Advisory Services
Don Carter (CMU, Remaking Cities Institute) and Jack Norris (CBRE) started ULI Pittsburgh after they saw the value of ULI and what it could bring to the region. Through the years, there have been seven Advisory Services Panels that have provided unbiased and independent solutions to the most complex land use problems facing our region. The recommendations that resulted from these panels have shaped the regional landscape where we live, work, and play.
With the mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide, ULI Pittsburgh is positioned to provide thought leadership across the spectrum of real estate product and organizational focus.
Learn more about Advisory Services.
ULI Advisory Services in our Region
ASP – Point Park – Panel Report_Final (2024)
Point Park University (PPU), situated in the vibrant city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stands poised to enhance its role as a dynamic educational institution deeply integrated with the fabric of its surrounding community. As the sole downtown university in Pittsburgh, it occupies a central position in shaping the city’s post-pandemic narrative. With strategic land holdings, prime location, and extensive networks across public, private, and philanthropic sectors, Point Park aims to spearhead Pittsburgh’s next era of growth and innovation.
Now, as Pittsburgh looks towards its future, Point Park University is eager to lead the charge in revitalizing its downtown core. Seeking guidance from the ULI Panel, the University aims to enhance the Boulevard of the Allies and Wood Street corridors, vital connectors between the city’s cultural hub and the university campus. As a pivotal regional player, Point Park University contributes not only to education but also to employment, housing, entertainment, and the overall vitality of Downtown Pittsburgh.
Redevelopment of Town Center and Riverfront
The EastShore communities consist of the boroughs of Braddock, North Braddock, Rankin, and Swissvale. These boroughs are four of the many communities in the Monongahela (“Mon”) Valley, seven miles upriver from downtown Pittsburgh. Historically, each of the boroughs was heavily involved in the production of steel and, as the fortunes of the steelmaking industry waned, the economic vitality of these communities has suffered.
The Enterprise Zone Corporation of Braddock (EZCB), representing all four boroughs, invited the ULI to conduct an Advisory Services panel to address a variety of questions focused on economic development, land use, and organizational structure.
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, once home to more than 18,000 people, suffered a loss of businesses and population in the 1970’s and 1980’s. As of July 1, 2015, the population was 6,053 and the city has lost population every year since 2010. The median household income within McKees Rocks is 23,656 and nearly 33 percent live below the poverty rate within the Mckees Rocks. The city of Pittsburgh, which is included within the study area, is the second largest city in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania (304, 391 2015). Over the last few years Pittsburgh has seen a small population growth. The region has also remained steady with a population approximately at nearly 2.4 million residents which makes it the 26th most populous region in the United States.
The McKees Rocks CDC, the borough, and several additional stakeholders form local and regional agencies sought input from ULI to address issues related to reinvestment, land use, and poverty.
Infrastructure, Transportation, Economic Development
Port Authority of Allegheny County 2014
With the successful passage of a robust transportation bill for Pennsylvania, transit across the state has a predictable funding stream. For the Port Authority this means fiscal stability for the first time in a decade and the wherewithal to partner across the county on economic and business development plans that promote comprehensive and sustainable growth.
The Port Authority of Allegheny County asked the ULI Advisory Panel to address key questions as a piece of its overall strategic effort to draft a sound framework for transit planning in the region.
Point Park University wanted the ULI to help identify opportunities for creating a “strong, vibrant campus experience that complemented the academic experience while remaining a respectful member of the surrounding community that was part of the downtown Pittsburgh area.” The panel recognized significant opportunities for revitalization of the Point Park University urban campus, and recommended that the University work closely with the city to pursue a comprehensive revitalization strategy.
Pittsburgh International Airport 2002
ULI was engaged to provide recommendations for the development and marketing of the Pittsburgh International Airport market area.
Pittsburgh Cultural District 2000
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust engaged ULI to provide recommendations on development and marketing strategies for the Cultural District.
Pittsburgh Technology and Industry Park 1984
The Urban Redevelopment Authority egaged ULI to help them evaluate and strategize their first purchase of a steel mill site.