The Strip District sits just Northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, along the southeastern bank of the Allegheny River.  Say “Strip District” to outsiders and they may raise their eyebrows, but ask those that live and work in Pittsburgh, and you’ll hear all about the unique “24-hour” neighborhood, bustling with people day and night, a criss-cross of cultures and commerce. 

The Strip District is filled with a wide variety of wholesale merchants (including the famous Pennsylvania Macaroni Company and Wholey’s Fish Market), boutiques, sidewalk vendors, restaurants, night clubs, warehouses, and loft residences.  Constantly evolving, there is always something new to see or do in the Strip.  Visitors can explore the 16:62 Design Zone, Pittsburgh's design and decor district, which begins at 16th Street and continues through the adjacent neighborhood of Lawrenceville to 62nd Street.  In the district you can find a collection of art and antiques, design studios and furnishings for the home; request a free guidebook at www.1662designzone.com.  The Strip also boasts several cultural attractions, including the gallery Society for Contemporary Craft and the Heinz History Center, which includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

The Armstrong Cork Building in the Strip District will be the future home of a riverfront mixed-use development along the Allegheny River, between 23rd and 24th streets.  The former cork factory (originally constructed in 1901) is being redeveloped into 295 residential loft apartments, with over 47,000 square feet of commercial space and a 427-space parking garage on an adjacent lot.  The building’s classic red brick façade, historic silo, and engine room, along other original details, will be restored and incorporated into the re-development.  The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on April 7th, 2005, and the project is scheduled for completion during the summer of 2006.  You can view a collection of photos that document the redevelopment process at http://wahila.com/cork/.

The neighborhood organization Neighbors in the Strip (NITS) works to “promote economic development opportunities, while preserving the personality, integrity and character of the Strip."  Current initiatives include development of a Strip Marketplace (much like you would find at the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia or Pike Place Market in Seattle) and a Real Estate Summit, the objective of which is to “involve city and strip district planners, neighborhood property owners, and land and building developers in transforming the Strip District into more residential housing, more green spaces, and more service business providers”.  For more information or to get involved, contact Becky Rodgers at (412) 201-4774 or info@neighborsinthestrip.com, or visit the web at www.neighborsinthestrip.com.

Links

16:62 Design Zone

Heinz History Center

Neighbors in the Strip

Cool Space Award Winners

Elliance (2005)

Firehouse Lounge (2005)

Open Stage Theatre (2005)

Pittsburgh Decorative Center (2005)

Society for Contemporary Craft (2005)

Armstrong Cork Building (4/05)