Marchers call on city to buy Penn Plaza Apartments for affordable housing

PITTSBURGH — Protesters marched Saturday in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, calling on the city to buy an apartment complex that is scheduled to be demolished and instead use it for affordable housing.

The last few residents of the Penn Plaza Apartments moved out Friday. Meanwhile, the city of Pittsburgh and a developer are in the middle of a court battle over plans for the site.

The developer had been planning to build luxury condos and a Whole Foods. However, Whole Foods pulled out of the project on Thursday, citing concerns raised by the community.

Whole Foods suspends plans for Penn Plaza development project

Dozens of people participated in Saturday afternoon’s “Penn Plaza Matters Memorial March Against Gentrification” down Penn Avenue. They want the city to adopt policies that demonstrate a commitment to fair and affordable housing and prevent people from being displaced from their homes.

"Moving is traumatic as it is, and the older you get, the harder it is to move," Alethea Sims, a former resident, said.

Whole Foods has not ruled out returning to the project if the developer and the community reach a compromise.

An attorney representing the developer said on Thursday that demolition of the apartment complex would start Saturday.

PREVIOUS STORIES: 

• City of Pittsburgh, developer return to court over Penn Plaza site 
• Battle continues over East Liberty redevelopment project
• Attorney of Penn Plaza developer plans to take Planning Commission to court over site denial
• Penn Plaza residents running out of time to relocate amid court battle
• Displaced Penn Plaza tenants reach agreement with owners, city
• City seeks emergency injunction over East Liberty development

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