Sharon Gregory, left, of Penn Hills, wipes tears at the conclusion of the Restorative Justice Rededication Ceremony for Bethel AME Church as she stands arm in arm with Janet Lee Patterson, right, who was married at the site, on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the former location of the legendary Lower Hill District church. “To see a time such a this warms my heart, to hear it is time, the time is now to address all the issues that are before us,” said Gregory, whose family lived in the Hill as she grew up and played there. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)
Bethel AME Church will move back to Lower Hill District after decades in exile in the Middle Hill.
by Eric Jankiewicz, PublicSource
Overview:
Bethel AME and the Pittsburgh Penguins made an announcement Friday that was heavy on faith and light on details of affordable housing and education components.
A historically Black church is returning to the Lower Hill District after being displaced by city government more than half a century ago.
Bethel AME and the Pittsburgh Penguins made an announcement April 14 that was heavy on faith and light on the details. What’s known is that the Penguins have agreed to give 1.5 acres of Lower Hill District land along Crawford and Colwell streets to the church. The neighborhood was home to the Bethel AME Church until the 1950s when it was demolished under eminent domain to make room for the Civic Arena.
But several details remain unclear, including what an announced $170 million housing development will entail, how affordability will be defined and how the 1.5 acres will be organized. The announcement also came with claims that an educational component will be included but didn’t elaborate on the specific nature of such a program.
The announcement was attended by, among others, members of the church, religious leaders, developers, Pittsburgh Penguins leaders, Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Gainey, Fitzgerald and others portrayed the move as righting the wrongs of the past.
“We devote this land to end white supremacy, capitalism, racism, and all other isms that bring division,” said Reverend Carmen Holt, associate pastor with Bethel AME. Officials with for-profit developer Buccini/Pollin Group, chosen by the Penguins to redevelop the site, attended the announcement and Gainey thanked one of their members for their work.
Bethel AME Pastor Dale Snyder said that the new site would have an educational component and what he called an “incubator system” as well as affordable housing.
“I want to solve some Black problems for Black children,” Snyder said. “I’m Black and I’m proud.”
After the announcement, Associate Minister Reverend Henry Livingston said that the church estimates it will take two years before they can break ground on the new structure.
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