“I've been coming here for years since I was a child with my parents and the more it changes the less I want to come. The fact that large franchises or national companies are here saddens me. This should be the cultural mixing bowl of the city and not just a touristy place”

“There has been enough development and changes to the strip district at this point I feel that there has been too much residential development which affects the flow into the business area and will also affect the ability for visitors to come to Pittsburgh and enjoy the strip district for what it is-I have shopped there for over 50 years, and I would like to see the essence of what it is remain intact. That is what attracts visitors from other cities to the uniqueness of Pittsburgh.”

“This strip as is draws people and visitors not just from surrounding suburbs and guest from other cities. It’s part of what makes Pittsburgh -Pittsburgh. We don’t need more high rises and over priced apartments. Stop messing with the city”

“If Pittsburgh is going to continue its descent into a bottomless burn pit for my taxpayer dollars, I'd appreciate it if they preserved the only portion of it worth visiting. Maybe spend the millions of dollars of grift money on shipping out the talentless karaoke buskers, and cleaning the streets so they don't smell of urine in the morning.”

“This is a Total Disgrace to our city, I have lived here all my life at 4905 Bayard street, 15213 to sq. Hill to Oakland, Southside, etc.
This is the single most destructive idea the city has ever had, Open Streets is one thing. THIS IS ANOTHER!
I believe wholeheartedly that this will destroy the strip for local business owners who come here regularly for paper products from Schorin, fish from the 2 mongers, trees from stans, which is nice gone. As soon as you turn it into a destination, with all the trappings of the jersey shore, IT WON'T BE!
NOBODY NEEDS ANOTHER STRIP MALL! which is what it will be! There has always been a delicate balance in the strip, Don't destroy it! I worked at Julian pastries years ago as well, Bicycle riders will always go wherever they want, you don't need to crush the local economy so that they have a lane instead of a parking spot to load their car!”

“We want to retire here- keep it somewhat resident friendly!”

“We are here 3 times a week for shopping etc… don't take away our space. PLEASE!”

“The strip is perfect as it is. Please don’t change a thing!”

“Keep the charm of the strip. I can’t imagine trying to park with one lane. You would hold up all the traffic and it would be such a bottleneck nightmare!”

“Keep the strip district as it is pretty please with a cherry on top”

“As a former employee of the City Planning Department, I am shocked and disappointed that the City is ignoring the protests of the business owners along Penn Avenue in the Strip. But then again the City ignored the Highland Park residents when we were against the installation of the roundabouts on North Euclid Avenue. They were a huge mistake as are the plans to make Penn Avenue one lane. Start listening to your constituents!”

“Don’t wreck what’s unique and working!”

“DOMI is nuts. They keep making bad decisions and spending money we don't have.”

“Don't ruin the Strip!”

“This plan for a reduction to one lane in the Strip is absurd. Have any of those proposing this plan been to the Strip on a Saturday? As a visitor, I would think twice about shopping in the Strip if the roads were to become even more congested and parking more difficult.”

“This strip district has been a staple of my family for generations to visit. This is history.”

“The traffic is congested enough without the planned changes. We live in the south hills and dread the trip into the strip on weekends already. Please reconsider the proposed changes.”

“This is one of the best I’ve ever been to in my life, I’ve worked for local 5 and Sargent Electric in 1998 and I’ve been to the store and been taking my daughter and visiting this area ever since!! I can’t imagine going anywhere else to get the service And love from such a business or businesses”

“Enough of the bike lanes our streets are not wide enough especially in the strip. This will give many pause to go to the strip to shop and enjoy entertainment.
As an example Liberty ave thru Bloomfield is a disaster traffic is slow and very aggravating. I avoid it at all costs.
This is such a bad idea”

“We visit and patronize businesses in the Strip District several times a week. The existing dedicated bike lanes in that neighborhood are rarely used, while car traffic continues to increase.”

“Unneeded and unsafe! Devastating to businesses in the Strip and discouraging to customers and visitors.”

“The Strip Distruct is an integral part of Pittsburgh. It has been a visitor mecca for all things Pittsburgh for. years. Pittsburgh needs to keep alive its heartbeat. Save the STRIP!!!

“We do not need more bike lanes in a city with too many bike lanes to begin with.”

“Business is hard enough in the city due to all the crime and homeless people. I enjoy the strip district and making it more difficult does not seem to add any benefit in opinion. Pp

“I have been going to the strip for years. It is a fundamental aspect of Pittsburgh. This plan will devastate the business down there and only lead to more national chains coming in. Local and family owned business are the cornerstone of Pittsburgh. I am strongly against the plans put in place to redevelop the strip.”

“The traditional strip IS the attraction. Please lid not disturb it!”

“I don’t live in the strip, but in the greater Pittsburgh area. I moved back after 20 years away and my favorite thing about being back in the burgh is going to the strip for a coffee at La Prima and doing my food shopping at the same stores I shopped at when I was a kid with my grandmother and parents (PA Mac, stamolis, wholeys, etc.). I hate to see all the independent stores being pushed about by national chains and losing its local flavor and grit. The strip has been the best neighborhood in Pittsburgh for my entire life, and I don’t want to lose it.”

“I live in the Pittsburgh area and am a cyclist. Penn Avenue is easy enough to cycle without a dedicated bike lane.”

“Yet another reason he lost the primary”

“In the winter and after floods, this new “bike lane” similar to bike lanes along avenues in Manhattan, NYC, it isn’t a guarantee that this new right of way width usage will be cleared, possibly rendering the bike lane useless in these cases.”

“This place is awesome, I come here at least once a year.”

“The strip has been in every Pittsburgher’s blood for generations. Food, clothing, gifts of all kinds. You find it in the strip. The strip is the soul of Pittsburgh. Why mess with it.”

“What a horrible idea! Who thought this up, they obviously know NOTHING about the strip and us the customers. Incredibly stupid and short sighted. Did I mention stupid?”

“Please pay attention to the affected Strip District businesses and the visitors who patronize them; keep the existing plan in place and STOP the ridiculous "Traffic Calming" / Traffic Congestion Creating program that allots funds and manpower to no good effect in lieu of repairing the horrendous condition of our streets. I travel congested one lane streets (created for bike lanes) daily, several times daily, and see one biker PER MONTH on average. This plan is as bad for business and traffic as Penn Circle was , and that was an abomination and waste of money two times over!”

“It’s vital to the businesses that you can park on the street in front of where you plan to shop. If you have to drive elsewhere to park and then walk back, people will think twice about going. Too much hassle
Let’s keep this part of Pittsburgh thriving!”

“Preserve the strip at all costs!”

“Unique place in Pittsburgh, don’t destroy it.”

“What’s beautiful and special about Pittsburgh is its different neighborhood flavors. We must preserve it as it is because there is no other place like it in the city or the area. That’s what keeps bringing us there.”

“Please preserve the strip district. It is an amazing place and it does not need improvement.”

“It’s not broken so don’t think you’re fixing it!
The Strip is a Pgh gem and an important part of our economy. PLEASE do not alter the traffic pattern. Instead use the money to fix the 2 closed bridges in Oakland (a disgrace).”

“The strip keeps the culture and community of Pittsburgh alive and is unlike anything else I've seen. A tourist and local haven. Please do what is best for businesses and listen to them”

“Mainly for first responder safety concerns. I enjoy the strip enough to find my way out there if I need to. Though I may not fully appreciate how this will affect business.”

“We love coming to the Strip. We’re here often. We spend a lot of money here and would like to continue to support the businesses. It is already hard enough to find parking on the weekends. Please do not move forward with this plan.”

“Anyone who has visited the strip for shopping or to dine on anything but a lonely Tuesday will tell you that reducing Penn Ave. to one lane would be crippling to most of the businesses located there. If the city wants to close the businesses and build more condos, this is the way to go.”

“This is unsafe! This is going to add to further congestion in our community. The residents pay a lot of money to live here and you’re inconveniencing us by this decision. We pay high premium of taxes to keep our neighborhood running well. The fact that you’re ignoring public safety officials advice is incredibly concerning. We will have to take this into consideration when rallying to elect the next round of officials for our great community.”

“SAVE THE STRIP!!!”

“No! Traditional is valuable”

“Please leave the strip the way it is. Why fix something that isn’t broke ! Please use the money to repair our failing bridges.”

“The Strip is a Pgh. Tradition and valuable fixture. DONT RUIN IT!”

“I’m here often, and live close-by. I can imagine, if Penn Avenue is narrowed to one lane and a bike lane, that the Strip District will be permanently damaged. There will be traffic jams, pedestrian accidents (both bicycle and vehicle), angry and therefore dangerous drivers, and a general demise to one of the remaining unique parts of Pittsburgh.
Please don’t let Mayor Gainey override other authorities and ruin the Strip.”