It may not be occurring with the fanfare and pace of development in East Liberty, but with new for-sale, rental and senior housing being constructed, its neighborhood “cluster” development plan complete, and development dollars beginning to flow, Homewood is slowly rising from the ashes of neglect.
One of the agents of this phoenix-like revitalization is Bridgeway Capital, which has not only invested in brick-and-mortar projects throughout Pittsburgh’s Black communities, but also in the residents—hiring Black owned firms to do as much of the work as is possible.
Last week it announced it would do even more of that in Homewood—$1 million more—as it continues the custom build out of the massive former Westinghouse building at 7800 Susquehanna Street, thanks to a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.
Bridgeway President and CEO Mark Peterson thanked state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, and state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-East Liberty, for their assistance and support in obtaining the grant.
“The 7800 Susquehanna Street (project) has created new jobs and economic opportunity for Homewood. This new $1 million grant allows us to expand and build out custom spaces for more small manufacturers and job training organizations,” he said. “We greatly appreciate the RACP program and Sen. Costa’s and Rep. Gainey’s support in bringing much needed new investment to Homewood.”
“I’m so pleased to join with Rep. Gainey to bring these critical grant funds back to Homewood,” Costa said. “Homewood is a growing, thriving community that has so much potential. This project opens the door to new opportunities for businesses and industrial partners to expand their operations. New business ventures mean new job opportunities for residents. What more could we ask for?”
The building, which sat idle for years, houses 150,000 square feet of space spread over five floors. Each of these 30,000-square-foot floors either has been, or will be rewired, framed, dry walled and painted, and subdivided to fit the lessees’ needs.
And, as the New Pittsburgh Courier previously reported, all the work has been supervised by Rashad Byrdsong’s Homewood-based Ma’at Construction firm, which Bridgeway hired as the general contractor for the project in 2014.
Not only has this allowed Byrdsong to hire additional African American tradesmen and crews like electrical contractor Louis McCullough, it affords students of the construction training program he runs though the Community Empowerment Association the chance to get hands-on experience.
Bridgeway gets it, he said.
“This is true empowerment; when you’re able to build your own organizations and institutions and businesses,” said Byrdsong. “Now, these kids out here will see people who look like them working and contributing, and rebuilding and beautifying their community. Instead of takers, they’ll see makers—they’ll be makers.”
Adam Kenney, director of Bridgeway’s Craft Business Accelerator, said the building is currently about two-thirds filled with tenants. The grant will help refit the remaining third, which includes half of the first floor and the entire fifth floor.
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