The Union Project--a catalyst of change in East Liberty since 2001--is moving into the second phase of its ongoing renovations with the Side Yard Improvement Project.
The project aims to transform the community center's adjoining outdoor space, which is now "basically a vacant lot," into a "unique green space" for neighbors, with seating and a performance area for the organization's tenants and programs, including wedding reception rentals, says executive director Jeffrey Dorsey.
The initiave is still in the early stages. This summer, the Union Project received an $8,000 Community Design Center of Pittsburgh grant, and hired Klavon Design Associates to come up with some ideas. The Union Project has also brought together a committee to help shape the design's direction. The committee includes the owner of the drugstore across the street, the executive director of Sojourner House (which recently carried out its on side yard renovation project) and representatives from the East Liberty Development, Inc. and Senator Jim Ferlo's office.
Additionally, the Union Project is seeking community input. The first community meeting will be held tonight, Wed., Oct. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m., and the second will be Nov. 17. Both meetings will be at the Union Project, 801 N. Negley Ave.
The Union Project hopes to unveil final design plans at its annual fundraising event, UnWrapped, in December, and to start implementing the project by the spring and complete it by summer 2010.
Dorsey emphasizes that renovation is at the heart of the Union Project's mission--to build a better, stronger community by redeveloping the deteriorated historic church into a hub for culinary and craft programming. The first phase of renovations has stretched since the Union Project' inception about nine years ago. The heating, plumbing and office projects of this phase are all complete; work on the great hall's ceiling and on the stained glass windows is all that's left. In addition to the side yard project, phase two of renovations includes improving great hall acoustics, creating a green room and possibly flattening the great hall's floor, which now slants down toward the stage.
Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Jeffrey Dorsey, executive director, the Union Project
Image courtesy of Klavon Design