about.
What is it?
East Carson Street is a historic main street located in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood, with a concentration of most commercial storefront activity between 10thStreet and 28th Street.
In January 2025, the East Carson Street Business District Management Program was established through a collaboration of multiple South Side organizations, including South Side Community Council, South Side Community Action Network, South Side Chamber of Commerce, and the South Side Hospitality Partnership. This program is currently being managed by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) for a two-year period, ending in 2026, after which management will transition to a South Side based organization. The PDP has worked with the South Side community to hire, train and will continue to support the full-time Business District Manager dedicated to East Carson Street.
Our district management staff may engage in various activities designed to enhance the economic vitality of the area, including retail development and storefront activation, streetscape improvements, marketing and communications efforts, as well as coordination with city services encompassing planning, permitting, licensing, inspections, public safety, and street maintenance.
Oversight and guidance for the program are provided by the newly established East Carson Street Business District Advisory Committee, which is made up of property and business owners along East Carson Street.
Business District Management, also referred to as Place Management, may be in the form of a private organization, such as a Common Area Maintenance (CAM) association often associated with single-property ownership, or by a public, nonprofit organization known as a Business District Organization (BDO). This includes Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), partnerships, and alliances that are governed by multiple property owners within a defined district.
According to the International Downtown Association, there are 4,000+ nonprofit place management organizations globally, with 2,500 in North America. District management organizations have been formed in cities and towns since 1970, recognizing that revitalizing and sustaining vibrant downtowns, city centers and neighborhood districts requires special attention beyond the services city administrations could provide alone. In forming these organizations, private-sector owners come together to form nonprofit management associations which deliver key services and activities within the boundaries of their districts.
The South Side’s East Carson Street has not had a staffed Business District Organization since 2012, when the South Side Local Development Company ceased operations. In contrast, the South Side Works development benefits from substantial annual investments in place management—including cleaning, security, and landscaping—as well as placemaking initiatives such as public events, art installations, and enhancements to public spaces.
By supporting the appointment of a Business District Manager for East Carson Street, the community has taken an initial small, yet significant step toward reestablishing place management for its main street and promoting improved coordination and collaboration among property owners, existing tenants, prospective tenants, and city services.
Susan Anderson
Business District Manager, East Carson Street
(412) 566-4196
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