The Pitt Building, a historic landmark located in downtown Pittsburgh, is poised to transform into a thriving hub for Black creatives, gig workers, and business professionals.

The initiative is led by The Greenwood Plan, a non-profit organization that draws inspiration from the legendary Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, famously known as "Black Wall Street."

The Greenwood Plan acquired the Pitt Building on Dec. 21, 2023. The $4 million purchase holds promise and potential, and Khamil Bailey, the executive director of The Greenwood Plan, is enthusiastic about its opportunities.

"We want this to be a Black business incubator, giving Black businesses the opportunity to operate in downtown storefronts where they may not have otherwise been able to do so because the terms are not normally favourable. We want to do that through programming and rent subsidies, giving people the training wheels to be able to get into these spaces and get the revenue that comes with the traffic that comes with being downtown," Bailey told The New Pittsburgh Courier.

An important part of Bailey's vision is attracting Black chefs and restaurateurs passionate about delivering high-quality dining experiences.

"The big one that we do have earmarked is a four-star restaurant that serves some type of Black cuisine. We want a Black, four-star dining experience to be a part of this building," he said.

The plan to renovate the Pitt Building began in 2021 when The Greenwood Plan launched Emerald City, a 12,000-square-foot coworking and social space on the building's second floor. With the acquisition of multiple floors, the organization is working to "connect partners, resources, and initiatives to Black entrepreneurs, professionals, gig workers, and creatives," according to The Greenwood Plan's website.

Greenwood Week, an annual business conference hosted by the non-profit plays a vital role in its mission by focusing on "building social capital and democratizing knowledge in the Pittsburgh Black business community." The event will be a cornerstone of The Greenwood Plan's future initiatives, according to its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

"I know that back in the early 1900s, there were Black businesses that operated downtown. We want to bring that back, remind people that we (African Americans) are a part of a thriving economy just as anybody else, not just as consumers but as wealth-builders," Bailey told The New Pittsburgh Courier.