The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is betting on Indovina Associates Architects to breathe new life into the long-vacant storefronts tucked beneath Mellon Square, hoping fresh design work will pull more dining, shopping, and everyday buzz back into the Golden Triangle. The study will test whether four street-level units along Smithfield Street can realistically support a restaurant that opens onto the park, among other possible uses, as part of a broader push to turn underused public space into a year-round draw.
The properties run along Smithfield Street between Sixth and Oliver and are listed in URA documents as 530–538 Smithfield Street. According to the URA, the consulting team must dig into utilities, building systems, structural openings, code issues, and historic-preservation constraints, then deliver a feasibility study with "realistic and actionable concepts" for activation. The URA set a tight schedule and wants cost opinions and code reviews in hand before it decides whether to pursue a full build-out.
Indovina Chosen From a Crowded Field
Indovina Associates was picked from 19 competing proposals and awarded roughly $110,000 to lead the consulting engagement, with Ryan Indovina set to head the project, as reported by TribLIVE. At the URA meeting, David Glickman said there is "excellent potential for leasing the retail spaces," a bit of optimism that helped frame the agency’s decision. Indovina’s work will include field surveys, utility coordination, and technical review to sort out whether food service, a market or other types of activation can realistically function beneath the plaza.
Who Is Paying for the Study
The planning effort is being funded in part by a $250,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, city officials said in May. That grant is part of a nearly $1.9 million package aimed at boosting downtown vibrancy and workforce programs.
What the Study Will Test
The URA’s brief directs consultants to evaluate at least three concepts, including a restaurant or food hall, a grocery use, or an assembly space, then advance up to two preferred options with diagrammatic plans, circulation studies, and probable cost estimates. The URA document also calls for structural, mechanical, and life-safety reviews, plus an analysis of whether new openings or exhaust systems can be added without damaging Mellon Square’s landmark character.
Downtown Context
City officials and private developers alike have been chasing a series of smaller, practical wins to make downtown more walkable and lively after years of elevated office vacancy and sluggish retail. The Post-Gazette has reported that the Mellon Square effort is tied to a larger Smithfield Street reconstruction and downtown activation push aimed at improving sidewalks, lighting, and the day-to-day pedestrian experience.
What Happens Next
Indovina will now move into technical review and on-the-ground fieldwork, then deliver a feasibility study with specific concepts and cost estimates for the URA to weigh, according to TribLIVE. If the analysis shows a restaurant or other use is viable, the URA would shift into design, permitting, and tenant selection, a process that could stretch over many months depending on what the structural and code findings reveal.
