PITTSBURGH \u2014 Dozens gathered Wednesday evening at a Town Hall in the Strip District. <\/p>\n
The meeting comes one day after two decisions were made by city officials that directly impact the neighborhood. <\/p>\n
The first, the city planning commission approved 23 new four-story townhomes that will be built near the 31st Street Bridge. <\/p>\n
The second, city council voted 6 to 3 in favor of creating a TRID or Tax Revitalization Investment District. <\/p>\n
That means 75% of new tax revenue from specific areas, including the Strip, will be funneled into Downtown for the next 40 years. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want the Strip to stall. We want to continue to build off of it, but we have to look at our larger tax base Downtown and realize offices aren\u2019t opening tomorrow,\u201d Mayor Corey O\u2019Connor said. He spoke at the town hall. <\/p>\n
Not everyone in attendance was on board with the TRID. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Strip, we\u2019re very worried about our tax dollars going into Downtown. We have infrastructure needs here,\u201d Ann Dugan said. She\u2019s a resident and a business owner and told Channel 11 she\u2019d like to have seen more community involvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way it\u2019s done is say everybody has skin in the game. Let\u2019s work together and make this right,\u201d Dugan said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI did get the concerns, but we think we have to do something relatively bold,\u201d O\u2019Connor said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to help all communities,\u201d resident Geoff Clauss said.<\/p>\n
He says he\u2019s more concerned about recent development and the influx of rental spaces. <\/p>\n
He specifically spoke out against the possibility of condos replacing the old Helltown Brewing on Penn Avenue. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like the Strip is getting transformed into cookie-cutter housing. It\u2019s rental,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have to look at infrastructure before we look at residential and office buildings,\u201d Dugan said. <\/p>\n
Mayor O\u2019Connor also told Channel 11 that housing created Downtown using these funds will be for all income levels and $10 million will go toward public transit. <\/p>\n
Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n