Downtown Pittsburgh organization at a turning point

The Pittsburgh Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA), an organization that’s charged itself with representing Golden Triangle residents for more than a decade, is on “hiatus,” according to its board vice president, and could shutter, according to a media account.

Out is John Valentine, a Downtown resident and leader of DNA since its inception in 2012 and the group’s former president.

“The Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA) Board of Directors terminated John Valentine’s consultancy effective March 18, 2026. Currently, all DNA-sponsored events and activities are on hiatus while the DNA Board of Directors determines the best path forward,” DNA board Vice President Ashley Henry Shook wrote in an April 8 email to Pittsburgh’s Public Source. The DNA later put the same statement on social media.

The board sent Valentine a letter dated March 18 stating his services were no longer needed. That letter wasn’t sent to Valentine, however, until a day later, emails show. Valentine also sent DNA’s board of directors an email on the morning of March 18 stating that he planned to retire.

“I poured my heart and soul into this, and I’m happy that I did it,” he told Public Source Thursday. “I’m holding my head up high today, because, although I’m disappointed with the way [DNA’s social media post] was worded, I know what’s right, and I’m proud.”

KDKA-TV reported Wednesday that DNA board members said the organization may shut down.

DNA served as a community-focused organization for the residents of the Golden Triangle, an area that’s struggled to strike a balance between residential living and business activities. The nonprofit attempted to fix that by creating a program that enabled residents to serve as ambassadors for their buildings, as well as attracting new boutiques, cafes and other retail stores.

Downtown Neighbors Alliance key moments

2012: Registered with Pennsylvania as the Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corp.
2014: The group received federal tax-exempt status.
2019: Valentine, then also the owner of since-closed Palate Bistro, announced a collaborative effort among 10 venues to improve Downtown’s music scene.
2020: Valentine and the organization took a position in favor of a controversial plan to demolish the building that once housed the Froggy’s bar, which sat in a historic district.
2023: The organization, renamed the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, became a voice in the debate over a winter shelter for unhoused people then located on Smithfield Street, arguing that the shelter’s users could be better served elsewhere.
2024: Valentine endorsed what he characterized as a successful increase in police presence Downtown.
2025: Valentine and the DNA swung behind a push to address concerns about what he called “safety and dreary streets” along the Liberty Avenue corridor.
2026: Shortly before his departure from the organization, Valentine said the Golden Triangle needs more neighborhood amenities.

“I know a lot of residents felt like we were their voice, but also a lot of small businesses came to us for assistance,” Valentine said.

More recently, DNA focused its efforts on bringing upgraded street lighting and new commercial tenants to Liberty Avenue. The nonprofit also planned to host a walking tour of Downtown ahead of the NFL Draft, as well as a treasure hunt in coordination with local small businesses ahead of the event.

It was never a big financial player.

According to its filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the DNA saw generally rising revenue — largely from contributions and grants — from 2020 (around $67,000) to 2024 (nearly $159,000), the last year available. Expenses, though, largely mirrored income, and the group closed out 2024 in the red by just $718, with total assets of less than $3,000.

The nonprofit paid Valentine as an employee through 2022, with his salary dropping from $25,600 in 2020 to $13,000 in 2022. In more recent years DNA reclassified Valentine as a consultant, annually paying out similar amounts — around $22,000 in 2023 and more than $24,000 in 2024 — for consulting.

The filings for those years show minimal government funding — an unspecified $11,765 grant in 2020.

Regarding the nonprofit’s finances, Valentine said, “It’s not my area of expertise. It never was. I never made any secrets about it.”

Mia Hollie is the economic development and housing reporter for Pittsburgh’s Public Source. She can be reached at mia@publicsource.org.

Rich Lord is the managing editor at Pittsburgh’s Public Source and can be reached at rich@publicsource.org.

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