- Home
- Services
- Commercial Districts Office
- Vibrant Uptown
Vibrant Uptown
Schedules, as provided by Plavchak Construction
Schedule subject to change due to weather, availability of materials and other factors.
For a PDF of the maps, click here.
Updates
Update: March 9, 2023
Contractors have been working on less noticeable things over the winter (refurbishing the clock. setting pavers, installing lighting), but more rigorous demolition and concrete work will be resuming on Wednesday, March 15. If you are coming Uptown, please allow extra time!
Reminder: Parking is extremely limited on Washington Road during this phase of construction. Please use garages and surface lots. Please continue to patronize our wonderful businesses. This inconvenience is only temporary and when the project is completed, we'll have a more accessible, safer, more enjoyable Uptown.
WASHINGTON ROAD BUSINESS OWNERS: If you have questions or concerns as the project gears up, you may reach out to the site superintendent for Plavchak Construction. His name is Vince Rende and you can reach him at 412-682-8663.
Update: December 2, 2022
In effort to assure safe passage for pedestrians during the winter months, as well as have quality sidewalks that are able to withstand salt at a later date, the municipality has told the contractor it will not be permitted to excavate any additional sidewalk until March 15, 2023. Additionally, the contractor is only permitted to pour concrete in areas that are currently excavated.
Lastly but more importantly, we are requiring the contractor to leave the project in a safe and accessible condition with NO open trenches or pedestrian detours. While this will pause some of the work, our goal is for Washington Road business patrons to reach the destination easily and safely.
Update: July 12, 2022
Slide deck from the July 11, 2022 meeting with Uptown businesses.
Update: April 22,2022
Parking is extremely limited on Washington Road during this phase of construction. Please use garages and surface lots. Please do continue to patronize our wonderful businesses. This inconvenience is only temporary and when the project is completed, we'll have a more accessible, safer, more enjoyable Uptown. The construction schedule above has been updated.
Update: December 9, 2021
As this project has progressed, the project manager/engineer and contractor are continuously looking for ways to improve efficiency. The contractor has identified an operational improvement to ensure continuity of the project during the cold winter months, and also reduce the amount of time sidewalks will be under construction in front of our Uptown businesses.
Once the contractor has finished work in the current phase (733 Washington Road to Central Square), the sequence of demolition and construction will shift to working on particular items rather than working in particular zones. So instead of removing sidewalks, demolishing planters, doing trenchwork and pouring sidewalks in each area before moving on to another section of sidewalk, contractors will work on the street as a whole in this order:
Remove planters
Complete trenchwork
Upgrade conduit
Replace planters/seating
This work will be done throughout the winter (see map with dates). Completing the work in this order will allow the contractors to make quicker work of the sidewalk demolition, concrete pouring, paver installation and lighting in the spring. Pavers and parking kiosks will continue to be done in phases.
Update: September 29, 2021
Construction has moved across the street, from 733 Washington Road to Alfred Street, as part of the next phase of work. The sidewalk on the even side of the street is back open. For detailed schedule information, review the schedule section above.
Update: July 30, 2021
Wondering how Mt. Lebanon is going to maintain access for Washington Road businesses during the construction? This map outlines it for you. Please heed all signs and instructions from workers at the site, for your safety. Thank you!
Update: July 8, 2021
Update: April 28, 2021
Staff presentation slide deck from Representative Miller's Economic Roundtable, February 25, 2021
Staff presentation slide deck from Commission Discussion Session, April 27, 2021
Update: January 18, 2021
See the updated plans that LaQuatra Bonci Associates prepared for the January 26 commission meeting. View the presentation here.
Update: October 28, 2020
See the updated plans that LaQuatra Bonci Associates prepared for the October 27 commission meeting.
Update: September 14, 2020
See the updated results of the work done to date by consultants at LaQuatra Bonci Associates.
To get involved, subscribe to the Vibrant Uptown Newsletter . If you have questions or comments, email vibrantuptown@mtlebanon.org.
Mt. Lebanon's nationally recognized Main Street is undergoing a complete overhaul. To get involved, subscribe to the Vibrant Uptown Newsletter . If you have questions or comments, email vibrantuptown@mtlebanon.org.
Over the next three years, the municipality plans a $3.9 million update, including new sidewalks, lighting and other amenities to make it a brighter, more accessible destination for shopping, dining and service. This project is not just about fixing what is broken, but an investment in our collective future. It is a vote of confidence in the vitality of the Uptown District.
For a history and details about the project, read Main Street Makeover from Mt. Lebanon Magazine.
The Mt. Lebanon Commission, on May 11, 2021, approved the contract for Phase 1, including sidewalks, lighting, planters, seating and placemaking.
The Vibrant Uptown project is a multi-year project which will transform Uptown into a community-serving destination for dining, shopping, arts, entertainment and services. Vibrant Uptown is one project with several components, including Washington Road streetscape, Parse Way renovations, accessibility and public space activation and placemaking enhancements.
The genesis of the project can be traced back to the 2013 Mt. Lebanon Comprehensive Plan which prioritized the vitality of our business districts by creating a strategic plan for Uptown.
In 2016, the Uptown Strategic Plan was completed by Environmental Planning & Design.
In 2017, EvolveEA completed a Public Space Improvement Plan for the Uptown Business District.
The Mt. Lebanon Partnership also proposed the “Partnership Placemaking Plan” (P3) for Mt. Lebanon.
After project funding was secured, a hierarchy was created to facilitate involvement of key stakeholders and the public in the design process for the Vibrant Uptown Project.
The five Mt. Lebanon Commissioners have final approval for allocations of funding and of the awarding of bids for the project.
The Leadership Committee is charged with project oversight and implementation. The members of the Leadership Committee are:
- Two Commission Project Champions
- Municipal Manager, Assistant Manager, and Commercial Districts Manager
- Professional consultants Gateway Engineers and LaQuatra Bonci Architects
- Representatives from the Economic Development Council and Mt. Lebanon Partnership Design Committee
The Steering Committee developed project principles and seeks to engage a broad range of stakeholders in the Uptown District. The Steering Committee includes all of the Leadership Committee along with representatives from the following groups:
- Municipal Public Works Department and Police Department
- Municipal Boards and Authorities, including: Environmental Sustainability Board, Equal Opportunity Board, Historic Preservation Board, and Parking Advisory Board
- Port Authority of Allegheny County
- Mt. Lebanon School District, including representatives from Washington Elementary and Mellon Middle Schools
- Property and Business Owners
- At-Large Community Members
- Other subject experts, including an ADA Consultant
The Vibrant Uptown Steering Committee’s vision is to actualize a community-serving public space improvement project that incorporates the best practices in urban design. Our vision incorporates a long-view to ensure that leading edge design principles are employed to achieve the goal of a vibrant Uptown and adheres to the Project Principles of Accessibility, Connectivity, Sustainability, Innovation, and Inclusivity.
Click the image to view the Vibrant Uptown Overview Presentation.
Click Here to watch the video of the Commission Discussion Session where the project history was discussed.
As the project moves through the Schematic Design Phase, a number of public design charrettes will be held to generate feedback and interest on the proposed Plan. LaQuatra Bonci Associates has been contracted to lead the public design process.
To get involved, subscribe to the Vibrant Uptown Newsletter . If you have questions or comments, email vibrantuptown@mtlebanon.org or call 412-343-3412.
Planning for Phase 2, which could include additional placemaking and improvements to Parse Way, is ongoing.