PITTSBURGH — For lifelong Hazelwood resident Reverend Michael Murray Sr., the Hazelwood Green project is deeply personal.
“My father actually worked here 38 years with Jones and Laughlin,” said Murray Sr, chair of the Greater Hazelwood Committee Collaborative.
He’s seen the neighborhood’s ups and downs, from the steel mill shutting its doors to reconstruction.
“We have been striving to believe that it was going to be revitalized in a different form.”
That revitalization now comes in the form of a multimillion dollar facelift to a space where he used to drop off lunch for his steelworker father.
The owners of the Hazelwood Green announced New York developer Tishman Speyer will work on the project.
Their goal is to set up restaurants, shopping, tech and office space, as well as more housing.
The master plan includes green space, 3,500 apartments and homes, with some expected to be affordable housing.
The project could bring upwards of 11,000 jobs.
“I’m excited for what’s coming. I’m also a little bit nervous because things have happened, like we’ve been told they were going to happen in the past,” said Stephanie Vargo of Hazelwood.
City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey applauded the developer and the next steps.
He told Channel 11 in a statement:
“We know the vision for Hazelwood Green has always been to rebuild a part of the neighborhood while lifting up the surrounding community and creating opportunities for existing residents. With a developer of the caliber of Tishman Speyer at the table, we are excited to begin working towards achieving these shared goals. We look forward to this partnership and are thankful to build off the foundation laid by the community and the Almono Partners that centers the social and economic needs of our city.”
Reverend Murray hopes long-term residents will help shape the space and aren’t forced out.
“Please don’t come here and make us suffer behind anything of that nature. Work with us. Be our partner. Listen to us. Give us a chance to help develop what is a part of our community.”
One of the first projects is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
Channel 11 will continue to monitor the progress.
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