Will LG Realty’s development plan for Penn Plaza have a positive social and economic impact on the City of Pittsburgh? The below data from CMU Tech4Society and photos from East Liberty Photo Project argue that it won’t.
A few months ago, CMU Tech4Society created a series of maps and infographics to show the larger context of displacement that Penn Plaza is a part of. The group’s research found that displacement disproportionately affects Black and low-income people.
Now, these infographics have been adjusted for inflation. The new graphics make it clear that rents are rising in East Liberty at a higher rate than inflation can account for.
For more information on where the data for these graphics came from, visit Tech4Society’s website.
As you may know by now, LG’s development plan proposes more office and retail space in East Liberty. But if you’ve spent any time in East Liberty, you also know that there is already plenty of vacant commercial space in the neighborhood.
The East Liberty Photo Project has documented some of these empty storefronts, asking the question: “Do we really need more retail space in East Liberty?” Below are some of the project’s photos; follow along on Instagram for more.
Penn Plaza Support and Action 