Panel examines ways to spread wealth of The Waterfront in Homestead

Saturday, May 31, 2008
By Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Waterfront, a hugely successful shopping and entertainment complex, is often cited as the prime model of economic redevelopment in the Mon Valley because it sits on 430 acres that were once the grounds of the Homestead Works of U.S. Steel.

But over the railroad tracks into a corridor of Homestead blocks known as the Avenues, residents, business owners and community leaders say that while the mega shopping complex was a shot in the arm for the area, they were mostly left behind when the development happened next door.

"People tell us the disparity between what happened at The Waterfront and what didn't happen in the neighboring communities [of Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall] is still big and very noticeable," said Meredith Meyer Grelli, program coordinator for the Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center at Carnegie Mellon University.

Yesterday, a panel of experts commissioned by the brownfields center for a workshop titled "The Avenues: Beyond the Waterfront" released its recommendations on how the three boroughs can redevelop their business districts while using The Waterfront as a resource.

"Development on this side of the tracks needs to be balanced to the kind of development that happened across the tracks," said Susan Hannegan, standing in the parking lot of a building at Amity Street and Seventh Avenue in Homestead.

A city planner from Centre County, Ms. Hannegan is an expert in historic designation of sites and was one of six national experts, including academicians, architects and community planners, who spent three days examining the business districts in the three boroughs, which have a swath of about 40 acres to redevelop.

The panel's key recommendations for the Mon Valley communities include forming an intergovernmental agreement among the boroughs, hiring a facilitator to steer the redevelopment efforts, and asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide an official to help the communities seek funding for development efforts.

Ms. Grelli said the boroughs qualify for funding from the EPA because many of the former light industrial and manufacturing properties in Homestead and West Homestead can be classified as brownfields.

Dennis Davin, director of Allegheny County's Department of Economic Development, said the county so far has invested about $10 million for infrastructure upgrades in the three boroughs.

Redevelopment of brownfields, Mr. Davin said, is one of county Chief Executive Dan Onorato's policy priorities.

"What we learned from The Waterfront is that when we work on development on brownfields like the former Carrie Furnace site, we will have to start with revitalizing the surrounding neighborhoods," Mr. Davin said.

The county is currently funding revitalization projects in Braddock, North Braddock and Rankin, in conjunction with ongoing work on the Carrie Furnace site, "because we don't want to see the same thing that happened here when The Waterfront was done," he said.

Citing the recent renovation of the Homestead Grays Bridge and the county's plans to rehabilitate the Rankin Bridge, Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald said the success of revitalization projects in the three boroughs hinges on public partnerships between the communities, the county and the state.

"We have to continue this record of partnership, which has shown that we can change how some of these communities will look in the next few years," he said.

Pointing at The Waterfront over the railroad tracks yesterday, Homestead Mayor Betty Esper said she could "see the development coming."

"We're moving on up. I hope this economic development crosses the train tracks and moves into the Avenues and up on the hill in Homestead," she said.

Ms. Grelli said residents from the three boroughs will have a chance to discuss the recommendations made by the panel at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Moose Building on Eighth Avenue in Homestead.

The Amity Street Crossing is Open

The Amity Street crossing is open as of 7:00 pm Friday May 30, 2008.

Sandcastle amphitheater plans stall again

Plans for a new amphitheater at Sandcastle are washed out again this year -- and maybe for good.

A mid-sized concert venue that once occupied Station Square was expected to open at the West Homestead water park this spring, but the project -- set back last year by construction delays -- is a no-go again, said a spokesman with the company that planned to develop the site.

"We are still considering the location for a site to develop a boutique (5,000-seat) amphitheater in the future," but details haven't been worked out, Live Nation spokesman John Vlautin wrote in an e-mail.

Live Nation, a California-based concert promoter and venue developer, operated the former Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square. The company announced in January 2007 that it would open a similar-sized amphitheater at Sandcastle.

The concert promoter planned to build the venue near the Monongahela River behind a Costco store at The Waterfront. Four months later, Live Nation announced the amphitheater wouldn't immediately open because of problems with construction scheduling and obtaining permits.

Sandcastle officials say they have not heard details about the project's future but are hopeful it will be completed.

"The final decision on the fate for the amphitheater is in the hands of Live Nation," said Jeff Flicko, spokesman for Kennywood Entertainment, which operates Sandcastle.

Vlautin said the decision not to open this summer has nothing to do with a music festival coming to the SouthSide Works in August. The New American Music Union Festival will be Aug. 8 and 9 in the town square area near the Cheesecake Factory. Bob Dylan will headline the event.

Until plans for the Sandcastle amphitheater are finalized, the water park will work with what it has -- the Riverplex, a 400,000 square-foot outdoor venue near the river that's used for entertainment, games and activities, park manager Scott MacKay said.

The site hasn't been used regularly, but electrical upgrades and stage improvements scheduled to be completed before the park opens June 7 should make it more attractive for festivals and small concerts, he said.

"We decided we'd start to do this on our own, even if it's just a grass-roots effort," MacKay said.

Riverplex is scheduled to sponsor corporate events and four festivals this summer, including the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Festa Italiana, Oktoberfest and a summer oldies jam. MacKay said the park plans to make the Riverplex available for more concerts and festivals next year.

By Jodi Weigand
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Four Arrested For Steel Valley Bomb Threats

MUNHALL (KDKA) ― Four teenagers have been charged in connection with bomb threats at a local high school.

In the past week, there have been multiple threats at Steel Valley High School resulting in evacuations at the school.

Christopher Wiley, 18, is being held in jail on $200,000 bond. Police say he's responsible for 13 bomb threats allegedly made from his cell phone during the past week.

Police say Wiley is not a student at the school, but his girlfriend is one. Investigators think he was trying to get his girlfriend out of school early.

Police traced the threatening calls, matching high school phone logs with subpoened phone company records. The name and address of the subscriber to the phone number was the Duquesne residence where the suspect lived.

The complaint says that Wiley confessed to detectives that a total of 13 threats were recorded from his phone.

He now faces 13 counts of wrecklessly endangering another person and multiple charges, including making terrorist threats, harrassment and risking a catastrophe.

Wiley's girlfriend was arrested along with two other juveniles. They face similar charges and were sent to the Shuman Center.

Munhall Police say Wiley and his girlfriend acted in conjunction with each other. The two juvenile boys were described as copy cats.

Besides phone calls, one bomb threat was found written on the wall of a school bathroom.

Steel Valley adopts preliminary budget that has no tax increase

Steel Valley school directors have approved a proposed budget plan for 2008-09 that does not raise taxes and includes a surplus of more than $10,000.

School board Vice President Pam Terrick was the only dissenter in a 7-1 vote Tuesday night. Kim Kubancsek was absent from the meeting.

Terrick said she opposes the budget because a teaching position that is cut in the proposed budget may be restored later this year, and no adjustments are being made to Shawn McCallister's position as athletic director.

"We have a full-time AD who can be in the classroom part-time," Terrick said. "He's certified in history and social studies. We're not a large enough school district for a full-time AD, and I don't think our reserve is high enough."

The budget lists district revenue at $27,969,003, and expenditures at $27,958,751.

Director Vince Natale said the district was facing a $1 million deficit when officials began preparing the budget.

School directors in January approved a $29,104,639 preliminary budget with a 1.87-mill tax increase.

Since then, Superintendent Dr. William Kinavey, district Business Manager Mark Cherpak and other officials have worked to cut costs.

In February, Steel Valley faced an estimated $938,000 deficit. In March, that figure was down to $529,000. Additional adjustments of more than $500,000 in the past month created the surplus, which could increase by the time directors approve a final budget in June.

Director Joe Ducar noted that donations from Steel Valley benefactor Bill Campbell, president and chief executive officer of Intuit Software of Mountain View, Calif., have helped ease the district's financial concerns.

"Band uniforms, football uniforms, basketball uniforms, this is stuff that everybody needs to realize does not come out of our budget," Ducar said. "Bill Campbell pays for this. We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars that come into this community. We'd be raising taxes every single year, guaranteed, if it wasn't for Bill Campbell."

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO,
Daily News Staff Writer
05/21/2008

New rental lofts part of redevelopment efforts

Ongoing redevelopment efforts in Pittsburgh’s Homestead neighborhood include the transformation of a historic Woolworth’s into four live/work lofts.

Located at 213-215 E. 8th Ave. and developed by David Lewis and Judi Tener, the "5 and 10 Lofts" project features two-story rental units ranging in size from 1,250 to 1,450 square feet. Boasting the first green roof on a historic building in Allegheny County—funded via a grant from 3 Rivers Wet Weather— the project includes two properties built in 1885 and 1901. Units start at $1,245 per month; one unit has already been rented.

“We had no intention of doing this until CVS wanted to knock down part of the historic district. To stop the destruction, my wife and I bought buildings on each side of the street. It’s been a ten-year saga,” says Lewis, founder of Urban Design Associates, who purchased the fire-damaged property in 1998. “In effect, we bought three walls and charred rafters. We reconstructed the back façade and put in internal staircases. They’re like little maisonettes.”

Also fueling Homestead’s revitalization is a mixed-use restoration of a historic bakery developed by Charlie Batch, GAI’s new headquarters, a new medical building, and new residential units spearheaded by architect Walter Haglund. “We’re gradually building a critical mass. There’s a tremendous amount of effort we’re undertaking in the main street and residential areas,” adds Lewis. “We’re trying to turn Seventh Avenue into a shopping street, since it faces the Waterfront.”

Lewis and Tener are also rehabilitating a property located across the street, where they plan to develop a cookery store and additional lofts.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Justin CummingsSources: David Lewis, 5 and 10 Lofts; , Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

Image courtesy Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
From:
POP CITY
May 21, 2008

Click It or Ticket

Kennywood shareholders OK sale to Spanish company

Kennywood Entertainment, parent company of the West Mifflin amusement park, now expects to complete the company's sale to Parques Reunidos of Spain near the end of May.

A majority of the Kennywood's owners, who are the 76 descendants of the park's two founding families, approved the transaction Monday night, said spokeswoman Mary Lou Rosemeyer. The tally, as well as the value of the deal, have not been disclosed.

The transaction still requires the approval of the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Connecticut. Aside from the West Mifflin park, the sale to the Spanish company includes Sandcastle Waterpark in West Homestead, and Idlewild & Soak Zone in Ligonier Township, as well as theme parks in Bristol, Conn., and Glen, N.H.

The sales agreement, which was struck in early December, had been expected to close by March.

Sandcastle Season Pass

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* Unlimited vists to Sandcastle Waterpark during the 2008 summer season
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* Discount on Kennywood NightRider admission when you present your Season Pass photo ID any evening after 5 pm at Kennywood (does not include Fright Nights)
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Circular Theory, a new exhibit at Artspace 105

Circular Theory, a new exhibit at Artspace 105 invites viewers on a journey into the visions of artist Betsy Jones.

Betsy Jones will display drawings and paintings June 7 through 28, 2008, at Artspace 105 in partnership with Steel Valley Arts Council (SVAC). Mrs. Jones is native to the Pittsburgh area and has participated in a number of group exhibits locally and internationally.

Circular Theory, Betsy’s first solo exhibition, includes a collection of imaginative geometric abstract landscapes that she calls “Circles”, using bold color and concentric circles which create stimulating layers of depth and visual interest. Also on display, “Lost Traditions” series is a stunning depiction of the lives of Geisha in Japan. As the Geisha diminish, their beauty, grace and art follow. This series highlights the elegant customs of these nearly forgotten women in a manner that aims to portray that beauty.

Steel Valley Arts Council (SVAC) is a not for profit, volunteer organization dedicated to nurturing the arts in the areas of Homestead, West Homestead, and Munhall. Betsy is delighted at the opportunity to exhibit at Artspace 105 with the support and guidance of SVAC, as her personal mission mirrors theirs in bringing the community together through universal language of the arts.

“Circular Theory” portrays beauty from East to West, as Betsy interprets her visions into reality.

Betsy Jones’ artwork can be seen through June beginning with an Opening Reception on Saturday, June 7th from 6 - 8 PM. Artspace 105, located at 105 Eighth Avenue, Homestead, Pa 15120, is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Saturdays from NOON - 4 PM and Wednesdays from 6 - 8 PM, or by appointment. Please call 412.476.0755. On street parking is available on 8th or 7th Avenues. The Closing Reception, June 28th, from 6 – 8 PM, features a gallery talk with the artist.

Children are encouraged to come to this event! All images are family friendly and there will be complimentary crayons and coloring books created by the artist available throughout the exhibition dates.

Betsy Jones may also be contacted directly with any questions regarding this exhibition or the artist’s works at LotusBGallery@yahoo.com.

Circular Theory, June 7 – June 28, 2008

Betsy Jones

Artspace 105, located at 105 Eighth Avenue Homestead, PA, 15120 (at the end of Gray’s bridge)

Contact: 412.476.0755 www.steelvalleyarts.org

Take a Bite Out of Crime

Munhall Neighborhood Watch Meetings

Thursday May 22, 2008 at 7:00pm
Carnegie Library of Homestead,
Shuffle Board room.
Located on 10th Ave.

Thursday May 29,2008 at 7pm
Munhall VFC#4 on Main St.

Monday June 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm
at Homestead Park United Methodist Church
Located on Shady Ave.

Thursday June 5, 2008 at 7pm
Munhall #2 Fire Dept.
Lower Level Rear
1900 West Street

Tuesday June 10, 2008 at 7pm
Munhall VFC #1
Martha Street

The Munhall Neighborhood Watch along With the Munhall Police Department will be holding a meeting to discuss how to implement the Crime Watch on your street and how working together we can make Munhall a safer place to live.

For more information or if you cannot attend please Email: munhallcrimewatch@comcast.net or call 412-464-7300

Dan Boehme
Crime Prevention Officer
Munhall Police Department

Nationals honor Negro Leagues

Both teams on Saturday wear Homestead Grays jerseys

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals paid tribute to Negro Leagues baseball as they took on the Pirates on Saturday afternoon.

The Nationals players wore the 1942 Homestead Grays home uniforms, while the Pirates wore the 1935 Homestead Grays road uniforms. The Homestead Grays played their home games at both Pittsburgh's Forbes Field and Washington's Griffith Stadium.

"I think it's important to acknowledge and remember what the Negro Leagues meant to baseball," Nationals utility player Willie Harris said. "To me, the way those players played in the Negro Leagues, it was 100 percent hustle. They played the game hard. We try to play the game like that today, but it was nothing like the way they played. It's definitely different."

Negro Leagues alumni Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, Pedro Sierra and James Tillman, as well as Geraldine Day, the wife of Leonard Day, and Sean Gibson, the great-great-grandson of Josh Gibson, were recognized during a pregame ceremony, while Sean Gibson threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Sierra delivered the Nationals' lineup card.