New Town
A bold, mixed-use vision for one of McKees Rocks’ most prominent gateways.
The Opportunity
Sto-Rox is an old and historic community, and parts of it are ready for reinvention. The McKees Rocks CDC is focused on the future of a highly visible gateway site at the end of West Carson Street — one of the first things visitors see arriving from Route 51 and the City of Pittsburgh.
The area is bounded by the CSX and Pittsburgh & Ohio Central railroad tracks to the north and east, and Chartiers Creek and the Lower Chartiers downtown to the south and west. Roughly 90% of the space is currently occupied by a 1960s-era strip mall (the Shoppes at Chartiers) and the Hays Manor public housing development, owned and operated by the Allegheny County Housing Authority.
The Vision
By taking a holistic approach, the CDC’s plan would reinvigorate the neighborhood by integrating commercial and residential uses into a mutually beneficial mixed-use district — giving residents better access to quality services and amenities, stronger social networks, safer environments, and more opportunity, while generating market and political demand for continuous improvement. Crucially, these plans are strongly focused on the residents currently living in the area — working to keep them in place as the neighborhood improves.
Partners and Concepts
Conversations are underway with Trinity Development and the Allegheny County Housing Authority that are intended to grow into partnerships. The CDC also engaged Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Urban Design program, whose students developed six thought-provoking conceptual visions for the site over a semester — each one inclusive of all income levels and incorporating innovative approaches to transportation, energy, sustainability, and stormwater management. These concepts are meant to inspire residents and stakeholders and invite feedback as the process moves forward.
Get In Touch
Interested in New Town, or want to share your thoughts?
Contact Jeb Feldman, Director of Economic Development
Director of Economic Development