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Officers and Board Members |
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Pres. Peggy Ott
V. Pres. Betsy Bean |
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Officers and Board Members
President:
Peggy Ott
V. President:
Betsy Bean
Treasurer:
Brenda Bestland
Secretary:
Dorothy Sandstrom
Board Members
Gloria Ashcraft
Peggy Atkinson
Dave Black
Bob Dilts
Dennis Downey
Eric Fisher
Ruth Garfinkle
Carmen Koteski
Chris Kouklis
Carol McGinty
Vickie Toner | |
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| Looking Back and Looking Forward
By Peggy Ott
This spring, after a three year residency, I will be stepping down as President of this great organization. I can say, unequivocally, that it has been a very interesting and challenging experience.
Over the past three years, we have been challenged in multiple ways. Whether we like it or not, the East End of Pittsburgh is exploding with development. Steering the course with the Shadyside Action Coalition (SAC) has meant becoming more aware and involved in our surrounding communities. Integrating SAC with the Baum Centre Initiative has been instrumental in networking Shadyside with seven other neighborhoods. Developing the Bakery Row Vision Plan to protect our northern border has also been essential. Through these collaborations, Shadyside is able to have more impact on development, design standards, and community vision. Though I believe that these changes hold us in better stead for the future growth and protection of our community, these changes have also been met by some with concern and a regressive wish to return to isolationism.
Change, or even the expectation thereof, can be especially anxiety-arousing for many individuals. Change is especially troubling when we perceive that we have no control over the change or its consequences. To this end, SAC is especially helpful in allaying anxiety by increasing resident's awareness of change via membership and email blasts. In addition, our monthly meetings provide a forum in which any resident can voice their concerns and receive immediate assistance whether that is from Councilman Peduto's office and/or a committee of SAC. Moreover, giving everyone a voice in their community is precisely what makes this organization great.
Another challenge to our organization has been how to grow in impact, visibility, and social responsibility. These issues are only relevant due to the success of our only fundraiser, the Shadyside House Tour. Our longstanding house tour is the bedrock upon which we are able to grow and expand. From this foundation, we can envision other ways to be involved in our community.
That being said, a significant change to our organization is the Giving Back to the Community Project. Before explicating the intent of this initiative, I want to express my hope that this project will continue to thrive long past my presidency. To me, this project underscores our achievement as an organization. That we have gotten to this point is a non profit developmental milestone. To date, we have been able to donate to the Winchester Thurston scholarship fund, provide scholarships for children to attend the week long summer arts camp at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, donate bike racks to our three commercial districts, purchase neighborhood block watch signs and manuals, etc. This is but a beginning. There is so much more we can do to improve the quality of life in our community. At the present time, SAC is once again considering other worthy endeavors for the Giving Back to the Community project. I would personally like to hear from you about your ideas, especially if they are relevant to our mission statement and/or foster the greening of Shadyside. My final newsletter article will explicate the newest initiatives.
To continue to grow as an organization, we need more active members to get involved in some of the initiatives. Initially, most people get involved with SAC because of a personal issue or agenda - i.e, a sink hole in front of their house, a zoning code violation next door, a rowdy neighborhood bar. What we hope as an organization is that someone's personal agenda becomes our gain. That is, a personal issue leads to involvement with SAC and then becomes transformed into a stake in the community. If you do not have the time to be involved, we are glad to have your membership fee to help offset some of the work of the organization. Other donations are of course, also welcomed. And, no matter what, I am always open to hearing your ideas.
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What Can I Do To Make a Difference?
By Dennis Downey, Public Safety Chair
Public Safety is always an interest to everyone. Below are a few tips that can help you be safe.
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SAFETY TIPS
1. Increase your awareness - home, street and neighborhood.
2. Get to know your neighbors - neighbors make great public safety partners.
3. Don't give someone the impression that you are not at home.
4. Have mail, newspapers, and empty trash cans removed when you are not at home.
5. Use timers on different lights in various parts of the house.
6. Install dawn to dusk lights or motion sensor lights outside of your home.
7. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed. Avoid creating dark areas on your property.
8. Contact the city when street lights are broken or obstructed.
9. Keep packages, laptops, backpacks, etc secure in your trunk or left at home.
10. Don't leave items such as Ipods, cell phones, or loose change in plain view in your automobile. It only takes seconds to break a window and remove items from the car.
11. Have a home inspection done by the Zone 4 Public Safety Officer. Contact Officer Matt White for details. William.White@city.pittsburgh.pa.us
12. Start a neighborhood block watch or phone tree. These can be as formal or informal as you like. The key is that neighbors look out for their neighbors.
13. Enroll in the Citizen's Police Academy sponsored by the Pittsburgh Police. This is an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. This 15 week class is offered twice a year. The next class starts February 2nd 2010.
14. Participate with the Public Safty Council in our zone. This is a group of neighbors throughout Zone 4 who act as community liaisons with the police. Informational meetings are held within the zone and periodically across the city.
15. Be willing to get involved. Question suspicious activity and CALL 911 to make a report. You are not required to give your name.
Identity Theft and Fraud
(Alert Provided by the Better Business Bereau)
2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau:
Be cautious about giving info to Census Workers during the 2010 U.S. Census process. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
How to determine a U.S. Census worker versus a con artist?
The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice:
If a U.S. Census Worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a hand held device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice.
Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
DO NOT give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will NOT ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations. The Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org .
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Membership
By Peggy Atkinson
The Shadyside Action Coalition (SAC) is making a concerted effort to solicit membership to Churches and Synagogues in Shadyside. This decision reinstates a practice that began in 1974 before SAC was started in 1973.
The name of the organization at that time was the Shadyside Information Center which was located on Ellsworth where Bites and Brews is today. In the beginning there were 300 delegates representing 30 organizations which included Churches, Synagogues, District Police, Community Council, the Seventh Ward Democratic and Republican Committees, Liberty School PTA, Pittsburgh Free Clinic, and Shadyside Planning Forum.
We are looking forward to working with representatives from these organizations who will have give us a different perspective of our neighborhood.
As always our most important goal is to make certain that we are keeping our current members informed and responding to their concerns. I encourage you to contact us if you have questions or concerns. We can be reached by email at info@shadysideaction.org or you can leave us a voicemail message at 412-361-3771 and we will return your call.
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| Car Free Fridays
By Chris Kouklis
The Shadyside Action Coalition is in discussions with Bike Pittsburgh (BikePGH) (www.bike-pgh.org) on a partnership for a Shadyside "Car Free Friday" to be held in the summer of 2010. This would be one specific Friday that our neighborhood will set aside to create awareness and to recognize sustainable transportation. Other Pittsburgh neighborhoods may follow suit. A Shadyside "Car Free Friday" breakfast, discounts and other events are in discussion. Check our website (www.shadysideaction.org) in the new year for more details.
Further information about Car Free Fridays can be found at the BikePGH website - below are excerpts from the site with more information about Car Free Fridays:
"BikePGH along with Street Smarts* is joining forces with a wide range of partners in Southwestern Pennsylvania to encourage the use of sustainable transportation. All of us benefit in the region when individuals stop habitually driving single occupant motor vehicles to work every day.
Car Free Fridays unites all modal options - transit, walking, biking, and ride share as a singular alternative to one person driving one car to work.
Our goal is making our streets safer , the air we breathe cleaner , a better quality of life, and a stronger local economy - because very little of the money we spend on gasoline and car purchases stays in the region."
*Street Smarts is a collaboration between Airport Corridor Transportation Association, BikePGH, the City of Pittsburgh, commuteinfo, Oakland Transportation Management Association, PennDot, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to nurture a culture of safety among all road users: pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists."
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| The "Skinny" on a proposed Pizza Restaurant
By Carmelita Portugal
I attended a City Council meeting in October about the proposed American Pie Pizza Restaurant on Ivy Street and Comet Way.
The transfer of the liquor license was approved by City Council on October 27th 2009. The restaurant is currently under construction. At a neighborhood meeting sponsored by the Shadyside Action Coalition (SAC), Mr Ravi Reddy, the owner of the establishment, explained his plans. He stated that he wants his establishment to be a "family restaurant' rather than a "bar" (although beer will be served), in the back. All employees will be RAMP certified. See definition of RAMP in Bar Task Force article below. Mr. Reddy also indicated that he intends to be a good neighbor with regard to noise and litter cleanup. He also stated he would join the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce and SAC's Bar Task Force, which meets with bar owners on issues relative to noise and other issues in the neighborhood. Mr. Reddy is the owner of Jitters coffee shop and is a Shadyside resident.
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Neighborhood Bar Task Force
By Carol McGinty
In the spring of 2006, a group of Shadyside neighbors collectively recognized that living near Walnut Street had many positives, but that one negative was overshadowing these positives for many residents. The impact of the bar patrons spilling out into the neighborhood at 2am had become overwhelming - both the excessive noise created by crowds of people trying to remember where they had parked their cars, and the property destruction that included vandalism of porch furniture, gardens, sidewalk planters and damage to cars from key scratching and fender benders during departures from tight parking spots.
The neighbors came to SAC asking for guidance, members of the SAC board discussed the issues with Councilman Peduto and the Walnut Street Neighborhood / Bar Owners Task force was formed. It took several meetings and close to a year of negotiation and relationship building for the group to truly begin to function as a task force. Through brainstorming and listening, this collaborative group was able to define as a goal, to develop a sense of collegiality and respect between the two sides - the neighbors understanding and supporting the business ventures of the bar owners accepting a degree of ownership for the behavior of their patrons as they spill into the private sector at 2am.
Signs were printed and placed in every participating bar stating - Have Fun; Be Safe and Respect our Neighbors; Shadyside is Our Town, on Your Way Home, Keep it Down!!!
Bar Owners agreed to have their managers and a portion of their wait staff RAMP certified (Responsible Alcohol Management Program taught by the LCB to help bartenders and wait staff learn effective, safe management techniques to use when serving liquor) to provide better management of their drinking patrons. Bouncers and off duty officers on site, were asked to remind patrons to keep it down as they walk to their cars. Vandalism has decreased and the overall the noise level has been reported by many to be less intrusive - at least more focused on the weekend nights and not 7 nights out of the week. The group has been instrumental in setting standards of behavior expected by any new bar owner coming to the neighborhood and has successfully stood united with the Councilman's office in opposition to more than one nuisance bar situation.
When one chooses to live adjacent to a commercial district with multiple liquor licenses noise should come as no surprise. However, the work of the Task Force over the past two years proves that a happy medium can be achieved. If you are interested in learning how you can become involved in your community with this effort or regarding another concern, contact the Shadyside Action Coalition at info@shadysideaction.org.
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Project Reports
By Rob Pfaffmann, AIA
South Highland Avenue Bridge Update
Preliminary Engineering assessments, surveys, agency reviews, and other preparatory work for the Highland Avenue Bridge Replacement project are under review in preparation for a community meeting in the next few months. The engineering of the new bridge is by Parsons Brinckerhoff and streetscape design by Pfaffmann + Associates.
The project goal is the replacement of the South Highland Avenue Bridge connecting the Neighborhoods of Shadyside and. East Liberty. The existing bridge carries South Highland Avenue over 2-lane Ellsworth Avenue, lanes of the Port Authority of Allegheny County's Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway and two (2) sets of Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks.
The existing bridge is a two-span, 117+ feet long through-girder structure supported by two (2) abutments and a pier. The bridge was built in 1915, with some reconstruction work performed in 1924. It is expected that the existing stone piers will be reused fro the new span.
The new design envisions an innovative streetscape with a planted edge with and artfully designed fence and special lighting. Stay tuned for a meeting date to learn more!
Penn Avenue Update
If you have driven or walked along Penn avenue the lane expansion and new walkway is nearly complete. SAC, ELDI and other stakeholders met to advocate for modifications to the Mellon Park section of the walkway. The new solution proposed using the existing walkway to reduce the impact on the 75 year old trees and saved money too!
Also, new lighting towers were added to the baseball fields and Councilman Peduto is working to develop ways to protect the park from illegal (and damaging) parking on the park's landscape, when large gatherings occur.
All of the recent changes within the lower section of Mellon Park, has inspired hope that a sustainable master plan as recommended in the Bakery Row Plan can be
created in collaboration with users, neighborhood groups and institutions. The Parks Conservancy has expressed interest in discussing this idea.
SAC will continue to work with the City to advocate for revitalization of the Park in a sustainable manner.
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Zoning Ordinances and the Place We Call Home.
By Betsy Bean
Some of the earliest land use restrictions in the United States can be traced back to the 1860s when the State of New York enacted a statute prohibiting all commercial activities along the Eastern Parkway (Brooklyn). In 1926, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of zoning regulations in the landmark decision of Village of Euclid, Ohio vs. the Amber Realty Company. This case established the constitutionality of the power of local government to restrict the property owner's rights through the use of zoning regulations that protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Since 1926, zoning ordinances continue to evolve, but zoning remains the center of land use issues today as local communities attempt to adapt to changing neighborhood profiles and property uses.
This continuing struggle between the rights of the property owner and the health, safety and welfare of the public is no more apparent than in our Shadyside community. Since the 1920s, Shadyside has been an eclectic mix of business owners, affluent land owners, seniors, professionals, singles, students, artists, apartment dwellers and young families. In fact, this unique combination of demographics is what makes Shadyside a special community within the City of Pittsburgh. Without the businesses along Walnut Street and Ellsworth Avenue, and without the students from nearby colleges and universities, Shadyside would simply be another aging neighborhood in the City. Each constituency brings vibrancy to our neighborhood, and each individual business owner, property owner, senior, professional, single, student, artist, apartment dweller and young family holds an important place in our community. The challenge of the Shadyside Action Coalition is to work with City officials, City Council and each member of our community to encourage, promote and develop the rights, needs and expectations of all of our residents. To that end, the Shadyside Action Coalition invites each and every resident of our neighborhood to become involved and participate in the community process to ensure that Shadyside, the place we all call home, continues to be one of the best places to live, work and play in the City of Pittsburgh.
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Walnut Street Becomes More "Green"
By Eric Fisher
In March, I was attending a zoning hearing at 200 Ross Street when I ran into Councilman Bill Peduto. During our conversation, he asked me if I thought it would be possible to install a solar panel array at the Culloden Way sitting area located between Victoria's Secret and American Apparel on Walnut Street. A week or so later I was walking past the site with my wife on my way to a Crepes Parisiennes breakfast (My favorite is salmon with spinach) when I had an epiphany: It occurred to me that if the panel system were to extend in the air between the two stores then not only would the panels face to the South, they would form a gateway onto Walnut Street from the parking lots beyond. I presented the idea to the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce last month, and just two weeks ago we received the go-ahead from the Councilman's office to move forward with pricing. My continuing intent is to improve Shadyside's urban environment while working to conserve resources. Stay tuned to see how this venture progresses!
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The Storm of the Century" Aftermath
By Carmen Koteski
The "Storm of the Century", which affected many Shadyside residents this past June 17th, may appear to be a part of history but many are still suffering the aftermath. This is due to the necessary clean-up required as a result of the intense rain causing raw sewage to back-up into their houses and/or apartment buildings.
Unlike most major cities, Pittsburgh still has a single system that handles both the City's raw sewage and rain drainage. As a result, if rain overwhelms the single system and it backs up, there is a good chance the over flowing water contains dangerous raw sewage. In a meeting with the Shadyside Action Coalition, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) Executive Director, Michael Kenney, said that "If [foul water] is coming up through the drain, that's definitely the sewer system, and that has to be addressed ("Solution sought for sewer backups", 8/14/2009, Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
Over 20 Shadyside residents have complained of sewage damage from the June 17th storm. Purported damages have ranged from a few hundred dollars to over $50,000. Many of the complaints have come from Maryland Avenue residents which have prompted the PWSA to closely assess this area and the sewage system surrounding it.
In the months since the storm, the PWSA has been seen throughout Shadyside cleaning and re-building certain parts of the system. In some areas, they have spent 4 and 5 five weeks addressing issues. However, there is still no assurance for residents that these efforts have fixed the problem. To date, many residents are still unwilling to rebuild the affected areas of their house in fear the sewage back-up may occur again.
If and when residents decide to rebuild, unless they have the proper insurance coverage, there may be little recourse or assistance with the associated cost. The water authority won't be paying for that damage, said Mr. Kenney. "Unless there's negligence on our side, there's no claim, no liability," he said ("Solution sought for sewer backups", 8/14/2009, Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
If residents haven't filed a claim with the PWSA, they can by contacting the PWSA Claims Division and filing the appropriate form. Overall, the form is quite simple and self-explanatory. No damage is too small to file a claim.
Affected residents may also want to review their home owner's insurance policy and add any necessary riders to cover sewage back-up. Only a few insurance companies have sewage back-up coverage as a part of their standard policy. In some instances, the additional rider is only $5 or $10 a month.
In the end, Shadyside residents will have to wait until this spring to see if April showers bring more than May flowers....
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A Vision for future travel
By Councilman Peduto
Earlier this year, I proposed the creation of a commuter rail system for Pittsburgh. After a six-month feasibility study, consultants recently presented their findings to City Council. The consultants determined that the project was feasible with an estimated price tag of $80 million (consider the North Shore tunnel costs $530 million).
Utilizing the existing CSX rail line, the system would run from Hazelwood on the Monongahela River to Lawrenceville on the Allegheny River. Along the way, it would pass through much of Pittsburgh's new economy - the 2nd Avenue Technology Center, Schenley Park, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh, the Baum-Centre corridor and Hillman Cancer Institute, Bloomfield, and Lawrenceville near the new Children's Hospital and Robotics Institute. Oakland is home to the region's most significant job creators, but it is bursting at the seams. This new line would allow the new economy to expand even further, including waterfront property in Hazelwood and old industrial sites in Lawrenceville.
Additionally, my proposal has the capability of being a part of a much larger, regional commuter rail system. The CSX line connects to the Norfolk Southern Line, which runs through the Mon-Valley. It also connects to the AVRR line, which runs through the Allegheny Valley from downtown to Armstrong County. Through these rail connections and linkages to the T (south) and MLK Busway (east), this line would be a crucial part of multi-modal regional transportation plan.
As we continue to push the growth of Pittsburgh's new economy, we need to make this one of the top transit priority for the region.
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Historic Shadyside Book
Looking for a great gift for the person who has everything? Whether you live, have lived or simply love Shadyside, this book is sure to be a winner. This book was written by our own Historic Chair, Donald Doherty.
It is $20.00 plus tax and can be purchased at Eureka! chocolates and gifts on Copeland Street and on our website www.shadysideaction.org via Paypal.
Shipping is $6.50
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| SAC begins accepting Paypal
So many of you have asked and we are happy to announce that you will soon be able to renew your membership online with Paypal.
Check our website at www.shadysideaction.org for further details. We hope to have this up and running by mid December.
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We hope you enjoyed this newsletter and we wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Susan McGinty
Shadyside Action Coalition |
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