NSLC Accomplishments
September 2018: NSLC and Walk/Ride Northside, the NSLC bike/ped advocacy committee, hosted the 1st annual OktoberQuest - Northside Bicycle/Brewery Tour. The sold out event led 50 bicyclists through the Northside and provided them the opportunity to experience the beauty of various Northside neighborhoods, all while tasting delicious samples from local breweries (Penn Brewery, Spring Hill Brewing, Threadbare Cider House, Bier's Pub/War Streets Brewing, and Allegheny City Brewing).
September 2018: In conjuntion with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Friends of Riverview Park, NSLC hosted the 1st annual RP (Riverview Park) Day.
May 2018: Phase I of Bonvue Street Revitalization Project is completed with 3 homes already sold!
October 2017: East Allegheny Community Council, in conjunction with NSLC, holds its 26th annual Pumpkinfest in Allegheny Commons East Park. More than 5,000 people including over 1,700 children, attended this children's harvest festival.
July 2017: The Deutschtown Music Festival, in conjunction with NSLC, holds its 5th annual Deutschtown Music Festival throughout Historic Deutschtown, East Deutschtown, Troy Hill, Allegheny City Center and Allegheny Commons East Park. More than 20,000 people were in attendance with 225 bands and 33 stages over 2 days.
December 2016: NSLC is awarded a $350,000 Intermodal Grant from the PA Department of Community & Economic Development to enhance road improvements and streetscapes surrounding the Workingmen’s Square project on E Ohio St.
November 2016: NSLC kicks off the renovation of ten homes (5 each in Brightwood and Observatory Hill) and completes the construction of a large retaining wall at Penn Brewery.
October 2016: East Allegheny Community Council, in conjunction with NSLC, holds its 25th annual Pumpkinfest in Allegheny Commons East Park. More than 5,000 people, including 1,400 children, attended this children's harvest festival.
July 2016: The Northside Veterans Monuments Initiative is created, bringing together various organizations to begin a multi-year initiative to restore, preserve and interpret the various monuments throughout Northside.
June 2016: Northside Sandwich Week celebrates its 5th anniversary with record number of restaurants and record attendance. Delicious!
Feb 2015: The first Northside Mardi Gras crowns Jack “Johnny Angel” Hunt as the first King. This has now grown into a coordinated 10-day promotion for dozens of Northside restaurants, pubs and retail shops.
Dec 2014: October Development selects NSLC to serve as Project Manager for the Workingmen’s Square Hotel project next to the former ARC House. Construction begins in Spring 2017.
August 2014: Good news! There are no overhead service lines remaining on the 900 block of Western Ave.! A major milestone of the Western Renewed! project, this means that no property along that block gets electric, cable, or phone from Western Ave. All overhead service lines have been removed or relocated to the rear. The overhead distribution lines will remain in place for the moment as they provide service to the 800 block of Western Ave.
July 2014: Completed interior renovations of 408 Cedar Avenue, converting a funeral home into law offices for a firm relocating from downtown.
December 2013: The October Development and NSLC closed on URA and First National Bank financing for the construction of 7 new homes in the 600 block of Suismon Street, Historic Deutschtown!
November 2013: The New Allegheny Market House, a place for artists, artisans and makers, opens at 502 E. Ohio Street. This holiday pop-up market, funded by a $7,000 Biz Buzz grant from the URA, features wares and gifts from Northsiders.
October 2013: Northside Bike/Ped Committee is named Advocacy Group of the Year by BikePGH for our work on safety initiatives and promoting bike riding on the Northside.
East Allegheny Community Council, in conjunction with NSLC, holds its 22nd annual Pumpkinfest in Allegheny Commons East Park. More than 5,000 people, including 1,400 children, attended this children's harvest festival.
September 2013: Thanks to the Cool Roofs Program from Serve PGH and the combined efforts of NSLC and HDDC, the rooftop of the Beckert Building has been repainted as an energy efficient, "cool" rooftop!
June 2013: The Second Annual Northside Sandwich Week takes place with 13 restaurants competing for the crown. This year's Sandwich Sampler, held at the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339, draws nearly 300 attendees. Modern Cafe is chosen as Northside Sandwich King and James Street Gatropub takes second place.
May 2013: Allegheny General Hospital and NSLC were pleased to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The James A. Magovern, MD, Hearts in the Park Walk. This walk benefits cardiovascular research, sports programs in Northside elementary schools and the Allegheny Commons.
May 2013: Deutschtown Merchants Association wins a $10,000 grant for the Historic Deutschtown Heritage project, which combines public art, tourism and historic landmarks along East Ohio Street.
April 2013: Brightwood Civic Group and NSLC sell the third of the first three homes rehabbed as part of the Woodland Avenue Revitalization Project. The first home was also sold this month, the second home sold in December 2012 as soon as it was completed, and this home sold as soon as it was completed.
March 2013: Historic Deutschtown Development Corporatio completes renovations of second floor at 632 E. Ohio St. for the expansion of Grace Period, an alternative to pay day lending already occupying the first floor.
Jan 2013: Allegheny General Hospital and NSLC, thanks to the generous support of the PNC Foundation, held the first of 8 first time homebuyer workshops at the hospital. The workshops are part of the AGH-Northside Partnership’s Workforce Home Benefit Program
Sept 2012: NSLC and partner Historic Deutschtown Development Corporation receive one of 8 Fresh Paint Days grants from Home Depot and give a makeover to the historic Beckert Building at 502 East Ohio St.
Aug 2012: Historic façade` restoration of 431-433 East Ohio St begins. Workmen discover leaded glass transom windows, boarded over and forgotten for decades!
July 2012: Brightwood Civic Group kicks off the renovation of 1320 and 1324 Woodland Avenue and immediately find a homebuyer for one house.
June 2012: The first annual Northside Sandwich Week is a rousing success with 10 local restaurants competing for the title of Northside Sandwich King (or Queen)! Bistro to Go wins with its Smokey Grill.
May 2012: Pipitone Group and Allegheny Elks Lodge partner with NSLC to clean and landscape the 23rd Ward Veterans Monument, the first in a multi-year initiative to protect and restore Northside monuments.
Mar 2012: First Niagara and First National both announce funding commitments to NSLC under the PA Neighborhood Partnership Program. First Niagara commits $300,000 over 6 years to NSLC’s Real Estate Development Program and First National commits $300,000 over 6 years to NSLC’S Business District revitalization efforts.
Aug 2011: Pittsburgh Public Schools announces its Facilities Reorganization Plan, adopting key recommendations of the NSLC Education Committee to establish a K-8 program in Brighton Heights and to retain Manchester Elementary School.
June 2011: Construction begins on the first house (1407 Woodland) in Brightwood’s Housing Development Strategy. Brightwood Civic Group also acquires 4 more properties for development in the Woodland Ave corridor.
Mar 2011: NSLC and Rivers Casino announce the first 11 neighborhood projects funded by the Rivers Casino grant. Projects include 40 housing units, 7 commercial buildings and several beautification projects.
Mar 2011: Following a year of work with the NSLC Education Committee, Propel Schools is approved by the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board as a charter school, the first location for Propel in Pittsburgh. The school opens in Aug 2011.
Sept 2010: The Allegheny Commons Initiative of NSLC breaks ground on Phase 1 of the Northeast Quadrant Restoration. This phase will re-make the paths, lighting and infrastructure for the section of the East Commons that is home to the Farmer’s Market, Pumpkinfest, Celebration in the Park and other community festivals.
June 2010: NSLC acquires the 55,000sf Brewery Buildings in East Deutschtown and helps founder Tom Pastorius and a new group of investors restart Penn Brewery, Pittsburgh’s only production brewery. The project restores 40 jobs lost when the brewery closed a year earlier and preserves another 60 jobs in the small office tenants in the complex.
Jan 2010: NSLC forms the Northside Education Committee to provide a forum for community engagement on a comprehensive multi-neighborhood approach to Northside schools and education issues.
Jan 2010: NSLC releases the feasibility studies for the reconnection of the Allegheny Center Street Grid, undoing the urban renewal era alterations to the heart of Allegheny City. This project moved to engineering and design phase in 2011 with construction several years out.
Dec 2009: NSLC releases the feasibility studies for the conversion of the former St Nicholas Church on Rt 28, the site of the first Croatian Parish in the Americas, to the National Immigration Museum. The project later gains support from the Croatian Ambassador to the US and Pittsburgh’s preservation community.
2009: Huntington Bank makes a $300,000 committment under the PA Neighborhood Partnership Program to support NSLC Business Development efforts at the Northside Community Development Fund.
2009: The Pittsburgh Steelers make a $300,000 committment under the PA Neighborhood Partnership Program to support the Allegheny Commons Initiative.
2008: The Allegheny Corridor is designated by the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development (PPND) as one of 3 strategic multi-neighborhood corridors in the city and then receives the program's first-ever grant.
2008: NSLC hosts 25th Annual Dinner and reaches over $100,000 in scholarships awarded to Northside students.
2008: Fifth/Third Bank purchases $2 million in New Markets Tax Credits as Northside Community Development Fund's (NSCDF) asset base grows past $5 million.
2007: All three entities (NSLC, NSCDF, and the Northside Chronicle) adopt newly revised business plans, setting a clear five year course.
2007: The pilot phase of the Allegheny Commons Restoration is completed at Cedar Avenue and East Ohio Street.
2006: NSLC strikes an agreement with Majestic Star Casino to protect Northside community interests. Commitments include a hiring preference for low income residents and $3 million in development funds.
2005: NSCDF assumes ownership of the Northside Chronicle.
2005: NSCDF becomes the smallest organization in the United States awarded New Markets Tax Credits.
2005: NSLC joins a unique partnership with arts and culture groups to restore the historic New Hazlett Theater. These renovations were completed in 2006.
2000: NSCDF created and later certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
1991: Housing Development Program created to assist member groups.
1989: NSLC and Allegheny General Hospital create Pittsburgh's first partnership between a CDC and a major health provider.
1986: NSLC adds the Neighborhood Employment Center to assist residents in attaining living wage jobs.
1985: Northside Chronicle begins publication.
1980: NSLC organized as a coalition of Northside neighborhood organizations to coordinate multi-neighborhood advocacy efforts.