The Polish Hill Voice 3060 Brereton Street ☼ Pittsburgh, PA 1 521 9 ☼ (41 2) 681 -1 950 ☼ [email protected] ☼ www.phcapgh.org Housing Advocates Aim to Maintain Affordability by Alexis Miller meeting with the City and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to The PHCA Housing Committee meets find ways to finance new construction a few times a year to discuss growing at the Fire Site that will have some development interest in the neighbor kind of affordable or submarket rate hood and how to best support both rents or sales prices. That project is new and longterm residents, and not dead, but continues to move promote a vibrant neighborhood with slowly as we explore different funding a diversity of homes and businesses. sources and may work with the URA As many have noticed, there have to look for different developers that been some significant projects in can offer different financing options Polish Hill that brought vacant, and design solutions. blighted houses from the brink of demolition to modern, bright and Groups Study Busway updated homes. Development Lastly, a larger planning project As high sales prices from Lawrence Construction on Dobson St. focused on the Herron Avenue stop ville spill over into Polish Hill the on the East Busway started in average home price over the last two the property, so it can take several February. The Pittsburgh Community years has increased dramatically. years before the nonprofit owns the Reinvestment Group (PCRG), Port However, there are still just around property. It continues to be an Authority and Urban Redevelopment 12 properties sold per year and vacant important tool for many communities Authority (URA) sponsored a study and rundown buildings remain. As in Pittsburgh to fight blight and have that was funded through the Urban more investors are interested in influence over development projects. Land Institute Pittsburgh by a grant making money in the neighborhood, from the Urban Land Institute. The the PHCA continues to advocate for The PHCA's goal of acquiring these study was about land use around the diversity and mixed income in the properties is to sell them to owner Herron Avenue stop in Polish Hill, neighborhood, which includes occupants and low to moderate Lawrenceville, and the Strip District. promoting affordable housing. income families or individuals, as The focus of the study is to find better well as to have influence over future ways to use the land around that stop One of the strategies that the PHCA development projects. The PHCA has to make it into a more thriving and first initiated about three years ago is also been in talks with other connected transitoriented develop acquiring vacant, taxdelinquent neighborhood groups and community ment (TOD). properties through a special part of partners on creating longterm the treasurer's sale that gives non affordability through a model called a The PHCA was briefly interviewed as profit community organizations the community land trust. part of the ULI's study, along with opportunity to purchase properties other stakeholders. The final report is that do not sell at treasurer's sale. In Fire Site Update still being drafted. This study will this process, the City of Pittsburgh By and large, renovating existing likely just be the beginning of work to sells these properties to nonprofit houses is not cheap, but it costs less plan for development in this area, community organizations for a very money than building new construc especially as Donnie's Place property, low price and clears all the back taxes tion. With less and less government the Iron City Brewery, and other lots and liens. There are many steps to funds available to subsidize new and warehouses surrounding the this Property Reserve process and construction, the PHCA has been Herron Avenue bus stop are for sale. reasons why the property may not be working hard over the past three The PHCA will post the final report eligible or why someone else may win years at applying for grants and from the ULI as soon as it is ready. Summer 2017 Letter from the President: Try Heritage Seeds for Better Production A Call for Unity via Service by Terry Doloughty, Green Team
With the warm days finally here As summer begins the country finds itself grappling with a particularly divisive it's not too late to think about politcal landscape; however, I find myself with an optimistic perspective. planning our gardens to get the most out of our spaces.
Training for work has taken me away from Polish Hill until just recently. Take a moment to consider the However, wherever I find myself, and whomever I meet one thought comes to sources we use to get our seeds. mind: much more unites Americans than divides us. Back home in Polish Hill, Do you just grab a pack of seeds because you see them on display? we are united in our shared interests that transcend politics. We share the Do you pour through catalogs to same streets and we want them to be safe, our children attend the same find unique varieties? schools, and we all cherish our hometown values; some of us even share walls! We can stretch that planning out one more year to get your garden Now more than ever Americans, Pittsburghers, and Polish Hill’ers alike can plants to the next level of quality show their unity by coming together and volunteering for service in our local and possibly higher production. communities. Volunteering just one hour per month can have a huge impact in our community. It’s the difference between driving by a vacant lot Consider incorporating heritage seeds and heirloom varieties into overgrown with weeds or one covered with a garden of sunflowers. The your gardening adventure. We difference between City Steps covered in graffiti tags or beautiful murals. can all benefit by having these hardy survivors growing in our gardens. Along with history, I encourage everyone to make time for volunteerism, both here in Polish Hill family stories and amazing flavors and with our affiliated community organizations doing great work in the area. heritage seeds can be saved, traded, and handed down to new gardeners over time. Many of our “Be the change that you want to see in the world” M. Gandhi modern hybrid crops do not produce viable seeds. It can be For a list of opportunities and affiliate organizations, as well as events, please good for the seed catalogs, guaranteeing repeat customers. follow us on Facebook, Blogski, and NextDoor. We look forward to hearing your feedback and sharing stories about how our neighbors are having a We have other options and should positive impact on the community. consider all the ways we can expand our options for best results. Grow Pittsburgh has Brian A. Seklecki hosted seed exchanges, some of President Polish Hill Civic Association your neighbors may have seeds to share. Seed and plant exchange is a great way to know your fellow About Brian: Brian has lived in Polish Hill since 2008. He’s a civicoriented gardeners and neighbors. Phipps I.T. guy who started volunteering to help the PHCA with tech problems in the Conservancy offers good tips for office, but quickly became involved in the Gardens & Green Spaces initiatives seed seeking gardeners. and the Harmar St. Community Garden. His passions are cycling and You can find more information sustainability and renewable energy, and he just trained to become a Wind from Phipps at: Turbine Technician. https://phipps.conservatory.org/ greeninnovation/at home/greenergardening PHCA Community Meetings tips/tipsforsmartseed shopping We're on summer vacation! There are no meetings in July & Aug. Monthly meetings will resume Looking forward to seeing you all September 5th at 6:30pm in the West Penn Rec Center around the neighborhood getting dirty, having fun, and sharing! Father Mark Welcomes All to IHM by Loukas Barton convening novenas. His mission is to Church Events help maintain and nourish spiritual life, and to continue to educate folks Reverend Mark Andrew Thomas about the faith through tradition. In Weekly commitments to the (known locally as “Father Mark”) his view, Church tradition is a shared church's communitybased spiritual recently celebrated his first process that helps people gather anniversary as the administrative experience include: together as a community, and that head of the Immaculate Heart of this gathering of community through Mary Church in Polish Hill. Prior to God “keeps the soul fed.” Daily Mass: Monday through serving the spiritual community at IHM, Father Mark was an assistant Saturday mornings at 8 am. priest at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in The Immaculate Heart of Mary Sunday Mass: Saturday evening Church welcomes all, and encourages Oakland, one of the largest of the at 4pm; Sunday morning at 9am nearly 200 churches in the Diocese of members of the community to Pittsburgh. In addition to his participate in volunteer outreach. and 11am. extensive duties and commitments to Engagement is often richest when Note: the 9am Sunday morning likeminded folks come together to the Polish Hill parish, Father Mark service is conducted in Polish by continues his advocacy in Oakland, contribute, whether for community where he serves as Chaplain for both events or Holiday Mass. On this Father Miro Stelmoszczyk. Central Catholic and Oakland subject, Father Mark nails it by Confession: Saturdays, 33:45, or saying, “I really love a crowd!”. And Catholic schools. His ties to both by appointment Oakland and Polish Hill run much so it’s up to us to create one. deeper than this however: though he grew up in Ross Township, the Polish In addition, the Church provides a side of his family (his mother’s) hails variety of seasonal services and from the West End (where his relies on an active group of grandfather ran a local watering hole); while his father’s family lived dedicated volunteers to coordinate in Oakland (notably, his father played parish outreach. for the Pirates in the 1950s). The man knows Pittsburgh, and is deeply committed to helping the people of This July, IHM plans to host the this city, regardless of their annual summer festival on July 15. neighborhood, city, state, or nation of Outdoor food, fun, and festivities origin, to meet their spiritual needs. will dovetail with a Saturday At Immaculate Heart of Mary this evening Polka Mass! The Church takes a variety of forms, from always needs volunteer help to pull orchestrating daily mass, to celebrat this off, so please get in touch! ing feast days, to saying rosaries and
Looking further afield, the Church Celebrate 10 Years of the has plans to run the annual Food Polish Hill Arts Fest on July 16th! Drive for the Thanksgiving holiday, but would also like to coordinate a Don't miss the 10th anniversary of the Polish Hill Arts Fest on July 16 from food drive earlier during the noon-9pm! There will be over 30 talented artists, including many from the calendar year. Please keep an eye neighborhood, creative hands-on activities and live music all day! open for further notification!
Bands include The Gotobeds,Truth and Rites, Jayke Orvis and more. Updates will be posted in the Plus food to please everyone from Driftwood Oven pizza, Onion Maiden, Church Bulletin, the PCHA events Blacksheep Barbecue, and our own Lili and Liliput Cafes. webpage (and Blogski), and by calling the main office at We still need volunteers the day of the festival! 412.621.5170. If you want to help out, contact: [email protected] The PHCA’s mission is to respect and preserve the sense of community in Polish Hill while promoting economic and housing development opportunities and improving the quality of life for our community. Are you a PHCA Member?
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Cut off and return to the PHCA office with cash or check payable to: Polish Hill Civic Association All donations are tax deductible. All memberships expire at the end of the calendar year.