Main Street Project
The Borough is working with the newly formed Wilkinsburg Community development Corporation to apply for a Main Street Program through the State to rebuild the Borough's core business district. The program requires a local commitment of $125,000 that will be raised by WCDC and will provide for a Main Street Manager position who will work on various initiatives and projects to aid existing business owners, attract new businesses and make the business more attractive to shoppers and residents.
Save-A-Lot Grocery Store
In partnership with the State, Allegheny County and the Wilkinsburg Municipal Authority, the Save-A-Lot grocery store project was completed in 2006 and is now serving residents from its central location on Penn Avenue in the heart of the Wilkinsburg business district.
Wilkinsburg Train Station
The Borough and Allegheny County Economic Development Department are currently exploring possible renovation of the historic train station on Ross Avenue and Hay Street. The project is in its infancy and is expected to take several years.
Tax Base Expansion Ordinance
The Borough has been working with the Wilkinsburg School District and Allegheny County through a joint tax committee to create a series of programs to address the shrinking tax base. The ordinance contains a willing seller program to make it easier to acquire tax-delinquent and abandonded buildings for rennovation, without having to pay more than their current value in delinquent taxes. It also contains a 10-year graduated tax abatement on commercial properties, and a residential tax abatement on new construction and rehabs. Other title clearing methods and efforts to gain efficiencies through cooperation of the taxing bodies will be explored. The aim of these efforts is to reduce barriers to private investment in the Borough and to enhance existing and upcoming economic development projects.
Please download and review the Tax Exemption Application and the Tax Compromise Application for more information. Completed applications should be submitted to the Borough Manager's office.
Eastgate Development
The Eastgate development is a reconstruction of the former East Hills Shopping Center site with major anchors and smaller retailers. The site is along Robinson Blvd., approximately 25% of the project area is in Wilkinsburg and 75% is in Penn Hills. Construction is slated to begin in the summer of 2009.