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Pittsburgh City Council

Urban Farm at Risk of Closing due to Esplanade Development.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • Ebony Lunsford-Evans is seeking to purchase a lot in Manchester that she has been using for an urban farm. Her lease with the City’s Adopt-a-Lot program will expire in July.
  • Since 2020, Lunsford-Evans has grown and distributed 12,000 pounds of food to residents who can’t access fresh produce
  • The lot is near the Esplanade development in a zone earmarked for affordable housing, which Lunsford-Evans said was not made clear to her
  • Council President Lavelle later said that Adopt-a-Lot policy needs to be revised to avoid future confusion
  • 23 people spoke on Lunsford-Evans’s behalf at the May 19 General Meeting
  • There was no agenda item, so Council did not take action. They expressed desire to better support community farms with City resources.

Connections to this story

Topics:
Housing & Land Use
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · May 29, 2025

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