This morning’s tour of the Hill District with Terri Baltimore highlighted both the difficult history and the resilience of the neighborhood. One of the biggest themes from our discussion was that successful community development depends on putting the people who live there first. While the Hill District has faced many hardships, it has continued to grow because of the strength of its community and the commitment of residents who have worked to preserve and improve their neighborhood.

Terri shared several examples of the neighborhood’s painful history, including how residents once struggled to access basic services such as ambulances because the Hill District was considered a “Black” neighborhood. These experiences created barriers that affected the community for many years. More recently, the neighborhood has also experienced disappointment when promises of new housing and development connected to the Pittsburgh Penguins were not fully carried out. These setbacks demonstrate how development efforts can fail when organizations do not follow through on their commitments to the community.

Despite these challenges, the Hill District’s greatest asset has always been its strong sense of community. Residents have continued to support one another and advocate for improvements, showing that people are the foundation of a thriving neighborhood. In addition to a committed community, neighborhoods need trustworthy leadership, access to essential services, affordable housing, and economic opportunities in order to succeed.

Business leaders can best support communities by building genuine partnerships with residents and keeping the promises they make. Instead of focusing only on financial gain, they should invest in projects that improve the quality of life for the people who live there. The Hill District demonstrates that lasting community development is built on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for future generations.