Loading ...Can we fight crime with development?
by Mountain Girl ~ June 25th, 2008. Filed under: Business, MWCDC, Revitalization.
The issues we’re dealing with in the wake of the recent shootings in Mt. Washington are not about:
- One bar
- One bar owner or
- One landlord
These unfortunate incidents are just symptoms of an endemic problem caused by population loss, economic disparity, and lack of development. The people that fought successfully to defeat a lot of the development projects that have been proposed over the past few decades might have thought more about the long-term consequences of their actions. Development often reduces crime and it’s not hard to figure out why. In recent years, studies have shown how even the planning and design of new development can make a neighborhood significantly safer (with lighting, way-finding, etc.).
If we’re really concerned about crime, I say let’s consider development proposals for Mt. Washington (in addition to demanding increased police presence of course). Virginia Avenue has finally been properly zoned. I hope property owners are beginning to explore their options on that street. The Edge is being looked at by developers as well.
I wonder if the level of business development that needs to occur should be handled by a completely different entity than the MWCDC. Perhaps a Business Improvement District (BID) would be a better mechanism for developing new businesses and assisting those that may be struggling. Other neighborhoods in Pittsburgh-Oakland and Mt. Lebanon for example-have had success with BIDs. What do you think?
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June 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I’ve been reading through the various comments on here about the recent shooting at Sonny’s. I’m glad to see this posting here about development because I think that some of the commentors on here may have forgotten to see the forest for the trees. Yes, the shooting was unfortunate, but I don’t think that getting rid of Sonny’s (or whichever establishment is deemed to be a “nuisance”) is the answer. It may be a temporary band-aid, but if the crime is already here, shutting down those establishments may actually increase crime. I imagine it would be easier to work with the current business owners to improve their establishments to eliminate crime rather than to recruit new business owners to take over the empty store fronts if we run Sonny’s out of town. The CDC needs to reach out to these so-called “nuisance” establishments to work towards the common goal of improving our community, alienating them and attacking them doesn’t really get us anywhere.
Finally, another issue that has been lost in the shuffle is the whole gentrification issue. Not everyone up on Mt. Washington is a yuppie who can afford to drink at the Shiloh Inn or Packs and Dogs. I was recently speaking to my neighbor (who is not educated) and he explained to me that Redbeards is where you go if you have a college education and Sonny’s is where you go if you did not have the opportunity to go to college. I think that the mixture of working class and professionals living up here is one of the things that makes Mt. Washington a nice (and affordable) place to live.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Property values of course will go down if all this crime continues. Will developers be willing to invest money here? I don’t think it will effect development on Grandview, but all of the other areas of 15211, I’m really concerned.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Diane:
That’s why I wonder if the best option is for current business owners to take ownership of the business district. Band together, led by responsible owners like Todd, Lenny, owners of the Shiloh, etc. There would be some investment involved on their part, but hopefully it would pay off in the long run.
MG
June 25th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I thought gentrification was a good thing?
June 25th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Development is a good thing, but if done unchecked, gentrification can quickly and dramatically increase property values to such a level that it displaces the current long-time residents of a community who can no longer afford the cost of housing or services in their neighborhoods. The hardest hit are working class and fixed income residents (likely elderly people) who are forced to move out, leaving behind the communities they may have lived in for the past 20-30 years. I guess depending on your perspective, gentrification is not a good thing if it forces your hardworking neighbors (or even you) to leave the community you love.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Yes, gentrification is a GREAT thing. Those long time residents should have the Homestead Act on their property so they can not be forced out by higher taxes. So improving the neighborhood does not force anyone out, instead it increases the value of the community. In many states the govt can only increase your property a small percentage each time as long as the property is owned by the same person. when the house is sold to a new buyer then the taxes are adjusted to the current value. We need that on the taxes to protect the long term owners.
Unchecked development…be still my little heart…..in Mt Washington??
The old timers up here have stopped every new construction project since I moved here in 1981. It would be a good thing if they could no longer afford to keep their houses and some progressive thinking people (of any age) would buy them and improve the neighborhood.
If you can even find a developer who would be interested in coming to Mt Washington to build, with all the negative ‘old timers’ who worry about traffic and parking (like they even go out or own a car) let’s get that developer and give them the Keys to the City. The Edge property have been boarded up since I moved here…I would love to see any new construction and any new people move into there.
Mt Washington needs revitalization. If we don’t start attracting some new construction soon we are going to be inundated with trees and old falling apart buildings. I don’t care what they want to build, how tall it is, or who’s view it blocks….let them build it. How did Rite Aid ever get passed the New Construction Taliban?
June 28th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Jamie Lynn, Believe me getting Rite Aid here was a long, hard, battle. I’m afraid the Edge will be too. The Taliban are starting already with their negative campaign to stop whatever will be proposed. NO MATTER WHAT IT IS!!! Its interesting they never offer a suggestion, their just against any development. I think there is a group called REDO in Mt. Washington that has been meeting to work together to attract good developers here.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for the advice. Yes, I have heard of Redo and I will try to locate them to help support any building that is proposed. Hopefully we can get a developer who would be interested in any of the parcels of land located on Grandview and then once building starts there, it will be easier to find investors for other parts of Mt Washington. And the new influx of development and new investor will take care of problems like Sonny’s and the under-developed or neglected areas.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Can we fight crime with development? This one is easy. ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
June 30th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
There has been development since 1981, so obviously the “old timers” haven’t stopped it all. Also I don’t think it would be a “good thing” for people to lose their homes because they can no longer afford them. I know people that has happened to and it is devastating, where do you propose they go? And how would you know if they go out or even own a car? I’ve lived here all of my life, I guess I’m one of the old timers you refer to, but I am all for new development and I do own a car. And I do go out. There are a lot of us who feel the same way, so don’t generalize and paint us all with the same brush, like calling Redbeard clientele “college-educated”, but thanks for the laugh.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hey, I go to Redbeards and I am not young and I am not college educated. When they card at the door, it is not for a college education, just your age.
Can you help me with the development since 1981….all I know is Rite Aid…what else has been developed?? The parking garage on Shiloh…what else? A few little condos/townhouses..but nothing that would be considered development I am talking BIG. Because if something was put in, I missed it. I moved here in 1981.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:15 am
The fact that we’re even discussing level of education when we’re talking about bar patrons is kind of odd. Who cares?!
MG
July 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Jamie Lynn, The only BIG development I can think of is the Trimont. That was many many years in the making. Hopefully, the Edge property proposed development won’t be that long!!