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Vibrant Uptown
Get ready for a complete overhaul to Uptown -- Mt. Lebanon’s nationally recognized Main Street.
To get involved, subscribe to the Vibrant Uptown Newsletter . If you have questions or comments, email vibrantuptown@mtlebanon.org or call 412-343-3412.
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.
Core – This map details the area slated for sidewalk, lighting and conduit replacement. This is the essential capital improvement component of the Vibrant Uptown project. The core area of the project is bookended by Shady Drive on the north and extends as far as the South Lot/733 Washington Road on the south.
Expanding Thinking – In addition to replacement of critical infrastructure the Vibrant Uptown project shall also provide us an opportunity to look at improvement to other elements of the streetscape such as planters, accessibility issues, decorative planter improvements and other matters to enhance the Uptown experience.
Intersections – The Vibrant Uptown project provides our community an opportunity to improve how our intersections aid pedestrian flow throughout the corridor. Some examples are better alignment of curb ramps with crosswalks and improved site lines for pedestrians waiting to cross Washington Road. Key intersections along Washington Road in consideration for improvement include: Central Square, Alfred, Cedar, Academy and Shady Drive.
Placemaking – In addition to the necessary improvements to the sidewalks and lighting is the introduction of Placemaking principles such as refreshed places for community gathering and interaction. Examples could be better spaces for performances and public art.
Placemaking Refined – These refined areas capture the intent to create better connections in central core of Uptown via Placemaking principles. This includes, but is not limited to bridging the topographical disconnect between the Mt. Lebanon Light Rail Station and Washington Road, acknowledging the importance of Parse Way and developing it as a complement to Washington Road and strengthening the Uptown Core utilizing art, fitness and more active use of passive spaces.
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.
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Step-Components | Anticipated Date (2020-21) |
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Programming/Schematic Design (SD) Phase |
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Workshop Phase 1 (Preliminary Feedback) - Obtain feedback from stakeholders on preferred design elements for streetscape - Steering Committee identifies and coordinates small groups (i.e. HPB, ESB, etc) to meet with LBA on specific project elements |
SD.1.A- Leadership Committee Review of Presentation Format SD.1.B- Steering Committee Charrette SD.1.C- Small Group Charrettes SD.1.D- LBA takes feedback and develops First Draft |
Completed April 16, 2020 Completed May 7, 2020 Completed May 18 & 20, 2020 Completed June & July 2020 |
Workshop Phase 2 (Streetscape First Draft) - LBA presents First Draft of streetscape design for feedback and comment - Steering Committee identifies and coordinates small groups to meet with LBA as needed |
SD.2.A- Leadership Committee Charrette SD.2.B- Steering Committee Charrette SD.2.C- Small Group Charrettes SD.2.D- LBA takes feedback on First Draft and develops Final Draft |
Completed Aug 5, 2020 Completed Sept 2, 2020 Completed Sept 9, 2020 Completed Sept. 2020 |
Workshop Phase 3 (Streetscape Final Draft) - LBA presents Final Draft of Streetscape Design for Steering Committee recommendation and Commission Approval - After Final Design approved by Commission, LBA and Gateway will coordinate on the Design Development Phase |
SD.3.A- Final SD Presentation to Steering Committee SD.3.B- Project Update Meeting with Business Owners SD.3.C- Final SD Presentation to Commission at Discussion Session |
Completed Oct. 8 & 22 Completed Oct. 26 Completed Oct. 27 |
Design Development (DD) Phase (~60 Days) |
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Utility Coordinating, Permitting, and Phasing Plan | DD.1- | Kickoff Mtg. Oct. 16, 2020 |
DD Update Presentations |
DD.2.A- Presentation to Leadership Committee DD.2.B- Presentation to Commission at Discussion Session DD.2.C- Project Update meeting with Business Owners regarding scheduling and phasing |
Nov-23 Dec. 11, 2020 Dec. 14, 2020 |
Construction Document (CD)/Bidding Phase (~90 days) |
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Bidding Documents Completed | CD.1- | Jan-21 |
Project Bidding Process | CD.2.A- Official Advertisement for Bids CD.2.B- Pre-Bid Meeting with contractors CD.2.C- Bids Due by Contractors CD.2.D- Review of Final Bids with Leadership Committee CD.2.E- Review of Final Bids with Commission |
Jan-21 Feb-21 Feb-21 Feb-21 Mar 9, 2021 Discussion Session |
Bid Award | CD.2.F- Recommendation of Contract Award to Commission | Mar 23, 2021 Commission Meeting Agenda for Approval |
Pre-Construction Phase | CD.3.A- Contracts Complete and Signed CD.3.B- Pre-Construction Meeting with Business Owners and Contractor prior to project start |
Apr-21 Apr-21 |
Start Construction | CD.4- | May-21 |
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 or call 412-343-3412.