The HPCC recently learned that the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s new draft master plan includes a new 6-story apartment building at the corner of N. Sheridan and East Liberty Blvd. The HPCC supports many of the goals and other elements in the proposed master plan, but we are concerned that this building does not fit the scale of the adjacent residential properties. There was limited public engagement on the plan over two years ago and now it is going before the Planning Commission. Although the Seminary is in East Liberty, it is directly adjacent to the Highland Park neighborhood. We are distributing this information to ensure that neighbors in both East Liberty and Highland Park are aware of this proposal and can submit testimony about it, if they choose. If the plan is approved by the Planning Commission, it’s our understanding that the Seminary will be able to move forward with this building without additional public input.

To see the entire proposal, visit:

• https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/14561_DCP-MPZC-2019-00584_Pittsburgh_Theological_Seminary_IMP.pdf
  • Details of the proposed apartment building begin on page 31

The Seminary presented this plan to the Planning Commission 6/15/21; the meeting can be viewed online: https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/planning-commission

The public can provide testimony to the Planning Commission in the next two weeks by:

• Sending a letter to 200 Ross St., 4th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219.  Mailed testimony must be received by Friday, June 25; cite DCP-MPZC-2019-00584
• Emailing planningcommission@pittsburghpa.gov before noon Monday, June 28
• Attending the Zoom public meeting at 1 pm Tuesday, June 29: Webinar ID is 882 7511 3502
  • Attend via Zoom and use the “raise your hand” function to speak:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88275113502 ; or 
  • Call 301-715-8592 & use the “raise your hand” function by pressing *9