The Next Page: Market Square -- three visions for Downtown's heart
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Market Square has been Downtown Pittsburgh's crossroads for generations. Whether once a regular shopper at G.C. Murphy's five-and-dime store, a businessman who takes lunch at the Oyster House, a college student who studies outdoors using free Wi-Fi or a child who waits for the arrival of Santa on Light Up Night, almost everyone has passed through its four corners.
As with any public space, especially one so rich with history, there is no shortage of opinions surrounding what Market Square is and what it should be. For several years it became more known for objectionable activity than for its unique charm.
And now, with revitalization of the square in full swing and more people taking an interest in it than ever before, the city is asking for your input on design concepts to transform and update Market Square.
In 2006, the city of Pittsburgh, in cooperation with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, implemented a comprehensive planning process to determine the best approach to reactivating Market Square.
Click here to view the designs and commentary:
• Three design concepts for Market Square
More detailed information is available on the Web site of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and through the City of Pittsburgh site.
You are encouraged to review the information and submit comments to:
MarketSquare@DowntownPittsburgh by 5 p.m. on May 15.
Mike Edwards is president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
The Allegheny County district attorney and the Pittsburgh police chief provided increased security attention to the square in 2007. This focus resulted in 120 arrests, the closing of three nuisance establishments and more police presence. The PDP followed up with an adjusted deployment schedule for its Safety Ambassadors and Clean Team members. Just recently, city leaders and the Port Authority announced that buses will permanently be rerouted away from Market Square effective May 15.
Last fall, the city Planning Department hired Dina Cole Klavon of Klavon Design Associates, a local landscape architecture firm, to complete a series of design concepts for Market Square. The firm's plans incorporated Project for Public Spaces recommendations, initial public input, conclusions from the PDP's program and design experiments and feedback from the Market Square leadership group, technical group and key community leaders.
The result is three final design concepts. Their estimated costs range up to $5 million.
The next step is vital: The public must weigh in. Tell us what you think of these three visions. This very public space needs to be shaped by the public.
The final steps are to secure the appropriate funding and move toward reconstruction this fall or early next year.
First Published April 20, 2008 12:00 am
