Affecting our immediate neighborhood is the proposal to combine the 63B and 68G routes into one (approximately) combined route, P71 Swisshelm Park-Rankin Flyer, while at the same time reducing the number of scheduled runs during the week and significantly reducing the scheduled runs on week-ends.

Additionally, this new route is designated a “premium” route and subject to a higher fare of $4 one way and $160 for a monthly pass.

For those that walk to the bus way, the EBA and EBO would have reduced service, and the EBS would be eliminated.

There will be a period of public comment followed by an all day public hearing for the proposal on August 19, 2010.  Details may be found on the Port Authority website: http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/CompanyInfo/Financials/FundingCrisis/tabid/538/Default.aspx

The meeting will be from 7-9 PM at Pittsburgh Peabody High School, 515 N. Highland Ave. (East Liberty)

Read more about the Advisory Committee’s work here.

Residents may apply by:

• Calling 412-350-3723 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Email name and phone number to furnace@alleghenycounty.us

Annual Income Eligibility Guidelines for Residential Furnace & Hot Water Heater Program

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato reinstated a free County program to help residents replace furnaces and hot water heaters that were damaged as a result of flooding due to the severe weather on Wed., June 17.

“We’re still assessing the damage from last night’s storms, but we know there are residents who need our help,” said Onorato. “Today, I have reinstated the residential furnace and hot water heater program so we can help people get back on their feet during these tough economic times.”

Allegheny County will repair or replace furnaces and hot water heaters in residences where the existing units were damaged or destroyed by flood waters. Residents who earn up to 80 percent of the area median income are eligible for the program (see guidelines).

Allegheny County residents may apply for the free program by calling 412-350-3723 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by e-mailing their name and phone number to furnace@alleghenycounty.us. Applicants for the program must provide proof of income.

I was wondering if I could ask a favor of all of you. My friend Sarah called me this morning very upset. She lives in South Oakland and her dog ran out while her landlord was showing her apartment.Someone contacted her saying she thinks she spotted her at Edgewood Town Center and thought the dog may be in our neighborhood/in Frick Park. She asked if I could keep an eye out for her and if anyone I know in the neighborhood could as well. Please see below for pictures and Sarah’s contact information. And please send to anyone else in the neighborhood. You can call me (518-281-8431) or Sarah (just say you know me) if you think you see her. (724-992-1505)

Thanks so much!

-Miranda

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

This hearing is to review an application for a variance from the zoneing code regarding signage. The  Department of City Planning was unable to actually locate the application in the file, so that could not entirely explain what the request was. However, they took my contact information and promissed to call when the application was complete. It was thought that it was specifically regarding the number of signs permitted per facade (normally only one is permitted) as well as the size of the signs, and a sign wall on the corner of Penn and South Braddock.

Nothing looked particularly out of the ordinary on the signage on the building itself. The sign wall might potentially be a concern with it’s height being about 5’9″ on the plan, though it may be far enough back into the lot to not pose an issue. It is hard to tell for sure, as the plans on file were very small and hard to read.

Q and A about the GPPNA street tree program

1. Who can get a street tree?
2. Are street trees available to property owners in the parts of Wilkinsburg that are in the Greater Park Place neighborhood?
3. What do I have to do to get a tree?
4. What is a tree request form?
5. What happens after I fill out and drop off my tree request form?
6. What is a site analysis?
7. If I own a property in Wilkinsburg in the greater Park Place neighborhood, will the FPUF do a site analysis similar to the site analysis done on city properties?
8. How do you determine who gets a tree and who doesn’t?
9. Who are the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest (FPUF) you keep mentioning?
10. Can I have more than one tree if I own more than one property?
11. I have been trying to get a street tree through the city’s street tree program for a long time. Can I still request a street tree through the GPPNA street tree program if I have already requested one from the city?
12. Where will my tree be planted?
13. What is the public right-of-way?
14. What kind of tree can I get?
15. Are these trees really free?
16. When will I get my tree?
17. How will my tree get planted?
18. How big will my tree be when it is planted?
19. How big will my tree eventually get? How much shade will it cast?
20. Am I guaranteed a tree if I submit a tree request form?
21. What if I submit a tree request form but then decide I don’t want a tree?
22. Who is responsible for maintaining the tree after it is planted?
23. Why should I get a street tree?
24. Why should I not get a street tree?
25. Can I order my own tree and get reimbursed?
26. Can I put the tree in my backyard?
27. What if my tree dies?

1. Who can get a street tree?

Any property owner in the greater Park Place neighborhood is eligible for a street tree. Individual home owners, rental property owners, and owners of commercial property are all eligible for street trees. Please see the map of the greater Park Place neighborhood to see if your property is within the neighborhood.

2. Are street trees available to property owners in the parts of Wilkinsburg that are in the Greater Park Place neighborhood?

Yes. The GPPNA street tree program is available to property owners in the city and in Wilkinsburg, as long as those properties are within the greater Park Place neighborhood. Please see the map of the greater Park Place neighborhood to see if your property is within the neighborhood.

3. What do I have to do to get a tree?

Property owners interested in getting a free street tree must fill out a tree request form and send it to Henry Schumacher at 305 East End Ave., Pgh, 15221. You can mail it or drop it off in Henry’s mailbox. Henry will deliver the tree request forms to the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest (FPUF), a non-profit group that handles the city’s street tree programs.

4. What is a tree request form?

A tree request form must be filled out by any property owner interested in getting a street tree through this program. The city uses these request forms for its street tree program, but there is currently a waiting list for street trees through the city. However, the tree request forms used for the street tree program in the greater Park Place neighborhood will all be bundled by the GPPNA and submitted for this project so there is no waiting list. Download the tree request here: Tree Request Form.

5. What happens after I fill out and drop off my tree request form?

The FPUF will conduct a site analysis of your property. The site analysis will help the FPUF to determine the best spot(s) on your property to plant a tree, and what species are most suitable for your property. Site analyses will be conducted in the order in which tree request forms are received. The one exception to the first-come, first-serve rule is that priority will be given to properties on East End Ave. and S. Braddock Ave. from Penn Ave. to Tuscarora St.

6. What is a site analysis?

The site analyses will take account of overhead and underground utilities, proximity of other trees, proximity of street signs and intersections, and other factors. Based on the site analysis, the FPUF will recommend 1) the best and/or worst spot(s) on your property for a tree to grow and survive, and 2) what species will do best on your property.

7. If I own a property in Wilkinsburg in the greater Park Place neighborhood, will the FPUF do a site analysis similar to the site analysis done on city properties?

Yes. Generally, the FPUF only works within the city limits, but they will provide site analyses for property owners in Wilkinsburg, as long as those properties are within the greater Park Place neighborhood.

8. How do you determine who gets a tree and who doesn’t?

There is a three part answer to this question.

1. We have money for 40-60 trees, so we will continue to offer trees until we’ve used all the money up.
2. Only property owners who submit a tree request form will be eligible for trees, so if you want a tree, be sure to submit a request form. Site analyses will be conducted in the order in which we received your tree request form. The one exception to this first come, first serve rule is that any property on East End Ave. or S. Braddock Ave. between Penn Ave. and Tuscarora St. will be given priority. These properties have priority because they will be the most affected by the Walgreens development project. The money for this street tree project is coming from Paradise Developers, the development company running the Walgreens project. The prioritization of this area attempts to alleviate any impacts of the development on the properties in the immediately vicinity.
3. If the FPUF’s site analysis determines that your property is suitable for a tree, you will get a tree. However, if the FPUF’s site analysis concludes that your property is not suitable for a tree, you will not be eligible for a tree through this program.

9. Who are the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest (FPUF) you keep mentioning?

The FPUF is a non-profit group in charge of the city’s street tree program and was set up by the shade tree commission. They work with individual property owners, neighborhood associations, developers, and community development groups within the city to plant and maintain street trees. For our street tree program, the FPUF will work with property owners in Wilkinsburg as well as property owners in the city. For more information about FPUF, you can contact them by phone (412-362-6360), or visit (http://pittsburghforest.org/).

10. Can I have more than one tree if I own more than one property?

Yes, however, there is a limit of one tree per property. The goal of this street tree program is to plant as many street trees as possible, therefore individuals who own more than one property will be allowed to submit one tree request form for each property they own (the submission of a tree request form does not guarantee that any property owner will receive a tree – see question 18). To be as fair as possible in distributing trees, 1 (one) tree will be given to each eligible property owner1 until all eligible property owners have a tree. If there are remaining funds after each eligible property owner has received 1 (one) street tree, the remaining funds will be used to provide street trees to property owners who have submitted multiple tree request forms. If more than one individual has submitted tree request forms for multiple properties, street trees will be evenly distributed amongst these individuals

1 An eligible property owner is a property owner who has submitted a tree request form, had a site analysis from the FPUF, and has agreed to plant a species recommended by the FPUF in a location recommended by the FPUF

11. I have been trying to get a street tree through the city’s street tree program for a long time. Can I still request a street tree through the GPPNA street tree program if I have already requested one from the city?

Yes. All we ask is that you let us know that you have previously requested a street tree through the city. The GPPNA is working with the FPUF on this project, and the FPUF is in charge of the city’s street tree program. If you let us know that you have previously requested a street tree, the FPUF can update its street tree request database and take you off that list if you get a street tree through the GPPNA program.

12. Where will my tree be planted?

The specific placement of a tree depends on the results of the FPUF’s site analysis. However, the FPUF will evaluate potential planting sites anywhere in your front yard and in the public right-of-way between the sidewalk and street curb (see question 12 for more information about the right of way). We would prefer people to plant trees in their front yards rather than the public right of way, so that we can afford to provide more trees to our neighbors. Trees planted in the public right of way require a 3′ x 10′ opening in the sidewalk, which will require sidewalks to be cut by a contractor. Each sidewalk cut will cost $150 – $300, which can buy 1-3 more street trees. We would like to cut as few sidewalks as possible in order to provide as many trees as possible.

13. What is the public right-of-way?

A public right of way is the part of a property that is maintained by the property owner for public use. A sidewalk is an example of a public right of way. Interestingly, one of the many quirks that makes Pittsburgh special is that the distance the public right of way extends into your yard from the street varies from street to street! On some streets in Park Place, the public right of way ends at the sidewalks, while on other streets the public right of way extends beyond the sidewalk and into the yard. The FPUF representative who conducts the site analysis for your property will be able to tell you where the public right of way is on your property.

For the GPPNA street tree program, when we talk about the public right of way, we are generally referring to the small grassy area between the sidewalk and the street curb. If trees are not planted in your front yard, they will be planted in this area.

14. What kind of tree can I get?

The species of tree depends on the results of the FPUF’s site analysis. After conducting a site analysis, the FPUF will provide each property owner with a list of tree species suitable for their property. Different property owners may have different species to choose from or a different number of suitable species, depending on the results of the site analysis. Property owners must choose a species from the list provided by the FPUF to get a tree through this program.

15. Are these trees really free?

Yes. You pay nothing for these trees or for the planting. You will be responsible for maintaining the tree (i.e. mulching, weeding, watering) and the costs associated with this maintenance.

16. When will I get my tree?

Early to mid-April, 2008. Spring is a good time to plant trees, before they set out their leaves. If we do not use all of the funds, we will continue to advertise this program and accept tree request forms through the year in order to spend the remaining funds on a fall planting in October or November, 2008.

17. How will my tree get planted?

The GPPNA is organizing volunteer tree planting with the help of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association (NMRWA) and the FPUF. We ask that any property owners receiving a tree through this program help plant their tree. We will be asking for volunteers to help plant trees, so stay tuned for more information about this exciting opportunity.

18. How big will my tree be when it is planted?

Each sapling will be about 10 years old, 2 inches diameter at chest height (about 4.5 feet off the ground), and about 10-15 feet tall.

19. How big will my tree eventually get? How much shade will it cast?

The answers to these questions depend on the tree species. Some species remain relatively small and are suitable for planting under utility lines, while other species can grow as tall as your house or taller. Similarly, some species cast more shade than others, some species lose their leaves, and some species never lose their leaves. After your site analysis, you will be able to discuss the characteristics of the trees recommended for planting on your site. Before you decide on a species to plant, you can get answers to these questions for the species recommended for your site from the FPUF representative conducting the site analysis or Henry Schumacher.

20. Am I guaranteed a tree if I submit a tree request form?

No. The GPPNA has $10,000 for this project and hopes to plant 40-60 trees with this money. Site analyses will be conducted in the order in which tree request forms are received (however, see exception in part ii of question 6). You will not receive a street tree if the FPUF site analysis determines that your property is not suitable for a street tree.

In order to provide as many trees as possible with the available funding, we prefer to do as few sidewalk cuts as possible. We ask that you consider planting in your front yard, rather than the public right of way, so we can maximize the benefit of this program for our neighborhood.

21. What if I submit a tree request form but then decide I don’t want a tree?

No problem. Just let Henry Schumacher know as soon as possible that you no longer want a tree. This way, the money can be used to provide another neighbor with a street tree.

22. Who is responsible for maintaining the tree after it is planted?

Property owners are responsible for weeding, mulching, and watering their new tree.

If the tree is planted in the public right of way, the tree is the property of the city and the city is responsible for pruning the tree. If the tree is planted in the front yard of your property (in an area that does not fall within the public right of way), you are responsible for pruning and maintaining the tree. Please note that the public right of way may extend into your front yard. See question 12 for more detail on the public right of way.

23. Why should I get a street tree?

There are plenty of reasons you may want a tree, including aesthetic or practical reasons. Street trees provide shade and character for our neighborhood. Well maintained trees can increase property values, provide privacy, and may help reduce your air conditioning costs. Street trees help create a relaxing environment, reduce air pollution, and reduce water runoff during storms.

24. Why should I not get a street tree?

Street trees require maintenance, especially during the first 3 years after transplanting. You will be responsible for mulching, weeding, watering, and raking up leaves from your new tree. If you do not have the time, or do not want the responsibility, a new tree may not be right for you at this time.

25. Can I order my own tree and get reimbursed?

No. To participate in this project you must submit a tree request form, have a site analysis, and plant one of the recommended species in one of the suitable spots in your yard. If you would like to buy a tree for your front yard, we are fully supportive of your decision, but we cannot reimburse you for your purchase.

26. Can I put the tree in my backyard?

No. You cannot plant a tree received through this program in your backyard. This program is not only for the benefit of property owners, but also for the benefit of everyone in the neighborhood. For the neighborhood to benefit most, you must plant the tree in your front yard or in the public right of way along the street.

27. What if my tree dies?

Proper maintenance of your new street tree will minimize the chance of your tree dying, however, some of the new trees we plant will die. If your new tree dies within a year of transplanting, it may be covered by a warranty from the nursery (these details are still being worked out, so we cannot guarantee there will be a warrantee yet). If your tree dies after the first year and if there are still funds available for this program, the GPPNA will work with you and the FPUF to replace the tree with a new sapling. However, if your tree dies after the first year and the GPPNA no longer has funding for this program, we cannot replace the tree.

Food, live music and many other fun activities were the center of this year’s Park Place picnic. A couple hundred attended to see the petting zoo, get airbrush tattoos, play the Park Place trivia challenge, and collect balloon art. Many took a break from the heat by volunteering for the dunking station or joining in the water balloon fights.

2007 Park Place Trivia Challenge

Come join your friends and neighbors at Park Place’s annual picnic. Abbott Street will be blocked off and set up for the annual community picnic. Hotdogs and beverages will be provided for free, and attendees are encouraged to bring side dishes or desserts to share. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and have fun.

Come enjoy:

• Live Music
• Moon Bounce
• Air Brush Tatoos
• Petting Zoo
• Park Place Trivia Game
• Information Booth
• And More!

Spnsored by Pittsburgh City Parks.