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Council to Vote on $230 Million Larimer Development Project

A multimillion dollar redevelopment plan for Larimer got Pittsburgh City Council’s preliminary approval, but Monday’s final vote will determine the neighborhood’s possible makeover.

The $230 million development plan would be split up into three phases to address all aspects of the area: people, neighborhood and housing. It is concentrated primarily on Larimer Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard, but encompasses other streets as well.

The city has committed to contributing $12 million, and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority committed $16.5 million, but the majority of contributions, $171.5 million, will be private money.

The remaining $30 million depends on whether Larimer is chosen for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant.

Donna Jackson, an administrator for Larimer Consensus Group, said if Larimer is not chosen for the grant, the Consensus Group still wants to continue with redevelopment.

“We’ll be looking for other developers to come into the neighborhood and bring new development and some homes.”

Some members of City Council have shown hesitation to approve the plan, since the city has to reach into funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

Jackson replied to their reservations by stating the Larimer neighborhood is “long overdue” for development. A new home hasn’t been built in Larimer in about 50 years.

The redevelopment plan includes 300 housing units, along with other things like parks and green infrastructure.