PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Wilkinsburg should be disincorporated and folded into the City of Pittsburgh.

There's no method to do this under state law except by a vote with the majority of both Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh voting in approval. And I'm not sure the majority in either municipality would support this, albeit for different reasons.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by eschaton

There's no method to do this under state law except by a vote with the majority of both Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh voting in approval. And I'm not sure the majority in either municipality would support this, albeit for different reasons.

There apparently is a disincorporation movement afoot in Pennsylvania. IMO disincorporation would be the single best thing that could ever happen to Wilkinsburg.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-05...under-pennsylvania-bill-muni-credit.html

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/act_47_pennsylvania_distressed.html

http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2013/12/...ration-struggling-municipal-governments/

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/executive/vision/IntergovernmentalCooperation.pdf

[BrianTH]

Yep, the school district is a disaster, and the ideal solution would be to fold it into PPS.

That said, there is an alternative means of addressing this problem in progress. The number of charter students in Wilkinsburg almost doubled from 2006-07 to 2012-13 (266 to 525), going from 15.7% of all public school students to 34.1% of all public school students:

http://dashboard.publiccharters.org/dashboard/students/page/overview/district/PA-55/year/2013

And interestingly, charter students were reportedly 94.4% white in 2006-07, but only 60.4% white in 2011-12.

Note also this doesn't include private schools. According to 2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (so this is most representative of what was happening around 2010), almost exactly 1/3 of grade school students were in private schools. So combine private and charter, and you are probably over half.

Anyway, a similar thing is happening in neighboring Woodland Hills:

http://dashboard.publiccharters.org/dashboard/students/page/overview/district/PA-33/year/2013

Charter students in Woodland Hills went from 65.2% white in 2006-07 to 41.7% in 2011-12.

A lot of this is because of the Propel charter schools, and supposedly they are looking to expand even further:

http://www.propelschools.org/history.php

We are committed to building on our foundation. Over the next few years, we envision opening new Propel schools and doubling the number of children that we serve.

I honestly have no idea where all this is heading, but it isn't hard to imagine in the near future over half the public students being in charters, and less than 1/3 total (after including private schools) being in the traditional public schools. And the more those trends continue, the less viable the traditional public schools become, and at some point it becomes a question of who is going to turn the lights off and lock the doors for good.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

There's no method to do this under state law except by a vote with the majority of both Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh voting in approval. And I'm not sure the majority in either municipality would support this, albeit for different reasons.

Theoretically the school districts could be consolidated by court order, but that is not exactly an ideal solution.

At some point, something is going to have to happen if the current trends, including the flight to charter schools, continue. Hopefully it won't be the state cutting off the charter option.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

IMO disincorporation would be the single best thing that could ever happen to Wilkinsburg.

It depends on what that means.

Just a state receivership is unlikely to do much good, because at this point, at least, it isn't really a management problem.

Creating a new category of unincorporated places administered by the County also wouldn't do much good if that was basically just a receivership too.

What might work (or might not) is consolidating all the unincorporated places in the County into one unit. One practical problem is it may be difficult to do that if it is sort of a patchwork of isolated areas. It also may not do much good if only the most distressed municipalities are included, unless the rest of the County is basically subsidizing them, in which case it would be a heavy lift politically.

Ultimately, I am skeptical the state will get around to doing something that transformative with municipalities the size of Wilkinsburg in counties like Allegheny (very small incorporated places in more rural counties, maybe). Not to be cynical, but I think it is more likely they would go the receiver route, to make it look like they were doing something without stepping on too many toes in the process. Which may actually help some areas, but not places like Wilkinsburg.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Theoretically the school districts could be consolidated by court order, but that is not exactly an ideal solution.

Woodland Hills

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

There apparently is a disincorporation movement afoot in Pennsylvania. IMO disincorporation would be the single best thing that could ever happen to Wilkinsburg.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-05...under-pennsylvania-bill-muni-credit.html

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/act_47_pennsylvania_distressed.html

http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2013/12/...ration-struggling-municipal-governments/

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/executive/vision/IntergovernmentalCooperation.pdf

The law under debate is basically like the Michigan "Emergency Manager" law on steroids. It would not fold small municipalities into larger ones. It would instead make Act 47 municipalities of all sizes "districts" with no self-governing power, with state-appointed managers taking over administration. As it currently stands, it's a monstrosity, and technically, the State could even disincorporate Pittsburgh through this law.

Or hell, let's say Pittsburgh is safe, but Wilkinsburg becomes an unincorporated district. Then a year or two later, Pittsburgh puts out a referendum in all of Wilkinsburg west of the Busway to join Pittsburgh. It passes overwhelmingly. Then Blackridge and the other semi-decent parts of former Wilkinsburg get absorbed by other municipalities or, even worse, form their own new, tinier boroughs. Eventually you're left with a rump district that no one adjoining has any desire for.

[Austinlee]

Here in Beaver County, Center School District merged with Monaca (poor river town). Center was one of the top 3 (out of 15) public school districts in BC. It's now called Central Valley. And they did it voluntarily.

[Topher51]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Yes. I've lived in the west metro my whole life and can speak on this. First of all, it IS dynamic despite what some people think. I-376/Parkway West between downtown and the airport is the busiest highway in the western part of the state and I think the whole state outside of the Philly metro. That is the first clue that there is lots going on. Moon Twp which is the large suburb adjacent to the huge airport grounds is actually quite historic. It has old mansions, history, etc. It's also one of the major job centers of Pittsburgh outside of the city. Several HUGE companies are headquartered in the airport corridor such as Bayer, FedEx Ground, more and more energy companies, and plenty more. It's also home to, I think, the 2nd Ikea that opened in America in the 1980s in Robinson which is more than a store, it's been a regional destination for decades. That is one example of the huge shopping destination Robinson is. Also you have the GE Market District which im pretty sure is the largest and most impressive grocery store in the city. (It's like 100,000 sq ft?)

Also a huge draw is the 18+ mile Montour Trail. It's similar to the bike trails being built along the riverfronts in the city.

The airport corridor is sprawl and many parts are ugly and typical but in my mind it is less annoying than say, Monroeville or Cranberry BECAUSE of the airport which is Pittsburgh's connection to the world. So in my opinion, it should be developed as much as possible since it will always be a necessary link between the city and the airport. That is evidenced by several huge corporate headquarters under construction right now like Industrial Scientific and Chevron.

I lived out in Robinson when I first moved here from DC. I agree, it is a pretty nice area and and there is a lot going on there.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Falconhurst is a PHLF project:

http://www.phlf.org/2014/06/13/landmarks...r-tax-credit-development-in-wilkinsburg/

The Falconhurst apartments:



They are located next to the Crescent Apartments (already restored by the PHLF), at a crucial gateway into the neighborhood (where Kelly passes under the Busway and railroad tracks):

I'm not sure where the Rebecca and Wood condos are going (it is a complex intersection), but that is also an important gateway area, particularly since buses pass through there.

The PHLF announcement confused me a bit. Doesn't it give the impression that new condos are to be built at Rebecca and Wood? I'm not sure that that's the case. The intersection is outside what I understand to be the footprint of the current Falconhurst initiative and PHLF does not currently control any property there. My understanding is that the only new construction would be the townhouses to be built on Kelly. I'll see if I can get some clarification.

The two new townhouses will be on Kelly just north of Rebecca. The two lots are across the street from a handsome stone church (name and denomination unknown to me)---one lot is vacant and the other has a condemned, county-owed, three story house, which the county is about to tear down. Don't know the addresses but the lots are 176-H-60 and 176-H-61. The townhouse design is not yet final but will be fully appropriate for the Hamnett Place Historic District. There is a third lot (176-H-59), contiguous to the north side of the townhouse site, which has an older, historic home. Per StreetView, the house appears to be vacant and covered with ivy. This house is to be fully restored.

There are two other historic buildings that are part of the Falconhurst initiative---they are on the street between the Crescent and the Landmarks Resource Center (sorry, don't recall the street name). I'm guessing that these are the "two and three unit apartment buildings" referred to in the announcement.

The mystery remains the Rebecca & Wood condo complex...

Apparently the Falconhurst building is in worse condition than the pre-renovation Crescent Apartments.

Incidentally, there are some really cool buildings in the area. I particularly like the triangular building wedged up against the Busway and 714 Rebecca. I hope they aren't going anywhere as part of this project.

Neither that little triangular building nor 714 Rebecca are owned or controlled by PHLF and not part of the Falconhurst initiative. Both are sweet little buildings and it would be great to see them restored.

[Evergrey]

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...dabouts-coming-to-pittsburgh-region.html

Jun 18, 2014, 1:10pm EDT

More roundabouts coming to Pittsburgh region



We could be seeing a lot more roundabouts in southwestern Pennsylvania, according to executives at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Following the success the department has seen on a number of roundabout projects, Daniel Cessna, district executive for PennDOT District 12, said the organization is looking into expanding the use of the round intersection in troubled areas.

"We will be going that way full forward," he said.

Roundabouts are designed to make intersections safer and more efficient for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

One of the best examples of the benefits, Cessna said, is the Rochester roundabout that opened in 2012, which eliminated five traffic signals, reduced accidents and improved traffic flow.

Joseph Dubovi, district executive for PennDOT District 10, said roundabouts are the first option his engineering team looks at with intersection projects.

The district also has been evaluating ideas to retrofit traffic signals with roundabouts.

...

[photoLith]

I havent seen I dont think one roundabout since moving up here in all of western PA. Im sure they exist, but I havent seen them. Down in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas they are or were popping everywhere. In Lafayette, LA almost all the new streets were roundabouts instead of traffic signals.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

The PHLF announcement confused me a bit. Doesn't it give the impression that new condos are to be built at Rebecca and Wood? I'm not sure that that's the case.

It was definitely news to me. There are lots around there where such a project would make sense, however (like 176-H-348, aka 700 Rebecca, and maybe 176-H-337, aka 712 Rebecca). I'd even toss in the back portion of 714 Rebecca's lot as long as the building itself is preserved (176-H-336). But as you point out, nothing in the current ownership records available at the County website suggest they are under PHLF or public control. Anyway, I'll certainly be interested in whatever clarification you get.

Edit: By the way, there is actually quite a lot of land behind the Falconhurst, between the alley (Lytle Way maybe?) and the Busway. The main lot is 176-H-292 (509 Lttle Way--typo?), and it has some old warehouses or such on it, and there is also a small vacant lot, 176-H-291 (511 Lytle Way). Still no ownership clues, but it would be another logical spot to include in this plan. Unedit.

The two new townhouses will be on Kelly just north of Rebecca. The two lots are across the street from a handsome stone church (name and denomination unknown to me)---one lot is vacant and the other has a condemned, county-owed, three story house, which the county is about to tear down. Don't know the addresses but the lots are 176-H-60 and 176-H-61. The townhouse design is not yet final but will be fully appropriate for the Hamnett Place Historic District. There is a third lot (176-H-59), contiguous to the north side of the townhouse site, which has an older, historic home. Per StreetView, the house appears to be vacant and covered with ivy. This house is to be fully restored.

That is 604, 606, and 608 Mulberry (Kelly turns into Mulberry after making the curve and crossing Rebecca). Too bad about 606 Mulberry, although I can understand it might be too far gone to consider saving. Conversely, great news about 608. Here is a less ivy-covered image from the County website:



Incidentally, that is St James, a Catholic church, across Mulberry. The attached school is Sister Thea Bowman Academy (formed when Holy Rosary in Homewood was merged into St. James Elementary School).

There are two other historic buildings that are part of the Falconhurst initiative---they are on the street between the Crescent and the Landmarks Resource Center (sorry, don't recall the street name). I'm guessing that these are the "two and three unit apartment buildings" referred to in the announcement.

I think you may mean Jeanette, but I am not sure what buildings that would be.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I havent seen I dont think one roundabout since moving up here in all of western PA. Im sure they exist, but I havent seen them.

There is an old one at Homewood and Reynolds in Point Breeze.

I'd love to see one at the Forbes/Dallas/Beechwood nightmare intersection. Seems like an ideal case in terms of underlying traffic flows, and you have the American Legion parklet to work with, although eyeballling it, you might have to borrow a little land from the cemetery too.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I havent seen I dont think one roundabout since moving up here in all of western PA. Im sure they exist, but I havent seen them. Down in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas they are or were popping everywhere. In Lafayette, LA almost all the new streets were roundabouts instead of traffic signals.

Last time I was visiting some family in the DC area, suburban Virginia, there was an absolute ton of them too. All new, and they were everywhere. Must be a trend in American urban design right now.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

Last time I was visiting some family in the DC area, suburban Virginia, there was an absolute ton of them too. All new, and they were everywhere. Must be a trend in American urban design right now.

The Rochester roundabout is sweet. Surprised photoLith hasn't been there.

[photoLith]

Now that I looked on google maps at Rochester, yes I have been on that roundabout. I just forgot about it because its not really round.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

It was definitely news to me. There are lots around there where such a project would make sense, however (like 176-H-348, aka 700 Rebecca, and maybe 176-H-337, aka 712 Rebecca). I'd even toss in the back portion of 714 Rebecca's lot as long as the building itself is preserved (176-H-336). But as you point out, nothing in the current ownership records available at the County website suggest they are under PHLF or public control. Anyway, I'll certainly be interested in whatever clarification you get.

Edit: By the way, there is actually quite a lot of land behind the Falconhurst, between the alley (Lytle Way maybe?) and the Busway. The main lot is 176-H-292 (509 Lttle Way--typo?), and it has some old warehouses or such on it, and there is also a small vacant lot, 176-H-291 (511 Lytle Way). Still no ownership clues, but it would be another logical spot to include in this plan. Unedit.

That is 604, 606, and 608 Mulberry (Kelly turns into Mulberry after making the curve and crossing Rebecca). Too bad about 606 Mulberry, although I can understand it might be too far gone to consider saving. Conversely, great news about 608. Here is a less ivy-covered image from the County website:



Incidentally, that is St James, a Catholic church, across Mulberry. The attached school is Sister Thea Bowman Academy (formed when Holy Rosary in Homewood was merged into St. James Elementary School).

I think you may mean Jeanette, but I am not sure what buildings that would be.

You're right---Jeanette is the street whose name I could not remember. The Wilson Apartment is on this street, as well as two previously-renovated (and sold!) single family houses restored by Landmarks. I don't have the addresses of the two Jeanette Street properties to be restored in this phase but it appears that the lot numbers are 176-H-256 and 176-H-246.

W/r/t the houses on Mulberry (not Kelly): 608 in your pic is a pretty house and should look great once cleaned up and with its porch roof restored. As to the one owned by the county, it looks as if it was badly expanded a couple times in the past and has, to my eye, limited appeal. But the issue of restoring vs demolishing is apparently moot as it was scheduled to be torn down by the county prior to the lot being included in this latest phase of renovations.

I noticed the large amount of land behind the Falconhurst, which I thought might well be under-utilized. It seems a natural place for new residential construction to further create critical mass. I haven't a clue what those warehouses look like---old and historic or more recent? Interestingly, it appears that the borders of the Hamnett Place Historic District make three sharp turns to specifically exclude from the district the large lot immediately behind the Falconhurst.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I havent seen I dont think one roundabout since moving up here in all of western PA. Im sure they exist, but I havent seen them. Down in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas they are or were popping everywhere. In Lafayette, LA almost all the new streets were roundabouts instead of traffic signals.

There's a small one up in the North Hills off of Camp Horne. No idea what municipality that it. I can never keep suburban towns straight in my head.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I havent seen I dont think one roundabout since moving up here in all of western PA. Im sure they exist, but I havent seen them. Down in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas they are or were popping everywhere. In Lafayette, LA almost all the new streets were roundabouts instead of traffic signals.

Crafton has a roundabout. "the crafton circle"