SCI Pittsburgh, formally the State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh and historically known as Western State Penitentiary, is a decommissioned Pennsylvania state prison sitting on about 21.7 acres along the Ohio River. Governor Tom Wolf closed it in 2017 after nearly 140 years of continuous operation at that site, and the Commonwealth still owns the property while it works through environmental cleanup, a feasibility study, and the legislative authorization needed to sell the land.
Why the State Closed It in 2017
Governor Wolf announced the closure in January 2017, pointing to a growing state budget deficit and the disproportionate cost of maintaining the aging facility. SCI Pittsburgh was the oldest and most expensive institution in the Department of Corrections system. At the time of the announcement, it housed 1,921 inmates and employed 555 staff. The state estimated net annual savings of roughly $81 million after mothballing costs, and Wolf framed the decision as protecting money for education, senior care, and workforce programs.
Mothballing meant keeping the exterior structures intact and basic utilities running to slow deterioration, with staffing reduced to security patrols and minimal groundskeeping. The 42 buildings on the property remain under caretaker status, and the Department of Corrections maintains the perimeter. The site is not open to the public.
Where the Inmates and Staff Went
The 1,921 inmates were moved over roughly four months to the state’s other 26 facilities, with placements based on each person’s program needs, security classification, and proximity to family. The 555 employees were offered positions elsewhere in the department or helped into retirement.
One function did not simply disappear into the general system. SCI Camp Hill absorbed the centralized intake process for new inmates entering state custody and now serves as the diagnostic and classification center for all male inmates entering state prison, handling security assessments and medical screening.1Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. SCI Camp Hill Specialized programming and vocational services formerly offered at the Ohio River site were folded into schedules at nearby institutions.
Environmental Problems at the Site
The age of the facility left behind serious contamination issues that any future owner has to confront. A hazardous materials survey identified asbestos-containing material in 17 of the property’s structures, with 37 materials confirmed or assumed to contain asbestos. Every one of the 43 structures surveyed contained lead-based paint. Inspectors also found water damage and mold throughout all buildings, roughly 7,300 light bulbs that may contain mercury, and about 3,650 light fixtures with possible PCB-containing ballasts.2Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Hazardous Materials Survey – State Correctional Institution Pittsburgh
Estimated cost for asbestos removal alone is about $1,032,343. Full-site demolition combined with environmental remediation would run an estimated $44 to $49 million, with an additional $3.9 million for floodplain mitigation to raise the site above base flood elevation. Partial demolition would still cost roughly $32.5 million before floodplain work.3Pennsylvania Department of General Services. SCI-Pittsburgh Land Use Feasibility Study Those numbers are a major reason the site has sat vacant since closure.
Redevelopment Under Act 24 of 2022
In June 2022, Governor Wolf signed Act 24 of 2022, authorizing the Department of General Services to sell the former SCI Pittsburgh property through a competitive solicitation process. The law directs DGS to select the buyer offering the best value and return on investment, weighing price alongside proposed use, job creation potential, and return of the land to the local property tax rolls. A competitive solicitation committee reviews proposals; it includes the Secretary of General Services (or a designee), the state senator and state representative whose districts include the property, and an official from the City of Pittsburgh.4Pennsylvania General Assembly. 2021-2022 Regular Session HB 2171 PN 2894 – Act 24 of 2022
The deed carries one notable restriction. The property cannot be used as a licensed gambling facility, and if a future owner violates that condition, title automatically reverts to the Commonwealth. The conveyance is also subject to all existing easements, utility rights-of-way, and other encumbrances on the land.4Pennsylvania General Assembly. 2021-2022 Regular Session HB 2171 PN 2894 – Act 24 of 2022
The June 2023 Land Use Feasibility Study, conducted by Michael Baker International for DGS, recommended full demolition of all structures followed by a mixed-use plan. About 16.5 of the 21.7 acres would be designated for industrial development permitted under the site’s Riverfront General Industrial zoning, allowing roughly 411,000 square feet of new building space. The remaining 5.2 acres would become a public park connected to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, with improved river access and interpretive markers commemorating the site’s history.3Pennsylvania Department of General Services. SCI-Pittsburgh Land Use Feasibility Study As of early 2026, the property has not been conveyed to a buyer, and the DGS feasibility study page is still active.5Department of General Services. SCI Pittsburgh Land Use Feasibility Study
A historic resource survey conducted as part of the feasibility study found the former Western State Penitentiary eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.6Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Western State Penitentiary Historic Resource Survey Form Register eligibility alone does not block demolition; its main protective effect kicks in when federal funding, permits, or licenses are part of a project. The historic status has added review but has not stopped the state from recommending full demolition as the preferred path.
Finding Someone Formerly Housed There
If you’re trying to locate a person who was at SCI Pittsburgh before it closed, use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ online Inmate and Parolee Locator. The database covers all state-sentenced inmates and parolees, is updated daily, and searches by name. Results show the person’s current facility assignment if they remain in the state system.7Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Locate an Inmate or Parolee The locator does not include people held in federal facilities, other states, or county jails.
Requesting Records About the Facility
Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101–67.3104) gives the public a formal process for requesting administrative documents, facility records, and other government-held information from the Department of Corrections. Submit your request in writing to the agency’s designated Open Records Officer, by mail or electronically.
The agency has five business days from receiving a request to provide a final response or send written notice that more time is needed. An extension notice must explain the reason and give a reasonable expected response date. If that expected date runs more than 30 calendar days past the initial five-day window, the request is automatically deemed denied unless you agree in writing to the longer timeline.8Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Statutes Title 65 PS Public Officers 67.902 – Extension of Time
Copying fees are capped at $0.25 per page for black-and-white copies, dropping to $0.20 per page after the first 1,000 pages, and $0.50 per page for color.9Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Official RTKL Fee Schedule Be specific about what you want. Vague requests are the most common reason for technical denials, and getting one just means starting over.