Officials Break Ground On Gardens At Market Square Project
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - It's been said that Pittsburgh is in the midst of its third renaissance.
Public sector and private business have come together to break ground on another downtown complex.
The transformation of Downtown Pittsburgh continues along Forbes Avenue near Market Square.
"The things that have happened the last seven or eight years in Market Square have been phenomenal, so it's a wonderful time right now for Downtown. This is really the core of what's going on and really, the shining beacon for the economic and cultural renaissance that has gone on in Downtown over the last several years," Lucas Piatt said.
The Gardens Project is a mixed-use property, featuring a 197-room Hilton Garden hotel, retail space, office space and parking garage.
"It's a big part of the whole region -- the heart of the region is right here in Downtown Pittsburgh. Things, whether they happen in the Mon Valley or out at the airport or in the AK Valley, you know Downtown is important and people who work in Downtown for the most part don't live here," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl knows Downtown is vital to the continued success of southwestern Pennsylvania.
"Five or six years ago when we re-designed Market Square, there were a lot of critics, skepticism. Is this going to work? Are the vendors going to be able to have a good functioning business? Obviously, the answer today is a resounding yes. We think this is just another example of a good project, a mixed-use project getting more people living Downtown and one that we are happy to support," Ravenstahl said.
Gov. Tom Corbett's father worked on the first renaissance of Pittsburgh with the Civic Arena and Three Rivers Stadium. Now, he's proud Pennsylvania is providing funding as the renaissance continues.
"We are a great place to come and visit and a great place to come and establish work, establish offices, and establish tourism. This new facility is going to be a part of that," Gov. Corbett said.
If construction stays on schedule, The Gardens at Market Square will be complete in 2015.
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