The fountain at Point State Park at the tip of the Golden Triangle is a Pittsburgh icon. This view shows the headwaters of the Ohio River from the fountain's pump house. Acrisure Staduim sits prominently in the background. Two Butler County residents, Emily Weaver and Matt Greene, have key roles at the park. Submitted photo

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Friday, Oct. 25, a massive plan to improve and revitalize downtown Pittsburgh.

The first phase of the plan, which has already drawn in nearly $600 million worth of investments from both the public and private sectors, is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2028.

A large chunk of the funding will be used to build mixed-use residential properties or preserve existing ones. There are plans to make at least five new apartment complexes out of former office buildings in Pittsburgh. This includes the former Gulf Oil headquarters, which is planned to become Gulf Tower, with 225 apartment units and 147 hotel rooms.

There also are plans to invest tens of millions of dollars to create or improve three public spaces in downtown Pittsburgh, including $25 million in improvements to Point State Park and $30 million to create an outdoor public space on Eighth Street.

According to a news release from the governor’s office, the project is expected to create over 3,500 construction jobs during the next few years.

The Shapiro administration will contribute $62.6 million, while Pittsburgh will invest $22.1 million through the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The project has also raised over $40 million in private financing so far from institutions such as Dollar Bank, Duquesne Light Company, PNC Bank, PPG Industries, and all three of the city’s major professional sports franchises.