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Manchester residents oppose Esplanade/TRID proposal and tie it to school closure fears
Summary
Speakers at the March 24 hearing urged the school board to reject or delay actions tied to the Manchester Esplanade/Transit Revitalization Investment District plan and warned that the private development, tax‑increment financing and school closures could accelerate gentrification and displacement.
Community members from Manchester and neighborhood organizations urged the Pittsburgh school board on March 24 to oppose pending proposals tied to a large Esplanade transit redevelopment and to reject any school closure steps that would further destabilize longtime residents.
Speakers raised multiple concerns about the Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) and developer promises: Dr. Daniel Holland, a postdoctoral fellow who presented analysis at the hearing, said the TRID’s listed eligible uses total about $53 million spread over 40 years (about $1.3 million per year) and that the project proposal contained only 80 affordable housing units, leaving questions about whether the development would produce the community benefits promised. "This TRID is supposed to last 40 years. And may not produce as much economic benefit as promoted," Dr. Holland testified.
Residents and Manchester neighbors said the proposed development risked accelerating gentrification, driving up property values and taxes and displacing lower-income households. Several speakers noted they had not seen a community impact study or legally binding commitments for right-to-stay or right-to-return protections. Terrence Turk and others urged the board to withhold support for tax incentives until a community impact assessment and written commitments about affordable housing, local hiring and protections for Conroy and other neighborhood services are in place.
Many witnesses connected the development plan with the district facilities process. They said closing neighborhood schools such as Conroy or Manchester Pre-K–8 would remove anchors that help long-time residents keep rooting in the neighborhood; closing the schools while a major private development proceeds would hasten displacement. "This project will lead to the displacement of long time black residents," said Evelyn Mitchell. "We need to have a seat at the table."
Ending: Manchester neighbors asked the school board to vote no on measures that would enable the Esplanade/TRID tax captures until an independent community impact study, binding affordable-housing commitments, local hiring guarantees and a plan to protect neighborhood schools and services are provided.
