Larimer

Larimer is a small neighborhood located in Pittsburgh's East End. It is south of Highland Park and Lincoln-Lemington-Belmer, west of Homewood, north of Shadyside, and east of East Liberty.  

Historically an Italian American neighborhood, Larimer fell on hard times during the latter half of the 20th century when it lost many of its residents and suffered from blight and underinvestment. 

While the community has fallen on hard times, don't think that is the end of their story. Larimer is resilient. Full of proud and motivated people pushing for change. 

As a result of the efforts of these groups, there has been a significant transformation to Larimer. One of the most impactful initiatives was the selection of Larimer to receive a US Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives Grant. The total award was for $30 million to build a new park and 334 new housing units. 

The 334 units are being built on different sites over four phases. The first two phases are now complete, and the third phase is under construction. The map below shows the locations for each phase of the project. 

Below is a pictorial chart that shows how many houses are being built during each project phase. 

Another recent transformative project is Liberty Green Park, a 3.25-acre park that includes a sophisticated stormwater capture system, 82 new trees, and the largest playground in Pittsburgh. 

A major player in the revitalization of Larimer is the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA), the economic development arm of the City of Pittsburgh. One of the things they do is provide support to businesses to start, grow, and thrive in Pittsburgh. 

Below are some examples of the URA helping small businesses in Larimer. 

There are opportunities for new businesses to come to Larimer. According to the latest business district profiles published by the URA, specific retail sectors currently have unmet demand, including food stores, which community members covet. 

If you want to be a part of the Larimer renaissance, reach out to the Larimer Consensus Group and learn about ongoing projects and volunteering opportunities. 

If you are interested in starting a business and exploring Larimer as a potential location, please reach out to the URA.