The Voice – Spring/Summer 2015
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The Polish Hill Voice 3060 Brereton Street ☼ Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ☼ (412) 681-1950 ☼ [email protected] ☼ www.phcapgh.org Traffic issues: Nine projects get what we’ve tried, what might be next Pivotal Streets Grants First on the agenda at the general not possible. Speed limits are Nine projects out of 20 eligible applications were selected to receive over community meeting on April 7 was a determined on a state level, part of state $33,000 in grants for the 2015 Polish Hill discussion of traffic issues. We were code, and 25 mph is the lowest speed Pivotal Streets Residential Façade Grant honored to have the City of Pittsburgh limit in the city. Officers can't even Program. The program is designed to Traffic Engineer, Amanda Purcell, in enforce speeding until a driver is going improve the face of the neighborhood attendance to provide input and share 35 mph or more. While you do see 15 through renovations of existing homes, her expertise. We reviewed the options mph signs in some locations, such as the with a focus on the main (pivotal) streets. that have been explored thus far and Herron Avenue S-curve, the traffic Many of the projects address building talked about where we might go from engineer says that's just a suggestion -- citations and safety concerns in addition here. not an enforceable speed limit. to adding beauty and longevity to the properties. Speeding and the high number of cut- Having police out during rush through drivers, particularly during hour ticketing people The PHCA is proud to announce the nine rush hour, are the biggest traffic We asked Zone 2 Traffic Division if they projects selected for this year's Pivotal concerns in Polish Hill. These issues could occasionally post officers on Streets Residential Façade Grant Program: are mostly a problem on the main certain streets during rush hour. They thoroughfares: Herron Avenue, told us they might be able to post a car 38 Revere Way Melwood Avenue, Brereton Street, occasionally, but they don't have the Replacement of a deteriorating garage Paulowna Street, and to a lesser manpower to do this on a regular basis. structure behind his house, facing on degree, Dobson Street. Residents on Downing Street near the corner of Dobson smaller through streets such as In early May, Zone 2 Traffic Division Street. The new structure will feature a Bethoven, Phelan and Pulawski, also informed us that they would roof garden. report speeding cars. temporarily assign a unit for traffic calming and enforcement to Polish Hill 314 Downing Street For the last several years the PHCA for a period of 30 days. When this Replacement of the porch deck and roof, a has been working with Zone 2 Traffic period is over Zone 2 Traffic will new front door, new trim, custom-made Division, City Council District 7 office, evaluate as to whether this had an effect railings, and new front steps. and the City of Pittsburgh to find ways on speeding. to address these issues. Here are the 332 Downing Street possible solutions we've explored thus Limiting turns during rush hours New front porch decking and steps. Power far. In 2013 the PHCA worked with Zone 2 wash and repaint the siding and trim. to have radar boxes installed at locations in and near Polish Hill. The 1114 Herron Avenue This house was on the City's demolition list boxes recorded how much traffic was when the owner started working to buy it. entering Polish Hill and how fast cars Over the winter, a new roof was added and were going. Zone 2 Traffic Division the structure gutted for renovations. The analyzed the data and told us that the grant will help to cover repairs on the front biggest issue was the volume of cars, foundation, new windows and door, and to and that most of the traffic was coming re-side the facade. through during rush hour. Their suggestion was to install No Left Turn 3117 Dobson Street signs at particular locations, to be in This building was first renovated back in effect just during rush hour. When we the 70s, when the owner was part of the publicized the recommendations, first wave of revitalization in the Lowering speed limits residents rejected this solution, saying neighborhood. This time around, he'll This is the simplest, most obvious that not being able to turn left during replace the damaged mansard roofing solution, and the first thing we tried. rush hour would be an inconvenience shingles with slate, repair the brick side- Unfortunately, we discovered that it's for them. Continued on page 6 Spring to Summer 2015 Page 2 Polish Hill Voice PHCA news -- Fully renovating or developing and State Representative marketing the property for resale to low constituent services at the to moderate income residents Housing committee -- Using the property as a green space, PHCA office each Friday creates policy on if there are limitations in place on future Staff from the office of State Repre- future development development. sentative Adam Ravenstahl will be at the PHCA office each Friday to provide Following the real estate boom in The PHCA housing committee will constituent services. Assistance Lawrenceville and the Strip District, evaluate the requests based on this includes help in filling out state forms, individuals and small developers are criteria and then make a recommend- problems with state income taxes or looking for other centrally located city ation to the PHCA Board of Directors. Human Services, unemployment neighborhoods that might be a good The board will then make a final compensation issues, car registrations, place to live -- or a good investment. determination on whether or not to special tags, titles and license appli- Polish Hill, which is quiet, less support the proceeding of the public cations, information for senior citizens, expensive, with low crime rates and property sale. and more. To schedule an appointment, lots of vacant or City-owned property, call the State Repre-sentative’s office at clearly fits the bill. Increasing interest Letter of support procedure for 412.321.5523. in the neighborhood led the Polish Hill real estate developments Civic Association housing committee to Credit for setting this up goes to PHCA create two new policy documents to An individual or developer who has board member Ruth Rizner. With the outline how the organization will secured property and is planning a closing of Senator Ferlo’s Butler Street assess requests of support from project might also wish to obtain a letter office, there was no longer anywhere potential property owners and of support from the PHCA. While such nearby for residents from Polish Hill, developers. a letter is not necessarily required to Lawrenceville, and the Strip District to have a project approved by the go for constituent services. Ruth Public property sale policy municipality, it can help during the suggested that the PHCA might serve process of raising funds or getting as a satellite office, and contacted State When an individual or a developer permissions from Zoning, City Rep. Ravenstahl's office to see if they applies to purchase City-owned Planning, or Council. In these cases, the would be interested. We’re glad to be property, the Council office will ask the housing committee would meet with the able to host them here each week. local community group, if there is one, owner and assess whether the project aligns with community values and goals. if they are willing to provide a letter of Planning the Polish Hill support approving the sale. Wishing to The committee would then make a set precedent for a thoughtful process recommendation to the board as to Arts Festival for cases going forward, the PHCA whether the PHCA should provide a letter of support. In cases of larger, This will be the 8th year for the arts housing committee created a formal festival, and planning has been under- policy in regards to these requests. complicated or controversial projects, the board might ask the owner or way since the winter months. We're Such a policy would provide a working to put together another varied consistent framework for evaluating developer to attend a community meeting. and interesting band line up. As of requests to support purchases of City- press time we've confirmed Brazilian owned and/or URA-owned public In both cases, the values and visions samba drummers Timbeleza, folk- property in Polish Hill. This includes country group The Hills and the Rivers, vacant land and property with outlined in the Community plan would guide the decision to provide a letter of Polish Hill-based rock/metal cover structures. band PARTY!, and Mathew Tembo, a support, or for the PHCA to decline to support. For projects not covered musician, singer and song-writer from Having this policy in place means that Zambia. Pandemic Pete will DJ the PHCA can encourage rebuilding explicitly by the Community Plan, PHCA's vision for future construction between sets. There will also be some and development that is consistent mini-sets for younger musicians to with the values that residents and development is to encourage renovations and support new small- share their talents. identified while creating the Polish Hill Community Plan, completed in 2011. scale infill and microhousing developments. Small independent We are sad to say that IHM Church is The plan was created through a grass- not planning to do their Polish food roots process that included community businesses, including office space, retail and restaurants are welcomed and booth at the arts festival. While the meetings, surveys, workshops and booth was profitable, the church interviews.