We imagine you share our excitement to greet the New Year! Managing the critical work of the Lower Hill development through the COVID pandemic in 2020 has been difficult, and we are thankful that we are closer to realizing this transformational project now than we have ever been. 
 
We've stayed open for business (see letter of updated commitments recently sent to the CCIP EMC from the Development Team) and made important progress where possible:
 
  • Brought on local leaders and minority investment partners to help lead the final stages of pre-development and to get our first projects out of the ground

  • Better defined our plans to deliver community impacts across all categories of the established Community Collaboration and Implementation Plan (CCIP)

  • Taken significant steps toward the creation of the Hill District Reinvestment Fund by sharing approved tax abatements in ways that surpass CCIP objectives

  • Enhanced connections to our neighbors and complementary development projects in the Hill District

Together with our partners, our work will create better economic and cultural connections to the Hill District, create thousands of jobs and improved pathways to employment for Hill District residents, and deliver upon the highest commitments to minority and local businesses and contractors of any development in our city’s history. 

Be well. Stay safe. Better days ahead.
BPG, Penguins and Their Partners Secure Last Financing Needed For FNB Tower
The development team plans to start construction on the new First National Bank headquarters at the former Civic Arena site next summer after securing the final piece of financing for the project.
Minority-owned Clay Cove Capital LLC provided the capital commitment — joining the Penguins and their commercial developer, the Buccini/Pollin Group, as equity investors in the $230 million, 26-story office tower.
Bomani Howze Joins The Buccini Pollin Group
BPG has hired Hill District-based developer Bomani Howze as a Vice President with development management responsibilities in the Pittsburgh region, where BPG also owns the People’s Center office complex on the North Shore. Mr. Howze’s areas of focus will be to finalize planning approvals, further define commercial programming and expand the firm’s community engagement platform.

Mr. Howze noted: “BPG has been a trailblazer in delivering projects of significant complexity and impact in Baltimore, Washington, Wilmington and other cities with neighborhoods pursuing equitable development similar to Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District. I’m incredibly excited to join forces with BPG, the Penguins and our extensive, public-private partner network to bring long-promised opportunities to the Hill and to realize the possibilities of reinvestment in my community.” BPG’s Managing Partner Chris Buccini said: “We are delighted to solidify our presence in Pittsburgh by partnering with local developer and community builder Bomani Howze. Together, we will work to realize the tremendous potential for this special location.”
Bomani Howze on The Confluence 90.5 WESA
Click the play button to hear Bomani talk about the CCIP plan and the evolution of Lower Hill development in a recent interview.
Full live stream courtesy NPR 90.5 WESA
Deadline to submit Questions: Extended to December 18, 2020 4:00 PM
Qualifications Due: December 31, 2020 4:00 PM
To enhance the list of pre-qualified contractors, vendors, professional service providers, retail tenants, owners and co-developers, we are pleased to present an Request For Qualifications (RFQ) opportunity to participate in the redevelopment of the Lower Hill.

Interested parties are invited to submit qualifications in response to this RFQ.

For more information on submission requirements, deadlines, and questions please click the link below.
Requested Fields of Work:
  • Civil Engineering 
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Survey
  • Testing/Inspection
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Mechanical Engineering 
  • Electrical Engineering 
  • Architecture 
  • Sustainable Strategy/LEED Design 
  • Interior Design 
  • Equity Ownership
Builder's Guild Cohorts
Upcoming Spring Classes * dates subject to change

March Cohort
Submit Applications by February 17, 2021
Interview/Enrollment Process: February 22, 2021 – March 12, 2021
Training Program Schedule: March 29, 2020 – May 5, 2021

May Cohort
May 17, 2021 – June 25, 2021
Submit Applications by March 31st
Interview/Enrollment Process: April 5, 2021 – April, 23, 2021
Training Program Schedule: May 17, 2021 – June 25, 2021     
Resources for Job Seekers from SkillsBuild
IBM SkillsBuild Reignite is a career readiness platform built to support businesses, job seekers, and non-profit organizations as they emerge from the economic disruption of COVID-19. 
 
This initiative includes accredited learning content from IBM with personalized, 1:1 career development coaching from IBM volunteers, and other experts at no cost to the user. The program combines these resources with free workshops, virtual seminars, referrals, and resume-building experiences arranged by nonprofits and businesses.

Individuals interested in learning more can find additional information here
Construction Training Programs
Training topics include:
Understanding the Solicitation
Common Contract Clauses
How to Bid the Contract
OSHA Forms
Labor and Payroll
Understanding Financial Statements
And more!
Do you have questions about the Lower Hill Redevelopment? Send them to [email protected]. Your question may just end up on the next newsletter!
Questions, Comments or Content Suggestions? Send us your feedback at [email protected]. We will do our best to answer quickly and accurately. Your question may just be featured in our next newsletter!