Oakland Crossings PGH

03/22/2022

"Results of the just-announced solution should encourage Oakland and the entire city." -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Working alongside Mayor Ed Gainey, we look forward to revitalizing the Oakland neighborhood with new apartment buildings and the area's first neighborhood grocery store since 2017.

https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2022/03/09/oakland-crossings-deal-is-a-gainey-win/stories/202203090028

The approval process for the proposed Oakland Crossings development has demonstrated two very different models of public-private collaboration, and of...

03/21/2022

Two weeks ago, the Oakland Crossings project reached an important milestone by coming to terms with Mayor Ed Gainey's office.

“From the first day we walked into office I told my team that any development must move us forward on making Pittsburgh more equitable and affordable for everyone,” Mayor Gainey said.

The discussions between Oakland Crossings and Mayor Gainey resulted in a commitment by Walnut Capital to make 10% of the project's housing affordable to those who make less than half the region's median income.

Read the full story in 90.5 WESA: https://www.wesa.fm/development-transportation/2022-03-07/oakland-crossings-will-resume-its-stalled-approval-process

Mayor Ed Gainey announced a deal with developer Walnut Capital on Monday.

03/04/2022

Since its inception, the Oakland Crossings project has been focused on revitalizing Oakland, something many of its longtime residents agree that it needs.

Among its supporters is longtime Oakland resident and landlord, Franco Pasquarelli, who says that the project is "going to only make the neighborhood a better place... It’s only going to increase the value of your properties. It’s only going to make the place more beautiful."

Read the full story in The Pitt News to hear from more community members in favor of the project:
https://pittnews.com/article/171971/uncategorized/its-not-really-a-residential-neighborhood-anymore-halket-street-landlords-talk-about-oakland-crossings-proposal/

Al Pasquarelli, a landlord and lifelong resident of Oakland, is willing to sell and move out of the neighborhood he’s lived in his whole life because he believes he’s leaving it in good hands with the Oakland Crossings plan.

03/03/2022

At the Oakland Business Improvement District (Oakland412) meeting held on Monday to discuss accessibility and inclusion in Oakland, Todd Reidbord, the president of Walnut Capital, emphasized that accessibility remains an important factor in the Oakland Crossings project:

"As a private developer, we realize how important it is for the disability community to feel as welcome as anyone and equal to everybody in Oakland."

Read the The Pitt News story linked below for more of Reidbord's remarks:
https://pittnews.com/article/171896/news/obid-meeting-brings-community-leaders-together-to-address-equitable-accessibility/ #:~:text=Halket%20Street%20in%20Oakland.&text=For%20John%20Tague%2C%20a%2072,member%20of%20the%20disabled%20community.

Seven community organizations and developers addressed accessibility at a meeting hosted by OBID on Monday afternoon.

03/02/2022

On Monday, Walnut Capital's president Todd Reidbord spoke about Oakland Crossings' plans for affordability at the Oakland Business Improvement District's (Oakland412) panel on "Equity in Oakland".

Among his comments were that the Oakland Crossings project will commit 10% of its residential units to the University of Pittsburgh's "walk-to-work" strategy, which will provide affordable housing to university employees.

Oakland Crossings is also actively working with Mayor Ed Gainey's office to “create affordable housing separate and apart" from Pitt's program.

Read the full 90.5 WESA story by Margaret Krauss:
https://www.wesa.fm/development-transportation/2022-03-01/pitt-aims-to-launch-a-housing-pilot-by-the-end-of-2022

The university hopes the employee-assisted housing initiative would help attract and retain workers and result in more non-student residents living in Oakland.

02/17/2022

What does a staple of the Oakland Community feel about Oakland Crossings? University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher recently talked about the university’s ongoing collaboration in the Oakland Crossings process, saying: “We certainly want to be a productive participant in that process, and that includes whether it’s as a partner on the development side, but it also means as a member of the community.”

And, on the ongoing public discussions around the project: “I actually think this kind of crescendo that you get as some of the decisions start coming in is a natural part of the process. And we think it’s actually a healthy part of the process. This is where concerns get identified — is the balance right, are the priorities right? But in the end, some decisions have to be made, and we hope, at some point, this concludes in a way that is responsive to creating an Oakland that is equitable and works for everybody.”

We couldn’t agree more, and are glad to continue to work alongside community fixtures, such as the University of Pittsburgh, as we move towards making a new, transformed Oakland a reality!

02/16/2022

“Holistically, we believe Walnut Capital’s vision for Oakland Crossings is in line with the Oakland Plan’s community goals and that their high standards of place-making will advance our mission to enhance Oakland as one of Pennsylvania’s top global centers.” -Kelly McBroom, Chair of the Board, Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID)

We are grateful for the ongoing support from the OBID (Oakland412) and so much of the community as we work to lift up Oakland for all neighbors!

https://pittnews.com/article/168403/news/obid-announces-support-for-controversial-walnut-capital-plan/

The Oakland Business Improvement District announced its support Monday for private Shadyside developer Walnut Capital’s controversial Oakland Crossings plan to rezone about 17 acres of Central Oakland.

02/15/2022

What’s happening with Oakland Crossings? We’re continuing to work closely with the Gainey administration to ensure the most equitable and inclusive project possible. After granting a 30-day continuance to the Oakland Crossings project last week, Mayor Gainey said he hopes “all partners involved remain committed to achieving our goal of creating a more affordable and equitable Pittsburgh.”

Todd Reidbord, the president of Walnut Capital, assured the mayor that this is the case in this 90.5 WESA article by Margaret Krauss: https://www.wesa.fm/development-transportation/2022-02-08/gainey-puts-future-of-oakland-crossings-on-hold-for-another-30-da

The second 30-day continuance was requested by the Department of City Planning and developer Walnut Capital, according to the mayor’s office.

11/12/2021

Do you think that affordable housing strategies should consider the entirety of a person's quality of life?

A new housing model, called "walk to work" housing encourages employees of all income levels to live close to where they work -- and studies show people who walk to work are happier. Oakland Crossing's developer talks with 90.5 WESA about this new affordable housing model.

Ten percent of the housing planned for the Oakland Crossings development would be “walk-to-work housing,” with no income limitations.

11/08/2021

"The last grocery to operate in the heart of Oakland was an IGA on Forbes Avenue. It closed in 2017." -Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Are you surprised that the Oakland neighborhood doesn't have a grocery store? For Oakland Crossings, building a sustainable development that brings fresh food to the community is one of its top priorities.

It’s been more than 20 years since Giant Eagle had a grocery in the heart of Oakland. The supermarket chain may now be considering a return engagement. The...

11/05/2021

We believe in healthy debates and public process. Thanks to Pittsburgh City Paper writer Ryan Deto for his thorough reporting on Oakland Crossings.

And to set the record straight, Walnut Capital sought to have public community meetings with Oakland Planning and Development and Corporation. Unfortunately, they said "no" and refused to be conveners, despite their obligation to do so as a "registered community organization." Walnut Capital held their own community meetings and will continue to remain transparent and open to public debate.

Read more: https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/factions-in-oakland-are-fighting-to-determine-the-future-of-the-neighborhoods-development/Content?oid=20360179

11/04/2021

"I feel good about the process; I feel really good about the
project... They come back and say 'process'," said Mayor Bill Peduto of the OPDC. "That just ends up being a red herring when there’s nothing you can object to in the development itself... You finally have a developer who put together all of the wishes of the Oakland community. As an elected official for 20 years and as a member of city government for 27 years, I don't think we have to wait another 27 years in order to be able to do it, nor do I think that I should not take action as the mayor I am right now."

Read more in Pittsburgh Business Times:

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto defended his administration's zoning ordinance to make way for the more than 17-acre Oakland Crossing plan.