15211.org

We have to deal with a lot of things in Mt. Washington. Fortunately, the threat of massive flooding isn’t one of them. But, just in case, and because many of us have family and friends living at lower elevations, here are some helpful links to prepare for the convergence of the remnants of 47 inches of snow and warmer weather.

By the way, these sites have lots of helpful information about all emergency-type situations (H1N1, winter storms, etc.) so you may want to bookmark them. Stay safe and dry!

Allegheny County Department of Human Services

Allegheny County Health Department

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

Ready America

The concept isn’t new. Youngstown proposed it in 2005 and deemed it “smart decline”. The idea is that instead of repairing infrastructure and marketing its urban areas for growth, urban planners and city officials decide to raze old homes and buildings and convert the land back to farms or wetlands. Detroit made headlines recently for exploring urban contraction.

Is it something for Pittsburgh to consider? I don’t know where I come down on this one. Anything I’ve ever thought about planning in Mt. Washington is wrapped around growth or redevelopment.

This might not be 100% Mt. Washington related but being that it’s at the bottom of our beautiful mountain I thought everyone should know about it.

From the Post Gazette:

The “hole in the wall” at the West End Circle is scheduled to open to northbound traffic Tuesday, another milestone in PennDOT’s $52.6 million project to untangle traffic there.

The opening to northbound traffic is expected about 3 p.m. Southbound traffic has been using the road since July.

Councilwoman Smith recently met with Mr. Craig Cozza of Grandview Avenue vacant lot fame and representatives from the MWCDC and was kind enough to share a synopsis of the meeting with us. (If you’re not familiar with Mr. Cozza’s role in the development story in our neighborhood, you can check out some of the media coverage of it here, here and here.)

As you’ll see, Mr. Cozza agreed to attend community meetings to hash out the details of cleaning up some of his properties.  As we attend these meetings, let’s remember that this is a new day and a new era and while I don’t defend any developer holding our neighborhood’s revitalization dreams hostage, we don’t know the entire story of developments past. We certainly didn’t have the political leadership we have now. Thanks to Theresa Smith for initiating this meeting and beginning to establish some accountability for developers in Mt. Washington.

Mr. Cozza agreed to the following:

• Beautify both lots on Grandview.
• Repair and secure fencing on both lots on Grandview.
• Attend MWCDC meeting in two months to address art projects for the fencing at both locations.
• Agreed to numerous MWCDC meetings to see both projects to completion.
• Work with MWCDC and Councilwoman Smith on completing the development of the lots.
• Contact the Mayor/URA for support for the development.

MWCDC agreed to the following:

• Host meeting next month and prepare the community to work with Mr. Cozza.
• Contact Art Institute (a specific contact person) to enlist their support for beautifying the area.
• Identify possible developers to partner on the projects.
• Identify parties interested in possible purchasing the lots.

Councilwoman Smith agreed to the following:

• Contact the URA and Mayor’s office to secure any possible stimulus funding for green development.
• Attend MWCDC meetings to continue her efforts to see these projects to completion.
• Contact the Art Institute/CAPA to ensure their support for beautifying the work site with art projects until the developments are complete.
• Continue to work with Mr. Cozza/MWCDC to identify and provide the needed support to see both projects to completion.
• Reschedule a follow up meeting and remain in contact with all parties to ensure the projects are continually moving forward

DATE: Saturday, March 20, 2010
TIME: 9 am – 11 am
LOCATION: PCRG Conference Room 1901
Centre Ave, Suite 200

Sponsored by PCRG, the goal of Safe Neighborhood Networks is to bring neighborhood public safety activists together to share strategies, discuss root causes of crime across communities, receive training from public safety experts, and build safe communities from the grass roots up.

The discussion will include available resources for community groups; any problems that you might be having in your own neighborhood and how we can work together to address them; and what initiatives are currently underway in the city.

There will be a special presentation from Wendy Urbanic, the Coordinator of the city’s 311 Response Center. She will be discussing the services associated with the 311 line, how our communities can properly utilize the system, and the differences between 311 and 9-1-1. If there is something specific that you would like the group to address, please let Jared at PCRG  know so he can make sure it is on the agenda for the morning.

RSVP by March 11th by contacting Jared at programs@pcrg.org or (412) 391-6732 x210.

A little over a year ago, a request for an occupancy permit for a strip club on Carson Street was rejected unanimously by the City Planning Commission. That would have been the end of the story save for the fact that Pittsburgh City Council failed to hold a public hearing on the matter, which led Judge James of the Commonwealth Court to rule that Marquise Investments was then entitled to the permit. Marquise began construction on the club in January, (despite allegedly not have the requisite building permits).

About 30 protestors gathered in front of the City-County Building yesterday to express their concerns about the club to Council and the Mayor in the hopes that they would intervene.

A Google search of this issue yields pages and pages of stories about people protesting strip clubs in neighborhoods across the country because of their proximity to a residential area or to a school or church. And development companies rail against the protesters (and win at times) based on the fact that strip clubs are lawful businesses. While the strip club in the West End wouldn’t be near homes or churches or schools, it would be next door to the Onala Club, a center for recovering addicts. No law protects the Onala Club or the people battling addictions that seek refuge there, but I have to wonder if we’re morally obligated to question putting a strip club within walking distance of this organization. If you have questions about the development or would like to document your opinions about this issue, Councilwoman Smith has been very involved and can be reached at 412-255-8963.