east liberty station: realizing the potential - City of Pittsburgh

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Market Conditions
Commercial: Early successes of Home
Depot and Whole Foods, followed by
Eastside II, proved the market potential
of East Liberty. They also contributed
to the aforementioned expansion of the
South Highland entertainment district in
conjunction with renovation of the former
Regent Theater (now the called the Kelly
Strayhorn). The main street former
pedestrian mall now features several
popular venues including Shadow Lounge,
Spoon, BRGR Kitchen, Abay, Tana and the
Waffle Shop with several other eateries
along Penn Circle South as well. This
entertainment district provides evening
vitality for both residents and visitors alike
while providing a key component of the
popular live/work/play dynamic.
Redevelopment efforts helped attract
shoppers from the nearby affluent
neighborhoods of Shadyside, Friendship
and Highland Park. These three adjoining
communities feature some of the highest
incomes – over 100,000 people with
household incomes in excess of $81,000
a year – in the City. Continued retail
development within the study area,
especially addition of the Target in 2011,
has expanded the trade area even further
as more consumers are commuting to the
area from outside the immediate region.
Attraction from national retail tenants
continues.
upon visual inspection, internet searches
and interviews. Over 100 businesses
reside within the core. Tenants include
independent small retail businesses,
neighborhood services and bar/
restaurants. Though many cater primarily
to the low income segment of the local
population, especially services such as
rent-to-own and payday check cashing.
Many of the buildings in the core are older
structures with floor plans that do not
accommodate the demands of modern
retailers. The structures are predominantly
single story, though some multi-story
exist as well. These can potentially
accommodate office or residential use
above ground floor commercial. Most
buildings have historically suffered
from a lack of investment beyond minor
renovations.
Other commercial districts impact the
market within the study area. Besides
South Highland Avenue, the Shadyside
retail and restaurant corridors of Ellsworth
Avenue and Walnut Street lie to the
southwest of the transit station. Walnut
Street is home to several national retailers
intermixed with smaller independent
boutiques and restaurants. Additional
entertainment venues exist along Ellsworth
Avenue with more of a focus on locally
owned retail and services.
To the northwest, the Penn Avenue Arts
Initiative (PAAI) focuses on community
development through the arts. Led by
Friendship Development Associates and the
Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, the PAAI
seeks to increase the amount of artists
living and working along the corridor to
the west of Negley Avenue. This highly
The central business district is relatively
stable with only sporadic vacancy based
Target in relation to the core of East Liberty - Photo: Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority