Vol. 46, No. 5 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE MAY PAID PITTSBURGH, PA 2021 Permit No. 2403 $SXEOLFDWLRQRIWKH%ORRPILHOG*DUILHOG&RUSRUDWLRQRPILHOG*DUILHOG&RUSRUDWLRQ Serving Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield, East Liberty, and Lawrenceville since 1975 *DUÀHOGKRXVLQJ GHYHORSPHQWVXIIHUV setback at URA %\-RH5HXEHQBulletin contributor Garfield - Last month, Module Design, Inc. was prepared to enter into negotiations with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to purchase nine city-owned lots in the 5100 block of Rosetta Street. Then, the URA’s Board of Directors could not muster a vote to green light the negoti- ations; a motion that was on the table to do just this died for lack of a second. It was a bit of an awkward moment for the agency, considering that Module is col- laborating on the project with the Pitts- burgh Housing Development Corporation (PHDC), a subsidiary of the URA. Most observers thought the vote would be a mere formality. But board members Ed Gainey, a state representative for the city’s East End, and Lindsay Thompson, an aide ABOVE : Jeff Wilson takes a break from his daily routine - vaccinating people on a walk-in basis - outside Wilson’s Pharmacy (4101 Penn See 0RGXOH| page 2 Ave.) in Lawrenceville. The pharmacist’s vax tally now tops 12,000 arms and counting. Read more on page 4. Photo by John Colombo. Wilson’s Pharmacy offers free vaccinations By Andrew McKeon The Bulletin Lawrenceville - Wilson’s Pharmacy (4101 ical professionals, we had people driving Penn Ave.) has been around long enough down here from Erie, PA.” to survive a crisis or two. Founded 81 According to estimates, the pharmacy has, years ago, the pharmacy is now a neigh- as of press time, vaccinated more than borhood mainstay with a new mission to 12,000 individuals. Wilson had apparent- combat COVID-19. ly heard enough testimonials, from folks Building on his grandfather’s pledge to who could not access vaccination sites in help local residents through times of need, their own neighborhoods, to know what pharmacist Jeff Wilson is now vaccinating he should do: vaccinate everybody who anyone who walks through the door; no walked into his pharmacy. appointments necessary. He still makes house calls to a number of “As people heard about us on the local home-bound Bloomfield residents. From news, they began coming from all over the sidewalk outside of his family phar- ABOVE : Bloomfield Saturday Market vendors arrange fresh produce at 5050 Liberty Ave. the place,” Wilson explained. “When we macy, Wilson regularly vaccinates people first started off, just vaccinating the med- Learn more about East End farmers markets on page 8. Photo courtesy of Abi Gildea. See Vaccination | page 4 MAYORAL CANDIDATES RESPOND ‘UNBLURRED’ CRAWL, FRINGE - Page 10 - - Page 6 - TO FIVE PRESSING QUESTIONS FESTIVAL REACTIVATE PENN AVE. 2 the Bulletin|May 2021 0RGXOHcontinued from page 1 to Mayor Bill Peduto, peppered Module how his firm managed to achieve that The URA Board was told that Module’s market-rate prices. With ten units on Ro- with questions about the project. Both said objective with one of three homes it built project had the support of the Bloom- setta and two on Broad, Module needs to they felt some discomfort at seeing hous- last year in the 5500 block of Black Street. field-Garfield Corporation (BGC), the commit to making four of their homes af- es that would likely cost over $300,000 to A two-story, two-bedroom house [5456 community development group in Gar- fordable if it’s looking for our support,” he build somehow be categorized as “afford- Black St.] managed to sell for $184,000 to field. However, Rick Swartz, the BGC’s ex- told The Bulletin recently. “It’s what they able” housing. They also said they need- a low-income homebuyer, who was able ecutive director, said after the meeting that managed to do on Black Street.” ed to see more details on how the goal of to receive mortgage subsidies on the pur- the board of his organization is withhold- Module is expected to continue refining its affordability would be achieved on some chase from both the URA and the Housing ing support until it sees how many units development plans in the hopes that it can percentage of Module’s new homes. Authority of Pittsburgh. are made affordable, and at what prices. return to the URA Board, as soon as this Brian Gaudio, a principal with Module, Gaudio said he would work with the “Our goal with any housing development month, to get the approval needed to begin attended the April meeting, attempting to PHDC to secure grants from various is to see one affordably-priced home built exclusive negotiations on the purchase of help Gainey and Thompson understand sources - funds sufficient to make at least for every two that are built and sold at the parcels in question. three of Module’s ten prospective homes affordable to households earning less than Ugly Concrete? $61,000 annually. Steps, Ret.Walls, Pads, Foundations, Gainey observed that Garfield, like a num- YOUR AD HERE Driveways, Sidewalks, and more! ber of other East End neighborhoods, is trying to fend off displacement of resi- Concrete Repair & dents that “too often is the by-product of Restoration new development.” He was hopeful that thousands of bulletin readers Module could make a larger commitment Don't replace your ugly concrete! to building affordably-priced units if it ac- can almost see it now Repair! It will save you money! quires these city properties. In addition to 412-734-5432 the ten homes slated for Rosetta St., Mod- Advertise in our monthly publication to make things ule is also aiming to build two more homes johnshomeimprovement.org happen for your local business. TO LEARN MORE, PA# 050547 Fully insured in the 4900 block of Broad Street, on city- owned lots. Both of those homes would Contact Andrew at 412-441-6950 (ext. 113) or Credit cards accepted be sold at market-rate prices, according to [email protected]. Gaudio. May 2021 | the Bulletin 3 &ROOHJH &DUHHU5HDGLQHVV3URJUDP 6HUYLQJ3LWWVEXUJK·V senior spotlight on Bryell & Mekka East End neighborhoods since 1975 $0HVVDJHIURPWKH%*&<RXWK3URJUDPV7HDP with the mission of reporting on issues affecting underserved Garfield - During the month of March, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation’s (BGC) communities and facilitating local residents’ exchange of ideas. youth programs staff have been helping students in the College and Career Readiness Program (CCRP) complete the last steps of the college application process, mainly in finalizing their decisions of which colleges and universities they will be attending in the Vol. 46, No. 5 fall. The list is impressive, and continues to grow. - Deadline for the June edition is Friday, May 14th - CCRP students so far have been accepted to William& Mary, Northwestern, Wellesley College for Women, Spellman, UNC-Greensboro, UNC Winston-Salem, North Car- Editorial& Advertising Offices 113 N. Pacific Ave. • Pittsburgh, PA 15224 • 412-441-6950 (ext. 13) • [email protected] olina A&T, Randolph Community College, IUP, Pitt, Theil, Hampton, Drexel, Barber School of Pittsburgh, Penn State, SRU, Point Park, La Roche, Cal U, Morgan State, 7RWDO&LUFXODWLRQ 14,500 Copies [bulk distribution will resume a.s.a.p.] Lincoln, RMU, CMU, Clark Atlanta, Benedict, Temple, Clarion, Chatham, University Staff Andrew McKeon, Editor • John Colombo, Staff Photographer • Rick Swartz, of Akron, LSU, Duquesne, and CCAC. Proofreading • Pamela Schön, Office Manager • Trib Total Media, Printing & Mailing • USPS, Home Delivery Our youth staff wanted to take time to share the stories of two of our CCRP students. Board Meetings are held by the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation at 6:30 p.m. on the Bryell is a senior at Urban Pathways Charter School. She is currently a full-time stu- second Monday of each month, and are open to the public. Meetings are currently being dent who is balancing her academics, a 25-30 hour work week, and driving lessons, conducted online via Zoom; email [email protected] for more details. while also being the mother of a son under the age of one. With all of that being said, The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Bryell has a fabulous GPA of 3.9. Her plan is to attend a local program/college and become a nurse, or to achieve another position in the medical field. The Bulletin is made possible in part by funding from Dollar Bank and WesBanco Bank. %ORRPILHOG*DUILHOGRUJ © 2021 by the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Mekka is a senior at Obama Academy who succeeds in the face of every challenge that comes her way; she works at least 35 hours/week at a local restaurant while also main- taining a 3.4 GPA. Mekka looks forward to parlaying her success into a postsecondary 7KDQN\RX career as a first-generation college student. While she has applied to several schools, The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation (BGC) would like to acknowledge its Mekka dreams of attending Howard University to study theater and performing arts. current corporate and philanthropic partners: PNC Foundation, McCune Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. Thanks also to Allegheny Health Network, West Penn Hospital, the City of Pittsburgh, The Bulletin’s advertisers, and all BGC members for their ongoing support and assistance. Kudos! 0HHWWKH%*&%RDUG7UHDVXUHU=DFK5HVWHOOL )ROORZWKH%ORRPILHOG*DUILHOG&RUSRUDWLRQ ABOVE : Zach Restelli, developer, general contractor, and BGC Treasurer, lives in East Liber- RQ7ZLWWHU #%ORRP*DU&RUS ty. He has been involved in the work of the BGC since 2013. Photo courtesy of Nina Gibbs. 4 the Bulletin|May 2021 Vaccination continued from page 1 from getting vaccinated. Walk-ins are al- Below: Jeff Wilson (right) administers a COVID-19 vaccination to Jessica Hurst, a resident who cannot leave their vehicles due to mo- of the Upper Hill District, at Wilson’s Pharmacy in Lawrenceville.