Residents, advocates urge Pittsburgh to sell Manchester farm to long‑time operator

PITTSBURGH — Dozens of residents, volunteers and urban‑agriculture advocates urged Pittsburgh City Council on May 19 to allow Ebony Lansford Evans to buy land now used by the Food for the Soul community farm in Manchester, saying the site provides food, education and community services that would be lost if the city proceeds with planned redevelopment.

Speakers at the public‑comment portion of the council meeting described the farm, located at 1707 Fulton Street, as a long‑running neighborhood resource. Laura Totten Kadoori told the council that since 2020 the farm has produced more than 12,000 pounds of food, including 5,382 pounds in 2024, and said it would be a “major disservice” if the property were not sold to the farm operator. Several other speakers gave similar testimony about volunteer involvement, youth programming and food distribution to seniors and people experiencing food insecurity.

The matter is tied to competing city priorities. Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle said the Manchester plan adopted by the city designates a section of the neighborhood, including the farm parcels, for affordable housing development. Lavelle told council…