East Liberty is a culturally diverse and booming neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s East End. It is bordered by Highland Park, Morningside, Stanton Heights, Garfield, Friendship, Shadyside, and Larimer.
An excellent summary of East Liberty’s boom and bust history comes from the website of East Liberty Development, Inc., the community development corporation for East Liberty:
The rise and fall of East Liberty is a familiar story in Pittsburgh. In its ‘golden era’ in the 1940s and 1950s, East Liberty exemplified a vibrant commercial center and a tight-knit residential community. Pittsburgh’s ‘second downtown’ declined rapidly in the 1960s after an ambitious urban renewal program designed to remake East Liberty so that it could compete with the new suburban markets and shopping malls.”
Native Americans were of course the first inhabitants of the region now known as Western Pennsylvania. Settlers came in covered wagons from the East, acquiring property and building houses. They also cultivated family farms or large gardens. By 1780, both East Liberty and Highland Park had orchards, and by the early 1800s, East Liberty was at the center of travel from east and west.
Over the next fifty years, a single-track railroad went from Pittsburgh, through East Liberty, to Philadelphia. This reduced travel time from Pittsburgh to East Liberty considerably resulting in more people coming to the area to build homes. With the influx of people came businesses and churches.
East Liberty grew a great deal between the end of the Civil War and the end of the 19th Century. A racetrack, stockyards and businesses lined Penn Avenue and the adjoining streets. East Liberty at one point was considered the richest suburb in America, with families with names such as Carnegie, Heinz, Hunt, King, Lockart, Mellon, and Westinghouse all living in East Liberty.
The early decades of the Twentieth Century were the peak of progress for East Liberty. Industry was booming, schools were being built and the social life of the community flourished. Automobiles arrived at the beginning of the century. Of the 3,000 automobiles in Pittsburgh, 2,000 were in the East End.
The opening of the Bijou Dream Nickelodeon Theater in 1913 began the great theatre era in East Liberty. The Cameraphone, Regent, Liberty, Empire, Triangle, Haltis, and Sheridan Square Theaters soon followed the Bijou Dream. The Enright also followed, and seated 3,200. Dick Powell opened at the Enright, with Gene Kelly and his brother Fred performing. In addition to the Kellys, musicians Billy Strayhorn, Errol Garner, Billy Eckstine and Mary Lou Williams claimed East Liberty as home. Businesses in East Liberty included the National Biscuit Company, Isaly’s, Stagno’s Bakers and the first Sears & Roebuck Company store in Pittsburgh.
East Liberty was a very successful regional business district until 1958. At that time, faced with the first commercial vacancy in decades, increasing vehicular congestion, lack of parking and competition from the suburbs, East Liberty’s business leaders began to call for change. While future actions were based on the desire to maintain East Liberty’s strength, the change that occurred facilitated the community becoming one of the nation’s largest urban renewal projects, and contributed greatly to the demise of the once-vibrant community.
Two decisions in the 1960s negatively changed East Liberty. The first was an attempt to halt a slow trickle of businesses from the City to the suburbs, as some of East Liberty’s larger merchants observed that some residents of Pittsburgh’s East End were moving to the suburbs. It was also becoming evident that suburban shopping malls were growing and expanding. These merchants feared that suburban development would harm East Liberty’s status as a market center, and asked the City of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to take action.
- The URA proposal to create an outdoor pedestrian mall on Penn Avenue, to be surrounded by car-friendly roads. This plan demolished roughly half of the 254 acres that comprised East Liberty. The URA stopped traffic on the busiest part of Penn Avenue and routed it onto a series of new, one-way thoroughfares (called Penn Circle) that formed a ring around the central business district. Many small shops were destroyed—a million square feet of retail space in all.
- The second decision was for the City of Pittsburgh’s housing authority to propose and make changes to the neighborhood. Housing authority planners noted that the nearby African-American neighborhood of Homewood was overcrowded, largely as a result of the URA’s earlier demolition of the lower Hill District to create the Civic Arena, which had forced many of the Hill’s African-Americans out and into the North Side and Homewood. The housing authority’s solution was to build three large housing complexes, each close to 20 stories tall, in East Liberty along the new Penn Circle roads.
Sadly these two actions ultimately not only failed to preserve East Liberty as a market center, most would now say that the decisions hastened the community’s downfall. Routing cars away from Penn Avenue, which was the URA’s street plan, seemed to send a message that the neighborhood’s commercial center was not worth visiting. The new government-subsidized housing became a nuisance as it fell into disrepair over time. Most of the new suburban-style development around Penn Circle failed, leaving a moat of vacant buildings and empty expanses of cracked pavement.
In 1979, the East Liberty Quarter Chamber of Commerce formed the nonprofit East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) to facilitate redevelopment efforts in the neighborhood and begin the process of reversing the effects of urban renewal. Progress was uneven and slow through the 80s and 90s, and in the late 1990s, new leaders in East Liberty brought a sense of urgency to tackling old problems. They recognized that overcoming fragmentation and division by developing an aligned neighborhood had to be a top priority. Through a community-driven process, stakeholders developed A Vision for East Liberty.
This 1999 community plan set the stage for the next generation of revitalization which has brought about the current thriving community. The plan highlighted community initiatives that represented the beginning of local investment and success, which became the building blocks for change. East Liberty was determined to reposition itself as a successful, self-sustaining community once again.
Community plans are living and breathing documents and as progress was made and change came to East Liberty it was necessary to revisit the plan. The community celebrated the publication of a 10-year update to the Community Plan in May, 2010. The 2010 East Liberty Community Plan is a long-term framework for revitalization.
East Liberty can boast many positives today, including the offices of Google in Bakery Square that has stirred further development. Early successes were the establishment of Home Depot, Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joes and many smaller businesses in the neighborhood. A wide array of Pittsburgh’s unique restaurants and bars are in East Liberty including: Union Pig and Chicken, BRGR, Plum, Spoon, Ava, and Paris 66, in addition to other eateries and local favorites. Two unique hotels are now open, Hotel Indigo and the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh which is in a century-old former YMCA building at the heart of East Liberty. Large construction projects including Bakery Square 2 and the East Liberty Transit station and development are attracting new retailers to East Liberty and building many new luxury apartments. One such development of high end apartments is the impressive $30 million restoration of the historic (1920) Daniel Burnham-designed Highland Building by Walnut Capital on the corner of Highland and Centre. That project features 117 apartments and it is 100% leased with a waiting list.
A rebirth of East Liberty and the beginnings of a new golden age are being witnessed today.
Liberty Mashariki ni kitamaduni mbalimbali na kusitawi kitongoji katika Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's East End. Ni mipaka na Highland Park, Morningside, Stanton Heights, Garfield, Urafiki, Shadyside, na Larimer. Mfumo wa East Liberty ni sehemu ya mradi wa East Liberty Development, Inc. (East Liberty Development Corporation) ambao unajumuisha watu wa East Liberty na East Liberty. Katika "enzi yake ya dhahabu" katika miaka ya 1940 na 1950, East Liberty ilionyesha kituo cha kibiashara chenye nguvu na jamii ya makazi yenye mshikamano. Pittsburgh ilikuwa mji wa pili wa jiji la Pittsburgh, lakini iliharibika katika miaka ya 1960 baada ya mpango wa upyaji wa mijini uliokusudiwa kuunda upya East Liberty ili iweze kushindana na masoko mapya ya vitongoji na vituo vya ununuzi. Wakaaji waliwasili kutoka Mashariki kwa magari yaliyofunikwa, wakipata mali na kujenga nyumba. Pia walilima mashamba ya familia au bustani kubwa. Kufikia mwaka wa 1780, East Liberty na Highland Park zilikuwa na bustani za matunda, na kufikia mapema miaka ya 1800, East Liberty ilikuwa katikati ya safari kutoka mashariki na magharibi. Katika miaka hamsini iliyofuata, reli ya reli moja ilitoka Pittsburgh, kupitia East Liberty, hadi Philadelphia. Hii ilipunguza muda wa kusafiri kutoka Pittsburgh hadi East Liberty kwa kiasi kikubwa ikisababisha watu zaidi kuja katika eneo hilo kujenga nyumba. Pamoja na kuongezeka kwa watu kulikuwa na biashara na makanisa. East Liberty ilikua sana kati ya mwisho wa Vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe na mwisho wa karne ya 19. Uwanja wa mashindano ya mbio, viwanja vya mifugo, na biashara zilikuwa kwenye barabara ya Penn Avenue na barabara zilizo karibu. East Liberty ilikuwa moja ya vitongoji tajiri zaidi nchini Marekani, na familia zenye majina kama vile Carnegie, Heinz, Hunt, King, Lockhart, Mellon, na Westinghouse wote wanaishi katika East Liberty. Miongo ya mapema ya karne ya ishirini ilikuwa kilele cha maendeleo kwa Uhuru wa Mashariki. Viwanda vilikuwa vikiongezeka, shule zilikuwa zikijengwa na maisha ya kijamii ya jumuiya hiyo yalikuwa yakifanikiwa. Magari yaliwasili mwanzoni mwa karne hiyo. Kati ya magari 3,000 ya Pittsburgh, 2,000 yalikuwa katika eneo la East End. Kuanzishwa kwa Jumba la Maonyesho la Nickelodeon mnamo 1913 kulifanya eneo la East Liberty kuwa maarufu zaidi ulimwenguni. Majumba ya sinema ya Cameraphone, Regent, Liberty, Empire, Triangle, Haltis, na Sheridan Square yalifuata hivi karibuni Ndoto ya Bijou. Enright pia ilifuata, na ilikuwa na viti 3,200. Dick Powell alifungua katika Enright, na Gene Kelly na ndugu yake Fred kufanya. Mbali na Kellys, wanamuziki Billy Strayhorn, Errol Garner, Billy Eckstine na Mary Lou Williams walidai East Liberty kama nyumbani. Biashara katika East Liberty ni pamoja na National Biscuit Company, Isaly's, Stagno's Bakers na duka la kwanza la Sears & Roebuck Company huko Pittsburgh. Liberty East ilikuwa eneo la biashara la mkoa wa mafanikio sana hadi 1958. Wakati huo, wakikabiliwa na nafasi ya kwanza ya kibiashara katika miongo, kuongezeka kwa msongamano wa magari, ukosefu wa maegesho na ushindani kutoka vitongoji, viongozi wa biashara wa Liberty Mashariki walianza kutaka mabadiliko. Wakati hatua za baadaye zilikuwa msingi wa hamu ya kudumisha nguvu ya Uhuru wa Mashariki, mabadiliko yaliyotokea yaliwezesha jamii kuwa moja ya miradi kubwa ya upyaji wa mijini ya taifa, na kuchangia sana kuanguka kwa jamii ya wakati mmoja yenye nguvu. Hatua mbili zilizochukuliwa katika miaka ya 1960 zilibadilisha vibaya Uhuru wa Mashariki. "Mfano wa kwanza ulikuwa jaribio la kukomesha biashara polepole kutoka Jiji hadi vitongoji, wakati wafanyabiashara wengine wakubwa wa Liberty Mashariki waliona kwamba baadhi ya wakazi wa Pittsburgh ""East End walikuwa wakihamia vitongoji." Pia ilikuwa ikionekana wazi kwamba vituo vya ununuzi vya vitongoji vilikuwa vikikua na kupanuka. Wafanyabiashara hao waliogopa kwamba maendeleo ya vitongoji yangeharibu hadhi ya Liberty Mashariki kama kituo cha soko, na waliomba Mamlaka ya Maendeleo ya Mji wa Pittsburgh (URA) kuchukua hatua. URA imependekeza kujenga kituo cha ununuzi cha nje kwenye Penn Avenue, kuzungukwa na barabara za magari. Mipango hiyo iliharibu karibu nusu ya ekari 254 zilizokuwa katika eneo la East Liberty. URA ilisimamisha trafiki kwenye sehemu yenye shughuli nyingi zaidi ya Penn Avenue na kuipeleka kwenye safu ya barabara mpya za njia moja (ziliitwa Penn Circle) ambazo ziliunda pete karibu na wilaya kuu ya biashara. Maduka mengi madogo yaliharibiwa - jumla ya mita za mraba milioni moja za nafasi ya rejareja. - Uamuzi wa pili ulikuwa kwa mamlaka ya makazi ya Jiji la Pittsburgh kupendekeza na kufanya mabadiliko katika kitongoji. Wapangaji wa mamlaka ya makazi waligundua kuwa kitongoji cha karibu cha Kiafrika-Amerika cha Homewood kilikuwa na watu wengi, haswa kwa sababu ya URA ya kuharibu mapema ya Wilaya ya Hill ya chini ili kuunda Uwanja wa Umma, ambayo ililazimisha wengi wa Waafrika-Wamarekani wa Hill nje na ndani ya North Side na Homewood. Uamuzi wa mamlaka ya makazi ulikuwa kujenga majengo matatu makubwa ya makazi, kila moja karibu na ghorofa 20 za juu, katika Uhuru wa Mashariki kando ya barabara mpya za Penn Circle. Kwa kusikitisha, hatua hizi mbili hatimaye si tu kushindwa kuhifadhi Liberty Mashariki kama kituo cha soko, wengi sasa kusema kwamba maamuzi kuharakisha kuanguka kwa jamii. "Kutumia barabara ya Penn Avenue kama njia ya barabara ya URA, ilionekana kutuma ujumbe kwamba kituo cha kibiashara cha kitongoji hicho hakikuwa na thamani ya kutembelewa.""" Nyumba hizo mpya zilizofadhiliwa na serikali zikawa tatizo kwa sababu ziliharibika baada ya muda. Sehemu kubwa ya maendeleo mapya ya mtindo wa vitongoji karibu na Penn Circle yalishindwa, ikiacha mtaro wa majengo tupu na maeneo tupu ya barabara iliyochomeka. Mnamo 1979, Chama cha Biashara cha East Liberty Quarter kiliunda East Liberty Development Inc. (ELDI) ili kuwezesha juhudi za ujenzi katika kitongoji na kuanza mchakato wa kubadilisha athari za upyaji wa mijini. Maendeleo yalikuwa ya polepole na ya muda mrefu katika miaka ya 1980 na 1990, na mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1990, viongozi wapya katika Liberty Mashariki walileta hisia ya dharura ya kukabiliana na matatizo ya zamani. Walitambua kwamba kushinda mgawanyiko na mgawanyiko kwa kuendeleza ujirani ulio sawa lazima uwe kipaumbele cha juu. Kupitia mchakato unaoendeshwa na jamii, wadau waliunda Maono kwa Uhuru wa Mashariki. Mpango huu wa jamii wa 1999 uliweka hatua kwa kizazi kijacho cha uamsho ambao umeleta jamii ya sasa inayoendelea. Mpango huo ulikazia mipango ya jamii ambayo iliwakilisha mwanzo wa uwekezaji wa ndani na mafanikio, ambayo yakawa mawe ya ujenzi kwa mabadiliko. Liberty Mashariki ilikuwa imeamua kujiweka upya kama jamii yenye mafanikio, yenye kujitegemea tena. Mipango ya jamii ni hati hai na kupumua na kama maendeleo yalifanywa na mabadiliko alikuja East Liberty ilikuwa muhimu kwa upya mpango. Mkutano huo ulifanyika kwa ajili ya kuadhimisha miaka 10 ya kuanzishwa kwa mpango huo mnamo Mei 2010. Mpango wa Jumuiya ya Liberty Mashariki 2010 ni mfumo wa muda mrefu wa uamsho. Liberty East inaweza kujivunia mambo mengi mazuri leo, ikiwa ni pamoja na ofisi za Google katika Bakery Square ambayo imesababisha maendeleo zaidi. Mafanikio ya mapema yalikuwa kuanzishwa kwa Home Depot, Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joes na biashara nyingi ndogo katika kitongoji. Miongoni mwa mikahawa na baa za Pittsburgh ni Union Pig & Chicken, Brr, Plum, Spoon, Ava, na Paris 66 na vyakula vingine vya kipekee. Hoteli mbili za kipekee zimefunguliwa, Hoteli ya Indigo na Hoteli ya Ace Pittsburgh, ambayo iko katika jengo la zamani la YMCA la karne moja katikati ya Liberty Mashariki. Majengo makubwa ya ujenzi, ikiwa ni pamoja na Bakery Square 2 na kituo cha East Liberty Transit, yanavutia wauzaji wapya wa East Liberty na kujenga vyumba vingi vipya vya kifahari. Ujenzi wa nyumba za kifahari za hali ya juu ni ukarabati wa $ 30 milioni wa kihistoria wa Jengo la Highland lililobuniwa na Daniel Burnham na Walnut Capital kwenye kona ya Highland na Kituo. Nyumba hiyo ina vyumba 117 na imekodishwa kwa asilimia 100 na kuna orodha ya kusubiri. Kuzaliwa upya kwa Uhuru wa Mashariki na mwanzo wa enzi mpya ya dhahabu unashuhudiwa leo.