Category Archive: Neighborhood Development
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Landmarks lends $885K for East Liberty project
By Ron DaParma
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 24, 2008An East Liberty project has received an $885,000 boost from a nonprofit corporation formed last year by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to spark community revitalization.
The loan, the first announced by the Landmarks Community Capital Corp. Urban Economic Loan Fund, is helping the East Liberty Development Corp. rehabilitate two historic homes on Rippey Street and revitalize the former YMCA building on Whitfield Street.
It has been combined with a $250,000 investment by the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority to help bring a blend of condominiums and retail space to the neighborhood.
“The loan follows our mission of being a first-in, first-out financing organization for holistic community revitalization,” said Howard B. Slaughter Jr., CEO of Landmarks Community Capital, on Wednesday.
The loan is the largest made by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to a community organization, Slaughter said.
The East Liberty Development Corp. is using $135,000 to rehabilitate the two Queen Anne style houses at 5809-15 Rippey St. — described as “historically significant, but dilapidated” — and convert them into eight market-rate condos. The work is under way on the $1.4 million project.
In addition, Landmarks Community Capital is partnering with Meiz Development Co. of Denver to develop 10,000 square feet of street-level retail space and about 30 to 35 market-rate condominiums on the upper floors of the five-story YMCA building. The remaining $750,000 will be used to acquire the property.
“These will be the first market-rate condominiums in our downtown core and will be a key part of the redevelopment of East Liberty’s town square,” said Maelene Myers, executive director of East Liberty Development.
When Landmarks Community Capital started operations late last year, Slaughter said he hoped to raise $10 million to $15 million to invest in community development and revitalization projects in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
In its first year, Slaughter said he hopes to fund at least four or five projects ranging from $25,000 to $1 million. “We’re on track” to make that number of investments, he said.
Ron DaParma can be reached at rdaparma@tribweb.com or 412-320-7907.
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East Liberty YMCA building being converted into condos – Part of goal to build 1,000 housing units in city neighborhood
Thursday, January 24, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe YMCA building and four old dilapidated townhouses in East Liberty could get a new life as condominiums with the help of $1.1 million in funding, most of it from a subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and other officials will hold a news conference this morning to acknowledge the $885,000 loan awarded by the Landmarks Community Capital Corp. to help finance the projects. The city Urban Redevelopment Authority is supplying $250,000 toward the YMCA project.
The $885,000 loan is the first awarded by nonprofit Landmarks Community, which came into existence about three months ago, and is the largest loan ever made by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to a community-based organization.
“It’s a smart investment on our part, working with a great organization that’s committed to making positive changes in the East Liberty core,” said Dr. Howard B. Slaughter Jr., Landmarks Community chief executive officer.
East Liberty Development Inc. has teamed with Denver-based MEIZ Development Co. to convert the vacant YMCA building at 120 Whitfield St. into 30 to 35 market rate condominiums plus ground-level retail and community space.
The $7 million project is part of a town square concept built around the East Liberty Presbyterian Church and the Carnegie Library.
“This is the first market rate housing to happen in the core. We’re really excited to save an old building and to breath new life into it,” said Ernie Hogan, East Liberty Development deputy director.
With the help of the Landmarks Community loan, ELDI already has acquired the YMCA building for a little more than $600,000. It and MEIZ hope to begin the development either this fall or in spring 2009.
The condos, which would range in size from 700 square feet to 1,500 square feet, would start at $185,000. The YMCA building was built in 1908 and at one time was a major activity center for the neighborhood.
On Rippey Street, the historically significant Queen Anne-style houses date to 1892. They have fallen into disrepair in recent years.
ELDI already has started rehab work on the properties. It intends to convert the houses into eight market rate condos, each with 1,500 square feet and a sales price of about $149,000.
It hopes to start construction of the units this summer and have them available for sale next year. The rehab is expected to cost about $1.4 million, with help from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the URA as well as Landmarks Community.
“These are very wonderful historical homes that are going to be converted,” Mr. Slaughter said.
Mr. Hogan said the project is part of a commitment to the community to build 1,000 units of housing in the neighborhood. To date, 427 units have been completed.
“This is just continuing on that promise,” he said.
Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First published on January 24, 2008 at 12:00 am -
YMCA-to-condo revamp gets boost
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
by Ben Semmes
Pittsburgh Business Times
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/Two planned East Liberty residential projects got a boost Wednesday with the announcement of a $1.135 million investment in the once struggling neighborhood.
The money, from the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and Landmarks Community Capital Corp., will go to fund the conversion of East Liberty’s former YMCA into condos and the rehabilitation of two distressed homes in the 5800 block of Rippey St.
East Liberty Development Inc. is overseeing both projects.
ELDI has been working with Denver-based MEIZ Development Co. to convert the former YMCA building into market-rate condominiums with first-floor retail at 120 Whitfield St.
ELDI purchased the property for $686,000 from the Center for Entrepreneurial Development Inc. last December, according to records filed with the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate.
The two Queen Anne style homes on Rippey Street will be converted into eight market-rate condominiums.
bsemmes@bizjournals.com | (412) 208-3829
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Condos planned for old East Liberty YMCA
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteA subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will provide $885,000 to an East Liberty agency to help convert the YMCA building and two houses into condominiums.
The loan from the Landmarks Community Capital Corp. will be part of a $1.1 million investment into the two projects, which are being advanced by East Liberty Development Inc. The city Urban Redevelopment Authority also has committed $250,000 to the work.
ELDI is working with MEIZ Development Co. LLC of Denver to convert the YMCA building into market-rate condos with retail on the first floor. Part of the Landmarks Community loan will be used to acquire the the YMCA Building. The $250,000 from the URA also will be used for that project.
The rest of the money will be used to rehabilitate two Queen Anne style houses dating to 1892 and located on Rippey Street into eight market rate condos. The houses are considered to be historically significant but are dilapidated.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and representatives from the various agencies will hold an event in East Liberty tomorrow to discuss the projects.
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What would King do?
January 22, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteLandmarks Community Capital Corporation Chief Executive Officer Dr. Howard Slaughter, Jr. offers his thoughts about what Dr. Martin Luther King would do if he were alive today.
Click this link to see other videos from prominent Pittsburgers, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
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Streetscape project receives a boost
Thursday, January 17, 2008
By Carole Gilbert Brown
Pittsburgh Post GazetteU.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, is not giving up on his intent to revitalize sections of Carnegie, Heidelberg and Scott.
Though his bill to supply more than $2 million in federal transportation funds for a tri-community streetscape improvement project twice passed the House of Representatives but remains stalled in the Senate, Mr. Murphy earlier this month added two new sources of potential help and inspiration into the mix.
At a meeting in Carnegie attended by representatives from all three municipalities, Mr. Murphy brought along Arthur Ziegler Jr., president of the nonprofit Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and Dr. Howard B. Slaughter Jr., chief executive officer of Landmarks Community Capital Corp. of Pittsburgh, an arm of PHLF that provides funding for housing and economic development in Western Pennsylvania.
“The remarkable things about these towns is how they’ve come back after the [2004] flood,” Mr. Murphy said.
Dr. Slaughter was impressed by something else.
“I think it’s great that all of you have come together because many communities don’t do that,” he said, proceeding then to ask the representatives what their primary goals are.
Carnegie Council member Dorothy Kelly replied “business development.” Her colleague, Bob Kollar, expanded that theme, noting that the three communities are “perfectly located” between the airport and Downtown, with interstates on both sides and even a public busway.
“To me, it’s the central area of Western Pennsylvania. It should be booming,” he said.
Heidelberg Mayor Ken LaSota would like to see the areas become more “walkable,” which he believes would improve residents’ quality of life.
He pointed out that Heidelberg’s section of Route 50 once was a main street, but now it’s a four-lane highway similar to Carnegie’s Mansfield Boulevard/West Main Street.
Leigh White, executive director of the Carnegie Community Development Corp., said business development isn’t the only issue; work force development is critical, too.
Dr. Slaughter and Mr. Ziegler encouraged the local officials to look at the bigger picture and figure out what assets they want to showcase and build on. For example, a boat launch that spotlights Chartiers Creek could be built in Carnegie.
“We have resources all over that can help, but first we have to figure out the game plan,” Mr. Ziegler said.
Mayor LaSota suggested that streetscape improvements can be contagious, “If this goes, I have visions of it going all down Route 50 to South Fayette and Bridgeville,” he said.
The proposed $2 million streetscape program that is awaiting funding would affect Route 50 in Heidelberg from Third to First streets and Carothers Avenue in Glendale section of Scott, which extends to Third and West Main streets in Carnegie. The beautification project would include in part new lighting, benches, planters and trash receptacles.
Mr. Murphy extolled the architectural and historical heritage of the three towns.
“This isn’t a diamond-in-the-rough. It’s a diamond that’s just waiting for someone to polish it up,” he said.
Carole Gilbert Brown is a freelance writer.
First published on January 17, 2008 at 6:28 am -
A future built on Tarentum’s past
By Tom Yerace,
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Thursday, January 10, 2008Holding on to some of the borough’s past to help it move into the future will be the subject of a public workshop on Jan. 16.The Key Issue Workshop concerning architecture and design in the business district, including the preservation of historic buildings, will be discussed.
It is the first of three workshops held in conjunction with the Allegheny Together program established by Allegheny County.
“This is for the Allegheny Together program, which is basically focused on revitalizing the downtown business district, but they want the whole community’s input on what it would like to see,” said Tarentum Manager Bill Rossey. “They just want some feedback here.”
The program — in which Tarentum is one of only four pilot communities — complements a broader revitalization effort that the borough has started.
Rossey said this workshop should be of particular interest to residents who believe in preserving the borough’s history through its buildings.
“We’ve lost too many valuable buildings already that can’t be replaced, and I wouldn’t want to lose any more,” Rossey said.
The workshop will be conducted by Town Center Associates, a consulting firm working through a contract with the county, and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
“This program is focused purely on central business district revitalization,” said Mark Peluso, Town Center’s executive director. “Any planning activities that are going on related to the downtown come into play.”
Peluso said this workshop and two more that will follow, are designed to encourage input about how the community feels on key issues related to the downtown business district. He said the program is basically meant to provide a long-term commitment and a long-term strategy in reviving such districts.
“This is a very difficult issue for our communities that have experienced an economic downturn in downtown business districts,” Peluso said. “It’s really a pretty exciting opportunity for Tarentum to be connected to this.
“It’s a really rare opportunity. Most towns have to wrestle around for years to get the kind of support needed to get this kind of effort under way.”
Part of that support is input from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
“We are putting a lot of time and effort into Tarentum, and the reason is simple: we think there is a solid foundation already in place,” said Ethan Raup, a foundation representative. “The historic fabric is strong.”
“The connection to the river and the riverfront park is strong. These are things that a lot of towns would love to have.”
He said Tarentum seems to have people in the business community and local government who are committed to making an investment in the revitalization effort.
Raup estimates that Tarentum has 20 to 25 buildings in the business district that display historic architecture that should be preserved. He said it is an important aspect in keeping the downtown districts economically viable now and into the future.
“The way these older downtowns compete is to offer quality services, small mom-and-pop stores that care about details and offer an overall experience such that you want to be there,” he said. “The quality of the architecture is as important as anything to that whole overall experience.”
“I think that differentiates from going to Pittsburgh Mills for example,” Raup added. “The architecture is part of the experience. The people living in the upper floors bring a vitality to the town that you won’t find in business parks.”
Rossey said he hopes that residents demonstrate their commitment to the county, by turning out in force to participate in the workshop.
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East Enders, city officials to talk about doomed trees
By Tim Puko
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, January 8, 2008The city is offering an olive branch to dozens of East End residents running a grassroots effort to preserve thousands of neighborhood trees.
Public works officials and the executive director of a Pittsburgh environmental group will attend a community meeting Thursday in Squirrel Hill to discuss a plan to trim the city’s tree population. A contractor took a tree inventory in 2005 and the city followed its recommendations by removing about 1,000 dead and defective trees last year, said Public Works Director Guy Costa.
Several Squirrel Hill residents have tried since November to press the city for more information and delay more removals. The city plans to remove 3,075 street-side trees, more than 500 of them in Squirrel Hill and other 14th Ward neighborhoods, this year.
“We’re concerned for the city, not just for our block,” said Francesca Savoia, a University of Pittsburgh professor and Monitor Street resident. “We think this massive elimination of trees may have a devastating impact on the quality of the air, especially if there is no clear plan, no money to replace them.”
Savoia and about two dozen neighbors started meeting and contacting city officials and local community groups after the city sent out postcards alerting them to upcoming tree removals. In addition to air quality, they’re concerned about a potential drop in property values, insufficient money to replace the trees and a lack of honesty from officials, Savoia said.
The 14th Ward has the most trees in the city — 5,993, according to a database created by Davey Resource Group, the Ohio contractor that did the 2005 study.
Savoia is hopeful the meeting at The Children’s Institute in Squirrel Hill will attract 70 people. Costa said he and Deputy Director Mike Gable will be there.
“I’m not against cutting down all the trees that are dead, that definitely represent a risk … but I would like to understand if all of these trees need to be felled,” Savoia said.
They do, according to the city, the environmental group Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, and Davey Resource Group. The trees to be removed are dead, small, poorly formed, have damage that costs too much to fix or come from an “undesirable or inferior species” such as the tree-of-heaven or white mulberry, as determined by Davey.
The city has allocated $2.3 million for their removal. Some of the trees are among the city’s oldest and have branches vulnerable to breaking during storms, said Danielle Crumrine, executive director of Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest.
“There’s a risk that they will fall down and injure somebody,” Costa said. “Now we know they’re a liability for the city, so we need to be proactive and have them removed.”
City Councilman Doug Shields, who represents much of the 14th Ward, said residents likely don’t recall a meeting three years ago about the plan. He wants to get the word out again, and in a better way.
“All of a sudden, the tree-cutting crew shows up on the street and people get upset,” he said. “I think we’ve got to do a much better job telling the story of what it is we’re actually doing and remind people we had this study done, remind people there are issues of public safety involved in this as well.”
Crumrine’s group is helping with tree pruning, and is one of several groups helping to raise about $1.25 million for planting through 2011, Costa said. The city wants to plant 4,200 trees, which would more than replenish the population.
Tim Puko can be reached at tpuko@tribweb.com or 412-320-7975.