Skip to main content
Back to Stories

Steel City Stories · Renaissance

1 story tagged “Renaissance

History20 min read

The Neighborhood Pittsburgh Erased to Build Its Renaissance

How the Lower Hill was declared blighted, cleared by public power, replaced by one of America's most futuristic arenas—and left Pittsburgh arguing for generations about what progress is allowed to cost.

2026-08-12
Read More →

Explore More Topics

pittsburgh historyPittsburgh historycorruptionneighborhoodslabor historylocalBlack Pittsburghfoodgamblingurban renewalactivitiescity hallenforcementeventsgrand juryHill DistrictMon ValleynightlifeNorth Sidenumbers gameorganized crime1907Allegheny Cityannexationcity councilCivic Arenacivil rightsculturediningLower Hillpublic healthreformsportssteel city storiesTony Grossovicevisitorsward politics187718921909 strike1911 reform1918 influenza19191936 flood1948 smog1968805accountabilityair pollutionAnthony Michael Grossoat-large electionsAugust 5 1930barsbriberybusbusinessCarnegie SteelChateaucoal miningcoffeecommunityconstructioncorruption costscouncilcourt recordscrime reportingDarr MineDavid L. LawrenceDavid LawrencedeindustrializationDemocratic Partydiscoverdisinvestmentdisplacementdistrict electionsDonoraDouble VDowntown PittsburghdrugsEast LibertyeconomyelectionsFBI Vaultfestivalsflood controlgraftGreat Railroad StrikeGreat Steel Strikehidden gemsHomestead StrikeHomewoodHunter v City of PittsburghindoorinvestigationinvestigationsIWWlaborlawrencevillemachine politicsmachinesMagee-FlinnManchestermarketsMartin Luther King JrMcKees Rocksmediamine disastermuseumsneighborhood historynewspapersnumbers banknumbers bankeroaklandOaklandpandemicpedestrian mallpenguinsPenn CirclePennsylvania LotteryPennsylvania RailroadperformancePinkertonspiratesPittsburgh CourierPittsburgh gamblingPittsburgh mayorpolicepoliticspowerprecinct captainpreservationPressed Steel Carprivate clubsProgressive EraProhibitionproperty recordspublic contractspublic policyRed Scareredevelopmentrestaurant weekrestaurantsroasteriesRoute 51Roxie Longsocial clubssouth sideSt Patricks Day floodstartupssteelsteel collapsesteelersstrip districtsuburbssummertavernstransittrendsvideo pokervoting rightsweekendwhistleblowerswinterWorld War II