Point Park University has the opportunity to become downtown Pittsburgh’s “living room,” but first needs to take steps to brighten the campus’s presence downtown, six urban planning experts told leaders at the college during a Friday presentation.
The private school sponsored those experts with the Urban Land Institute to analyze Point Park’s role downtown and recommend ways that the school can be a catalyst for the revitalization of the urban center.
Preliminary recommendations included boosting community involvement, increasing campus branding, and bringing more greenery to campus.
“We see a potential for a vibrant, healthy and blossoming place that can well be the living room of your region,” said Leigh Ferguson, a consultant for LMF Holdings and JMB Companies who chaired the study. “Point Park University can be a major catalyst in this work, but cannot and should not be expected to do it alone. It literally will take a village… Someone needs to wake up every morning with this as their primary occupation.”
An international nonprofit network of real estate experts, the Urban Land Institute also studied Point Park’s community presence in 2007. Mr. Ferguson chaired both studies.
Months ago, the team of volunteers began working with Point Park on this study. They traveled to Pittsburgh this week, spending their days soaking in the campus and the surrounding area. They also interviewed over 50 Point Park and city leaders.
The team found that Point Park’s strengths included its location, arts and walkability. Among weaknesses were public transit accessibility issues, lack of affordable housing, and the need for more parks and open space.
Kelly Kline, an associate vice president at Stanford University who co-conducted the study, said when she first arrived at Point Park, she didn’t realize she was on campus. That’s why experts recommended the university strengthen its campus presence.
More signage and artwork could create more of a university atmosphere, the panelists said.
Improving the pedestrian experience could also achieve this, they said. If possible, the panel suggested that the university advocate for the extension of the Boulevard of the Allies’ curb lines around campus. Narrowing the four-lane road would create more open space for pedestrians, said Erwin Andres, vice president at engineering consultant Gorove Slade.
The university should also bring more eyes to the street, in part by improving its outdoor spaces and increasing greenery in a largely gray-toned part of downtown, said Eugenia Di Girolamo, an urban design expert and senior vice president at WSP. She referred to the Boulevard of the Allies as a “river of concrete.”
“The university color is green. We need to see green everywhere, and the easiest way to do that is improving the amount of vegetation,” Ms. Di Girolamo said.
Panelists also suggested the school invite community members into the school by holding on-campus events and offering adult programming.
Point Park could be a “catalytic leader” in bringing affordable housing downtown, panelists said. They also said Point Park leaders have the opportunity to significantly increase student housing, but should first ensure they have that demand.
And the experts applauded the athletic department’s acceptance of an invitation to join NCAA Division II; this could strengthen the school’s enrollment and regional presence.
Like many private Northeastern universities, Point Park has seen its student population fall over the past decade. School officials want to see an enrollment jump of up to 30% by 2030, according to the university’s fall 2023 strategic plan. Other big goals in that plan include the creation of six new academic programs, six new sports teams and a downtown Community Events Center.
Experts said the university should ensure that the proposed Community Events Center meets a unique local need before breaking ground on such a project.
After Friday’s presentation, university President Chris Brussalis said he believes the university can “quickly” act on beautification efforts. He expressed optimism in goals to increase student and non-student housing downtown.
“If we’re able to create amenities for [students], beautiful housing for them to live downtown on our campus, that’s a draw,” Mr. Brussalis said. “It’s a big advantage to being an urban campus.”
The study was funded by the Benter Foundation, the Heinz Endowments and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. The full report will be available in the summer.
In addition to Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Kline, Ms. Di Girolamo and Mr. Andres, other experts on the panel included Ashley A. Jones, a community development leader with Springleaf Advisors, and Hal Ferris, principal at Ferris Advisors.
Point Park enrolled 3,299 students in fall 2023.
First Published: May 3, 2024, 10:15 p.m.
Updated: May 4, 2024, 12:59 a.m.