Residents & Small Businesses, It's Time To Speak Up

Written By: John Valentine, Executive Director, Downtown Neighbors Alliance

Just a few years ago Market Square was a vibrant, exciting place to dine out. All four quadrants were bustling with outdoor dining and the Square was not only a destination but a beautiful center for events and gatherings. All that changed when landlords replaced restaurants with two banks, one of which doesn't even have employees at the location. All the success that came before the banks was gutted.

Gone was the vibrancy, the genial outdoor dining experience that was so thoughtfully laid out. All because of the lack of residents and businesses having a say in what types of businesses can open in our neighborhood. Other cities all across the country have ordinances and laws to prevent banks from coming into business districts. Pittsburgh, due to the state, has no such laws. 

In recent years, we watched helplessly as a beer distributor moved onto Wood St., followed by a convenience store. Now we have people with substance abuse issues sleeping on the street outside of the beer distributor. 

The same company that opened the beer distributor followed that by opening up a beer distributor on Liberty Ave. We were promised it was going to be an upscale beer distributor. It wasn't and we watched helplessly as the business contributed to the quality of life going downhill on Liberty Ave. 

Now the same family is planning to open an "upscale" beer distributor on our most vibrant block, Sixth St. between Penn Ave. and Ft. Duquesne Blvd. We are being told it will be upscale. DNA has obtained a copy of the lease and this claim is inaccurate. According to the lease, this store will be selling tobacco. Does this sound like an upscale beer distributor?

Once again, a landlord who doesn't live downtown never reached out to the residents and only contacted the business community on Sixth St. after the lease was signed. 

It's time for the residents and business community to take action. DNA has decided that we will fight this opening. The first step in our plan was to contact our political leaders and see what laws could be passed. I'm happy to share with you that our legislators are supportive of our efforts. Step two is to reach out to the business and residential community and ask you to join us. I don't know if we can prevent this store from opening but there is a possibility. I do know that we can prevent future stores like this from ruining our neighborhood.

Please read and sign the petition below and pass it on to every downtown resident and downtown business you know.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to email me at jvalentine@pittsburghdna.org.

This neighborhood is worth fighting for!