Kidsburgh : Development News

The recently opened Braddock Community Café and Coffee Shop is the only place in town to buy coffee and meals with Braddock-grown produce.  It’s also an idea and space completely designed by the city’s youth, the first of its kind in the Mon Valley.

The café is a project of the Braddock Youth Project (BYP), a youth work skills training program that develops projects based on community needs. 

For the past six years, BYP has maintained thee community gardens.  Café manager Sabrina Hykes says the café was the logical next step.

The café will offer healthy meals and cooking demonstrations so that youth and other residents can learn how to cook the produce grown in Braddock community gardens, Hykes says.

BYP youth surveyed the community for the types of food they’d like to see on the café’s menu.  These old favorites are then made in a healthier fashion.  The café’s mac n cheese, for example, includes veggies and yogurt, and significantly less fat.

The café, which celebrated a grand opening on Saturday, is BYP’s second entrepreneurial venture.  Menu items, which will change frequently, include wraps, salads, breakfast sandwiches, and a range of coffee and espresso drinks.

With an operating grant from The Buhl Foundation, four Braddock youth—Cheyanne Neal, Tiara Robinson, Elon Ford, Omar Hawkins—were employed last summer to design and begin construction of the café. 

The café is also supported by Braddock Redux, Mayor John Fetterman’s not-for-profit organization, and is located within the Nyia Page Community Center.

The Braddock Community Café is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The café offers dine-in, take-out, and catering.  416 Library Street, Braddock, 15104.  412-727-6846.

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Sabrina Hykes                             

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

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

The East End Book Exchange has grown from a small stall in the Pittsburgh Public Market to a new storefront location in Bloomfield, and a grand-opening celebration will be held this Friday evening to mark the transition.

Owner Lesley Rains says the move from a smaller footprint to a brick-and-mortar shop had always been a long-term goal, but that demand and interest in the exchange moved her business quicker than expected into this new phase. 

Located at 4754 Liberty Avenue, the new shop joins The Big Idea Cooperative Bookstore and Café on the avenue, turning this stretch of Bloomfield into a budding literary destination.  Rains says that in this current bookseller climate— with heavy competition from Amazon and e-book sales—brick-and-mortar sellers have to work together.

“I think proximity can only help bookstores,” Rains says.  “I think we can hopefully over the long-term create a little book neighborhood."

According to Rains, the East End Book Exchange is a general interest used bookstore featuring genres such as fiction, poetry and history, as well as gardening and cook books.

“It’s just meant to be a place where whether you’re an avid reader or more of an occasional reader you can come here and find something,” she says. 

The exchange will also feature an extensive children’s books section, with bean bag chairs and activities for young readers.  And adults, meanwhile, will find lamp-lit nooks with couches and chairs, allowing guests to read and relax while they browse.  Rains hopes the shop will be a comfortable new space for neighbors to meet and gather.

And while the shop opens on Friday evening, it’s still a work in progress, as Rains grows her business from an 80-squarefoot booth to a 1,600-squarefoot storefront.

““We’re still growing,” she says.  “One of the things we like about this space is that there’s still a lot of space to add more bookshelves.” 

The grand-opening celebration will be held this Friday, November 16^th, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

 
Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Lesley Rains

The Young Preservationists Association (YPA) of Pittsburgh is celebrating its tenth anniversary on June 2nd at an event titled, "Ignite the Next Generation of Preservations Leaders," where it will release its annual report on the top ten preservation opportunities in the Pittsburgh area.

The event will be held at the Union Project in Highland Park, a building and institution that the YPA believes demonstrates one of the most successful adaptive reuses in Pittsburgh.

“It is a perfect example of preservation," says Dan Holland, YPA executive director.  "An old church has been restored, it's reused, it's constantly busy for events and activities.  It's really an ideal example of the kind of work we try to highlight with our organization.”

The former Union Baptist Church, built in 1903, was included in the YPA's Top Ten list in 2004.  The following year, it was awarded the YPA's Promise Award, which highlights persons or organizations showing potential in the field of preservation.

The recipient of this year’s Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award is Michael Stanton, director of East End-based Open Hand Ministries.

Holland says that this event, like all YPA programs, is intended to light a spark among young people for historic preservation.

"We feel that there's a lot of history to preserve," he says.  "At the same time, there’s a lot of history that's at risk.  And the next generation, it's placed at their feet."

The event's co-chairs are State Senator Jim Ferlo, and Cathy Niederberger, Senior Vice President of PNC Bank Community Development.  Special guest include WQED's Rick Sebak, and Tim Baker, President of Baker Leadership, who will be the event’s MC’s.  To register for the event by May 30th, visit the YPA’s site here.

Holland says he is proud that his organization has been at work for a decade, and points to a number of specific accomplishments in those years, where YPA’s advocacy has led to the restoration of numerous buildings and districts.  But most importantly, he says, is that his organization has successfully engaged young people in historic preservation.

"For the first time we have young people front and center in the preservation movement taking credit for and being part of the preservation of historic sites," Holland says. "I feel like we have accomplished our mission in that respect."


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Dan Holland

Lawrenceville’s newest business, Paint Monkey, wants to tap into the creative juices of Pittsburgh’s many latent artists.  Located within the Ice House Studios, this “art as entertainment,” do-it-yourself venue equips would-be painters with instruction and materials, while attendees are encouraged to bring friends, imagination, and a bottle of wine.

Groups of 8-30 choose a painting type from an online catalog.  In the studio, all materials are provided--including aprons--and artist Joe Groom walks you through each step, painting along with the group in 2-3 hours sessions.  

Groom says Paint Monkey is like a personal version of PBS’s Joy of Painting, except a lot more fun.  Music plays in the background (you can bring your own iPod), and you’re welcome to bring food and drink.  And unlike in your living room, it’s ok if a few drops of paint land on the former ice-warehouse’s concrete floors.

Groom says that although many people haven’t painted since they were kids, once the first stroke touches canvas, it all comes back.

“People are creative,”  he says, “you just got to give them an opportunity to get it going.”

Groom says the point of Paint Monkey is less about developing impeccable skills, than it is about entertainment, and being creative in a social environment.

Paint Monkey accommodates all group types, including kids’ birthday parties, senior citizen groups, office co-workers, or even a candle-lit date night.

Paint Monkey is co-owned by Groom and Mary Lou Bradley.  The recently-engaged couple moved to Pittsburgh from Central Florida last October.  Mary Lou grew up in Pittsburgh’s Overbrook neighborhood, but has lived in New York and Florida for the past 30 years.

For a Pittsburgh native, whose notions of the city were informed by years of industrial decline, Bradley was excited and surprised by the city’s transformation, and by the opportunity it could now offer her.

“I don’t think we could have done this anywhere else,” she says.

Bradley and Groom enjoy exploring the revitalized city, and feel especially at home in Lawrenceville’s creative community.

Paint Monkey sessions range from $35 to $45, and offer a reduced rate for kids.  They plan special events, such as Paint Your Pet, and are able to bring Paint Monkey on the road.


Paint Money, 100 43rd Street, Studio 212. Lawrenceville. 412-770-4923.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Mary Lou Bradley, Joe Groom

A group of high school students from Allegheny County have been tasked with reimagining a vacant lot in Homestead.  And today, after three months of planning and design, they will present their concepts and drawings to a panel of architects and community development leaders.

This is the final session in an apprenticeship program, a cooperation between the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.  These two organizations have partnered for the program since the 1980s, allowing high school students with an interest in architecture to experience studio work and the design process hands-on.

The vacant lot under consideration is located at 7th Avenue and Amity Street.  According to Louise Sturgess, of the PHLF, Amity Street has become a secondary Main Street for the community of Homewood. 

Students were asked to create a design that connects the growing Waterfront complex with the historic Homestead community, using Amity Street as a connector between the two destinations.

Through a series of sessions, students have completed design challenges, a site tour, had discussions with prominent urban designers and toured professional architecture studios, and have presented preliminary site plans to architecture students at Carnegie Mellon University. 

Today, the 25 students will give their final presentations to an audience that includes professional architects and designers, Homestead community leaders, and representatives from the Mon Valley Initiative.

Sturgess says that whether or not students choose to pursue architecture in college, they have taken part in a valuable lesson on how community planning takes place.

“As adults they will know that they can become involved in community design decisions,” Sturgess says.  “We really open up their eyes to the importance of the built environment, the value of historic preservation,” and the academic training required in schools of architecture, engineering, or historic preservation, she says.

Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source: Louise Sturgess

When the National Aviary opened its new Sky Deck this weekend, visitors received an up close view of birds of prey swooping and diving above the open-air rooftop.  

A martial eagle, lanner falcons, and six black kites are the stars of the show.

Coaxed by lures sent flying by their trainers, the birds zoom above the building.  The lures they seek range from frozen pieces of chicken to leather straps disguised with feathers.

Each bird is trained extensively before its debut, to ensure that they do not fly away.  The lanner falcons are still completing training after a rainy spring, but they are expected to join the show soon.

The Aviary in Allegheny Commons Park is the only place in the country where you can see a martial eagle fly freely and black kites fly in unison.   It is also the only aviary recognized by an Act of Congress. The National Aviary took its name in 1993.

According to Laura Ellis, of the organization's marketing staff, the parking lot is consistently filled with out of town license plates, especially during the summer.

"It's a remarkable experience," she says.  "It's the opposite of a zoo experience.  You're having a chance to observe birds in a way that you would never see in captivity."

The Sky Deck is open at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily until Labor Day.  Tickets are available online and at the Aviary on the North Side.  Reservations are recommended.

Writer: Lindsay Derda
Source: Laura Ellis, National Aviary

Art and tech are quickly becoming the next peanut butter and jelly. They just go together. Assemble, a new venue opening in June along the Penn Avenue Arts District, will foster this togetherness to anyone who walks through the door.

Located in the old Thomas Merton Center at 5125 Penn Avenue, Assemble is about creating connections, says Executive Director Nina Barbuto. School-aged or middle-aged, the space will have activities for all, including movie nights, art exhibitions, and workshops.

Though they aren't open to the public just yet, Assemble is starting to host programs. Coming up in May, they will have one that includes paper tubes and exploring what can be created with them, Barbuto explains.

"It's not just a studio space," says Barbuto. "It's a place to demystify art and technology." This will give attendees, and kids in particular, a chance to see that they too can create anything through art and technology without being judged, she adds. This can be high-tech or low-tech, Barbuto continues, from computer gadgets to, well, paper tubes.

Assemble is also about connections and meeting others who are going through similar situations, Barbuto says. This will be done through specific programs for the under-18 and over-18 age groups, as well as some activities where the two are integrated.

"It has to be approachable, but academic," she explains. "It's learning through making and trying to understand the world through what means we have."
 
Assemble is currently seeking out volunteers and a summer intern. For more information on getting involved, email assemblepgh@gmail.com.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Nina Barbuto, Assemble

Photograph copyright Alex Audia

When ToonSeum Executive Director Joe Wos pitched the idea of a cartoon-themed hotel room to  Wyndham Grand, he never thought they'd go for it. To his surprise, they loved it.

Now available for booking, the ToonRoom features cartoon art, a library of comics and graphic novels and a drawing desk. "It's a great introduction to the artform of cartoons," says Wos. From Spongebob to Batman, adults and kids alike will see characters they know and love.

At $129 a night, guests in the ToonRoom also receive a ToonSeum package that includes one ticket per person to the museum, t-shirts, mugs and postcards. This package is available for guests staying in standard rooms to purchase, so they can have the cartoon experience while the ToonRoom is occupied.

Though other hotels across the United States feature novelty rooms or themes, Wos says the ToonRoom is the only one with original cartoon art.

For cartoon enthusiasts, Wos says the room furthers their connection with the artform. "Allowing them to actually have a room they can stay at when they travel that immerses them in that experience is really unique," he adds.

Not only can guests support Pittsburgh when they visit, but they are also supporting the non-profit museum, Wos explains. "This is a chance, for guests coming into the city, to give them another unique experience," he says. "It's also a great little getaway if you live in Pittburgh."

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Joe Wos, ToonSeum

Oakland residents and community members interested in helping shape the neighborhood's future should head to St. Nicholas Cathedral tomorrow at 6 p.m. to celebrate the start of Oakland 2025, with free dinner included.

"Oakland 2025 is a broad-based planning process. We're basing it on the community engagement model called Everyday Democracy," says Tara Fherry-Torres, community organizer for the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC), who are spearheading the process with many community and institutional partners. "It's going to be very comprehensive and really the residents and community members are the ones that are going to be setting up the agenda."

The kickoff event this Thursday will introduce a series of five dialogue sessions that will take place between March 24 and the first week in May. Each session will include eight to ten community members discussing the issues they're passionate about in Oakland, and the changes they would like to see over the next fifteen years. These events, lead by a facilitator, will build upon each other in order to identify the most pressing concerns about the neighborhood, likely covering future development strategies, green initiatives, new multi-modal transportation opportunities, and public education enhancement.

On May 12, the progress made in the dialogues will culminate in the formation of action committees, each organized around a particular issue, and lead by members of the public passionate about those issues and implementing change. The idea is to allow the community to organically develop the plan and begin working together, so that when a fully realized comprehensive plan is released in early 2012, volunteer teams will be prepared and well-connected to strategic resources.

"People in Oakland really care about their community. It's really a matter of capturing that love and that care for the community and finding those natural leaders to help create a cohesive structure, so that people can get involved in their community and make it what they want it to be," says Fherry-Torres.

The kickoff event takes place at 419 South Dithridge Street, and will go from 6-8:30 p.m. To RSVP email questions@opdc.org or call 412-621-7863 ext. 17.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Tara Fherry-Torres, OPDC

Image courtesy of OPDC

The Borough of Carnegie has been working toward a huge improvement project for the 34-acre Carnegie Park since 2007. Thanks to a $145,000 grant from Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Borough has voted in favor of the plan and hopes to begin the first phase of construction by next fall.

"The improvements will include a park community message board, a fenced off-leash dog area including amenities, renovation to the existing stone shelter, an ADA accessible playground, roadway modification, and a beautification of the park entrance," says Steve Beuter, project assistant for Carnegie Borough.

Since voting to go ahead with the project in February, the Borough has been working with Gateway Engineers on initial design plans and the project is scheduled to go up for bid sometime in the spring. The total project cost is $290,000, and the Borough agreed to match the state grant.

"One major opportunity that the Borough has created with the park rehabilitation is that it will allow Carnegie to create a safe and enjoyable environment for residents and non-residents alike to utilize for recreational purposes," says Beuter. The second phase of the park, which is still being conceptualized, will likely entail significant lighting enhancement, field maintenance, and new parking areas.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Steve Beuter, Carnegie Borough

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will be holding a community meeting on March 19 to discuss plans for a new library building, which would merge the Knoxville and Carrick branches into one facility. The possible merger was first introduced in 2009 after budget woes imperiled several library branches, and while the proposed merger is partially a budgetary decision, a brand new library building would provide a number of improvements for the two communities, whose current libraries are located in close proximity to one another and lack both space and technological resources.

"For the past year or so we've been talking about making this happen, because the libraries are so close together," says Suzanne Thinnes, communications manager for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. "The Carrick branch is a little small. It doesn't have a lot of room for computers or programming. So the idea was to merge the two together in a way that would fit both communities' needs."

The Library has already held several meeting with the community to explore what they'd like to see in a new facility, and offered a free bus trip to newer branches in order to showcase possible features. Some of the features community members expressed interest in included greater access to computers and information access, more comfortable seating, and a café."

The latest meeting will attempt to expand the dialogue that has already been initiated and begin looking more closely at prospective sites on which to build a new branch.

The meeting will take place on Saturday, March 19 at 10 p.m. in the Temple Baptist Church, located at 743 Brownsville Road.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Suzanne Thinnes, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

This spring, visitors to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will have an opportunity to see the many tropical trees towering in the Victorian greenhouse from a whole new angle, with the installation of an extended elevated pedestrian walkway and elevator.

Phipps' has always had a small overlook area where guests could peer out over the forest canopy, but the new construction will add 20-feet of walking space to the upper deck viewing area. The Design Alliance Architects crafted the plans for the walkway, and Landau Building Company is currently working to have it open by April.

A new elevator is being built in order to allow all visitors access to the new viewing opportunities, and is expected to be completed in unison with the walkway.

"We decided to make the area more accessible for our handicapped guests or those who just wouldn't want to walk up the winding pathway to get back to the entrance," says Liz Fetchin, marketing and communications manager for Phipps Conservatory. "It seems like guests are very excited about this addition."

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Liz Fetchin, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Image courtesy of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Last Tuesday, Mt. Lebanon commissioners approved the $113.2 million renovation of Mt. Lebanon High School in a 3-2 vote. The project has been subject to much debate since it was proposed in 2006, following a feasibility study performed by DeJong-Richter. While controversy has stemmed from the cost of the project, its proponents argue that the 83-year-old high school suffers from outdated infrastructural systems, limited classroom space and technological resources, and a generally inefficient layout, and that the renovation is necessary to bring the school into the 21st Century.

"It's a combination of new construction and renovation of existing space. The new construction is going to include a new academic wing along Horsman Drive and a bridge that will connect the academic center to the new field house," says Cissy Bowman, director of communications for The Mt. Lebanon School District. "The field house will have one central gym, two auxiliary gyms, and a new eight-lane pool."

Within the next six weeks, the District will finalize documents in order to put the projects up for architectural and construction bid, and ideally ground will be broken by May. The new facilities will target LEED certification, and renovations will correct many current issues, such as failing heating systems, outdated roofs and windows, and a lack of handicapped accessibility. The construction will be carefully phased in order to prevent educational disruption.

"The goal has always been that we're going to be housing students in different sections of the high school as we build these new buildings. There was a very clear desire from parents that they did not want trailers. So, we're going to be building certain sections of the project first and then moving students to different parts of the building. There will be a phased construction process that will last about 48 months," says Bowman.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Cissy Bowman, Mt. Lebanon School District

Image courtesy of Mt. Lebanon School District