East Liberty

09/02/2026

Did you know? ⤵

During the 1950s heyday of East Liberty, the neighborhood was home to a total of nine theaters.

Here you can see an image of the Enright Theatre Building on Penn Avenue and Beatty Street, which was demolished in the late 1950s.

Want more East Liberty history? Check out our interactive historical timeline: https://www.eastliberty.org/about-east-liberty/

Photo: Melvin Seidenberg Photographs, ca. 1828-1988

09/02/2026

From blight, crime, and disinvestment to a vibrant, mixed-income community. This is where it all started. ⤵️

East Liberty’s long-time residents defined the vision for the neighborhood’s revitalization through an extensive community engagement process involving hundreds of community meetings in the late 90s. That is the vision outlined in East Liberty’s 1999 and 2010 Community Plans and stewarded in subsequent plans and studies. It’s also the vision that has largely been realized today.

Former president of ELDI’s board Reverend Patrice L. Fowler-Searcy talks about how that vision was formed in the meeting rooms of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church (and elsewhere) so many years ago, as well as the transformation that came from it.

The clip is from our impact report launch party which was nearly three years ago today.

➡ Want to know more about East Liberty’s transformation? Discover the journey of the neighborhood in our impact report. Link in bio.

09/01/2026

Fun fact about East Liberty. ⤵

At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, East Liberty was Pennsylvania’s third-largest shopping/commercial district, behind Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh, with more than 500 businesses.

Do you know what happened next?

If not, you can find out here: https://www.eastliberty.org/about-east-liberty/

📸 Amazing bird's-eye capture of the neighborhood by .

08/31/2026

𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 this month for you or someone you care about 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂! 📦🍊🥬
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𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘 this calendar in case your friends, family, or neighbors need assistance.
Find Food Here ➡️ bit.ly/food-distributions

08/31/2026

For more than three years, ELDI has been working alongside Main + Elm Development Company to rehabilitate four homes on Mayflower Street in Larimer for affordable homeownership. Two have already been completed and sold—177 Mayflower Street and 228 Mayflower Street—and work on the final two, 157 and 163 Mayflower Street, is now nearing completion.

To show what it takes to make affordable homeownership possible, we are highlighting the journey—from acquisition and financing to construction and sale.

Swipe all the way through to the end for some before and afters. 👀

➡️ We are looking for qualified buyers for 157 and 163 Mayflower Street. If you or anyone you know might be interested, our team will gladly help you figure out whether you qualify. Call Mary Hester at (412) 295-8498.

Read the full story here: https://www.eastliberty.org/spotlight-how-we-transformed-four-blighted-larimer-homes-into-affordable-homeownership-opportunities/

08/31/2026

An East Liberty legend, getting the recognition she deserves.

This puppet show introduces kids to Pittsburgh's "Queen of Jazz," Mary Lou Williams.

Duke Ellington described Mary Lou Williams with three words: “soul on soul.” But first, long before she was arranging music for Ellington,...

08/31/2026

Help Catapult Greater Pittsburgh reach their fundraising goal — they are almost there!

Okay community - we have just over 24 hours to raise $1,602 to reach our Give 8/28 goal of $8,280 by the end of Black Philanthropy Month. Can we count on you to help us cross the finish line? Please make a gift and share with your networks! https://www.give828.org/organization/Catapult-Greater-Pittsburgh

Thank you to everyone who has donated - we couldn't do this work without you!! 💚

08/29/2026

Penn Avenue, 1957, just before East Liberty changed dramatically.

In this street-level view, you can spot the Liberty Building, Irene’s Bar & Lounge, the Cameraphone theater, Isaly’s, and a glimpse into an average day along Penn Avenue.

What makes this capture interesting is what came next. By 1958, concerns about traffic, parking, and growing competition from suburban shopping centers had prompted local business leaders to call for changes to the commercial district. Soon after, a major urban renewal project would reshape East Liberty’s streets, buildings, and public spaces, including the creation of Penn Circle.

Who remembers that time?

➡ If you want to learn more about the story of East Liberty, click here: https://www.eastliberty.org/about-east-liberty/

📸 Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, 1901-2002

08/28/2026

Pittsburgh police and firefighters across much of the city’s East End now have a new home base: a freshly-renovated building with nearly 100 years of history.

Officials kicked off the reopening of the Police Zone 5 and Fire Engine & Truck Company 8 building in East Liberty on Monday morning. Located on North Euclid Avenue near Garland Park, the station was originally built in 1929, under the mayorship of Charles Kline, the last Republican to hold the office.

Pittsburgh police and firefighters across much of the city’s East End now have a new home base: a freshly-renovated building with nearly 100 years of history.