitment of our public partners, and the dedication of PDP’s On-Street Services team – who live this mission every day – we’re seeing real results.

Read the full message


Strategy in Action

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

Core

Highlights

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 recent highlights:

Clean Team Highlights (September 2025)

  • Collected more than 72,100 lbs. of trash.
  • Removed 149 stickers and 418 tags of graffiti.
  • Engaged the public with 5,270 interactions.
  • Performed 1076 acts of hospitality assistance.
  • Supported PDP’s regular event programming such as Lunchtime Concerts, Happy Hours, Yoga, Burgh Bazaar, Trivia, Karaoke, Pupsburgh, Lunch and Learn, and the Farmers Market.
  • Coordinated with Renewal, Inc. in scheduling power washing, alleyway cleanups, and painting projects. In addition, the additional Renewal team maintained watering and care of the PDP planters.
  • Extensive power washing throughout the service area to complement the efforts of our partners at Renewal.

Outreach Team Highlights (September 2025)

  • Assisted six individuals in acquiring identification documents.
  • Resourced housing or shelter referrals for eight individuals.
  • Referred four people for rehabilitation treatment.
  • Assisted nine individuals in completing applications for employment.
  • Helped two individuals obtain cell phones.

Golden Triangle Ambassador Highlights (September 2025)

  • 33,156 Public Greetings
  • 3,875 Positive Neighbor Engagements
  • 843 Hot Spot Checks
  • 517 Walking Directions Provided
  • 345 Directions Provided
  • 149 Alley Checks
  • 97 Business Contacts
  • 68 Hospitality Escorts
  • 24 Photo Assists

Volunteer highlights: September

The volunteer partners tackled an array of beautification projects throughout the month, including weeding, graffiti/sticker removal, landscape rock/boulder clean-outs, and detailing curb lines. Our partners accomplished a significant amount of work, providing a healthy complement to the Clean Team’s effort as well as completing several featured projects.

We thank all of our partners who served last month and every month. We could not do what we do for Downtown without you!

  • Allegheny Courts
  • Carlow University’s Mercy Day of Service
  • Carnegie Mellon University’s Office of Student Engagement
  • Pittsburgh Cares
  • Point Park University Athletic Department
  • Renewal, Inc.
  • University of Pittsburgh Delta Epsilon Mu
  • University of Pittsburgh Gamma Sigma Sigma

Want to get involved?

Sign up here to schedule your next volunteer outing. Questions? Email Bree!

Activation

Market Square: First Stretch of New Streetscape Opens, Allegheny County Executive Visits Project Site & Local Businesses

Last month, the first walkable section of Market Square’s new streetscape officially opened to the public, following the successful Construction to Couture Event – a collaboration between local designers and Market Square businesses for an evening of construction-inspired fashion.

On October 7th, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato joined PDP President & CEO Jeremy Waldrup on a tour of Market Square’s modernization progress. The County Executive received an update on the project, and paid a visit to local staple Nicholas Coffee & Tea.

If you haven’t been by lately, stop down to see the new streetscape and support the small businesses during construction!

See more updates and check out our Market Square merchant directory.

Transformation

VP of District Development Aaron Sukenik Shares Insights on Downtown’s Trajectory at AIA Design Week Event

During the October 7th panel, Aaron Sukenik joined panelist to discuss the path ahead for Downtown Pittsburgh’s transformation, from high concentration of office square footage to a more mixed use (live/work/play) neighborhood. Sukenik emphasized that doubling our residential population will strengthen the office market, increase employees’ usage of Downtown office space and increase the market appeal for large retailers to locate Downtown.

Dive deeper into the downtown residential market at this month’s State of Downtown Pittsburgh – register below!

Register Now: Q4 State of Downtown

Next Session: October 28, 2025

Virtual Event | Register

Join us for the fourth and final State of Downtown Pittsburgh virtual event of 2025, where we will discuss analysis and insights on Downtown Pittsburgh’s residential market. The presentation will be followed by Q&A.

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