Several new developments are transforming vacant spaces in the lower Northside's Brighton Road corridor. The heavily trafficked road received a face-lift via the TreeVitalize program this past year and in the wake of those improvements two new businesses, a park, and an elementary school have opened.
Throughout the Brighton corridor 490 trees were planted at an approximate worth of $900 per tree, including maintenance for two years, paid for by a federal stimulus grant.
Jeffrey Bergman, TreeVitalize director of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, says that according to research, tree-lined streets are
preferred by pedestrians as places to socialize and shop.
"There's sort of an instinctual enjoyment of trees by people, and they want to be in places that are beautiful and shaded," Bergman says.
Also on Brighton Road, Propel NORTHSIDE, a K-4 elementary charter school, will soon hold classes in the former Columbus Middle School building. Propel NORTHSIDE will be the seventh Propel school in the region, and the first within the city of Pittsburgh.
The former middle school had been closed and vacant since 2006. Propel Pittsburgh was granted charter by the Pittsburgh Public School Board earlier this year.
Downhill from the school a corner park has been created on a formerly vacant lot. Situated at a triangle intersection of Brighton Road, Charles Street, and California Avenue, this new green space serves as a gateway between several neighborhoods.
The park was created through Greenup Pittsburgh, a program of the Ravenstahl administration, the Green Team, and neighborhood organizations.
And just outside the Mexican War Streets, Sho' Koran's Wings-N-Things has reopened at 1600 Brighton Road. Owned and operated by Netta Waits, the shop features $2 burgers, $.99 beef hot dogs, and a variety of wings. Next door, Brighton Market convenience store has also recently opened.
"It's just nice to see [the corridor] getting to a tipping point," says Bergman. "You see things start to happen incrementally in an area, and they then they build on each other." Bergman says he hopes the TreeVitalize program can continue contributing to that effort.
Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Jeffrey Bergman