Woman From Boston Looking To Revitalize Pittsburgh Waterfront
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburghers can be forgiven if they have a small problem with Boston. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are not very popular among the loyal citizens of the Steeler Nation.
But of course, there is quite a lot to like about Boston. The widely-acclaimed revival of its waterfront, for one thing. And now Vivien Li, the force behind that dramatic turnaround, has brought her considerable talents to Pittsburgh. It makes you wonder, as Matt Damon might put it, how Boston 'likes them apples'.
Hint: It does not like them.
"Boston is losing a treasure," bemoaned Thomas Glynn, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority.
"Vivien Li was instrumental in the dramatic transformation of Boston's waterfront", raved radio station WBUR.
The Boston Globe gushed that Li worked "magic" on Boston Harbor.
Years earlier, Boston Magazine named her one of the "40 Bostonians We Love", along with icons like Bobby Orr and Ted Kennedy.
So how exactly did Pittsburgh steal Vivien Li?
"I think Pittsburgh is a beautiful city," she says. "And when I came with the search committee, I said, 'wow. What an opportunity to be able to potentially be a part of the enhancements that will happen on the riverfront and throughout the region'."
Riverlife, the public-private partnership focused on enhancing Pittsburgh's shores, lured Li here to become its president and CEO, and work some of that magic of hers along the three rivers.
As head of the influential Boston Harbor Association for 24 years, Li was credited with relentlessly advancing the development of "Harborwalk," a 47-mile waterfront trail, now 80% complete. She says Bostonians and visitors are delighted to discover that it's a lot more than a mere walkway.
"They love it. They love the amenities. They love the playgrounds, they love the open space. They love the free binoculars, they love the places where they can enjoy public art. They love the fact that there are restaurants and cafes along Boston Harbor," says Li.
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It took sustained advocacy, but Li says property owners came around to the idea of creating inviting waterfront areas not just for their own employees or residents, but for the public. Li says they began to see that making a more attractive waterfront, accessible to all, made for more attractive property values.
In Pittsburgh, Li is particularly optimistic about property the Buncher company is in the early stages of developing behind the landmark Terminal Building, a link between Downtown and The Strip District, with housing, offices and retail.
"We think this is very exciting. And it's going to spur even more development," says Li. "You're going to see a very vibrant community here, and you're going to see it with many, many other properties along the waterfront. That's what's so exciting... because I can envision what will happen in the next two or three years."
Her recipe for Pittsburgh involves completing the few missing links in the riverfront trail system, and getting more property owners and developers to provide riverfront amenities like playgrounds, fountains, inviting seating areas and even public restrooms. She says it can be done through a combination of permitting and a little cajoling.
She tells developers: "Give me an hour, an hour and a half, let's walk the riverfront. We're going to see the good, the bad and the ugly." She says developers here are beginning to buy in.
"As someone who comes from a city where it took more than a decade to make the changes, you can see it and feel it here already," says Li.
Vivien Li left behind a bunch of believers in Boston. As one newspaper columnist there wrote upon learning Li was headed here, "Time to buy property in Pittsburgh."
"We're not making more riverfront property," Li says. "This is our once in a lifetime opportunity to really bring the public to the riverfronts. And I think everyone wants to be a part of that story."
