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Organizational Background

Organizational Background

East Liberty Development, Inc., a 501(c)3 Community Development Corporation (CDC) since 1979, has established residential and commercial development programming to transform East Liberty and provide development services to partner organizations throughout the East End of Pittsburgh.

Maelene J. Myers, Executive Director, came to the organization in 1996 and transformed ELDI from a struggling CDC to an essential part of the expanding community. Commercial Development draws major investors into the neighborhood, as well as supports local, small business.  Residential Development provides quality, mixed-income housing for current and prospective residents. ELDI utilizes development and community advocacy to support a neighborhood that is not only self-sustaining, but constantly flourishing. ELDI is located at

6101 Penn Ave, Liberty
Bank Building,
Suite 201
in the heart of East Liberty.

Mission of ELDI

The mission of ELDI is to foster the revitalization of the East Liberty community. Working in collaboration with community stakeholders, ELDI acts as a catalyst for positive change by providing leadership in the areas of planning, advocacy, image building, and investment.

Our Goals

  • To retain businesses, to bring businesses to East Liberty, to assist existing businesses' expansion, and to encourage entrepreneurial activities thus helping to create jobs.
  • To improve public streets and recreation areas and to improve privately-owned property through cooperative efforts between the private sector and government at all levels.
  • To improve the quality of life of the East Liberty community; to include the whole community in the planning process through community organizing, open committees and inter-neighborhood communication.
  • To promote decent, affordable housing, both owned and rental, in order to help stabilize East Liberty's residential neighborhoods. To preserve and upgrade the housing stock, and provide housing opportunity for low and moderate income residents through technical assistance to individuals and community organizations.
  • To promote a positive image of East Liberty as a sustainable, diverse community providing increasing opportunities for housing, employment, education, worship and cultural enrichment.

Accomplishments

East Liberty Development, Inc. is responsible for countless improvements in East Liberty’s development. Here are some of our more recent projects and efforts.

Residential Development

  • Through the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, ELDI has introduced 48 new or restored housing units (45 market rate, 3 affordable) in East Liberty’s Historic Residential Enclave. The next phase of this initiative will include the use of “Prototype Houses,” these homes are innovative because of their high level of energy efficiency and sensitive design.
  • The first phase of Sojourner MOMS, a project (in cooperation with Sojourners House, Inc., the Housing Authority and Negley Place Neighborhood Alliance) to develop supportive housing for formerly homeless mothers in recovery from substance abuse, has been a great success with 6 housing units in Negley Place. There are 10 more housing units in development.
  • The Dad’s and Safe Haven projects, (in cooperation with the East End Cooperative Ministry) offers supportive housing for formerly homeless, parenting/single men in recovery from substance abuse on North St. Clair Street, are in development.
  • Penn Manor is the first mixed income rental units to replace the substandard housing provided by the now-demolished high-rise towers. Penn Manor apartments offer 38 low-income units and 17 market rate units.
  • The Liberty Park (Fairfield) construction will offer 124 new apartments and 60 for-sale homes .

Commercial Development 

  • ELDI and its partners have begun to successfully reposition East Liberty as the urban commercial center of the East End by attracting community-minded retailers that employ hundreds of neighborhood residents.  These include Whole Foods, Home Depot, Walgreens, Staples, Starbucks, Super Wine Store, Trader Joe’s and Borders Book Store. 
  • Because of ELDI’s small business assistance programs, locally-owned businesses are growing again in East Liberty.  These programs include a Small Business Loan Fund, a Small Business Advisory Committee and the facilitation of Entrepreneurial Networking Socials.  
    • Some of the small business developments include the Shadow Lounge and AVA bar, restaurants Abay and the Red Room Cafe, retailer , local barber East Liberty Kutz and ad agency Idea Mill.
  • Up-coming developments and programming efforts will transform East Liberty’s main traffic and pedestrian arteries surrounding East Liberty Presbyterian Church into a bustling town square.