Development News

The West End’s Sheraden neighborhood may be the next Pittsburgh community to have a grocery store headed its way.  The URA has voted to issue an RFP for the development of a grocery store at 2928 Sheraden Boulevard.

While there are food stores in the West End’s other neighborhoods, there is currently no full-service grocery store in Sheraden, which is the largest community in the city’s western region.  There are also no seasonal Citiparks farmers markets in the West End.

Last December, using Community Development Block Grants and funds provided by Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, the URA bought the property and a nearby parking lot for $425,000.

Previous efforts by Mayor Ravenstahl and the URA have led to the successful development of an IGA grocery store in Beechview, which opened last year, as well as the Hill District’s planned Shop ‘n Save.

Councilwoman Kail-Smith says the RFP’s issuance demonstrates the City’s commitment to investing in neighborhoods.

“For the residents who have dedicated time and personal investment in Sheraden, this is the pivotal moment they have been waiting for and their faith in a revitalized Sheraden is about to become reality,” she said in a statement.

According to the URA’s Robert Rubinstein, the site is strategically located across from the K-8 Langley School and a short walk from the busway.

Proposals will be accepted by a grocer looking to acquire the property, renovate it and open a neighborhood-based store; a grocer to which the URA can lease the property to open a store; or a developer that would bring a grocer as its primary tenant.  The RFP will be issued within the next several weeks.

There has been a flurry of other grocery store openings throughout the region in recent months, including an Aldi in the South Side, numerous Bottom Dollar Food stores, and a Good Cents Grocery store in Ross Township.  And another Aldi store, a planned reuse of the former Day Baum Boulevard car dealership, is back on track in Friendship.

Last month, developer Cipriani & Werner PC announced that a Whole Foods Market is planned for the site of a former Consol office building in the South Hills.  According to Justin Cipriani, it will be a mixed-use development with residential, retail, and restaurant components.  The site is located at the northeast corner of Washington Road and Fort Couch Road in Upper St. Clair.

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source: Justin Cipriani; Gigi Saladna

Eat + Drink is Pop City's roundup of Pittsburgh's food scene.


•  AJ's Inca Peruvian Restaurant opened this week in Downtown Pittsburgh at 500 Liberty Avenue.  Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken is the star here, along with a variety of other Peruvian dishes.  The restaurant is located in the former Cuzamil space, just outside Market Square.  Open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m.  412-642-6606.

•  In North Oakland, Legume has re-launched its adjoining bar space under the name Butterjoint.  The word refers to a type of brickwork masonry known for its simplicity and elegance.  Chef Trevett Hooper says it’s a metaphor for how food is prepared at Legume, and now at Butterjoint.

Hooper says the redesigned bar menu—with fare such as pierogies and burgers— now offers substantial meals at a lower price than in the restaurant.  He hopes it will allow Legume’s loyal customers to visit more frequently.  It’s the same quality meat and produce, he says, just with a more straightforward preparation.

The space itself has been reconfigured to provide a more comfortable dining experience.  A weekly variety show, featuring music, comedy, spoken word and magicians, is held on Tuesdays.  And bar manager Will Groves was brought on to revamp the beer and cocktail menu.  214 North Craig Street.  412.621.2700.

•  D.J.’s Butcher Block Specialty Sausage and Meats opened recently in Bloomfield, a small storefront shop offering fresh, cured, and smoked sausage, grass-fed beef, as well as local chicken and turkey.

For the past three years, owner/butcher D.J. Smulick, a former chef at Café Sam, has offered products at various farmers markets.  Smulick sources a majority of meats from local vendors, and seeks to offer high quality products that remain affordable. 

D.J’s also stocks a small selection of local cheese, eggs, pickles, mustards and jellies.  Smulick doesn’t want to become a grocery store, he says, rather he’s just offering a few products that complement the meats.  4623 Liberty Avenue.  412-621-3100.

Also in Bloomfield, multiple sushi restaurants have opened, including Ginza (412-688-7272), at 4734 Liberty Avenue.  And more recently, Fukuda Sushi, which is BYOB, opened in the former Stagioni storefront, at 4770 Liberty Avenue.  And on Sundays, Chef Matt Kemp offers an evening menu at East Liberty’s AVA Lounge.  412-377-0916.

•  La Palapa Mexican Cuisine is the latest food purveyor to join the growing list of vendors at the Strip District’s Pittsburgh Public Market.  Friday through Sunday La Palapa will offer a variety of tamales, quesadillas chilangas, chiles rellenos, frijoles charros, enchiladas, and desserts including flan.    412-992-7206.

Also in the Strip, the Thin Man Sandwich Shop is opening soon at 50 21st Street, in the former 21^st Street Coffee and Tea location.  Owners and chefs Dan and Sherri Leiphart have previously worked at Isabela on Grandview, the former Le Pommier, and Lidia's Pittsburgh.  The Leipharts are aiming to bring their classically trained experience to a more relaxed and casual atmosphere. 

•  Wilkinsburg has been a dry borough for the past 80 years.  But now, the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC) is pushing for a ballot referendum to allow liquor licenses in the community.  It’s cited as a tool for economic development, as alcohol sales could help draw hotels, fine dining, and other entertainment options to the borough.  Visit WCDC’s website to learn more.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore     

It has been decades since Lawrenceville’s Doughboy Square was a vibrant urban center.  But with a $250,000 grant to the Shops at Doughboy, a planned mixed-use development, redevelopment there has been given another boost.

The Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority last week awarded the community infrastructure and tourism grant to the $7 million, 48,000-square-foot project. 

The Shops will be adjacent to the Roberto Clemente Museum at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Butler Street.  Central Real Estate Holdings, a partnership between October Development and Senko Construction, is the developer. 

The URA, which has been heavily involved in redevelopment of Doughboy Square, requested the grant from the county.  The funds will be used for site work ahead of construction, which is expected to begin next spring.

The URA’s Paul Svoboda calls the site a “100% corner” that is important not just to Lawrenceville, but to the entire city.  The intersection is a gateway between Lower Lawrenceville and the Strip District.

Though the project has been reviewed by a number of neighborhood organizations, designs and renderings are yet to be finalized. 

Because of a slope at the site, parking will be integrated below the Penn Avenue street grade, accessible from the building’s rear.  Retail will front the street, with residential units above. 

Svoboda praises the developers for taking an early financial risk in acquiring the site, and for working with local stakeholders to ensure the design is amenable to all parties.

“There’s some risk that they took, but the rewards are going to be big,” Svoboda says.  “Not only for them, but for the whole city.”

Svoboda says recent investments in the square are making good on priorities outlined years ago in blueprints such as the Allegheny Riverfront Vision Plan, which called for an intense focus on Doughboy Square.

Shops at Doughboy is building on the momentum of several other projects in the square.  In the 3400 block, the Doughboy Square Townhomes development, which was completed last year, brought five single-family infill homes to the neighborhood. 

And at 3431 Butler Street, the planned Doughboy Apartments is a four story, mixed income and mixed use building that includes 39 apartment units and 17,000 square-feet of first-floor commercial space.  

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore                                                                                            
Source:  Paul Svoboda

Construction has begun on a transit-oriented development (TOD) in Homewood that kicks-off implementation of Bridging the Busway, a community-driven plan aimed at revitalizing the neighborhood.  Homewood Station Senior Apartments will be 41-units of independent senior apartments, and is just the first project in a multi-phased redevelopment plan.

The current $10 11.5 million, four-story development is adjacent to the East Busway’s Homewood Station, is developed by Oxford Development and S&A Homes, and designed by Rothschild Doyno Collaborative.  With an anticipated completion date of December 2013, it will include ground floor commercial space for neighborhood businesses, as well as a café.
 
Bridging the Busway Plan

Completed last April, Bridging the Busway has set out four main goals: to celebrate the East Busway and TOD as neighborhood strengths; build on existing assets; ensure investments enhance the lives of residents and business owners; and to leverage the relative health of Point Breeze North to help stabilize Homewood.

The result was to think of Homewood Avenue more holistically, says Christine Brill, of Studio for Spatial Practice (SSP).  Brill co-managed the Bridging the Busway planning process, and consultant team.  

“Homewood was kind of the core focus of the project, but everybody recognized that we needed to work with the surrounding communities,” Brill says.  “That busway stop is the hub and the catalytic point between Homewood and Point Breeze North.”

Homewood’s assets—including the Afro-American Music Institute and historic Carnegie Library—don’t stop at the busway, and can have a regional draw, Brill says.  The East End Food Co-Op and Westinghouse Park, for example, are assets that span neighborhoods, and include Homewood.

And while cities throughout the country are working to increase development around light-rail and bus rapid transit, Brill says, “we already have it, but we have vacant land all around it.  So what can we do to harness the potential of what’s around there, and do something that really helps people who live there?”

Source: Christine Brill, Studio for Spatial Practice
Writer: Andrew Moore

Justin Cipriani wants to bring the Apple approach to architecture.  And at Bailey Park, a 15-home development planned for Mount Washington, he’ll have an opportunity to demonstrate exactly how this vertical integration approach will work.

A South Hills-native, Cipriani spent much of the last decade working in the design field in California.  Through this experience, he came to believe that in order to make truly great modern homes one had to adopt the Apple approach—become an integrated developer/architect/construction company.

“The nature of being an architect is that you make these things and then give it away,” Cipriani says.  “So much product development and coordination happens that the whole process, from entitlement to design to execution, needs to be controlled by a consistent team.”

Cipriani came home to Pittsburgh, he says, because of the city’s healthy market conditions, and for family.  Three years ago he founded Cipriani Studios.

 “We’re cradle to grave,” Cipriani says.  “It allows us to be more of like a design house.  We draw something, go engineer it, build it."

At Bailey Park—which will be adjacent to Emerald View Park—Cipriani Studios is the developer, architect, and will do engineering and other work in-house.  And the project’s construction team, Deklewa, works from a shared office space.

In July Cipriani completed work on the three-unit Neff condo building, perched on the edge of Mount Washington and offering iconic views of Pittsburgh.  Also near Emerald View Park, the four and three-bedroom units are listed from $750,000 to $850,000. 

Again borrowing from Apple, Cipriani says he intends the single-family homes of Bailey Park to be an “iPad mini” to the Neff condos.  While they’ll be half the price and size (at 1,500 square feet), they’ll have the same earthy, modern feel, he says, with natural materials, open living areas and large windows.

Cipriani expects to begin construction of Bailey Park in the spring of next year.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Justin Cipriani

What’s better than coffee and beer?  Having it all under one roof.  Wholesale roasters Commonplace Coffee recently joined East End Brewing Company at its warehouse space in Larimer, with the latter planning to offer its collaboration Coffee Porter year-round.

Commonplace co-owner TJ Fairchild says the match-up is a good fit, as both companies share a craft approach to their products.  And through their collaborations, he says they came to realize that not only do they share a similar skillset, but a similar market.

“We started to notice that a lot of our customers were the same,” Fairchild says.  “The same people that were seeking out really good beer were the same people that were seeking out really good coffee.”

During the brewery’s popular Growler Hours customers can now purchase pounds of direct-sourced beans and sample select brews from the roastery.

Commonplace opened its original coffeehouse and roastery in Indiana, PA in 2003.  Since then, it has opened two shops in Pittsburgh, and delivers the majority of its beans to the city. 

While the original location will remain open in Indiana, the new facility, at 6580 Frankstown Avenue, will bring the company closer to its customer base, and will be its main roastery producing approximately 600 kilos of beans a week.

According to Fairchild, Commonplace purchases many of its beans directly from farmers, in addition to the fair-trade system.  He says they are also now roasting beans with a lighter profile to highlight each single-origin coffee’s subtleties and nuances.

Last December, East End introduced its Coffee Porter, brewed with Commonplace’s Sumatra Coffee.  While it had been offered seasonally, Fairchild says it will soon be on solid rotation at the brewery.

East End officially relocated from Homewood to its new Frankstown Avenue location last month, with expanded Growler Hours from Tuesday to Sunday, where customers can fill half-gallon glass jugs straight from the brewery's taps.

And even though the brewery is not open for growler hours on Monday, Fairchild says folks are still free to visit Commonplace and peer over the roaster’s shoulder to observe their process.

“Pretty much every day of the week we’re open for a visit if people want to see what we’re doing,” he says.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  TJ Fairchild
 

Correction:  In last week’s Eat + Drink column, we incorrectly reported the operating hours of BZ’s Bar and Grill.  The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week.  140 Federal Street.  412-323-BZBG.

One of the Pittsburgh region’s greatest challenges is a long-term solution to transportation funding.  And it’s one of three major topics to be addressed at tomorrow’s 12th annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Smart Growth Conference.

The conference is a gathering of business leaders, local government, and other professionals and non-profit groups.  According to Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Court Gould, the region’s challenges—including transit—are issues that can only be solved by cross-sector coordination.

“The solution for public transportation funding won’t just be found in Harrisburg,” Gould says.  “Rather, it has to be shouldered by our region.”

At the conference, Barry Schoch, PennDOT’s Secretary of Transportation, will give a talk titled Beyond quick fixes.  According to Schoch, transportation funding has historically involved short-term infusions but not long-term solutions. 

“As we look at this to the future, for all modes, we’re looking at solutions that we believe will grow in time, that will be fair and user-fee based,” Schoch says. 

Specifics of the plan will be announced early next year.

This transit conversation comes just days after Governor Corbett’s recent pronouncements that his administration is committed to finding a plan for funding transportation in Pennsylvania.

Although Secretary Schoch won’t be providing specifics on the plans being developed by his department and the governor, he intends to use the conference as an opportunity to hear from the audience about local transportation priorities.  He says this information will help shape those future plans.

The Smart Growth Conference, created by Sustainable Pittsburgh, is co-presented this year by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and Local Government Academy.  Other conference topics include green infrastructure and urban redevelopment financing. 

The Smart Growth Conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, December 13th, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Court Gould, Sustainable Pittsburgh; Barry Schoch, PennDOT

Master artists and students travel to the Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) from throughout the country and all over the world, and now they’ll have a place to stay.  PGC has purchased a vacant building in Garfield to be used as artist and student housing.

In addition to being a convenience for artists, PGC Executive Director Heather McElwee says the added space will likely expand interest in week-long classes and workshops.

“Not only will the house help to generate some earned income from the Glass Center,” McElwee says, “but we actually think it will increase the number of people participating in our Summer-Intensive program.  I think there are a handful of people who don’t even consider our program because there isn’t a housing option right now.”  

PGC was founded in 2001 by Kathleen Mulcahy & Ron Desmett as a public access school, gallery and art glass studio dedicated to teaching, creating and promoting glass art.

Located at 5447 Penn Avenue, the three-story building is in the middle of Bride Row, named for the “Bride on Penn Avenue” mural created by artist Judy Penzer, in collaboration with Jill Watson, Corolla Zap, and Dan Anthoniesen, in 1995.  The homes are unique on the avenue as they are set back and atop a small hill.

The building, just one block from the Glass Center, was most recently home to the former Kim’s Coffee Shop, a Vietnamese restaurant.  The sale of the building was faciltated through the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation.

Although renovations are needed, McElwee says the Glass Center plans to keep with the architectural tradition of the home and the row.

McElwee expects the first-floor former restaurant space to be repurposed as a community space, available to visiting artists.  The upper floors would be developed as private and semi-shared housing space.

Ben Imhoff and Anne Chen, of EDGE studio, are working with the Glass Center on the building’s renovations.  McElwee anticipates the housing to be open by summer of 2014.

There are eight other Victorians along Bride Row, with at least one that is owner occupied.  The others are owned by Friendship Development Associates, who are working to find redevelopment plans for the remaining homes.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Heather McElwee

The Mansions on Fifth, a 22-room boutique hotel, celebrated a grand opening yesterday along with the complete restoration of the McCook Reed House. It’s the culmination of a seven year historic restoration process that has given new life to a pair of unique Pittsburgh homes.

Mary Del Brady, who owns the Mansions with husband Richard Pearson, says they are eager to share these historic spaces with the community.

“We feel more like stewards than owners,” Brady says.

The homes, which are Elizabethan Revivalist and Tudor styles, were built between 1900 and 1906 by industrialist and lawyer Willis F. McCook on what was then Millionaires Row.  According to Brady, McCook also helped build the nearby St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The buildings’ most recent owners vowed to only sell to someone who would restore them.  Pearson, a developer and preservationist, had long admired the mansions. When they went up for sale, he and Brady jumped at the opportunity.

“You can’t ever rebuild a building like this again, and that’s the magic of it,” Brady says.

The hotel was restored consistent with Secretary of Interior standards.

The main McCook House, a 30,000-square-foot, solid granite structure, was opened to guests last year.  In addition to 13 guest rooms, this building contains most of the Mansions’ public rooms, including the grand hall and staircase, the Oak Room, library, as well as a wine cellar and fitness room. 

The Mansions feature a gallery specializing in 18^th and 19^th century European art (Gallery Werner), and has begun to host live music.  The hotel is also available for weddings and other special events.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mary Del Brady

Eat + Drink is Pop City's roundup of Pittsburgh's food scene.


- BZ’s Bar and Grill is now open on the North Shore.  Open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., the restaurant features what owner/manager Brandon Herriott calls “twisted American cuisine.”  Menu items include crab and avocado mac and cheese, pizza with house-made chorizo, a “turducken” burger, and more.

BZ’s is located at 140 Federal Street, directly across from PNC Park.  And while Herriott expects his business to do well during game days, he hopes the community will embrace the establishment beyond events.  “I want to be part of the neighborhood,” he says.

The restaurant seats 200 guests, including a private dining space and meeting room.  In the spring, BZ’s expects to add 40-50 patio seats.  412-323-BZBG

- Pittsburgh’s newest Thai restaurant, Noodlehead, is now open in Shadyside.  A BYOB, the eatery specializes in noodle dishes from the street markets of Thailand.  The menu features just ten $6 and $9 noodle dishes, and a few snacks, such as Thai fried chicken ($6.50) and pork belly steamed buns ($6).

Noodlehead is located at 242 South Highland Avenue, and is cash only. 

-  Franktuary’s new Lawrenceville location (3810 Butler Street) is officially scheduled to open later this month, on December 21^st.  The restaurant will have a bar, and will seat around 100.

Fans of the downtown location should fear not, the original shop (325 Oliver Avenue) will stay open.  Likewise,  the Franktuary Food Truck will continue with mobile service.

- Pittsburgh’s first batch of aged whiskey since prohibition will be released by Wigle Whiskey next Saturday, December 15^th.  And although Wigle has been open since last year, offering its white whiskey, these are its first aged rye and wheat whiskeys, aged in small, 10 gallon oak barrels for six months.  In the spirit of craft innovation, the distillery has finished several of the oak barreled whiskey with cherry and maple honeycombed wood for a variety of flavors. 

The distillery also recently launched its Wigle Ginever, a Dutch-style gin, popular before the advent of large commercial stills.  It is one of only two produced in the nation.

-  Continuing with the theme of prohibition—today is the 79^th anniversary of its repeal—the Omni William Penn Hotel has reopened a former speakeasy in the historic building’s lower level.  The new bar’s interior replicates the original décor, and a cocktail list features researched drinks from the ‘20’s.  The speakeasy is open from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Thursdays through Saturdays.  530 William Penn Place, Downtown. 


 
Writer:  Andrew Moore

A Pittsburgh institution has again been lauded for its leadership in green design and sustainability.  Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was recently recognized at the International Green Awards in London.

The conservatory was awarded the bronze level of honor in the Most Sustainable NGO category.  Organizations were judged in eight key performance areas, including energy, water, waste, resources, carbon, supply chain, transport and social.  Phipps was one of five finalists selected to demonstrate the globe’s most innovative approaches to sustainable leadership.

“It adds further validation of all the work that we’re doing at Phipps to make our organization be as green as possible,” says Richard Piacentini, Phipps executive director.  “We also think it’s great for our city.  It’s another feather in the cap for Pittsburgh and all the great things that are going on related to green buildings and operations."

The new Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL), which was unveiled to the public earlier this year, certainly drew attention from the green community.  It is billed as one of the greenest buildings in the world.

The CSL complex was built to meet the three highest green building standards: The Living Building Challenge; LEED Platinum; and the SITES landscape rating system.  It is expected to be the first building in the world to achieve all three ratings.

Other noted achievements include a green campus expansion effort that has resulted in the first LEED visitor center in a public garden; a tropical forest conservatory that is the most energy-efficient structure of its kind; and the first-ever LEED Platinum greenhouses.

The International Green Awards were established in 2006, and are judged by eco game-changers from various public sectors.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Richard Piacentini

ReDesigNation, a new and used consignment furniture and home design store, has relocated to Wilkinsburg.  In the spirit of the business—to remake old things—owner Jordan Deane has retrofitted a former church and cathedral space to showcase her work.

And while the space is an interesting way to showcase furniture that Deane has refurbished, and in some cases completely reimagined, she wants to make sure the building plays a greater role in the community.

“We don’t just want it to be about my furniture store and business,” Deane says.  She and her husband are considering ideas such as a community garden, or a community kitchen, to be hosted here. 

“We already know that it’s great for events,” Deane says, as the cathedral was recently used for a community member’s baby shower.  And because the furniture is already used, it can be part of an event, and remain listed for sale as well, she says.

According to Deane, midcentury modern is currently very popular in home decor and furniture, which suits her own tastes.

“It’s actually my favorite era to go for,” Deane says.  “I take a lot of midcentury modern pieces and I’ll either restore it back to its original grandeur, or I'll paint it funky colors, because it just kind of lends itself to being a funky piece.”

There are numerous empty storefronts in this part of Wilkinsburg.  But Deane hopes her revival of the former church, which was a foreclosure and had fallen into disrepair, can encourage more businesses to relocate to this part of the city. 

ReDesigNation was previously located in Squirrel Hill.  The shop is currently open by appointment.  For more information, visit Deane’s blog.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Jordan Deane

Sports and recreation have been given a boost in Allegheny County, as County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced yesterday a $300,000 grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) for the Sports and Athletics Complex at Montour Junction.

The Sports and Athletics Complex at Montour Junction is a 78-acre parcel of land shared by three communities: the Borough of Coraopolis, Moon Township and Robinson Township.  A former brownfield site, the $15 million development will include 15 to 18 grass and synthetic turf fields for non-traditional sporting uses such as soccer, rugby and lacrosse for school-aged children. 

 “The grant is one of the larger amounts awarded, and we are proud that such a significant investment is going to be made in the county,” Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Fitzgerald called this a tremendous opportunity to increase recreational opportunities in the county.  He cited the complex’s proximity to the Montour Trail, a pedestrian and bicycle path now totaling over 40 miles, as well as Montour Run, a stocked trout stream which bisects the property.

Funds will also be used to for a half-mile extension of the Montour Trail and various landscaping at the site, and the complex will eventually act as a new trailhead.

The Sports Legacy Foundation donated the land in 2008 with the clause that it would be used for non-traditional sports.  The Redevelopment Authority has been working with its consultants on the development of the facility.

Construction on the complex is expected begin in the first or second quarter of 2013.

C2P2 is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and provides funding to provide quality park, recreation and conservation opportunities.
 
Also happening in the area, Celebrate Coraopolis 2012 will take place this Saturday, December 1^st.  The day-long event will feature food, music, and family activities, including sleigh rides and pictures with Santa. 

The Coraopolis Community Development Foundation (CCDF) is leading the event, which will showcase local businesses and restaurants.  Proceeds from this event will benefit the programs of the CCDF, which this year has given over $12,000 in direct assistance and provided 14,000 pounds of food assistance to over 300 families.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Dennis M. Davin, Allegheny County Economic Development

At this year’s Commonwealth Awards, the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania’s signature event, the theme of “Building Healthy Communities” will be emphasized in honor of the late Mark Schneider. 

A former Chairman of 10,000 Friends, Schneider was a leader in smart growth and sustainable development in the region.  In recognition of his impact, the organization’s highest individual award, the “Friend of Pennsylvania” Award, will be presented to Mark posthumously and will be renamed the “Mark C. Schneider Memorial Friend of Pennsylvania” Award.

And this year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Richard J. Jackson, co-author of the book and host/narrator of the public television series, Designing Healthy Communities.  Dr. Jackson is a recipient of the 2012 Heinz Award for the Environment.

Regional Director Grant Ervin says Schneider’s numerous projects in Pittsburgh are great examples of Dr. Jackson’s message—that the built environment has a direct correlation on public and individual health.

“Projects like Summerset and Washington’s Landing have set the bar high and have provided recognition that people want these types of products,” Ervin says.  “They were trailblazers at the time.”

10,000 Friends will also honor several southwest Pennsylvania awardees from the first round of the Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI) funding.  Schneider also helped develop the vision for PCTI and was one of its chief advocates.

Founded in 1998, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is a statewide advocate for smart growth.  It has operated a Pittsburgh office since 2004.

The 2012 Commonwealth Awards will be held at Point Park University, Lawrence Hall 201, Wood Street, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information, and to register, click here.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Grant Ervin

The first of four new dek hockey rinks coming to Pittsburgh is now open in Banksville, thanks to a partnership between The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, Highmark, and the City of Pittsburgh. 

Known as Project Power Play, the organizations are hoping the $2 million investment in new facilities will help build interest in the sport among young athletes.  Highmark is contributing $1.5 million to the initiative, and the Penguins Foundation $600,000.

“You don’t see this in many cities where you have a sports organization and a non-profit all pitching in,” says mayoral spokesperson Joanna Doven. 

According to Doven, the new parks are “literally free,” coming at no cost to taxpayers.  The City completed all in-house work, and Public Works crews did all of the manual construction.

Dek hockey, also known as street hockey, can be played wearing shoes or inline skates.  According to Doven, the surface of these new rinks is a high-quality, semi-permeable surface that prevents flooding and reduces slickness. 

As part of the initiative, a total of 12 dek hockey rinks are planned for the region, with eight more to be built throughout Allegheny County.

A second city rink will be built in Hazelwood, at the corner of Irvine and Berkwick streets in Lewis Park, and will be managed by the local YMCA.  A third rink is planned for Brookline, and a fourth for an as-yet undetermined location in the East End.

There is currently one other dek rink in Pittsburgh, at Marmaduke Park in Brighton Heights.
 

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Joanna Doven