Waterfront development in PA improved by tax credit program
House looks to expand availability for waterfront development tax credit
Rep. Dan Goughnour September 2, 2025 | 12:32 PM
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 2 – A one-of-its-kind tax credit program created in 2016 has helped waterfront development in Pittsburgh, and developers are hopeful an expansion of the measure would help meet the rising demand for the program in the region and across the state to help Pennsylvania uncover its vast potential.
The PA House Majority Policy Committee hosted a roundtable on Shore Thing, which is a Riverlife project located along the north shore of the Allegheny River between the Andy Warhol Bridge and Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh.
“We heard directly from stakeholders on the benefit and demand for the Waterfront Tax Credit,” said state Rep. Emily Kinkead, who co-hosted the event and has sponsored legislation to expand waterfront development tax credits. “Right now, the demand for this program has outpaced its availability, and stakeholders detailed how its expansion could help Pennsylvania be a national leader when it comes to delivering economic development along our waterfront properties.”
Shore Thing is the first platform barge of its kind in the nation. Riverlife has helped deliver an estimated $1.5 million in investments to projects just within eyesight of the barge.
“Pittsburgh had been on the leading edge of waterfront development, but other cities – including Chicago – have since created great connections for neighborhoods and their waterfronts,” House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro said. “The House continues to examine ways we can help Pennsylvania and cities like Pittsburgh and Erie return as national leaders in delivering economic opportunities for our communities.”
Tuesday’s House Majority Policy roundtable featured testimony from Riverlife President and CEO Matthew Galluzzo and Duquesne Light Co. Manager of Environmental, Social, Governance and Corporate Giving Angela Feldbauer.
“I’m no different than many people who call Allegheny County home; my family spends a large portion of its down time and weekends along the water,” said state Rep. Dan Goughnour, who co-hosted the event and represents portions of Allegheny County. “Today’s hearing illustrated just how vital this program is to economic development in our region and across the state.”
Testimony from today’s hearing can be found here.
“The Waterfront Development Tax Credit is a proven and effective tool to leverage private dollars for public good in Pennsylvania,” Galluzzo said. “Many of Pittsburgh’s most beautiful riverfront projects are only here because of this program. Riverlife is grateful to Representative Kinkead for championing this issue in the PA House and introducing legislation to bolster this program, the first-ever and only of its kind in the country. We look forward to our elected officials on both sides of the aisle working together to get this across the finish line.”
Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found on the day of the hearing at Facebook.com/PADemPolicy.