Pittsburgh North Shore Ferris Wheel

Pittsburgh Planning Commission Greenlights Esplanade Riverfront Development

The master plan for Esplanade, a riverfront development on the city’s North Shore that we Pittsburghers or Yinzers, if you will, have been hearing about for quite some time, has been approved.

The project is going to bring a nearly 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel, housing, shopping, and entertainment to a 15-acre brownfield site along the Ohio River.

This portion of riverfront, a long-vacant brownfield site, is an important step in enhancing Pittsburgh’s riverfront. The site has been vacant for 20 years and it’s exciting to imagine the changes the Esplanade will bring.

A Major Redevelopment Project

The riverfront development is set to include a condominium complex, a hotel, and a towering apartment building. A massive Ferris wheel will offer an iconic feature for the Pittsburgh skyline akin to our beloved yellow bridges.

The project aims to restore riverbanks, connect residential neighborhoods to the North Shore’s entertainment district, and stimulate the local economy. Since its initial proposal, the project has undergone several changes, including lowering building heights and removing a public swimming pool from the design.