UPDATE: On November 18th, ELDI was awarded an additional $1.5 million, bringing the total amount to $2.5 million.
We are pleased to announce that on October 27 ELDI was granted $1 million through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) administered by Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget for the renovation of Saints Peter and Paul Church in East Liberty. RACP funding is awarded to projects that focus on the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. These projects should either increase or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenue, or other measures of economic activity.
“The renovation of the Saints Peter and Paul church is such a unique and exciting opportunity to revitalize a beautiful, well-known space and bring it back to life for community members,” said Senator Lindsey M. Williams. “I was proud to support this state investment, as it will provide for millions of dollars in economic output through jobs, tourism, and taxes that will benefit the entire city and region.”
This funding will provide us and our development partners at The Rooney Sports and Entertainment Group and Stone Planning LLC with the much-needed funds to begin the revitalization of Sts. Peter and Paul church into a multi-purpose arts and entertainment venue that can be used by local community organizations as well as for concerts, weddings, business meetings, and conferences, among other things.
“One of Pittsburgh’s monikers is ‘Confluence City’ and the reuse of Sts. Peter and Paul Church is a confluence in its right that it fulfills a strong community desire to preserve an important part of East Liberty’s history, the chance to serve performing non-profit organizations with rehearsal and showcase space, and as a venue for many other uses in varying capacities and configurations that add commercial value to the region’s marketplace,” said Tom Rooney, founder and CEO of The Rooney Sports and Entertainment Group.
Plans for the church include a complete renovation of the church space as well as a new two-story addition to the side of the church that can be used for meetings and potentially smaller-scale theater performances. ELDI has also enlisted the help of Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Arts Management program to evaluate the feasibility of creating an artist residency program in the church in partnership with local arts institutions.
Next steps: partners wanted!
We are deeply grateful for this critical influx of capital that will help us save this amazing and historic community centerpiece so that it might serve the community for another one hundred years. With this initial funding secured, ELDI begins the task of securing additional funding to make this concept a reality. We are currently fundraising and seeking partners to this end. Multi-year, name-in-title and founding partner sponsorships are available. ELDI seeks partners that will match public, private, and foundation support efforts.
Please reach out to skip.schwab@eastliberty.org and TomRooney@trseg.com for more information!
Saints Peter and Paul Church Planning Resources
Learn more about the history of the church and ELDI’s journey to save it.
Discover the community engagement process conducted with ULEAD.
Read more about plans for the church in the Saints Peter and Paul Reuse Analysis.
View Desmone Architects’ architectural plans for the church.