This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:
Esplanade Breaks Ground in Pittsburgh: Officials this week — including Josh Shapiro — joined developers to break ground on the $740 million Esplanade project in Pittsburgh’s North Side / North Shore. The plan calls for 15 acres of former industrial / brownfield land to be transformed into a mixed-use waterfront development: up to 750 apartments (20% affordable), 126 condos, retail, entertainment venues, green space, and a signature ~200-foot Ferris wheel. First-phase work — including site demolition, infrastructure, and apartment/retail preparation — is underway now, with the Ferris wheel, housing, and retail expected to open around 2028; full completion could run into 2029. The project is being pitched as a “game changer” for revitalizing underused riverfront space, creating thousands of jobs (jobs-creation estimates include both construction and long-term roles), and boosting local economy and livability. READ MORE.
Pennsylvania Comprehensive Housing Bill In Spotlight as Legislators Try to Address Housing Shortage: This week, a bipartisan group of state legislators introduced a new housing bill intended to ease the state’s deep housing shortage — currently estimated at a shortfall of at least 100,000 units statewide. The package aims to encourage new building development, streamline permitting, and incentivize conversion or redevelopment of underutilized properties — partly to overcome delays tied to local government structure and red tape. The effort aligns with the recently drafted Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan (PHAP), which seeks to increase housing affordability and supply across the Commonwealth. READ MORE.
PennDOT & Infrastructure Work Update: The state completed its 2025 construction season on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, investing over $737 million in maintenance, road resurfacing (24.3 miles), and modernization — including demolition of old toll plazas and construction of new Open Road Tolling (ORT) structures across the state. Why it matters: These infrastructure updates have real consequences for traffic, commuting, and long-term mobility across the state. For residents, they affect travel times and may influence where people choose to live or commute — but they also reflect ongoing investment in making Pennsylvania’s transportation network safer, more modern, and more efficient. READ MORE.
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