Pittsburgh Main Thoroughfares and the Down Town District / Improvements Necessary to Meet the City's Present and Future Needs

by Frederick Law Olmsted

When Diamond Alley was widened, in part, from 20 feet to 50 feet, not long ago, the improvement was of much importance because it added one more street large enough for general business in a locality where there was a great demand for business frontage, and where the original lots were of very excessive depth. But the improvement was a distinctly local one and contributed little or nothing to the solution of the general traffic problem. But the peculiar relation of Diamond Street to the general system of main traffic lines demands a much more courageous action for the benefit of the whole city. In connection with the widening of Forbes Street, it should be converted into a thoroughfare at least equal in width to Liberty Avenue. A glance at the map shows the convenient and equitable location of Diamond Street, and its importance as a thoroughfare to supplement Liberty Avenue in handling the traffic of the Point District.

Market Street Widening

Coming, as it does, directly opposite the Sixth Street bridge, Market Street ought to be a very important cross-town connection; and because the buildings are generally small and old, and most of the lots are so deep as not to be seriously injured by curtailment, a widening is suggested throughout its length.

The widening of Diamond and Market Streets makes clear that the Diamond Square Market site should not be occupied in any way that would perpetuate the obstruction offered by the present use of the square to through travel. The need is not for a mere mitigation or slight improvement of the present conditions by opening little archways through a new building on the Market site, but for a radical and effective clearance. The space was originally set apart as an open public square, and the complete occupation of it by revenue-producing buildings was a diversion of the square from its original purpose—an act in general accordance with the unfortunately short-sighted policy which has done much to bring about the notably congested conditions prevailing in the city today.

The Market

A bridge and water front at Pittsburgh—Monongahela River

It may be necessary to provide elsewhere for the Market, and a site is suggested in the block between Third and Fourth Streets on Liberty Avenue, having the great advantage of rail connections. On account of the character of the surrounding country, an exceptionally large proportion of market supplies comes to Pittsburgh by rail and must continue to do so. It is highly uneconomical, and adds needlessly and considerably to the congestion of the streets, to unload the market supplies from the railroad a full mile away (as is now done) and to then haul them by team through the heart of the retail district.[3]

Within the interior of the Point District, Diamond and Market Streets widened, supplemented by the existing Liberty Avenue, appear to be the only thoroughfares of Metropolitan dimensions which it is reasonable to provide for. But around the borders of the district there is much that ought to be done.