“On June 16, 1960, a crowd formed in Pittsburgh City Council chambers to hear about plans for saving East Liberty, a neighborhood fixed in memory as a chaotic, turn-of-the-century shopping bazaar, second only to Downtown in size and popularity. A plan was proposed to redevelop an area three-fourths the size of Downtown. At 254 acres, it was the largest urban renewal project ever attempted in Pittsburgh.”
– Dan Fitzpatrick, “The Story of Urban Renewal”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 21, 2000
East Liberty’s urban renewal era has defined much of our work at ELDI over the past 30 years. Though the sweeping redevelopments of the 1960s were designed to breathe new life into a neighborhood struggling to compete with suburban markets, they ultimately accelerated its decline. Whole blocks were demolished, a highway-sized ring road called Penn Circle was carved through the neighborhood, and the heart of East Liberty was transformed into a pedestrian mall.
More than 60 years later, the final remnant of that pedestrian mall—Broad Street Plaza—has been reimagined. Once a patch of stonework and tree planters, the 0.3-acre public space owned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is now an open, flexible gathering place for neighbors, workers, and visitors. Its renovation marks not just the end of an era, but the beginning of a new chapter for this corner of East Liberty.
At ELDI, we are calling it the “Broad Street Revival,” a transformation that spans Broad Street Plaza, the 211 Tower, Hotel Indigo, and the new headquarters of our partner and spin-off Catapult Greater Pittsburgh.
We explore all the changes and what they mean for the neighborhood below.
Broad Street Plaza: from pedestrian mall to public hub
Planning for Broad Street Plaza’s renovation began in 2007, when a young URA project manager—now URA Executive Director—Susheela Nemani-Stanger took it on as her very first assignment. Progress started gaining momentum in 2018, when the URA, ELDI, and the East Liberty Chamber of Commerce hosted community meetings and design workshops to gather residents’ ideas for the space.
“What makes a project happen, especially one like this that isn’t developer-driven, are human beings who care about it,” said Tom Link, Chief Development Officer at the URA. “Susheela cared deeply about this space. She kept it a priority, helping raise funds and working with community stakeholders to reinvest in the plaza.”
Funding for the plaza came largely through the East Liberty Transit Revitalization Improvement District, which reinvests tax revenues from nearby developments into local infrastructure. Hotel Indigo, across the street, was a major contributor to the pool of funds that helped make the plaza possible.
Designed by Klavon Design Associates, the new plaza reflects the community’s call for flexibility. The intentionally open layout makes it perfect for hosting artisan markets, live music, and community events, while also offering a meeting area for everyday use. But there’s more to the design than meets the eye.
“One design feature the public might not notice is that we adjusted the grade so water now runs away from the plaza’s buildings instead of into their foundations,” explained URA Project Manager Gordon Hall.
There are also semi-permeable spaces and two parallel tree pits at each end to catch stormwater runoff. Alongside movable tables and chairs and a plethora of electrical outlets, the space is as adaptable as it is sustainable.
211 Tower: office space options for what’s next
At the eastern edge of the plaza stands 211 Tower, formerly the Medical East Building and now home to ELDI and a growing roster of tenants. Purchased by Alphabet City in 2018, the tower has seen a steady increase in occupancy, from dental practices to tech firms since it opened.
With the recent buzz around AI Avenue, President of Alphabet City, Anthony Dolan, believes the building is well-positioned to serve startups and mid-size businesses in need of affordable, flexible office space.
“AI technology, just like any technology, starts very small,” he said. “You may have a company that only needs several hundred or maybe a couple thousand square feet to start, and those are the kinds of spaces the 211 Tower can provide.”
For Dolan, the improvements around Broad Street Plaza are a step in the right direction for the neighborhood: “We’ve definitely seen progress in the office market for East Liberty, and we welcome more changes like those happening across the street.”
Hotel Indigo: A community-centered redesign
Across from the Plaza, Hotel Indigo is embarking on its own thoughtful refresh. Rooted in East Liberty’s past, their planned redesign is embracing the neighborhood’s history while meeting the needs of today’s travelers. The updates—led by Pickard Design Studio—will weave in references to East Liberty’s cultural past, from its days as “Automobile Row” to its Indigenous roots.
More than an aesthetic upgrade, the renovations aim to connect the hotel more deeply with the community, creating a space that welcomes both visitors and locals.
Catapult on the Square: A new cultural hub
Another anchor of the revival is ELDI partner and spin-off Catapult Greater Pittsburgh. The economic justice nonprofit recently moved into its new home at 5991 Broad Street, directly on the plaza.
On the ground floor, Catapult is also opening a vibrant arts and culture hub, including a new retail space called Gallery on the Square for emerging entrepreneurs, an art gallery, creative programming, and even a speakeasy-style venue called The 805.
“We are excited to share more details soon, but for now, just know this is a place to celebrate creativity, whether you’re hosting a fundraiser, catching a book reading, or simply soaking in the art,” said Catapult Executive Director, Tammy Thompson.
Stitching the urban fabric back together
Altogether, these developments not only signal how far East Liberty has come but also how much further it can go.
“I think it represents a new day for the neighborhood,” said Link. “Being able to correct mistakes and right wrongs is not just symbolic—it’s real.”
Gordon Hall echoed this sentiment.
“One of the main reasons Penn Circle was built was to suburbanize East Liberty as Pittsburgh was losing population to the suburbs. The Plaza, along with projects like the East Liberty Busway, Enright Park, and the Penn Circle Two-Way Conversion, represent our effort to re-urbanize it 60+ years later. These are no longer car-centric projects—they’re people-centered, and they’re making the neighborhood stronger for small businesses and residents alike.”