Pittsburgh’s First Blight Bootcamp

[dt_sc_h6 class=””]What is Pittsburgh Blight Bootcamp? [/dt_sc_h6]

November 7th was the first ever Pittsburgh Blight Bootcamp where residents, nonprofit professionals and government representatives were able to meet, mingle, and educate each other on topics surrounding the issues of vacancy and blight in the Pittsburgh region. Topics ranged from Resident Led Advocacy to Data Driven Decision Making. You can view the program of speakers here. This day long event connected residents to resources and best practices to increase the impact of community led blight elimination efforts.  This event was brought to you by the Pittsburgh Blight Working Group. A partnership between the City of Pittsburgh Office of the Mayor and Permits, Neighborhood Allies, PCRG, the Design Center of Pittsburgh and GTECH Strategies. Unable to make it to the event? The presentations will be available for viewing here!

 

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Fighting blight is definitely a collaborative effort, and the bootcamp encouraged interaction and support of the others around us fighting the same fight. Everyone in the group I brought were left feeling inspired and motivated by each other and by connections they made.” – Bethany Bloise, Mon Valley Initiative

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[dt_sc_h6 class=””]Residents of Pittsburgh have a say in fighting blight and were eager to speak at Blight Bootcamp. [/dt_sc_h6][dt_sc_blockquote type=”type1″ align=”left” variation=”gray” textcolor=”#000000″ cite=”” role=””]

Angela’s Story

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Northside resident and GTECH Ambassador Angela Williams presented her experience as a resident and advocate for her community. Angela’s street in Perry South has been surrounded by overgrown, empty lots for many years. She had a role in the transformation of other empty lots in her neighborhood in the past, but hadn’t yet attempted to take on the lot next to her home. After her sister, Starla, passed away unexpectedly in November of 2014, Angela decided to transform the lot next to her home into a beautiful space that would be dedicated to her sister. It is named Star Meditation Garden in her honor. Her inspiring presentation was well received and helped her make several connections with greening organizations and other motivated residents. When asked about the event, she said, “I think this is an excellent way to connect dedicated people to resources and I hope it continues.” You can learn more about Angela’s own fight against blight here.

 

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Resident involvement is crucial to collective impact

 

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Another resident speaker, Lydia Kramer from GTECH Strategies, also participated in the event. Reflecting on the first Bootcamp, Lydia said, “It was very inspiring to be amongst so many motivated people. It goes to show that things are happening in Pittsburgh and will continue to happen for years to come.” Her favorite part? “I loved that residents, organizations and local government all had an opportunity to represent their concerns surrounding blight. I am very excited about all the connections made that day and I hope that all of these groups are now even stronger partners.” 

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Heading home inspired

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Bethany Bloise, from the Mon Valley Initiative, attended with an interest in fighting blight in the communities in which she works. This includes Turtle Creek, East Pittsburgh and North Braddock. She feels that “Blight Bootcamp gave my North Braddock CDC the tools they needed in order to start surveying the blighted parcels in their community and to make a plan for each section/category of blight.” She goes on to say that “fighting blight is definitely a collaborative effort, and the bootcamp encouraged interaction and support of the others around us fighting the same fight. Everyone in the group I brought (18 people) were left feeling inspired and motivated by each other and by connections they made.”

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Final Thoughts

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The experiences of presenters and participants at Blight Bootcamp reflects an overall sense of accomplishment and inspiration. Once the event closed, there was an overwhelming sense of excitement and willingness to continue fighting blight. Stay tuned for next steps following this years Blight Bootcamp and we look forward for next years sessions. In the mean time, check out the photos below from the event! 

 

Did you know that volunteering not only helps your community, but you benefit as well? According to the Corporation for National and Community Service there is a lot that you can take away from a workday, other than an immense sense of achievement. Check out their report and see if you can relate to these volunteering benefits and what more you can gain from becoming more active in your community.

 

 

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Urban blight is often associated with decay, crime and instability. Blighted property is described by the Washington Post as “a contagious affliction.” Vacancy and subsequent blight begins to spread by depreciating adjacent property values, which discourages local residents from investing in home improvements and decreases the likelihood of banks to administer loans. The “affliction” reaches a certain threshold where it deters prospective investors and homebuyers, thus perpetuating the core problem. In 2001, a Philadelphia study found that houses within 150 feet of a vacant or abandoned property experienced a net loss of $7,627 in value. Properties within 150 to 300 feet experienced a loss of $6,819 and those within 300 to 450 feet experienced a loss of $3,542.

Strictly financially speaking, there is a massive incentive for reinvesting in blighted communities. A University of Minnesota study quantified the demolition of a vacant building and leaving a vacant lot instead led to “$26,397 in lost of property tax revenue over a twenty year period. This compounded over many vacant properties can lead to serious financial strain on small governments. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Quarterly, a 2010 study of Philadelphia reports, vacant properties cost $20 million in city services a year, almost half of which is spent on code enforcement and maintenance. Not only are vacant properties costly, the loss of millions of tax dollars furthers the financial burden.

All things considered, it can be much cheaper for groups or government agencies to reinvest in improving blighted infrastructure than to let the properties remain vacant. A reference to the St. Paul, Minnesota budget for the costs associated with vacant properties revealed that while demolition saves $4,697 the rehabilitation of a vacant building saves an estimated $7,141 in maintenance costs over a twenty-year period. 

Though the blight conditions may seem bleak, there are widespread efforts across the nation, including Allegheny County, which inspires hope for such communities. Many cities are receiving millions dollars in grant relief specifically to help mitigate the financial burden that blight brings to local and state municipalities. Blight focused programs, groups, and nonprofits are working harder than ever to ensure the future of underserved communities by providing new and innovative solutions for everyday citizens to help reclaim their communities.

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Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.  ~William Shakespeare

It is no secret that Japanese Knotweed has a strong hold in Allegheny County. But for those who have been battling the invasive plant, there is hope! Pumpkins and other squashes seem to be able to gain the upper hand and can help to fight out this voracious plant. To learn more about Knotweed, visit Grow Pittsburgh’s information page. If you’d like to fight off knotweed with squash, check out this article from the Post Gazette.

Growing pumpkins may not be for you, but have no fear, there are other ways to deal with this invasive menace. We posted fun recipes that you can make using young knotweed shoots! If you can’t beat it, eat it!

 

 

 

An inspirational story about how our very own Northside Ambassador, Cynthia Levy-Mendoza and family work together to transform their neighboring vacant lot into a wonderful community space. Check out Cynthia’s project page to learn more about her project and what her plans are for her vacant lot.

If you would like to meet Cynthia (and fam!) or visit her site, it will be featured on this years Two Wheels Lots of Green Bike Tour this Saturday August 22nd! Please register online and visit the GTECH info page  to learn more!

Join us this Saturday! Check out more information on the bike tour here and to register.

A lot of progress has been made by the ReClaim Northside Ambassadors! This summer we have moved tons of soil, planted dozens of flowers, and battled the veracious knotweed. Check out their vacant lot project pages to see even more photos and the ambassador’s stories.

We have allot of volunteer workdays throughout August and September, so stay tuned and check the events calendar for more information and how to join the effort!

 

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Dana is transforming a former reservoir site into a flourishing community space. The space will utilize recycled materials for seating and art pieces. She envisions her friends and neighbors using the space to have a picnic, walk their dogs or stroll alongside the flowers and trees.  

Read more about Dana on GTECH’s website.

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Thursday, April 9
10:00 AM
Wood Street Station – Downtown
Liberty Ave at Wood St

BikePGH and other Pittsburgh area leaders will be joining with counterparts nationwide, April 9, 2015 at a 10am press conference and rally at the Wood Street Station to:

1. Draw awareness to the looming federal transportation funding crisis, and
2. Call on Congress to pass a comprehensive, sustainable transportation funding package that includes biking and walking.

Whether you ride the T, bus or bike, walk or drive, the expiration of the federal funding bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), has a direct impact on southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy and your quality of life. On May 31, 2015, the nation’s transportation funding mechanism – the Highway Trust Fund – will be unable to fund any additional projects.

We need a funded multi-modal transportation bill that includes biking and walking.

Transportation is the backbone of our local and national economy. Without a long-term federal transportation funding bill, Pittsburgh and communities across the country will face tremendous economic and employment uncertainty. A long-term transportation bill is needed to reinforce and expand transportation choices, and to continue to grow our economy – locally and nationally.

Thursday, April 9 is Stand up for Transportation Day!

We hope you’ll join us on Thursday with partnering local organizations Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group and Pittsburghers for Public Transit! Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) with support from partners from transportation, business, labor and community oriented interests, Stand Up for Transportation Day will unite the voices of 200+ participating organizations in over 140 communities nationwide to focus on the federal transportation funding crisis’s urgency and provide a local context.

Take Action:

The League of American Bicyclists currently has an action alert asking Senate to pass Senate Bill S. 705, The Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act.

Ask your Senator to Co-Sponsor S. 705, The Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act.

The Transportation Alternatives Program provides hundreds of millions of dollars each year to local communities to invest in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. It’s the only federal program specifically focused on local transportation priorities. S. 705, the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act, written by Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), makes changes to the program to  make it more effective and easier for local governments to use.

Cara Jette was a GTECH ReClaim South Ambassador in 2013-2014. This was the project completed through the Ambassador program with support from the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, neighbors of the site, and broader Allentown residents.

[dt_sc_blockquote type=”type4″ align=”left”]“My neighborhood has been more on a downward trajectory, but recently in the past year there’s been some new life going on there. I’m really excited to watch that unfold and take part in it”[/dt_sc_blockquote]

From 1890 to 1960, the Knoxville Incline served as a connector between the South Side Flats and the hilltop. In 2011, a mural was added at the intersection of Brosville and East Warrington Avenue to remember the historic site. There is a foot trail accessible off of Brosville Street which leads to the Welsh Way stairs and Fritz Street – which both connect to the South Side Flats.

This project highlights the entrance and replaced the existing graffiti tagged jersey barriers with natural boulders. The Old Knoxville Incline Trail Project uses a mix of native and locally-sourced perennials, trees and other plantings to highlight the trail to a natural clearing spot that provides scenic views of Downtown Pittsburgh that will be beautified with brightly colored seating. The historic bridge was scraped, primed and painted a cheerful Pittsburgh yellow.