State of the Land Updates

Bethel AME Church to be reunited with unjustly seized land in the Lower Hill

In the 1950s, the newly established Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) marked a large section of the Lower Hill District as “blighted*” despite the presence of a large and vibrant Black community, in order to claim the area via eminent domain and build the new Civic Arena. As part of the major urban renewal project, they tore down “about 1,300 buildings across 95 acres, displacing more than 8,000 people, more than 400 businesses and multiple houses of worship” (WESA, April 14, 2023). This area included the oldest Black church in Pittsburgh, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1808. Situated at the corner of Wylie Ave and Elm St, Bethel AME was a vital center of the Hill District community, providing education and championing social activism. Current church members cite racism and Bethel AME’s political power as a reason their building was demolished in 1957, while a nearby white church was left untouched. The congregation relocated to the corner of Webster Ave & Morgan St in the Middle Hill. At its height, Bethel AME included over 3,000 members.

On Friday, April 14th, at the Restorative Justice Rededication Ceremony, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who currently hold development rights to the land, promised to return 1.5 acres of the land to Bethel AME with the hopes of righting a past wrong. The ceremony was held on the land that Bethel AME will acquire, which is currently a parking lot along Crawford and Colwell Streets. Initially, the congregation was given $250,000 from the URA for their site and building that was valued at $750,000 (Pittsburgh Union Progress, April 15th, 2023). However, this victory for reparations comes after over two years of negotiations with the city, the Penguins, developers, and local white faith communities “to acknowledge how they have participated in or profited from racist systems and to compensate Bethel for its losses” (Public Source, April 14th, 2021). Bethel AME plans to develop the land into affordable housing and possibly some revenue-generating development to invest in the future of the congregation (AP News, April 14, 2023).

* Grounded Strategies does not support the utilization of the term “blight” or “blighted.” “Blight” has been the default word for describing disinvestment and distressed land but when talking about vacant land, the racist roots and history of the term must be reckoned with. At Grounded, we are encouraging a shift in language that recognizes the distinct place-based history and systems of oppression that cause vacancy.

Bethel AME’s current Pastor, Rev. Dr. Dale B. Snyder, Sr, at the ceremony on April 14th, 2023. (Photo credit to Stephanie Strasburg/Public Source)

Hopefully this major win for Bethel AME is only the first step in the City and the URA reconciling with the destruction of the Lower Hill and the harms they have caused, and continue to cause, to the residents. 

Read more here:

• Penguins, developer, and Pittsburgh’s oldest Black church announce deal, but not details
• Pittsburgh’s oldest Black church was demolished as ‘blight’ in the 1950s Lower Hill. Today, members seek justice. 

Read about a different Lower Hill Development Here!

We want to hear from you! What are your thoughts? How else can we find justice for those harmed by unjust land seizure?