Above: Project partners pound nails to kick off E. Ohio Street project. (photo by Kaitlin Balmert).

The revitalization of East Ohio Street continued this week in Historic Deutschtown , where representatives from the Historic Deutschtown Development Corporation, Northside Leadership Conference, the Urban Redevelopment Authority,  Rivers Casino and the city celebrated the redevelopment of two more storefronts.

“East Ohio Street had its low, but store by store it is coming back,” said City Council President Darlene Harris as the Historic Deutschtown Development Corporation

A nail pounding ceremony on Thursday focused on the renovation  of the storefronts at 431 and 433 East Ohio Street.

The façade renovations are part of a larger revitalization plan along East Ohio Street that has already included renovations of 362 East Ohio Street and the acquisition of vacant commercial buildings at 502 and 624 East Ohio Street.

As 431 and 433 are two key components along East Ohio Street, once they are restored this will allow for two retailers as well as several housing units. Anticipating the renovations that will be done directly next to her Sweet Time Café and General Store, HDDC President Barbara Burns stated, “East Ohio Street is a family and needs good neighbors.”

During the ceremony, Senator Jim Ferlo stressed the importance of “economics, equity and environment” and that Northsiders must “keep on keeping on” in the plan to revitalize East Ohio Street.

In regards to the progress of the Northside’s revitalization , NSLC executive director, Mark Fatla noted that the Northside has “more real estate projects than any CDC in the city.”

Archentect Vince Finizio and Jalar Construction, LLC have been contracted to complete the renovation.

Funding for the project has been provided by Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino and the Northside Community Development Fund.

Rivers, Director of Community Relations for Rivers Casino, attended the ceremony and said it is to become a vibrant locality again as well as a safe haven for people.