University of Pittsburgh’s Urban Studies Association Newsletter Issue 13 October 2005

T HE PRESIDENT’ S A DDRESS My fellow Urbanites— We’re back! The urbanSA (yes, we had a branding change this year) is starting Fall 2005 renewed and ready to explore the city again. After a mid-summer planning session with officers, alumni, and current members, the urbanSA is setting up its first strategic plan to make sure we’re sustain- able enough for years to come. Put your two cents into our strategic plan by taking our first-ever online survey, available from our website’s front page. Your opinion will affect how we plan our events in the not-so-distant future. And speaking of events... We know how much you heart getting out into town. So TRACKS OF STEEL: LIGHT far, we’ve set up Oakland cleanups with the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation’s Adopt-a-Block program, an- R AIL IN PITTSBURGH other work day with Habitat for Humanity’s Panther Chapter B Y PATRICK SINGLETON (which was a huge success even in last winter’s 19-degree weather), a tour of Regent Square, with more tours of East One of the most hotly contested issues recently is, not surprisingly, Liberty and other hotspots in the East End in the works, plus a government spending on a transportation project. This time, it is a light talk with Boldly Live Where Others Won’t author Mark Harvey rail extension to the T termed the North Shore Connector. With both Smith and a screening of the End of Suburbia. That’s just the ardent supporters and strong opposition, this $393 million project de- fall term. serves the attention it is receiving. Extended from this one specific pro- I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce and thank ject, however, a wider discussion of Pittsburgh-area transit and trans- this year’s urbane board of officers. Michelle Scott (Vice- portation is also warranted. Let us begin with a brief history of transit, President), Miranda Spiro (Treasurer), Jen Armstrong examining Pittsburgh during the last few hundred years, from trolleys to (Secretary), Lizzie Diller (Newsletter Editor), and Rachael Ko- T’s. han (PR Officer) have all been phenomenal right-arms for the At the beginning of the 20th century, new forms of urban transpor- organization and great sports for tirelessly attending our tation, streetcars and trolleys, were becoming popular. An adaptation of Wednesday night steering meetings. A round of applause the power of the transcontinental railroad swept cities nationwide, and goes out to more members coordinating events and programs Pittsburgh was no exception. In 1902, the Pittsburgh Railways Com- like the West End Pedestrian Bridge contest and the Urban pany acquired most of the established routes to become the near- Library—Patrick Singleton and Kate Spaulding. We also have monopoly transit provider. By 1910, the company was serving about two dedicated alumni, Chuck Alcorn and Dan Feller, whose 600,000 passengers each day across 581 miles of track. That number guidance has kept the officers calm and collected. had increased to over 600 miles spread over 99 routes by 1918. And last but not least, a tip of the proverbial hat goes to Continued on Page 4 our 200+ membership—we are always ready to transform your love of the city into the means to make it better. Find out how to get involved by checking out our website, dropping us INSIDE THIS ISSUE: W H O A R E W E ? an email, or attending one of our steering meetings. Keep the 2 lights on in your city. From the Coordinator The UrbanSA is an organiza- Sean Capperis, urbanSA President [email protected] Environmental Planning 2 tion of Pitt students with the common desire to interpret and Public Art 6 understand the neighborhoods and cities that we live in. To Helping Community 7 that end, we welcome and em- brace a wide range of diverse Oakland Square 8 opinions and ideals.

A “New” New Orleans 9 E-mail [email protected] Crime and Cities 10 Website Residence in Japan 11 The Regent Square tour was a blast! Make sure you come on the next tour. www.pitt.edu/~sorc/urbansa Page 2 T HE ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL PLANNING Continued form Page 1 B Y EDWARD K. MULLER, URBAN STUDIES DIRECTOR The environment—its conservation, preservation and resto- vices like fire or police forces and sharing tax revenues, but ration—is increasingly recognized as a significant element in planning is rarely mentioned. Pittsburgh’s efforts to become a competitive metropolitan region Just as smoke pollution and even sewage treatment after once again. Effective remediation of the three rivers’ water qual- World War II required regional cooperation to effect solutions, ity and ecology, for example, would entail extensive cooperation environmental issues today may be pushing the region incre- among the many local governments that make up the Pittsburgh mentally towards greater regional cooperation and planning. region. Yet, Pittsburgh area politicians view “regionalism,” or as Both persistent water quality problems and recent devastating it is sometimes called “metropolitanism,” as political suicide. floods reveal the inadequacy of addressing water management For many Pittsburghers, the word once connoted the forcible issues on the fragmented basis of municipal actions. Early in annexation of suburban communities by the City of Pittsburgh; the twentieth century, City of Pittsburgh politicians and engi- more recently it signals the merger of Pittsburgh and Allegheny neers decided to treat city water drawn from the rivers and al- County governments into one metropolitan entity, all seemingly Continued on next page at the expense in various ways of local suburban communities. A suburban or county politician, who appears to advocate region- alism, courts voter displeasure and the prospect of defeat at the polls. For much of the twentieth century civic leaders and consult- ing experts promoted the consolidation of local governments in order to achieve perceived governmental economies, efficiency in the provision of services, and greater rationality in land use, that is regional planning. After 1910, suburban communities blocked most annexation and regional consolidation proposals. Planning on a region-wide scale occurred only on a limited basis for a few specific functions. In particular, since World War II high- way funding from state and/or federal sources required local consensus on routes crossing political boundaries. Accordingly, regional highway planning actually took place, though it too had to navigate diverse local interests. Recently, economic stagna- A map of Allegheny tion, population decline, and the flirtation with bankruptcy by the County showing all 130 City of Pittsburgh have revived serious interest in some sort of municipalities. city and county consolidation. Discussions involve merging ser-

FROM THE COORDINATOR

Although I have not received final approval yet, I remain economy, and other economic development strategies. We hopeful that my Integrated Field Trip Abroad (IFTA) proposal will also visit one of the French New Towns. Neighborhoods will be approved, so that I can take students to Paris and that reflect the historical past as well as current government London for two weeks at the end of the upcoming spring se- sites will be included as well. Much of the focus throughout mester. Students enrolled in Urban Studies 1700, the trip will be on experiencing Haussmann’s influence, the “International Urbanism” will have the opportunity to accom- epitome of modernism in city planning. The London trip will pany me to Paris and London in order to do field research, be similar, including a day trip to Letchworth, the first Gar- applying the theories explored in Urban Studies 1700 during den City designed by Howard, whose influence has been the semester to a study of the actual environment. quite widespread in twentieth century urban development. Paris and London are the perfect cities to compare, both While the purpose of each trip is not to visit the common reflecting the impact of globalization and modernism on the tourist sites, many of them do in fact exemplify the very top- urban way of life. The cities share similarities of size, geo- ics we will be studying. I am looking forward to the possibility graphical location along a major river and, in some ways, of this trip immensely. history. Further, both cities being major players in the global economy, they should make for an interesting comparative If you’re interested, be sure to enroll in Urban Studies experience. There are striking differences also. Understand- 1700, “International Urbanism.” ing the causes of those differences, in light of the similari- ties, will be a major focus of the field trip. Commencing in Paris, we will tour different neighbor- DR. CAROLYN CARSON hoods and towns that exemplify specific urban issues such URBAN STUDIES COORDINATOR as social housing, gentrification, development for the global Page 3

Continued from previous page low sewage to be dumped into the rivers below the water in- State and federal politicians of the region have rushed to take pipes in violation of state regulations. Other regional com- their respective governments for grants to study, repair, and munities adopted their own solutions to their sewage disposal, improve flood control measures. As well intended as these ef- including dumping in the rivers by towns upstream from city forts may be, they cannot alone solve the problem without also intake pipes. Finally, between 1946 and 1956 the Allegheny addressing the land use issues of an entire tributary stream County Sanitation Authority [ALCOSAN], established under watershed. And, since watersheds encompass many communi- state legislation, brought together many, though not all, county ties, regulation of development and land use will require re- municipalities and the city into a central sewage collection and gional cooperation and planning. Land use planning for a water- treatment program. This environmental and public health in- shed would be unprecedented in the Pittsburgh metropolitan stance of regional cooperation greatly improved water quality. area. Despite marked improvements of the rivers’ water (even After World War II civic leaders of the city and county recog- more so after the decline of industry in the 1980s), water qual- nized that cleaning the skies of smoke pollution was essential ity fails to meet basic standards after rain events many days of for the region’s economic future. These leaders risked their the year. The decision in the early twentieth century to com- political careers in taking the dramatic step of regulating indus- bine storm sewers and sanitary sewers for economical reasons trial and residential coal use, and they succeeded in this un- means that excess storm water drainage causes sewage to precedented, at the time in the region, environmental action. A overflow into streams and the rivers. Other problems exacer- half century later a new generation of civic leaders are once bating the situation involve aging, broken sanitary sewers, the again faced with an environmental crisis, this time of water practice of some municipalities to still dump sewage directly management, which must be resolved for the sake of the re- into streams and the rivers, old and inadequate septic drain- gion’s future. However, in both water quality and flood mitiga- age systems, and even the waste disposal of some residences tion, leaders must navigate the thorny problem of not only ob- directly into streams. Under Environmental Protection Agency taining regional cooperation but also implementing real re- orders to solve these problems, the region faces an enormous, gional planning. Perhaps, along with the financial distress and costly task. With recreational (i.e. rowing, canoeing, boating, declining quality of public services that have brought the city and fishing) and scenic amenities of the rivers at the heart of and county into discussions of some form of governmental con- the region’s future development, regional cooperation and solidation, the required solutions of water management will planning are imperative to address water quality problems. nudge the region into overcoming its historical fear of The devastation that Hurricane Ivan caused in many com- “regionalism” or “metropolitanism.” munities of tributary stream valleys in September 2004 under- scored the necessity of regional land use planning. Extensive flood damage in Carnegie (Chartiers Creek), Millvale (Girty’s Further Reading: Run), and Etna (Pine Creek), to name a few of the worst hit Joel A. Tarr, Devastation and Renewal: An Environmental towns, exposed the limitations of earlier flood control efforts History of Pittsburgh and Its Region (Pittsburgh: University of such as channeling these streams in culverts. But just as im- Pittsburgh Press, 2003 portantly the floods pointed out the negative effects of exten- sive and rapid suburbanization in the upper areas of these Roy Lubove, Twentieth Century Pittsburgh: Government, tributary watersheds. Commercial and residential development Business and Environmental Change, Vol. I (Pittsburgh: Univer- of these formerly undeveloped areas, which had absorbed sity of Pittsburgh Press, 1995, originally published in 1969). storm run-off naturally, paved over floodplains and directed Regional Cooperation for Water Quality Improvement in storm drainage into the streams such that more water poured Southwestern Pennsylvania (Washington, DC: National Re- into these creeks more quickly than ever and roared down- search Council, The National Academies Press, 2005). stream to overwhelm the older communities.

Library and archive division, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, PA © Chuck Alcorn Pittsburgh from West End Overlook — 1941 Pittsburgh from West End Overlook — 2005

Page 4 TRACKS OF STEEL: LIGHT RAIL IN PITTSBURGH

Continued from Page 1 B Y : PATRICK SINGLETON Streetcar suburbs such as Mt. Lebanon appeared, comprised of up nearly 10 percent over the previous year, but this may be due residential neighborhoods around a small business district, cen- to a significant increase in gas prices). tered on a trolley line. At this time in history, Pittsburgh was one There are many reasons why Pittsburgh has not fared as well of the biggest cities in America, with dense neighborhoods and as Portland, and these underlie the problems faced in the future concentrated centers of employment, and the trolley was well for Pittsburgh’s entire transit system. First, the geography of Pitts- suited to serve both of these qualities. burgh is physically limiting. The many rivers and hills around the The great depression hit Pittsburgh hard, and Pittsburgh region obstruct possible locations of light rail (and transit) and Railways fought hard against decreased ridership by purchasing a greatly increase the construction costs. In addition, the terrain total of 666 Presidents’ Conference Committee (PCC) trolleys, creates somewhat isolated population centers, which are difficult beginning in 1936. Transit ridership reached an all-time high of to connect by buses. There are also issues of concern over local 280 million annually (about 800,000 per weekday) in 1947, but government and the poor financial situation of Pittsburgh. Yet, the boom in popularity of the automobile and the growth of sub- probably the most important problem faced for public transit is the urbs further from the urban center spelled doom for the trolley declining population of Pittsburgh. This long-term trend has emp- form of transportation. Trolleys were slowly replaced by buses, tied out many neighborhoods of the city; naturally, transit ridership and their tracks were paved over. During the 1950s, ridership is going to decrease when the population base supporting it de- continued to decrease, competition appeared, and expansion to clines. serve the growing suburbs taxed the entire system. A decrease in The issue of the North Shore Connector stems from most of Pittsburgh’s population did not help with this decline. these concerns, and it also has a long and storied history. Back in In 1964, the Port Authority of Pittsburgh purchased Pitts- 1925, a report by city engineers on a subway underneath the river burgh Railways as well as the other private transit companies, to the North Side suggested creating a major transit line connect- consolidated routes, created a centralized fare system, and soon ing the Central North Side, Downtown, Soho, Oakland, Shadyside, converted all but four trolley lines to buses. These four trolley and East Liberty, following 5th Avenue most of the way. Beginning lines, all serving suburbs outside of the city limits in the South in 1983, the Port Authority studied a “spine line” of light rail from Hills, carried colorful and inventively-painted PPC cars throughout Oakland to the North Side, and alignment alternatives were pub- the 1970s until they were gradually converted into light rail. The licly presented in 1995, but the project died in 1996 when county last trolley car ended its service in 1999. government replaced the Port Authority board and killed the pro- Pittsburgh’s current transit system offers a wide range of ject. The only section that survived was the North Shore Connector. options, with many bus routes, 25 miles of light rail, three Some opponents of the project question the need for a new busways, and two inclines. Combined they have an annual rider- transit access to the North Shore, where buses currently run. ship of just over 68 million trips (a trip is defined as a one-way, Countering this argument, there are many benefits to light rail that non-transferring ride by one person; APTA provides a guideline buses do not have. Light rail is more efficient than buses when that the total number of transit users per day is 45% of the daily passenger volume is high, traffic volume is high (because of the trips), of which light rail provides almost 7 million. This number dedicated alignment), and when stops are further apart. Light rail has remained relatively constant since 1995, despite the opening also is cleaner than buses in terms of both air and noise pollution. of a new busway to the Airport in 2000, and the extension of an- Intangibly, light rail is perceived as a more inviting method of tran- other busway in 2003. sit, and its visibility and uniqueness generates attention that leads When compared to a city such as Portland, Oregon, Pitts- to more riders of public transit. Light rail also provides the opportu- burgh’s transit system appears to be lagging behind substantially. nity for attracting new housing and business centers around their Between 1995 and 2004, total annual ridership increased in stations, termed “transit-oriented development.” Portland by 51.7 percent, from 63 million to 96 million, and much This is exactly what proponents of the plan hope will happen. of this increase is due to massive expansions in light rail lines The North Shore Connector will create light rail access to large (opening in 1998, 2001, and 2004); light rail ridership in this development sites, and is intended to provide a place for subur- same time more than tripled, to 30 million annually. During the banites to park and ride to the downtown area. However, many same time period, Pittsburgh’s ridership on both buses and light oppose the fact that it will not reach any part of the residential and rail decreased slightly. (Ridership in the first quarter of 2005 was Continued on next page Page 5

Continued from previous page employment centers of the North Side. In addition, some people these uses are combined. The North Shore Connector may be are pushing for a light rail line to Oakland, home to thousands of beneficial, but it must be able to meet both goals of redevelop- students and residents and the state’s third largest employment ment and providing rapid transit access. Ultimately, the future center. A dedicated light rail alignment could be very successful, of the Connector and light rail in general in Pittsburgh relates to because a trip from Oakland to Downtown often takes more than one question: Do citizens have enough trust that their govern- thirty minutes during rush hour. Yet, concerns have been voiced ment will make decisions beneficial to this city and this region? over the location of the line, which would be in the tight space along the Monongahela River, the displacement of Oakland resi- dents and businesses, and the very high construction costs ac- companied by such a project. Another factor to consider is the Sources: future Maglev magnetically-guided transit system planned to con- All ridership numbers obtained from the American Public nect the Airport, Downtown, Monroeville, and Greensburg. Transit Association, http://www.apta.com. Tables and graphs This entire issue boils down to a difference in opinion over adapted from APTA Quarterly Transit Ridership Reports. Pictures the use of light rail and public transit in general. Should light rail of old trolleys from Shawn Bennear’s Pittsburgh Transt History be used as a planning tool to shape the future of certain portions website, http://www.pittsburghtransit.com. of the city, or should it simply be placed to address current rider- ship needs? Light rail has great potential in the city of Pittsburgh, but it must be carefully chosen. It is best applied when both of

McKees Rocks and following Carson Street before crossing the MAGLEV UPDATE Monongahela near the existing LR Bridge and to a station at Steel Plaza. The route would then continue along the Allegheny River up B Y PATRICK SINGLETON to Verona, where it would turn east and then follow the existing The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the railroad corridor south to a station along Thompson Run Road. Pennsylvania High-speed Maglev Project is currently available for The final leg of the route would approximately follow the Turnpike viewing. Magnetic levitation (maglev, for short) is being proposed to the final station near the intersection of PA-Routes 66 and 136 to help ease traffic congestion, among other benefits, in the Pitts- near Greensburg. burgh region. As per the Federal Highway Administration’s Trans- Comments on the DEIS for the Pennsylvania High-speed portation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), maglev technol- Maglev Project will be taken through December 7, 2005. After ogy is being tested in the United States as a possible alternative that period, all comments will be addressed and a Final EIS will be transportation system. The Southwestern Pennsylvania region was prepared, ending in a final decision. You may view the DEIS at chosen in 2001 along with the Baltimore-Washington region as the several public libraries (including the Carnegie Library in Oakland) first two examples. Maglev transportation relies on a system of or online at http://www.ridegold.com/grow/capital/maglev/ guidance and levitation magnets on the undercarriage of the vehi- MagFrame.asp. cle that runs along magnetic rails attached to an elevated guide way; propulsion occurs via an electromagnetic field that is created from an alternating current. In short, the specialized vehicles levi- tate millimeters above the guide way, allowing for speeds in excess of 240 mph. The Pennsylvania maglev project involves the creation of a 54- mile alignment connecting the Pittsburgh International Airport, downtown Pittsburgh, Monroeville/Penn Hills, and Greensburg, with passenger stops at each location. If implemented, Phase 1 between Pittsburgh International Airport and downtown Pittsburgh would open in approximately 2008. Phase 1 is projected to cost $1.6 billion, with the full project costing approximately $3.8 billion. Ridership is expected to be approximately 50 thousand trips (one- way single-passenger journeys between stations) daily. Over the past few years, many alignments were studied as well as their environmental and cultural impacts. The preferred route begins at the landside terminal at Pittsburgh International Diagram of the Maglev mechanics, with detail of lower track system Airport and goes almost due east, descending to the Ohio River at Page 6 PITTSBURGH’S PUBLIC ART B Y : CHUCK ALCORN When you think of art in Pittsburgh, probably the first few things that will come to mind is the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol, The Mattress Factory, and so on. What about Downtown Pittsburgh? Sure the Three Rivers Arts Festival takes place down- town, but that only lasts one month out of the year. What is really surprising and unknown to many is the great amount of art pieces scattered across a reasonable walking area in downtown public spaces. Pittsburgh is defined by its skyline and amidst all of those office towers is a downtown that could be called a large gallery. Over 80 pieces of art are located in and around the Golden Trian- gle. While some are low-caliber, many are famous works done by recognized artists. I have been fortunate to have learned all about the art pieces downtown while researching information that will be included in a self-guided walking tour. The tour is a project of the Office of Public Art, a partnership between the Department of City Planning and the Greater Pitts- burgh Arts Council, funded by the Heinz Endowments. The office was created to raise awareness of public art in Pittsburgh and to help guide local organizations on how to create public art in new Kenneth Snelson’s “Forest Devil” in Mellon Square developments. A major goal is to have a “percent for art” legislation tions will go a long way to explain the art instead of just a map show- pass through city council and the mayor’s office, which was just ing their location and a few pictures. It will also be a useful tool for accomplished by Allegheny County. those who always walk past a piece of art and wonder what it is all Renee Piechocki, artist and public art consultant, is the part- about. time advisor for the Office of Public Art. Renee was the manager of It was also important to describe some of the great architecture the Public Art Network within Americans for the Arts. Renee is also and landscapes downtown. While we could not fit all of the buildings a part of an artist team Two Girls Working, collaborating with Tiffany on the tour, it mentions some of the best known and highly regarded Ludwig. The two have been working on a project called “Trappings,” buildings that art is located within or around. As for landscapes, what where they interview and photograph women in cities across the few parks that do exist in downtown some have sculptural and artistic Untied States asking the question “What do you wear that makes aspects. Take for instance the ground pattern and layout of Mellon you feel powerful.” During this past summer interviews with Pitts- Square. Seen above in the surrounding hotel and office buildings a burgh women were displayed on Port Authority buses and at Pitts- whole new perspective is discovered for the park that is different burgh Filmmarkers’ Melwood Screening Room. More information on than just providing an escape from the busy streets. Renee and Tiffany’s project can be found by visiting On the tour we have also extended the perceptional boundary of www.twogirlsworking.com. Downtown and extended it to the North Side. This was done because The self-guided tour, titled “Downtown Pittsburgh Art in Public of the quantity and quality of art found within a reasonable walk from Spaces,” will be published early next year and a website might also downtown. Not everything found on the North Side is exceptional and be developed. So not to confuse public art with corporate art it was there was a cutoff point on where it would be too far, like the art decided to refer everything downtown as “Art in Public Spaces.” found in Allegheny commons. The farthest point on the tour is Alle- Renee and I have seen each piece of art and met with over a dozen gheny Center, which has seen a boom of public art in the past few influential Pittsburghers with some ties to public art. Those meet- years with the expansion of the Children’s Museum. ings helped us gather more information about each piece that There has already been some research and publications on art could not be found in a library and helped us with how the tour in Pittsburgh. In 1983, Marilyn Evert wrote “Discovering Pittsburgh’s should be organized. Sculpture,” which contained all sculptures for the entire Pittsburgh The exact content and format has yet to be decided, but the region. It is a great resource to find information about the many printed copy should have a short description for each piece of art. sculptures in Oakland. It was also a great resource for our tour, since This is a crucial part for the publication since most of the art pieces it went into great detail for each piece, but the book did not cover all do not have any plaque or marker describing them. The descrip- art including murals, stain glass, among other things. In the next few years with new awareness of public art from this tour and actions from the new Office of Public Art, hopefully new pub- lic art will be appearing across Pittsburgh. To have this happen a few things must occur. First, we must conserve what we have. Much of the public art in Pittsburgh is in dire need of repair and before any money is spent on new pieces, the resources should be diverted to fixing the existing and deteriorating pieces. Another aspect that needs to happen is art legislation that so many other cities through- out the nation have implemented. Pittsburgh has disbanded its public art initiative in recent years because of the cities financial troubles. The walking tour has been a very exciting and fun project to work on as an intern for City Planning. I hope you will enjoy it when the tour is published next year. It should be a worthwhile experience to spend a day walking to each piece, or spending time looking at the ones that interest you. The tour clarifies how such things as public art add Jerry Caplan’s “Pittsburgh People” at the Woods/Allies Parking Garage to distinguishing a city and establishing a sense of place. Page 7 H ELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS HELP THEMSELVES B Y : SUSAN MANIKOWSKI On any given weekday, between around the corner, and keep spreading three and five Pittsburgh residents will the sweetness.” Darnell is very sweet, and come to their appointment at the Na- volunteers at NSP will give him no sour tional Student Partnerships, or NSP, of- grapes. The exchange was a reminder that fice in Pittsburgh's Uptown. Most people NSP works to develop relationships in are looking for jobs and housing, and addition to providing services. many are looking for childcare, food, On his way out, Darnell made an ap- clothing, and transportation. Volunteers, stuck to his sunglasses. His wardrobe is pointment for Tuesday to meet with Shan- all college students, “double the search one of the many things that make him an non, a volunteer who he trusts and knows efforts” and help the clients find which interesting individual. When asked, he did well, about finding himself a job that bet- Pittsburgh resources will fill their needs. not mind me sitting in as Lauren, our Vista ter suits his skills. We also have resources All this is done in order to strengthen the leader, conducted the meeting. In fact, he for our clients on extending their educa- Pittsburgh community and improve the actually welcomed me sitting in. How else tion in order to improve their job skills. lives of Pittsburgh residents. could I be trained? Darnell had had ap- Hopefully things will work out for Darnell, NSP is a year-round, college student- pointments before, and so we knew him and we will not give up searching until he led volunteer organization linking com- and his story and had done searches pre- finds the home and job he needs. munity residents to resources in the viously. Darnell currently has a Section Darnell is one of the 301 clients Pittsburgh area. NSP was founded in Eight voucher for housing from the govern- served by the Pittsburgh office of NSP 1998 by two Yale undergraduates who ment and is looking for a one-bedroom between August 2004 and June 2005. I saw that college students indeed could apartment. I went into our continuously am one of twenty volunteers. We volun- make a difference in the social service updated computer files, found the link to teers, together with Lauren, our national system. Since then, NSP has expanded the website someone labeled “the best staff, and our advisory board, hope to con- to 15 offices around the country, all one!” and searched for Section Eight tinue making housing and job placements working to improve their communities. voucher one-bedroom apartments. We and providing hope to the searches and The main NSP office is located in found three recently listed apartments, lives of clients like Darnell. Pittsburgh is a Washington D.C., with 11 full time staff, but there is always concern about the great city with many options and re- all of whom have invested a great deal condition of the apartment. Fortunately, sources, which need to be sought out and into making NSP a strong non-profit pro- two were in East Liberty, where Darnell utilized by the population that deserves gram. An Americorps-Vista participant as already lives and wants to continue to live. them. well as student local directors run each Darnell says it is his community, he knows site. In Pittsburgh, we volunteers are it well, and he would not like to leave it. students at the University of Pittsburgh After calling about the three apart- If you are an undergraduate or gradu- and Duquesne University. We have a ments on his behalf, leaving two mes- ate student and would like to volunteer desire to make a change in our commu- sages, navigating Mapquest, and working your problem-solving and caring skills to nity, to know our fellow residents, and to through my lack of Pittsburgh geographi- make an impact, please contact NSP help people achieve their individual goals cal understanding, Darnell has an appoint- Pittsburgh at (412) 682-3501 or look us and potential. ment with a landlord for an apartment in up online at www.nspnet.org. In times when many community ser- East Liberty that is not far vice agencies are understaffed and over- from his current home. worked, NSP brings a refreshing attitude Another landlord has called to social services. Working one-on-one back, and Darnell now has with our clients allows us to have hour- a second appointment for long meetings with our clients and lets us another apartment. discover and build upon their strengths Lauren, Darnell, and I and skills. All of our services are free, sat and talked after the and there are no eligibility requirements. meeting. Darnell enjoys We volunteers help with internet and wants to share his searches for jobs and housing, give refer- belief in Christ. At an ear- rals to other community programs, assist lier meeting, Darnell had in typing and sending resumes and cover encouraged Lauren to lis- letters, make calls to community organi- ten to a religious radio sta- zations, update our databases of avail- tion and at this meeting, he able jobs, houses, and services. Most reminded her of its time importantly, we listen to our clients, who and gave her some good all have something to offer. advice on life. Recently, I sat in on my first client “Remember,” he said, meeting. It was with Darnell (named “when you get back sour changed out of respect for our clientele) grapes, chew them up, spit who came in with a music note sticker them out when you get An excerpt from the NSPeople Newsletter Fall 2005 Page 8 OAKLAND SQUARE MAKES HISTORY B Y MIRANDA SPIRO On June 14, 2005, the area of Central Oakland known as Oakland Square was designated a historic district by the city of Pittsburgh, making it the twelfth historic district in the city of Pitts- burgh. The area includes not only the houses in the u-shaped Oakland Square, but also houses in the 3400 to 3700 blocks of Parkview Avenue and the 3602 to 3728 blocks of Dawson Street. Nathan Hart, an architect and resident of Oakland Square, and the others who worked to get this designation, are demonstrating the worth of maintaining the original character of the houses in means they will not be forced to change back any past changes this section of Oakland. made to their properties. Oakland Square was developed by Eugene O’Neill between 1889 and 1890. It started with just twenty-six homes, but further With the designation, the residents hope to maintain the expanded to Parkview Avenue and Dawson Street. O’Neill was character of the area and encourage new residents to move in inspired by residential squares in London and in his native home while keeping absentee landlords out. Designating it a historic of Dublin. The Victorian style, with its sloping mansard roofs, ga- district will have the long-term effect of stabilizing or even in- bles, and park-like center create an unusual atmosphere in the creasing the property values of the neighborhood. Oakland city of Pittsburgh. Due to these qualities, and the fact that the Square is a great setting for families, due to its quiet, low traf- neighborhood has maintained sufficient original designs, the ficked area. Other historic districts of the twelve in Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission felt it was worthwhile to preserve the such as the Mexican War Streets in the North Side or the busi- ness corridor of the South Side have significantly improved since architecture of the houses. their historic designations. The members of the Oakland Square The three-month process to receive the historic designation neighborhood are confident that this will occur in their district as was filled with debate. There was opposition within the commu- well. The efforts of these members of the community have not nity on multiple fronts. Many permanent residents had some only shown great results, but they have also helped to bridge fears about the designation. They were concerned that they relationships between neighbors as they all worked together would lose control over their properties, and be forced to comply towards this goal. with the regulations of the historic guidelines. The opposition parties to the designation even attended some of the city council hearings to resist the changes. Also, there has been an increase in absentee landlords own- ing property in this section of Oakland. These landlords do not maintain their properties as well as the permanent residents. They are able to rent to students without putting much effort into the upkeep of their houses because there is such a high demand to rent from this transient population. However, those in favor of the designation, such as Nathan Hart, hope to discourage future absentee landlords from purchasing properties in the neighbor- hood. While the some of the residents had fears about making changes to their properties, the reality is that they will only be forced to comply with the Historic Review Commission’s policies if they alter, demolish, or make additions to their houses. This

WATCH A NIEGHBORHOOD BE TRANSFORMED

East Liberty is in the midst of a major transformation. A variety of development projects are currently underway or being planned, giving new life to the area. Much of what is being done involves reversing the East Liberty urban renewal project of the 1960s, which left the commu- nity with new street patterns and high-rise apartment buildings. Today, those high-rises are being torn down and the streets reconfigured, in an effort to bring East Liberty back as the third largest commercial area in Pennsylvania. Whole Foods has already found its neighborhood lo- cation in East Liberty to be a success, while other commercial buildings are going up around it. A major development that is anticipated to be soon underway is the conversion of the Highland Building into condos. The building sits right across the street from the East Liberty Pedestrian Church, its tower a beacon for the community, making it a perfect center of attraction and at- tention. Right next to the new condos, the same developer is also constructing a parking ga- rage and hotel. The Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Business Times have been reporting the devel- opments extensively. Be a part of the action! Get a coffee, take a long walk and discover this Pittsburgh neighborhood and witness its transformation. Page 9 PLANNING A “NEW” NEW ORLEAN L OOKING TO HISTORY FOR SOLUTIONS B Y : MICHELLE SCOTT I visited New Orleans with my family Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi, included in historic district, planners can when I was eight years old. At that age, I forced early settlers to create compact com- honor the area’s human element and create was more interested in the city aquarium or munities on a limited amount of usable land. opportunities for former business owners watching people eat exotic, bug-like craw- New engineering techniques, along with and residents to return. dads than the buildings or the landscape, federal support, helped to change the course “The goal of recovery should be to allow yet I left with the feeling that I had been of development in the 20th century. It became residents to come back to the healthy, vi- someplace remarkable. As I got older, I possible to drain and infill wetlands and build brant, livable places that retain that charac- would thumb through books full of photos upstream levees to prevent the Mississippi’s ter that makes them unique,” said Richard of the city’s neighborhoods, including the small scale flooding. Unfortunately, in the Moe, president of the National Trust for His- French Quarter, with its exotic tiles roofs post World War II period, these innovations toric Preservation. “You can’t do that by call- and the elaborate ironwork of its balconies, allowed for sprawling development. Just be- ing in the bulldozers and creating vacant lots architectural remnants of Spanish rule dur- fore the hurricane struck, New Orleans had where the neighborhoods used to be.” ing the late 18th century. experienced a 21.1 percent drop in density The principles that govern the rehabili- When hurricanes Katrina and Rita between 1982 and 1987, according to the tation in surviving historic districts can also struck and caused flooding in eighty per- Brookings Institution Report, “New Orleans be spread to new development. Paris Ruther- cent of the city, they obliterated neighbor- after the Storm: Lessons from the Past, a ford, director of planning and urban design of hoods, businesses, social networks, and Plan for the Future.” Dallas Based RTKL Associates, discussed lives. The hurricanes also eliminated one of Moreover, these new developments may this concept with Margaret Warner of PBS’s America’s most distinctive cities, a historic have even stripped New Orleans’s defenses Online News Hour. gem in an era characterized by sprawl and against nature, hurricanes or not. Drake Ben- “When you look at the overall land use homogeneity. nett of the Boston Globe reports, “Wetlands patterns of the city and realize that the his- Though rescue crews are still operating help absorb storm surges, floods dissipate toric core is just a small portion of the larger in the Gulf Coast, the race to plan and re- the Mississippi’s strength and leave behind city, likely there are patterns out there that build New Orleans and its economy has silt that would help counteract the steady could take some re-shifting and refocusing to already begun. At the end of September, sinking of the city.” Restoring these natural help try and create the kind of environment Mayor Ray Nagin appointed a 17 member barriers and relying on the compact develop- that the historic forefathers were able to commission of New Orleans business and ment styles used in the past may help to en- make in the first place.” civic leaders, instructing them to develop a sure that the new city can survive future If planners implemented the dense, master plan for the city in 90 days. Also, the storms. architecturally diverse style of historic American Planning Association has de- Preserving the region’s historic and di- ployed a team of five planners to New Or- neighborhoods in other spots, they might verse architecture, or fostering similar diver- also facilitate the development of mixed- leans. These professionals will assess the sity among new developments, may also help area’s urban planning challenges and cre- income housing. Such housing could accom- to establish a strong and lasting economy. modate low and middle-income residents ate a business plan, work program, and Many New Orleans stakeholders are con- policy recommendation for the city’s plan- that had previously lived on the floodplain. cerned that, in the rush to revitalize the city’s New entrepreneurs, attracted by the culture ning department, all in 45 days. predominantly tourist-based economy, New and lifestyle of New Orleans before the hurri- In this high-speed effort to create Orleans may become an entertainment cen- cane, could also be accommodated. something new and viable for former resi- ter, an urban “caricature” more focused on Certainly, history will not be the only dents, should history play a role? tourists than its historically complex mixture factor determining the future of New Orleans. of residents. In terms of land use, it may be crucial However, by looking to historic precedents in for urban planners to look at historic build- While tourism will continue to support land use and architecture, planners would be ing patterns. Many of the neighborhoods the economy, New Orleans will also need an able to honor the city’s astonishing past, and that survived the flooding were older influx of business owners and entrepreneurs ensure that its future will be equally as re- neighborhoods that had been constructed to survive economically. But by rehabilitating markable. on higher ground, such as the French Quar- neighborhoods that were only somewhat ter and Uptown. The city’s site, shaped by damaged by the storm, even if they are not Page 10 CRIME RIDDEN CITIES AS A SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED IDEA B Y RACHEL KOHAN The urban landscape is often portrayed in the media as a crime-stricken, drug- infested area that should be avoided as opposed to cherished. Many people are convinced that the kind of criminal activity that exists on a seemingly large scale is isolated within large cities. The reality is that the existence of criminal acts is not isolated in poor minority communities. In- stead, police presence, media attention, and the way the crimi- nal justice system is constructed create the perception of ur- ban pockets of crime. As Americans, we rationalize that our nation has some of that those crimes committed by the poor are criminalized the highest crime rates, yet somehow we are unable to find while white-collar crimes are legitimized. We cannot ignore our way back. We trust legislators, judges, and police to pro- that building more prisons and arming more police is not solv- tect us from the threat of crime that is created by these very ing the criminal issues in America. Perhaps our society should institutions. We find universal truth in the stories publicized by focus more on creating good public schools and a stable job the media that only serve to perpetuate the same notion of crime created by the legal system. Rather than recognize that market, improvements that are proven to decrease crime. being criminal is a socially constructed phenomenon, we Now that we have created a system that fails to reduce merely caulk up our system’s failure to control crime to extenu- crime, we see the carnival mirror effect that we have given the ating circumstances that are not under societal control. criminal justice system. This social conception of crime is cre- ated by legislators who define crime, police and prosecutors For over forty years America’s prescription for crime has who arrest and charge criminals, judges and juries who decide been to increase police forces and build more prisons to jail on convictions and sentencing, and the media who report the those that law enforcement officials arrest. By those stan- crime. Such a system has created the typical young, black, dards, having 2.1 million people behind bars seems like a vic- tory for American’s fight against crime. However, we must ask urban male as our idea of the typical suspect. why the number incarcerated has more than quadrupled in the The media creates a disordered perception of crime that past 25 years. gives disproportionate attention to the most unusual and hei- nous crimes. We need to remember that society does not just It is an inescapable fact that poverty contributes to crime. victimize the poor; they criminalize them as well. The question Our society overemphasizes material success while creating of innocence or guilt is not the issue. Money is a key factor to too few legitimate opportunities to obtain it. The media depicts proving innocents in our legal system. Adequate funds are the ideal American lifestyle as one of mass consumption. The needed to be free of bail and to be able to acquire a good at- idea that there is always something bigger and better pro- torney. The poor are more likely to be convicted and usually motes crime not only among the poor, but also among the have harsher sentencing. Race again comes in as a factor. wealthy. In an effort to obtain this notion of the American Black Americans are disproportionately poor, and because of dream, we find all levels of classes resorting to crime in order their inner-city lifestyle they are more likely than whites to be to get one better than what they had before. The difference is arrested for drug charges, for example. As a result, blacks find themselves incarcerated with whites with similar socioeco- nomic backgrounds. We have a criminal justice system that creates a notion of crime that disproportionally affects the poor segments of the population. As a society, we have an understanding of the sources of crime and how to prevent them. However, we choose to reinforce inequalities in a criminal justice system that targets people of a certain race, gender, socioeconomic status, and class to incarcerate. Juxtaposed is the reality that wealth gives you immunity in our court of law and legitimizes your criminal activity. Nothing seems to succeed as well as failure has when it comes to how crime is controlled in Amer- ica. An unjust system continues to control our perceptions of what we consider deviant and what we accept as appropriate. Until we collectively decide to change that system, our cities’ beauty will be blemished by a notion of crime, and our urban poor will become imprisoned. Page 11 TRADITIONAL RESIDENCE IN JAPAN B Y : MARINA IWATA With your guidebook, you will enjoy not a bad aspect of the machiya. The lat- ble for residents to go straight to the walking around a city you first visit. Ex- ticework windows and doors do not allow deep inside and prevents neighbors from ploring new places is full of excitement. people to look in from the outside, creat- being too close. The entrance has a small You might visit some landmarks or ing privacy for the residents and allowing gate with a tiled roof, which like the hori- popular restaurants. Not only visiting the residents to feel relaxed and calm in zontal roofs connects the houses and famous places or walking along main the middle of the rush of urban life. There gives the appearance of long lines. The streets, but also walking down the back is a beautiful garden deep inside the architectural harmony of the machiya streets will draw your interest. You will house, which seems to represent tradi- contributes to the beauty of the town- find some sense of culture and lifestyles tional Japanese culture in the sense that scape. of people who live there. people do not show off what is really Moreover, the architectural connec- A person who likes to explore cit- good. Thus, both the exterior and interior tion between houses indicates a psycho- ies, I came to Pittsburgh as a one-year compose the original atmosphere of the logical connection between residents. exchange student from Japan. Except machiya. The machiya are beautiful as architec- for several short stays in different cities In addition to the architectural beauty ture, but the more important factors that in the world, this is my first time to live of the machiya, the townscape that they make the machiya great lie in the forma- in the American city. Everything in the construct is beautiful and representative tion of local communities, which unite city surprised me; architecture, life- of the traditional townscape in Kyoto. If people who live in neighborhoods. These styles, land use, and so on. Pittsburgh is some machiya are built continuously people hold festivals together, fight definitely different from cities in Japan. along the streets, their typical features against fires, and know each other well. You may ask, “What are the cities in make the streets seem unified. They have Unfortunately, you must keep in mind Japan like?” It is difficult to tell you in a same or similar colors of the facade, that postwar economic growth in Japan word. However, I would like to introduce same wooden structures, low eaves and has deprived Kyoto of its traditional town- you one traditional residential aspect of horizontal roofs. The color connects one scape and culture. Modern buildings such my favorite city in Japan, which is Kyoto. house to another and forms a street in as modern houses, apartments, and of- Located around the middle of Japan. which it is physically quiet without vivid fice buildings have replaced many of the Kyoto is known as an ancient city. It was and egotistic colors. Even in the center of houses that were built before the war. the capital of Japan for more than one the city, people live quietly. In addition, The preservation and conservation of the thousand years, from the time it was the horizontal roofs are in harmony with machiya are not successful. neighboring roofs as they connect be- constructed in 794 until 1868. Thus, it Anyway, don’t you think the tradi- has built their original culture, which can tween the houses and form long lines. tional townscape of Kyoto is beautiful? still be found in both architecture and Not all houses are completely linked; Walking down back streets tells you a lot there are sometimes narrow streets be- people’s lifestyle. Fortunately, Kyoto was about a city. not seriously attacked during World War tween the houses, which makes it possi- II, though other large cities of Japan were destroyed. Therefore, many old buildings remain today. There are not only historical temples and shrines but also townhouses, called machiya, which have told us of the traditional Japanese townscape and culture. Walking down the back streets of central Kyoto, people will find some ma- chiya. The machiya have some interest- ing architectural and cultural features. For example, the façade of a typical ma- chiya has a two-story, wooden house built right on the edge of the street which has low-hanging eaves, roof tiles and latticework doors and windows. Both the upper and lower roofs are par- allel and horizontal, and the latticework has many vertical lines. The facade as a whole seems neat and tidy. The first impression of the facade is that it is old, small, and somber, and it seems aloof and distant from visitors. The neat and tidy structure looks closed. However, the unfriendly atmosphere is This street displays the connectivity inherent to the machiya in Japan. Page 12 U RBANSA EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Were on the Web! www.pitt.edu/~sorc/urbansa You can never say that the urbanSA has run out of things to do. In the past year, we have had many neighborhood tours and guest speakers, and we have volunteered for various community services.

Just in case you are not interested in any of those activities and events, we want to hear from you. At the urbanSA, we believe in putting power in the Field Placements hands of the People. Put your hand on a mouse and steer us in the direction of improved events with our first-ever online survey. Your opinions on events and areas of interest in the urban realm will help us give Fall 2005

you more of what you want in the Urban Studies Asso- ciation. It literally takes less than two minutes. Survey results will go into our first strategic plan, taking effect Max Dizard next spring term and over semesters to come. East Liberty Development Inc.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspu=313501322215 CLEANUP: ADOPT-A-BLOCK WITH Marcus Harris Other exciting opportunities are being offered every semester. For the first Saturday of each month, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild the urbanSA teams up with the Keep It Clean, Oak- land! (KICO) program to tidy up a block in Central Oak- Ben Pilcher land. Meet up with us one day a month in the late morning (just enough time to sleep in) to socialize Pitt Study Abroad Office with some new friends while improving the look of Central Oakland. Presented with Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC). Miranda Spiro Oakland Planning and Development Corp. Reasons to go to urbanSA events and activities: Meet great people Jessica Ruffin Learn more about Pittsburgh Children’s Sickle Cell Foundation Be involved with the community

Take a break from studying and reading

Much more is planned! When it comes to internships, urban studies students are encouraged to be creative in Come and join the fun! their search and look for career-oriented placements. Visit the Regional Internship Visit our website or sign up to receive Center website at ww.ric-swpa.org to find the emails for more information. [email protected] right internship for you! www.pitt.edu/~sorc/urbansa

U RBAN STUDIES GRADUATES INVITATION FOR SUBMISSIONS Do you want to make an announcement? Fall 2005 Do you volunteer for an organization that peo- ple should know about? Want to tell us about your internship experience? Do you have something that you would like to share? Do

Jeff Darwak you have an opinion? We’ll print it if it relates Jamie Davis to urban studies. This is your organization too and our goal is to foster dialogue about such Bonnie Nesbitt issues so to interpret and understand the Dave Simon neighborhoods that we live in. E-mail: [email protected]

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