Hill District Announces Greenprint Projects

Walter Hood, a consultant for The Hill District Greenprint Project announced the completion of the Greenprint Phase II plan which focuses on specific projects to strengthen the existing ecological structure in the Hill District on Tuesday.

There are seven projects. The project's mantra was "a village set in the woods." Major development will be based around Centre Avenue and the surrounding areas will be made as green as possible. The main project are the Chauncey Stairs.

The Chauncey stairs used to lead to a coal mine in the Hill District. They will be cleaned up and a community park will be set up where the mine was.

The plan was drawn up after consultations with Hill District residents over the last couple years, said Terri Baltimore, Vice President of Neighborhood Development for The Hill House Association.

Hill House Names New President

The Hill House Association has made Victor Roque its President and CEO.

The former Duquesne Light Company chief has served as interim president since the January departure of the preceding Hill House President, Evan Frazier.

Roque also served as Vice-Chair of the Hill House Board of Directors after chairing the Hill House Finance Committee.

He says it’s a good fit.

“I’m a retired executive,” says Roque. “I was looking to be active in the community, and this wonderful opportunity came along and I seized it.”

Roque says one of his main focuses will be continuing efforts to get a grocery store in the Hill District. He says he’d also like to secure funding for “bigger and better” community programs.

Landmarks Still Interested in Hill Grocery

Now that Pittsburgh based Kuhn’s Market has pulled its offer to build a grocery store in the Hill District, Landmarks Community Capital Corporation CEO Howard Slaughter says he is reviving the effort to bring Save-A-Lot into the community. Slaughter and the St. Louis based grocer offered to build a store in the Hill but were rejected by the community because they did not offer to build a so-called full-service store. Hill District community leaders lobbied to have services such as a deli, bakery and a dry cleaner in the store, which Kuhn’s was offering but Save-A-Lot was not. At the time Save-A-Lot officials said they did not run that type of store. Slaughter says he is hoping to bring all the parties back to the table to work on a new deal. The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority had offered to pump $1 million into the deal and the Penguins had pledged to do the same. Slaughter says he has not spoken to the Penguins but he believes the URA offer is still on the table. Landmarks wants to act quickly to make sure that money does not evaporate. Slaughter says he will work to overcome community resistance by arguing that all the other offers have fallen through and the need for a grocer store is still unfilled. He says in the long run not having a full service store could help the community because it will open the door to minority entrepreneurs who may want to open a cleaner or a bakery near by. Slaughter hopes to pursue that option if a deal is reached with Save-A-Lot.

Hill District Program Looks to Revitalize Neighborhood

The Hill District Neighborhood Partnership Program is entering its first year of operation. Over $495,000 in funding has been provided by BNY Mellon to the organization to launch nine community revitalization projects over the first year of the six-year effort. $3 million will be provided over the length of the program. First-year efforts include:

* Granting scholarship money
* Addressing school achievement gaps
* Increasing financial services for residents
* Helping with those struggling with drug addiction
* Rehabilitating homes
* Violence prevention
* Increasing Green Spaces

The groups that will receive the initial funding are: ACORN, Center for Family Excellence, Central Outreach Resource and Referral Center, Find the Rivers, Freedom Unlimited, the Hill District Federal Credit Union, House of the Crossroads and One Vision One Life. The Hill House Association will also receive $50,000 for administration of the Hill District NPP.

Terri Baltimore of the Hill House says this effort will have tangible results. "This is not a paper partnership... As somebody who's been a part of the process, I can say 'Yes, it has served the good of the neighborhood,'" says Baltimore.

The Neighborhood Partnership Program was started statewide by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in 2005; the Hill District-specific program began in 2007, when the One Hill CBA Coalition formulated a "Blueprint for a Livable Hill." The DCED offers tax credits to corporations that invest in distressed neighborhoods; BNY Mellon decided to sponsor the Hill District.

CLPGH Shows Off New Hill Digs

The building at the corner of Centre Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street is set to open Oct. 25 with a kick off event that will feature August Wilson’s play cycle. It is the first new library opened by the system since 1980. The $3.15 million project will replace a basement branch at Centre and Dinwiddie Street that the library now rents from Allegheny Union Baptist Association. To help highlight playwright August Wilson’s ties to the Hill District on wall of the building will hold a 10’ by 7’ map with 12 numbered sites, each corresponding to a location in on of the plays. The building is silver LEED certified. Among the green aspects of the building is the use of natural light, "low emissivity" glass windows, a roof made of reflective rubber, and the use of recycled materials throughout the building. The building is part of the "Libraries for Life" capital campaign which has completed 7 others projects. Library officials say the hill branch along with other recent projects in the neighborhood shows the “new face” of Center Avenue.

Penguins Break Ground on New Arena

A groundbreaking ceremony for Pittsburgh's new arena drew politicians and Penguins fans. Shovels at the ceremony had hockey sticks for handles. Team owner Mario Lemieux stayed behind to sign autographs for fans. The $290 million arena is expected to open in time for the 2010-2011 season. The development took a lot of twists and turns to get to this point. At one time, the Penguins threatened to leave Pittsburgh. It was entertaining offers from Kansas City and Las Vegas, although Lemieux says the team never seriously considered leaving. As part of the arena project, the Penguins have agreed to help support development in the lower Hill District.

SEA Approves Hill Community Benefits Agreement

The Sports and Exhibition Authority has signed off on a Community Benefits Agreement for the Hill District. One Hill Coalition Chairman Carl Redwood says that’s an important step, but the agreement still requires signatures from the other parties involved: the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the Penguins. Redwood says he anticipates all of them will all sign the CBA by next Thursday. That’s when crews are scheduled to break ground on the new Penguins arena.

A ceremonial signing had already been scheduled for August 19th when the groundbreaking ceremony was set for five days earlier. Redwood says One Hill has always required that the CBA be signed before construction begins. The Coalition will meet this weekend to discuss a possible protest if all parties do not sign the CBA before Thursday. Still, Redwood says he anticipates a protest won’t be necessary.

One Hill’s work will continue beyond the signing. Redwood says the next step will be implementing the agreement, including making sure that Hill residents get the first opportunity to apply for jobs at the arena, and monitoring the progress of a grocery store development.

Hill District Breaks Ground on New Homes

Thirty-two new homes are going up in the middle Hill District. Groundbreaking for the first four homes took place today at the corner of Wylie Avenue and Chauncey Street. Those homes are expected to be ready in the spring. Prices will range from $131,000 to $179,000. Deferred second mortgages will be available to help low-income buyers. The other 28 homes in the development will be scattered around the middle Hill.

The project is a collaboration between Jaxon Development Company and the Macedonia Development Corporation, which was formed at the Hill's Macedonia Baptist Church. Macedonia Development Corporation Board member Carol Foster Allen says church members saw a need for affordable housing in the middle Hill at a time developments were flourishing in the lower and upper Hill. Allen also works for Northwood Realty, which will be marketing the homes. She does not think the recent foreclosure crisis or economic downturn will hinder sales. Allen says "location, location, location" is still important to buyers and that the Hill is only a 15-20 minute trip to just about anywhere in the city.

One Hill Calls Off Protest Action

The One Hill Coalition has called off plans to try to stop construction at the arena site tomorrow. One Hill Chairman Carl Redwood says group members have been frustrated by a delay in signing a community benefits agreement for their neighborhood.

One Hill, which represents residents in the Hill District, agreed to sign the CBA on May 10th. Since then, Redwood says the other parties involved have been dragging their feet. Both Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato say they intend to sign the agreement but there may have been some delays due to conflicting summer schedules.

The agreement includes a master plan for development in the Hill, a career center, and funding for a grocery store and community center.