Steel Valley area business owners and government officials got a taste of future development via a breakfast meeting at the Bulgarian-Macedonial National Educational & Cultural Center in West Homestead.
Kitty Lesko, Steel Valley Enterprise Zone Corp. president, welcomed guests at Wednesday morning's event. A presentation by SVEZC coordinator Chuck Starrett, as well as positive speeches from I-TEAM President and Executive Director Eddie Wehrer and Homestead council President Drew Borcik followed.
"With today's event, what we're trying to do is connect with the business people, building owners and residents of the area," Starrett said. "Things are going on. There are major investments taking place. All of the projects that we talk about are not easy to undertake. Renovating buildings, building new buildings, is expensive."
The SVEZC is the economic development vehicle for Homestead, West Homestead, Munhall and a portion of Pittsburgh's 31st Ward. SVEZC administers the state-designated Enterprise Zone Program and links to many other resources locally, in Allegheny County, and at the state and federal levels.
I-TEAM, a grass-roots community organization, was founded in August 2007 and has provided a variety of hands-on learning activities for students in the area. Participants do not have to attend Steel Valley schools, but must live within the district.
Starrett's presentation focused on development in the area since 1997 when Homestead and neighboring communities were stuck with the decaying Homestead Works site and not much development. Approximately $750 million worth of investments have been made in Steel Valley since that time.
In 2000, a comprehensive urban design plan was adopted. The Waterfront opened that same year. Other developments highlighted in the presentation include the Urban Design Ventures building along E. Eighth Avenue, Steeler quarterback Charlie Batch's renovation of the historic Homestead Bakery at 235 E. Seventh Ave., as well as renovations to the old Half Brothers building in the borough.
Businesses that recently opened in the area include the Tin Front Cafe at 216 E. Eighth Ave. and the Blue Dust Bar & Restaurant at 601 Amity St.
Starrett said approximately 50 loft apartment units are expected to be open soon along the 100 and 200 blocks of E. Eighth and Seventh avenues, and other developments are in the works.
Wehrer said Steel Valley has a lot to feel good about, and focused on the impact school districts have on communities and how his organization is trying to help the education of future employees and business owners.
"I have an awful lot of pride in the place," he said. "That's probably a common theme for a lot of the people that are here. I know not everybody here has grown up here. Those who did have that pride and I think those who have moved in the area have gained that pride themselves.
"We're a strong people. The mills are no longer here, obviously, but that toughness and that spirit of the people who were working for Carnegie Steel and U.S. Steel is still with us. That's what really has enabled us to move from 1997 with nothing but brown(fields) to 2009, and you've got a lot of development going on in the area.
"The value of their homes are directly tied to the successes and failures of that school district. Everybody who owns a business here, the value of the business is tied to that perceived quality of the Steel Valley education. (With) professional development for teachers and the summer camp for students, as much as anything, we're trying to foster teamwork, trying to set high standards. Teamwork is huge with what we try to do."
Borcik discussed the cooperation between Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall officials as well as others through the Steel Valley Intergovernmental Steering Committee and its subcommittees.
He said it was perceived that the three boroughs were in competition with each other, and measures were taken to change that in order to help the area move forward.
"We're moving ahead and I'm very happy about that," Borcik said. "Many of us here share a common history and common memories."
Allegheny County council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, said he and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato hosted a delegation of county commissioners from all over the nation and took them on a tour in the Homestead area as part of the G-20 summit.
"I think there has been an awful lot of cooperation and an awful lot of good people who have led the three boroughs," he said.
"I think that is really what has led to a lot of the revitalization and the hope we all have moving forward. I think 10 years ago, we did have a much different attitude about what could occur and much more fear and trepidation as to what the future is.
"Today, I think we all have a much different attitude and we see some of the growth potential that continues to occur."
"It takes many different aspects to bring it all together, and that's key," Lesko said.
Information about the many initiatives in the area were available after the meeting.
Area businesses and others who wish to learn more about how to develop facilities in Steel Valley and keep updated on such situations can do so online at www.svezc.org or www.steelvalleyavenues.com.
Information also is available by calling 412-462-8870
By Michael DiVittorio, Daily News Staff Writer Thursday, October 15, 2009
