Photo by Damian Catanza
As a young man in the early 1990’s the area known as the Cultural District was far from that. It was a forgoten part of downtown. It was dangerous. Pepshows and bars. Not the kind of places you wanted to go. Homeless and trash. Pittsburgh was still in decline. The scares of losing many steel jobs were still healing. The Culture District Represented the beging of the healing process.
The Vision and Founding
- Decline and Vision: By the early 1980s, much of the downtown area, particularly the Penn-Liberty Avenue corridor, had fallen into a state of industrial decline and blighted conditions, including a reputation as a red-light district.
- H.J. Heinz II: Visionary leader H.J. “Jack” Heinz II championed the idea of a vibrant cultural district to revitalize the area.
- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: To realize this vision, Heinz and other community leaders formed the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in 1984.
Transformation and Development
- The Trust’s Mission: The Trust’s mission is to stimulate economic and cultural development by creating and promoting a thriving downtown arts and entertainment district.
- Key Properties: The Trust owns and operates major venues such as the Benedum Center (restored from the historic Stanley Theater) and Heinz Hall.
- A 14-Block Revitalization: The Cultural Trust has transformed 14 city blocks into a bustling area of art, culture, dining, and entertainment.
