Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, by James O'Toole

September 29, 2014

Surrounded by an array of Pittsburgh civic and development interests, Gov. Tom Corbett stood in Mellon Square Monday to announce a $4 million state grant to seed the redevelopment of the Henry W. Oliver Building and its neighbor, the former Saks Fifth Avenue department store.

Mr. Corbett told a small crowd overlooking the planned developments that the Henry W. Oliver Building had special interest for him because he had worked in an office there during his career in private practice before joining the U.S. attorney's office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Noting that he had been in the city last week to release state funds for a theater project for Point Park University, Mr. Corbett called Pittsburgh, "a model for redevelopment and smart growth.''

"Redeveloping these two historic buildings here downtown will continue with the revitalization and renewal of this great city,'' he said.

The project will remake both Smithfield Street structures into mixed use developments. The former Saks building will house street-level retail space, parking, and eventually, a residential component. The Oliver Building will include office space and an 220-room Embassy Suites Hotel located on its upper floors.

Chuck Perlow, one of the developers, said that part of the state money would be used to restore the landmark Oliver building, designed by the noted architect Daniel Burnham, to historic standards.

Among the figures joining in the kickoff event were County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Kevin Acklin, Mayor Bill Peduto's chief of staff, and state Sens. Jay Costa, Jim Ferlo, and Randy Vulakovich.

(James O'Toole, "Gov. Corbett announces redevelopment grant for former Saks site, Oliver building," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/29/14)