As URA Seeks Funds, Casey Urges EDA to Visit Site
Project Could Bring About 1,300 Jobs to East Liberty, Attract Large Employers to Pittsburgh
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is urging Economic Development Administration officials to visit the Bakery Square 2.0 project site to see firsthand how the project could benefit Pittsburgh and explore ways to make the job-creating project a reality.
“The Bakery Square 2.0 project presents the opportunity to bring over a thousand jobs to East Liberty while continuing to position Pittsburgh as a major draw for large employers,” said Senator Casey. “I urge the EDA to see the plans that I’ve seen and meet with the development team at the project site to discuss any possible grant opportunities or areas in which the agency can help move this job-creating project forward.”
The Bakery Square 2.0 project would create 400,000 square feet of office space so that Pittsburgh can continue to support large employers like Google and UPMC.
Senator Casey recently met with members of the project’s development team to view firsthand how over 1,000 jobs could be created by moving the project forward.
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter to EDA regional director Willie C. Taylor is below:
Mr. Willie C. Taylor
Director, Philadelphia Regional Office
Economic Development Administration
601 Walnut Street, Suite 140 South
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3323
Dear Mr. Taylor:
I write today to call your attention to revitalization efforts underway in the East Liberty neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. Specifically, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Pittsburgh is actively pursuing EDA funds for the Bakery Square 2.0 project. I would like to encourage you and your team to visit the project site.
The proposal as it stands is aimed at attracting new businesses that would build off the adjacent commercial development of Bakery Square. Bakery Square is a mixed-use site that includes over 216,000 square feet of office space and 122,000 square feet of retail space. Both public and private funding was utilized in the construction of Bakery Square. This project has played a major role in transforming the economic footprint of Pittsburgh and has helped draw major employers such as Google, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Veterans Administration and numerous small businesses to the city. As the Bakery Square 2.0 project currently stands, the development team plans for 400,000 square feet of office space to accommodate the market demand. The project is estimated to create an additional 1,300 jobs.
Recently, I visited with members of the development team to witness firsthand the success of the current Bakery Square development, as well as reviewed the feasibility study of Bakery Square 2.0. I respectfully request that representatives from the Economic Development Administration meet with URA officials and other project stakeholders to discuss any possible grant opportunities to assist the City of Pittsburgh in their efforts.
Thank you for your consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey Jr.
United States Senator
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