COUNCILPERSON STRASSBURGER CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF MARKET DISTRICT, FIRST PHASE FOR TRANSFORMATIVE MERIDIAN DEVELOPMENT

PITTSBURGH, PA - Councilperson Erika Strassburger joined community members and representatives from Giant Eagle to celebrate the grand opening of the Penn Avenue Market District at the new Meridian complex in Shadyside. In addition to a full-service grocery store, the mixed-use Meridian development will include 231 new housing units, retail stores, restaurants, and a public green space.  

The Market District replaces the former Shakespeare Giant Eagle location, and its opening is the culmination of years of collaboration between neighborhood residents, the developers, business leaders, and City of Pittsburgh officials. 

“The Meridian development represents the kind of forward-looking, community-centered growth that strengthens Pittsburgh neighborhoods,” Strassburger said. “It will serve residents of all income levels while creating a welcoming, walkable, and environmentally responsible destination in the heart of the East End. I’m thrilled to celebrate today’s Market District opening, and I look forward to the completion of the next phases of this transformative project.” 

The Meridian Project includes approximately 230 apartments, 15 percent of which are reserved for households earning below 80 percent of the area median income. Ten percent of the apartments are set aside for those earning below 50 percent of the area median income. These affordability commitments will remain in place for at least 35 years, and housing choice vouchers will be accepted as a form of payment. 

In addition to new housing and retail space, the development features a 17,000-square-foot public parklet along Aurelia Street, a redesigned and fully sheltered bus stop on Penn Avenue, and safety upgrades to the nearby intersection of Shady and Ellsworth Avenues. A $50,000 tenant transit pass fund will also support more sustainable travel options for residents.