A hot cloudless day in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, with Terri Baltimore. She gave us a powerful look into the history of one of Pittsburgh’s most storied communities, a place shaped by both painful loss and deep-rooted pride.

Terri was very insightful; she taught us about the destruction of the Lower Hill to build the Civic Arena, which forced over 8,000 people to relocate and fractured the neighborhood’s core. Then, when PPG Paints was built, the Penguins, the city, and developers promised to replace what was lost with housing and community investment. These promises were delayed for decades due to the 2008 Great Recession and the 2020 pandemic. The land remained largely undeveloped until 2024, when FNB constructed its new world headquarters. Still, much of the space is undeveloped and parking lots.

The Hill District currency has something that I have never seen before. A real sense of connection. It was shocking in a good way how everyone seemed to know each other. People walking down the street greet one another by name, and people share a deep pride in their roots. That kind of sociality is rooted in trust and a shared identity, which helps bring a future of pride and success through hard times. This is an asset no developer can replicate.

Ms. Terri also emphasized the importance of institutions that are part of the community. The Hill is home to one of only two Black-owned credit unions in the state, with assets exceeding $16 million. This provided under-serviced communities when traditional banks did not operate. We also learned about Freedom House, the country’s first modern ambulance service. It started with residents modifying a Cadillac to create space for emergency care. 

Terri went in depth and talked about places like Big Tom’s Barber Shop, which offers free back-to-school haircuts for kids. In Black communities, barbershops aren’t just businesses; they’re gathering places, support systems, and trusted institutions.

What separates success from failure in community development? For me, it is whether the people in the community are treated as partners or problems. When outsiders disregard local voices, issues arise, including broken promises and community displacement. However, when projects are built with people for the people, that’s where you see lasting change.

To help neighborhoods like the Hill District thrive, business leaders need to build relationships, support existing institutions, and listen. This neighborhood is changing course. The area is on the upswing. New Developments are going in, and gentrification is occurring, but people like Terri Baltimore are leading the change. The most important assets that a neighborhood can have are people and their pride. They can help make that area better than it was in its former glory days.