Restoration of the Historic New Granada

The Historic New Granada Theater is located in the Historic Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh PA. The building is architecturally, culturally and economically important to the neighborhood, city, state and country. Not only is the building one of the last remaining structures of one of America's early African American architects, Louis A.S. Bellinger, but is also important because it documented African American social and community life in the early - mid 20th century circa 1927 - 70s. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is where Duke Ellington was initially crowned "King of Jazz" from a live radio broadcast which was published in the Pittsburgh Courier, an essential journal documenting and impacting issues of the Black community and American politics of the day. Today, the COMMUNITY is leading the restoration of the historic building and reigniting the cultural fire that made the Hill District one of the places to be if you were an everyday resident, socialite, musician, entrepreneur or person of influence. The New Granada is one of the last significant structures connecting the rich African American cultural legacy of Pittsburgh to the neighborhood's vibrant future. It was originally developed by the Knights of Pythia, a Black fraternal organization, and civic activities, concerts, speeches and more were hosted within the building's walls.

Soon, the New Granada will become the economic basis for the regeneration of the area and has attracted the University of Pittsburgh’s Community Engagement Center (Pitt CEC) which will locate a division of the University’s African American Poetry and Poetics Department, Jazz Center, Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, Digital Inclusion Center and more! Multi-purpose event spaces including a Black Box Theater and 900-person flexible performance, conferencing and event venue. A food hall and additional office space aim to grow the success of Black Entrepreneurs, Creatives and Innovators (tech and tech adjacent) as a part of the project. Groundbreaking for Phase I of the historic building is scheduled for May 25, 2023.

This fundraiser will help to demonstrate that this project is of critical importance to a broad range of stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally! Donors from our campaign will be acknowledged at the groundbreaking event and on an ongoing basis. Thank you for your support, please help us to spread the word to bring this magnificent asset back to its full glory!

Learn more at www.hilldistrict.org/newgranada.