The Polish Hill Voice 3060 Brereton Street ☼ , PA 15219 ☼ (412) 681-1950 ☼ [email protected] ☼ www.phcapgh.org

Upcoming funding The Pivotal Streets Residential Façade changes will require Grant Program returns for 2015 a shift in focus for the PHCA The Pivotal Streets Residential Façade Renovation Grant Program Later this year, you may notice that the returns for the third year thanks to Polish Hill Civic Association will make funding from the UPMC Health changes to its hours of operation, and/or Plan. The grant matches the home- the services it provides to the community. owner's contribution dollar for dol- This is a result of changing eligibility for lar up to $5,000. For example, if some of the PHCA’s government funding. the total façade project is $10,000, Government funding has provided about the grant would be $5,000 and the 20-35% of our operational funding for homeowner's responsibility would almost twenty years. Losing this funding be $5,000. will necessitate some changes in the work that the PHCA does. The application and detailed guide- lines for the program are available Last fall, the City of Pittsburgh informed now at the PHCA office, or can be the PHCA that we would no longer be eligible for funds from the Advisory downloaded at phcapgh.org/projects/current. The application deadline is March 31, Commission on Community-Based 2015. An independent review committee, made up of architecture, design and con- Organizations (ACCBO), starting in struction professionals, will review applications and announce the winners of this September 2015. These are government competitive award by April 17, 2015. funds, which are provided to neighbor- hoods where at least 51% of the popu- There is a limited pool of funding availa- lation are low-moderate income. The ble. The application process is competi- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban tive and not all eligible projects will Development (HUD) determines which receive funding. The grant is disbursed communities are eligible for the funding on a reimbursement basis, so all award- and works with the City of Pittsburgh to ees must pay the full cost of their project communicate these changes and to up front. Homeowners may hire a con- administer this funding. tractor or do the work themselves. If the homeowner is performing the work, only In July, HUD released updated census the material costs are eligible for a and survey data, which will affect funding matching grant. Once the project is com- for the PHCA and a number of other pleted, the property owner will be reim- neighborhoods in and around Pittsburgh. bursed for the amount of the grant. All project sizes are encouraged, and any project Census tract 605, Polish Hill, is now with a minimum cost of $500 will be eligible to apply for a grant. 41.73% low-moderate income, according to the updated income information. This number represents real improvement in Renovations should follow the guide- the lives of many Polish Hill residents, lines and suggestions in the Pivotal and as such it's good news for the Streets Design Book. Created by neighborhood. Loysen + Kreuthmeier Architects, the design book is specifically for Polish This shift also means that the PHCA is Hill, highlighting the neighborhood's facing funding cuts in the 2015-2016 varied architecture and suggesting fiscal year and beyond, which starts on design concepts for projects ranging from under $1,000 for micro renovations up to September 1, 2015. District 7 Council $35,000 or more for extra-large renovations. office is working with us to determine For more information on the Pivotal Streets Residential Façade Renovation Grant how this will affect the PHCA. Here’s Program, email [email protected] or call 412.681.1950. what we know: it will mean that the organization will have less revenue for Past Pivotal Streets projects include (top to bottom): 3208 Brereton Street, Continued on page 3 3508 Melwood Avenue, and 3200 Downing Street. Winter to Spring 2015 Page 2 Polish Hill Voice

an integral part of the Enright Comm- formerly the Meet the 2015 unity Garden. Founded with the help of controller at the PHCA board Grow Pittsburgh, education and Simple Way, a faith- community building, as well as food based nonprofit in Nine positions were open in the donation are the primary focuses of the Philadelphia, and recent PHCA board election, and garden. Val also works with Churchview divided her time thirteen candidates accepted Farm coordinating volunteers and between that city nominations. After years in which all participating in all aspects of organic and her house on candidates ran uncontested and vegetable production. Paulowna Street. Erica now works at positions remained vacant, this Bowie & Co., an accounting firm based in represented a record number of people Val loves gardening and is passionate Polish Hill. Erica's interests include who were willing to take on the about our neighborhoods green and cooking, crafting and music. responsibility and the extensive time open spaces and their potential to commitment of being a PHCA board influence civic engagement. Her Erica is in the midst of her second term member. Many thanks to all the involvement in the community inspired as treasurer. Since 2009, she has individuals who stepped forward as her to attend the City's Civic Leadership donated her professional services as an candidates. We are grateful that they Academy and to become involved in accountant to the PHCA. She also were willing to make this commitment. local issues. She has volunteered with volunteers for community events and is We hope that all will remain as the PHCA Green Team since 2010 and on the Diversity and Inclusion involved as ever. took over leadership of PHCA green and committee. Her goals as a board open space projects in 2012. Prior to member are to help the PHCA focus There was also increased participation being elected as Vice President, Valerie more on helping underserved residents on the part of PHCA members. A large served on the PHCA executive board as and increasing our community building. percentage of our membership took the Secretary. Her focus as a board member time to return their ballots. It was very will continue to be on green and open Susan Atkinson encouraging to see so many residents space projects. Past projects include (Director) engaged and interested in the organ- coordinating and participating in Susan lives on ization and its work in the neighbor- neighborhood clean ups, organizing two Brereton Street and is hood. Here are the ten individuals who Love Your Block projects, an urban both a homeowner will serve Polish Hill for the next year. restoration project, and an edible garden and landlord. She is a (Still to be filled is the position of where all the food is donated to a local psychologist with a Secretary; the board will draft an food pantry. private practice and in individual to serve as Interim Secretary her spare time she is for this year.) Kalie Pierce an avid gardener, (2nd Vice President) hiker, and skier. John Rhoades Kalie lives on Susan has served on the PHCA board (President) Melwood Avenue under three previous presidents. The John lives on with her husband continuity of perspective she brings is Wiggins Street. Doug Weaver, a City invaluable as the board works to Previously the of Pittsburgh continue development that meets the Public Policy firefighter, and their needs of our membership and residents. Initiatives two teenagers. She Susan says, "I want to promote continued Manager at the runs a private development of blighted properties into United Way, John practice as a Licensed Professional affordable family oriented residences. I is now a partner Counselor, specializing in anxiety value both the heritage of this neigh- in The Beauty Shoppe, which provides disorders and obsessive compulsive borhood and the new energy that we're shared workspace and services for disorder. Kalie's interests include seeing, and wish to assist us in our entre-preneurs, small companies, and gardening, jogging, biking, and hiking. journey to blend the old and the new." freelancers. He also serves on the She is also an activist whose concerns board of the Sprout Fund. John has include economic disparity, health and Mark Knobil helped out at cleanups and community wellness for disadvantaged people, as (Director) events and is the chair of the Bylaws well as political and environmental Mark lives on Bethoven Committee, where he has served since issues. Kalie's volunteer work for Polish Street and is a 2012. John says, "I love living in Polish Hill includes traffic calming, photographer and a Hill. This is a truly unique place to live neighborhood outreach, and the freelance cameraman with so much to celebrate." Diversity and Inclusion committee, and for film and television. she served as an interim director on the He is also a property Valerie Testa board in 2014. Kalie says, "I plan to owner and a force for (Vice President) spend my energy creating connections thoughtful and creative development in Valerie lives on between the local groups in Polish Hill in Polish Hill, including the renovation of Dobson Street and order to bring neighbors together and the building which holds the coffee shop, is the stair steward help reach shared goals." record store, and bookshop. Mark for the nearby City volunteers for community events, has Steps. Val works at Erica Moulinier (Treasurer) donated generously to the PHCA, and Whole Foods Erica is a financial accountant. She was helps to manage the three apartment Market where she is units owned by the organization. Polish Hill Voice Page 3

Now beginning his second term on the Myrna is new to the board, but has Funding changes, from front page board, Mark would like to increase volunteered for neighborhood membership and people's involvement in cleanups and community events since operational costs such as salaries, taxes, the PHCA. He says, "It's important that she moved to the neighborhood. utilities and office supplies. It will also we, all together, have a voice in the kind mean that the PHCA will need to shift of neighborhood we want to have. Our Josiah Parkinson towards providing more direct services voice is the PHCA, and I want our voice to (Director) to low-income, disabled and elderly continue to advocate and support local Josiah lives on residents and spend less time on projects ownership of property in the neighbor- Flavian Street and is that impact the entire neighborhood. In hood. That one thing can go a long way to a radiologic order to continue to provide services to promote all those things that we want our technologist in the entire neighborhood, the PHCA will neighborhood to be." cardiology at UPMC need to identify and apply for alternate Passavant in funding as well. Catherine McCandless. He is an McConnell avid film buff and While this shift will be challenging for (Director) music fan. He reads a lot, mostly the PHCA, it provides a measure of just Catherine lives on fiction, and collects vintage sci-fi how much the neighborhood has Bethoven Street and paperbacks. He also enjoys improved in recent years. After decades (with her husband gardening. in which Polish Hill was rated as a Mark Knobil) owns distressed neighborhood by both state properties around Josiah began his involvement by and federal agencies, the fortunes of the Polish Hill. Formerly helping out in the PHCA yard, then community have improved. This is good an artist and set designer for films and started volunteering for every activity, news. Over the next several months we television, including the Mr. Rogers show, and finally joining the board, serving will continue to keep residents updated Catherine became a real estate agent and as a PHCA board member since 2012. as to how the PHCA will evolve to discovered a passion for community and His work on behalf of the PHCA and continue to serve residents in the years helping people attain home ownership. the neighborhood includes Catherine previously served on the board volunteering at community events, ahead. from 2008-2013, as a director, and then helping with maintenance at the Vice President. Her real estate expertise PHCA property, working on Citiparks West Penn and generosity of spirit are huge assets neighborhood green spaces and at Recreation Center to the organization and the community. neighborhood cleanups, and Catherine volunteers for community copyediting on the newsletter. He was 450 30th Street cleanups, holiday events, and the arts a member of the planning team for festival. She has donated generously to the Polish Hill Community Plan and Open to all Pittsburgh residents. the PHCA, including the Polish Hill has served on the Bylaws Committee. Facilities include workout room, Community Plan, and has helped raise exercise machines and weight room. money for the Polish Hill Arts Festival. Ruth Rizner 9:00 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. She also volunteers her time to manage (Director) Monday - Friday the three apartment units owned by the Ruth Rizner 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday PHCA. lives on Harmar Closed Sunday Street and has

Catherine says, "I believe it's vital to have long been a community organization that attracts actively involved For more information, participation from our neighborhood as a with the call 412-622-7353 whole. There is a lot happening in Polish community and Hill now that needs input from all of us local politics. and I'll continue to make connections She is a highly respected member of within the community to help empower the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Event Calendar our neighborhood in shaping our parish, serving as the president of the direction and choices for the future." Rosary Society and the treasurer of April 7| Community Meeting | the Pastoral Council. Ruth is also the 6:30—8:00 p.m. | West Penn Myrna Newman chairperson of the 6th Ward Recreation Center (lower level) (Director) Democratic Committee.

Myrna lives on Melwood Avenue and Ruth is a returning board member, May 5 | Community Meeting | can often be seen reelected after serving as an interim 6:30—8:00 p.m. | West Penn walking her two dogs director in 2014, and we are very glad Recreation Center (lower level) through the neigh- to have her back. She previously borhood. In her served on the board of the Polish Hill May 30 | PHCA yard sale and professional life, Civic Association as vice-president bake sale | 11:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. | Myrna is the Executive and president, and headed the 3060 Brereton Street Director of Allegheny monument committee for many years. Cleanways/Keep Ruth now serves on the PHCA Bylaws June 2| Community Meeting| Pittsburgh Beautiful, a nonprofit that Committee. 6:30—8:00 p.m. | West Penn works to clear illegal dump sites in Recreation Center (lower level) Pittsburgh. Page 4 Polish Hill Voice

From the PHCA archive: One family’s photos offer glimpses of Polish Hill

While we occasionally use photos from the PHCA archive to illustrate a history article, there are a lot of wonderful photos that we haven't yet shared. Here, the images themselves tell the story. All of these photos were shared by former Polish Hill resident Doris Kwasnieski McNorgan. Doris has spent most of her adult life in Santa Ana, California, but she has many fond memories of Polish Hill. The Kwasnieski family, Edward (known as Kirby), Catherine, and their children Don and Doris lived in a ground floor apartment at the corner of Herron and Brereton Streets. Later the family moved down to Hancock street.

We love that in these very personal snapshots it's also possible to see a bit of the neighborhood and to get a sense of what it was like back in the 1940s, when Doris was growing up here. Doris particularly remembers the shops and businesses and notes that you didn't have to leave the neighborhood, as everything one could need was here. She says, "I don't think I knew there was anyplace but Polish Hill until I was about 8 years old!"

Above: Doris on Herron Avenue. Just visible in the background is Penn School, often referred to as Dinky School. The school was torn down in the 1980s to make way for John Paul Plaza.

Above: Edward Kwasnieski with kids Don and Doris at the intersection of Herron, Brereton and Hancock streets. The big building to the left is Penn School.

Above: Doris and her brother Don on Brereton Street in the late 1940s.

Left: Doris on the railing along the sidewalk near the top of Brereton Street, about 1949. Polish Hill Voice Page 5

Above: Mary Ann Kwasnieski, Doris' grandmother, at her old iron stove. Mary Ann lived on the third floor of an apartment that overlooked Phelan Way and the schoolyard.

Right: Doris’ aunt and uncle near their home at the intersection of Herron Avenue and Dobson Street. In the background is Zydel’s Café (now the Rock Room).

Left: A group poses on Brereton Street after a Memorial Day parade. Edward and Catherine Kwasnieski are the second couple from the left.

Below: Doris all grown up, posing with her mother in the courtyard behind their home.

Left: The family lived in the ground floor apartment in this building at the corner of Brereton and Herron (here, as it looked in the 1970s). The building was torn down in the 1990s and the site is now a public green space.

Do you have photos from Polish Hill past to share? Scan (at least 200 dpi) and email them to us, or bring in originals, which we will scan and return to you. Page 6 Polish Hill Voice

traffic calming measures. Over 80% Traffic and transportation news of respondents walk through the neighborhood as least weekly; over Tire tracks are 60% walk on a daily basis. Over half visible in the of the respondents bike in Polish Hill hillside at the at least occasionally; 15% are on their Herron Avenue bikes daily. s-curve, just next to the Harding 90% said that speeding cars were a steps. The problem to some degree, with most of neighborhood sign those rating speeding as a serious was knocked problem. Over 60% felt that cut- down and the through traffic was a problem. The plantings responses in these categories seemed destroyed by a to depend on where people lived. speeding car. Residents on the most-traveled streets, such as Brereton, Dobson, Herron, Melwood, and Paulowna had Woolslair stop to pick up or drop off Another incident on daily experience with issues relating students. A number of parents have Herron Avenue highlights to speeding and cut-through drivers. shared their concerns with our office Melwood and Herron were the two the need for traffic calming that this is not a safe place for buses most-mentioned problem streets. to stop.

Sometime during the night of The majority of respondents support December 8-9, a car drove up on the Last year, Zone 2 traffic division speed humps (not speed bumps, hillside at the Herron Avenue S-curve, looked into this issue and informed us which are higher.) The most- knocking over the "Witamy do Polish that the intersection of Melwood and requested location is Melwood Hill" sign and flattening the bushes and Herron was not a safe location for a Avenue, followed by Herron Avenue plantings. This was not the first time a school bus stop because it was an area and Paulowna Street. speeding car has gone off the road here; where traffic accidents were a regular the stone wall was badly damaged by occurrence. Another issue is the another vehicle this fall. This location proximity to a bar, the Rock Room, is right next to the City steps and a where there have been drug busts. A note on the crosswalk, so the frequency of accidents PHCA president John Rhoades has bike route markings is of particular concern. contacted the head of transportation for Pittsburgh Public Schools, and he A few responses to the traffic survey Incidents like this highlight the need is open to moving the bus stop. Both seemed to indicate that there is still for long-term solutions to the problem the PHCA and District 7 Council office some misunderstanding about the bike of speeding and cut-through traffic. staff have asked parents where they markings in Polish Hill. The issue is complicated. City traffic would prefer to have the buses stop. engineers and Zone 2 Traffic Division If you are a parent, please let us know The bike markings are part the City of have examined the issues and advised your opinion on this. Pittsburgh's 20 year traffic plan. The that the best way to address the prob- City hopes encourage more residents lem is to make it difficult for drivers to to ride bikes and to keep cyclists safe. speed. If it is not as quick to cut Final results of the through Polish Hill, more drivers will The only bike lane in Polish Hill is on stay on the main roads, and the vehicles traffic calming survey the two-block stretch of Brereton that do come through will move more Street, between 28th and 30th streets. slowly. We created the Polish Hill Traffic Elsewhere, the bike symbols, called Calming Survey to collect feedback sharrows, simply remind drivers that Another way to support traffic calming from residents about what traffic cyclists also use the road. The route solutions is to file a 311 report. Tell the calming measures they want, and through Polish Hill has been an official City how speeding and cut-through where. The survey was introduced at City-recommended bike route for over traffic affect you and your family, and the October community meeting and twenty years, though only recently did what solutions you want to see. we reported on the initial responses in public works get the budget to add the the last newsletter. The survey was pavement markings. available for three months and was School buses: finding a available online or on paper. Over safer place to stop 100 people took the survey. Want more news and photos of Polish Hill? The intersection of Herron and The survey asked residents about Visit us online! Blogski has news, Melwood is one of the locations where their own methods of transportation, history items, photos, resources, speeding traffic is a big problem. It is whether they thought that speeding and much more! also where buses from schools such as and cut-through traffic are a problem phcapgh.org/blogski St. Raphael, Maria Goretti, and and where they would like to see Polish Hill Voice Page 7

resume as the nights get warmer. Flavian Street erosion Graffiti on the rise Residents whose schedules have them awake or out in the nighttime could keep an eye out for people doing graffiti. Call 911 if you see suspicious activity, and if possible, note descriptions or license plate numbers. Also call 911 if your home or business has been vandalized. When officers arrive, make sure to say you want to file a report. The City's recently revived Graffiti Busters crew will remove or cover graffiti on private property, but they require a police report number before the cleanup can Residents and business owners have be scheduled. noticed an increasing amount of graffiti Flavian is a small street, and getting around Polish Hill in the last year or so. smaller -- part of the street has been Certain areas on the edges of the neigh- slowly washing away, leaving only a borhood, such as the Bridge narrow section of pavement. That and sections of Gold Way, have long been problem will be addressed sometime targets for graffiti. What's new is that this year: the City of Pittsburgh has homes and business in the central areas earmarked $50,000 to repair the of the neighborhood are also being hit. washed-out section. A date has not yet been set for the work. One high-profile incident last fall was the vandalism of the 100+ year old Mother's Shops of Brereton Street Bread sign on the side of a home on Dobson Street. The historic sign came to past in the Post-Gazette light after the neighboring building was demolished in 2007. Painted on the The Post-Gazette's Storefront original wood siding, the sign is over a Project is an occasional feature that hundred years old and is one of the best- looks back at the main shopping streets preserved examples in Pittsburgh of an of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The first early hand-painted advertising sign. The installment of the Storefront Project sign has been written about in many looked at Centre Avenue in the Hill articles and has became one of the most- District, the second focused on the photographed sights in Polish Hill. , the third at Residents were upset and angry that the . sign was vandalized. Jim Young, who Recent graffiti on the Mother’s Bread sign The latest installment featured the owns and lives in the house, is (left), at a home on Phelan Way (above), researching how to remove the graffiti and on the PHCA office (below). storefronts of Brereton Street, including without damaging the original sign. photos from the PHCA archive. The article ran in the Post-Gazette Magazine on Sunday, February 1. The article is Pittsburgh Mass Mob still viewable online. There's also an comes to IHM church interactive map of the street; you can click on buildings and see a then and Mass mobs are groups that work to now view. To see the interactive map, bring people to services at under- enter this address: http:// attended churches in cities such as newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/ Buffalo, Detroit, New York City, storefront-polishhill/. Rochester, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. The groups select old churches, advertise a particular date for Mass, attracting people who might not have known about the church. The idea has come to Pittsburgh, and on URA home improvement loans Sunday, December 28 the Pittsburgh help homeowners rehabilitate Other homes and buildings around the Mass Mob came to the Immaculate or renovate their properties. neighborhood center have also been hit Heart of Mary Church. After Mass with new graffiti, including the IHM there was a tour and a social so that School and the PHCA office. While people could visit and reconnect. Visit www.ura.org graffiti activity has slowed during the winter months, it's likely that it will POLISH HILL CIVIC ASSOCIATION

3060 Brereton Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: 412-681-1950 Email: [email protected] Website: www.phcapgh.org Blog: phcapgh.org/blogski

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.

Polish Hill Civic Associaon Membership Applicaon Benefits of All memberships expire at the end of each calendar year. membership Join now to become a member through December 2015

NAME: Free courtesy admission to the (Street Address) Heinz History Center for yourself and up to three others (Show your PHCA

membership card at the (City) (State) (ZIP) front desk)

I’m not currently subscribed to the PHCA e‐blast which comes out every other week — sign me up! (If you are already receiving the e‐blast, there is no need to re‐subscribe) Members who are also Polish Hill EMAIL: residents Can vote to elect PHCA VOTING MEMBER ~ Or ~ SUBSCRIPTION MEMBER board members

_____(Polish Hill residents) _____(Non-residents)

_____New Member ~ Or ~ _____Renewal Knowing that you’re For office use only: supporting an REC’D BY: ______DATE: ______GOT CARD ______LOGGED ______organization that is working to make Make checks payable to the Polish Hill Civic Association and mail with this application to: Polish Hill a better Polish Hill Civic Association, Membership Chair, 3060 Brereton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 place to live!