The Hill District soon could get the supermarket residents have long sought.
Aldi's, a German-owned discount grocery chain that offers private brand foods at low prices, has expressed interest in locating in the Hill, said Robert Rubenstein, development director for the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority.
"We will be meeting with Aldi representatives next week to review their proposal for a store," he told members of the authority board Friday.
The Hill District Community Development Corp. already has circulated notices about a community meeting Thursday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at A. Leo Weil Elementary School to get public input on a proposal from "a representative of an international food chain" that it did not identify.
Notices posted by the community group said the chain has expressed "serious interest" in placing a food market in the Hill.
Separately yesterday, the URA board approved a proposal to submit a request for $1 million for public space streetscape improvements in the deteriorated retail corridor of Fifth and Forbes avenues, Downtown.
"The funds would be used in conjunction with any approved development plan for sidewalks, trees and other street improvements," said Jerry Dettore, the authority's executive director.
The Fifth-Forbes proposal was one of four to be submitted to the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission for funding under the state Department of Transportation's Hometown Streets and Transportation Enhancement Programs.
Other proposals are $500,000 for public improvement in the Allegheny West business district; $735,000 for public space improvements to the Anderson and Sandusky street underpasses in the North Side; and $300,000 to extend the pedestrian trail system in Frick Park to connect the Summerset at Frick Park residential development to the north bank of the Monongahela River.
The authority approved eight proposals involving 323 housing units. Among them:
