Finding Lodging Near the Convention Center Will Soon Get Easier

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER

Folks attending conventions at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center will soon have a new place to stay — and it’s closer than ever to the action.

State officials have announced that the luxury hotel brand Loews Hotels has signed a letter of intent to build a new hotel at the convention center. Encompassing 500 rooms and a restaurant, the proposed lodging will be attached to the center itself.

“Increasing hotel space for major events and building a hotel attached to the Convention Center is something that this region has envisioned for decades. Our Administration is bringing everyone together — the state, county, city and private sector — to make it a reality,” Lt. Gov. Austin Davis says in a statement. “This is just the first step in the process, but I’m looking forward to the day when we start putting shovels in the ground.”

The Loews Hotels project will spur $418 million in total investment, including $135 million in company investment, and create 1,200 union construction jobs and 400 permanent union jobs, officials say. The commonwealth has agreed to provide $30 million in funding to support the project, and will expedite the hotel’s entry into the PA Permit Fast Track Program, which streamlines permitting for high-impact economic development and infrastructure projects through coordinated, transparent and predictable interagency review. Allegheny County will also provide the largest local share of financing for the deal via available financial tools designed to bring a hotel to the convention center.

The announcement comes on the heels of Pittsburgh hosting the largest-ever NFL Draft, which drew crowds of more than 800,000 people and smashed prior predictions. As part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s 10-Year Revitalization Strategy for Downtown Pittsburgh, a refreshed Point State Park, the new Arts Landing and a reimagined Market Square all opened in time to greet visitors from around the country. It’s a sign that Pittsburgh is on the rise, officials say, and the Loews Hotels project is another feather in its cap.

“I’m proud of the progress we are making together to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh and get stuff done for Western Pennsylvania — building more housing, creating safe and fun public spaces and attracting businesses large and small to the Downtown neighborhood,” Shapiro says in a statement. “This investment from Loews Hotels … is another sign that Pittsburgh is on the rise, and it will help us bring even more exciting events like the Draft to Pennsylvania. We are going to continue to create real opportunity in the Commonwealth and ensure Pittsburgh is a great place to live, work and play.”