Living in the Hill District  

After a few months away, I returned to Pittsburgh. This time living in a whole new part of town: the Hill District. Walking around the district, you can feel both the ghosts of the past and a community that is as alive as ever. Vacant lots and abandoned buildings sit next to new construction, with the community woven throughout it all. Walking down Centre Ave, which runs the length of the neighborhood from Downtown to Oakland, home to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

The Hill District is a neighborhood steeped in rich history and cultural significance. Originally known as "Little Haiti" in the early 19th century, it became a haven for free African Americans and immigrants seeking opportunity in Pittsburgh. By the early 20th century, the Hill had transformed into a vibrant, predominantly Black community, renowned for its jazz scene and thriving cultural life. Landmarks like the Crawford Grill hosted legendary musicians, and the neighborhood was immortalized in the works of playwright August Wilson, who set nine of his ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle here.

However, the mid-20th century brought significant challenges. Urban renewal projects in the 1950s and '60s led to the demolition of large sections of the Lower Hill District, displacing thousands of residents and disrupting the community's fabric. Despite these hardships, the Hill District's spirit endures, with ongoing efforts to revitalize the area while honoring its storied past.

Walking the streets of the Hill District, I was pleasantly surprised to find something that I had seen on recent travels abroad to Germany, Turkey, and Mexico—a real sense of life outside the home, one not confined to third places kept behind a paywall. Other parts of Pittsburgh have foot traffic, like Squirrel Hill or Oakland. But in the Hill District, I saw families on front porches—as they were designed to be used—and groups of people standing around talking outside of businesses. To me, it's a daily reminder that I share this world with billions of other people living their daily lives. It brings a sense of life to a place hollowed out by decades of disinvestment.

In recent years, the Hill District has seen a wave of revitalization efforts aimed at restoring its vibrancy while honoring its rich history. A standout example is the Oak Hill Apartments, a mixed-income housing development that replaced the former Allequippa Terrace public housing. Unlike many redevelopment projects that lead to displacement, Oak Hill was designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing community. It offers a range of affordable and market-rate units, ensuring that long-time residents could remain in the neighborhood while welcoming new ones. The development includes modern amenities and green spaces, fostering a sense of community and belonging. This approach has not only improved housing conditions but also contributed to the neighborhood's economic and social resurgence.

What stands out most about the Hill District isn’t just its history, it’s the way that history is being reckoned with in the present. When local community members are included in the planning process, investment doesn’t have to mean gentrification. It doesn’t have to mean displacement, or erasure, or the flattening of culture into branding. Projects like Oak Hill show that development can be additive, not extractive, when it’s done with respect, listening, and a sense of continuity. The Hill is not a blank slate. It’s a place with memory, meaning, and people who never left.

References

Heinz History Center. Crossroads of the World: How Urban Renewal Changed the Hill. https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/blog/crossroads-of-the-world-how-urban-renewal-changed-the-hill/

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP). Oak Hill. https://hacp.org/housing_communties/oak-hill/

TAMCC. (2013). Oak Hill Pittsburgh, PA: HOPE VI Summary. https://tamcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2-Oak-Hill-Pittsburgh-PA-Summary-030113.pdf