Pittsburgh’s East Liberty section is on the

Pittsburgh’s East Liberty section is on the upswing, aided by the East End Growth Fund, which since 2001 has invested more than $5 million in loans and recoverable grants and supported projects ranging from live-work loft conversions to the arrival of a Whole Foods market. The latest sign of progress is a plan commissioned by East Liberty Development, Inc., that envisions Penn Avenue returning to prominence “as a regional main street, with offices and apartments above first-floor shops and restaurants,” Patricia Lowry reported in the Aug. 24 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Also proposed is establishment of an urban square — with shops, outdoor cafes, public art, and entertainment — anchored by East Liberty Presbyterian Church.