Convention focuses on downtown

A unique location at the convergence of three rivers may have destined Pittsburgh to develop a downtown area, but vision, determination and teamwork created the dynamic Downtown it became.

And those factors continue to shape the city's future.

That was one of the messages speakers delivered during dialogue Saturday on why Downtown is critical to the Pittsburgh region. The panel discussion was among the activities of the imPAct convention - a gathering of an estimated 500 young professionals hosted by the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project - PUMP - and billed as a first-ever conference of its type.

'You've heard people say downtowns are the living rooms of communities. I really believe that. Downtown is our front door,' said panelist David R. DeSimone, vice president of real estate development for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

'Downtowns only work if you collaborate,' he added. 'When I think about why Downtown is important, it's a place that if you do things correctly, they can be very successful, because people will come Downtown.

'They complain about parking and complain about a lot of things, but when something is done correctly, it seems like Downtown is a great venue for it and it's just a place where people can get together.'

Moderator Harry Finnegan, president of the Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership, also stressed cooperation.

He said the city has an 'incredible history of the private and public sectors working together to make the Downtown really work.'

'We're very fortunate here in Pittsburgh in that Pittsburgh is really seen throughout the county, for those who are involved in downtown revitalization, as really being a model,' Finnegan said.

'It's a city that's determined to have a vibrant downtown because of the leadership both public and private,' he said.

Frederick Clark of Harrisburg, one of that city's downtown promoters, stressed vision and leadership as key elements.

'There can only be one vision for your downtown, and if you are not on the same page, it's not going to happen,' he said.

Real estate developer Eve Picker, president of No Wall Productions Inc., said she has faced some obstacles in developing residential property Downtown, but has found a growing market for residences in the heart of the city.

'I'm building spaces that you can't find anywhere else,' she said.

Organizers of the three-day convention said it was designed to position young people 'as leaders in Pennsylvania's transformation into a state at the cutting edge of technology, economic development, public and civic policy, and recreational amenities.'

The conference started Friday at the Warhol Museum with remarks by Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey. Mayor Tom Murphy welcomed attendees during yesterday's opening session at the Omni William Penn. The event concludes today with a breakfast that includes several dozen public officials from the city, state and region.

David Brown can be reached at dbrown@tribweb.com or (412) 380-5614.