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Lower Hill District Mixed-Use Development Minority, Woman, and Disadvantaged Business Coordination

Project Overview

The redevelopment of the former Civic Arena site in the Lower Hill District of Pittsburgh, PA has the potential to transform the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and, in particular, the Downtown, Uptown and Greater Hill District communities. It will not only reconnect these communities, but it will also act as a catalyst for economic development throughout the Greater Hill District community and create jobs, businesses and wealth building opportunities for its residents. 

Core Services Performed:

  • Stakeholder Coordination
  • Strategic Communications
  • Graphic Design
  • Database Creation, Tracking, Reporting, & Management

Client: Buccini/Pollin Group

Prime: PJ Dick

Timeline:  January 2021 – October 2021

Diversity Coordination Communications, Outreach, & Reporting

Undertakings to complete this endeavor include overseeing the building of a M/WBE database, including vetting of the general qualifications and capabilities of businesses and identification of specific needs. This database serves as a master list for outreach and education about opportunities within construction proposals. 

Our team oversees the distribution of relevant information, capacity building connections, and training and assistance if needed. Connections and assistance with bonding and securing materials and equipment for minority businesses is also included in this effort.

Block G1: FNB Financial Center

  • FNB Financial Center project has made commitments to 73 M/WBEs. To date, the initial contracts are valued at $102 million and are as follows:
  • $35 million in contracts for MBEs (representing 35% of total to date)
  • $24 million of which are Black-owned businesses (23% of the total)
  • Approximately $8 million of the total contracts are for WBEs 
  • Commitments to 42 different M/WBEs across 29 trades 
  • To date, FNB Financial Center project has made commitments to 73 M/WBEs 

Block E: Parking Garage 

To date our team has assisted with four3  contractor outreach meetings to facilitate conversations and provide bid-level information to interested parties. More than 100 minority and women-owned contractors providing firm qualifications to be evaluated. The project is in value engineering and will tentatively proceed in 2024. 

Learn more at: www.lowerhillredevelopment.com

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Dave Broniecki
Data Engineer, Associate Project Manager

Dave is a NASSCO certified Mechanical Engineer. Specializing in retrieving and analyzing data from various sources to support condition assessment and capital improvement planning activities. Utilizing data to coordinate and track progress on key organizational performance indicators, he assists stakeholders in making decisions related to strategic planning. He has been integral in establishing data management programs essential for planning the future repair and management of large-scale sewer networks.  David works with clients to develop training programs and SOPs that address current maintenance needs and future Capital Improvement Planning.

Contact: dave.broniecki@eholdingsinc.com

Christine Barton, PE, PLS
Project Engineer

Christine Barton is a registered civil engineer and land surveyor with expert experience in site design, land development, water resources design for civil/site projects including layouts, utility plans, and permitting, and coordination/management of field survey work.  She has successfully held positions as project manager, project designer, and office manager to serve the needs of the clients within the residential, commercial, military, industrial, and healthcare industries. Core proficiencies include coordination with local land development planning agencies, county conservation districts, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the  Pennsylvania Department of Environment.

Contact: christine.barton@eholdingsinc.com

Irvin Williams, President

As the President and founder of E. Holdings, Irvin is currently focused on the company’s succession, strategic growth, and development. He has both a professional and personal interest in Pittsburgh’s success.  A Pittsburgh native and founder of several development companies, he has an extensive understanding of finance and business, which are vital to the success of this company. He has served in numerous management positions including financial advisor, senior vice president, project manager, general contractor, developer, and construction manager. Active in the local community, he made the decision to dedicate his expertise to rebuilding economically sustainable communities with the approval of their existing residents. In 1996, he and his wife became the first African Americans in Western Pennsylvania to develop and own a commercial office building, Williams Square. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an AAS in Mathematics.

Contact: irvin.williams@eholdingsinc.com | 412-434-6290

Amy Wiles, AICP
Manager of Planning & Design

Amy’s professional experience crosses a variety of disciplines, ranging from county and multi-municipal comprehensive plans and land use ordinances (zoning and subdivision and land development) to specialized planning studies, such as wayfinding master plans and parks, recreation, trails and greenways plans. She has been employed by E. Holdings for two years and has 20 years of professional experience.

Contact: amy.wiles@eholdingsinc.com | 724-448-0286

Alexis Meier, MPP
Director of Communications

Alexis is the Director of Communications at E. Holdings. There she has worked as the Municipal Coordinator for an in-depth municipal assessment project for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN). She oversees all of E. Holding’s public relations and public outreach efforts. She also brings experience as a Government Affairs Manager for Duane Morris Government Strategies. She worked on community development projects and developing and executing government relations strategies as well as fundraising efforts. She has also spent time navigating our political system in Washington D.C. as the Legislative Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. Her understanding of legislation and politics gives her a unique viewpoint when collaborating on civic projects. 

Contact: alexis.meier@eholdingsinc.com | 412-656-8850

Janai Williams Smith, MCP
Managing Director and EVP

Janai Smith is the Managing Director and Principal of E. Holdings, Inc. Janai is a versatile, goal-oriented Program Manager with 20+ years of experience supporting the strategic direction of large-scale programs, setting budgets and managing risks while achieving overall company goals and exceeding customer expectations. As a planner and economist, Janai has been involved in a diverse array of projects, among them master plans, urban revitalization plan, visioning studies, brownfield and infill redevelopment projects, strategic planning and infrastructure improvement programs.

Janai’s interest in urban planning, design and infrastructure programs is rooted in a passion for the creation of sustainable communities that deliver equity in planning and implementation by making connections with people and their built environment. Her affinity for complex problem-solving can be seen in the diverse array of projects in which she’s been engaged from revitalization plans for depressed urban neighborhoods to brand new communities and programs. Leading a process-oriented, multidisciplinary team, Janai’s dedication to achieving consensus in her client’s goals and stakeholders’ vision has made a significant contribution to the successful development of numerous projects. 

Contact: janai.smith@eholdingsinc.com | 412-728-5726