Park Place Blog

The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park (ECS) in Regent Square is continuing its effort to expand by purchasing 309 Braddock Avenue, the historic former Park Place School building that currently functions as apartments. A public hearing is scheduled before the Planning Commission for Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 2:00pm on the first floor of the John P. Robin Civic Building, 200 Ross Street in downtown Pittsburgh. (see attached letter and comment form: Hearing Notice Letter)

ECS has held two community meetings in Park Place, the first in June 2010 and the most recent was four months ago in July 2010 (see our archives: Meeting Notes from 6/3/2010 Charter School Community Meeting and Meeting Notes from 7/14/2010 Charter School Meeting ). The residents that attended asked questions, raised concerns (especially about parking and traffic) and made comments both in favor and in opposition to the proposal.

At this time, ECS has submitted their most recent proposal to Planning Commission requesting a conditional use that will permit using the building as a school.

Via a phone conversation with GPPNA’s new president elect, Jim Lenkner, Jon McCann said they had met several times with city planning and with individual neighbors of the school through the summer and had investigated options for traffic, etc.

He also stated that they met several more times with Shadyside Academy and conducted a new traffic study during September.

• McCann said they ruled out changing the directions of either side streets, and they ruled out installing a traffic light.
• They will schedule the start of the school day to be offset from Shadyside Academy so that both schools will not have the same arrival departure times.
• Two crossing guards will be employed one at Brashear and one at Waverly
• He also noted that 80% of ECS students are expected to arrive by school bus, which is more than Shadyside academy. Also suggesting, that auto volumes would be less than that of Shadyside Academy.
• ECS plans for 240 students.

Jon McCann assured Jim Lenkner that ECS is committed to working with the community and that they did their best to address the concerns that have been raised from community members throughout the process.

Going forward, two meetings will be held at the City Planning Commission, at 200 Ross Street downtown, first floor, to request a conditional use. The first meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 1 pm. There is no public testimony here, but ECS will brief Planning Commission about their proposed plan. On Tuesday, December 7 the Commission has scheduled a vote at a 2 pm meeting. This meeting is also a public hearing where community members may speak for up to 3 minutes. If there is substantial objection, Planning often sends the applicant back to make relevant changes. Often the Commission convenes several meetings to try to bring all the sides together. ECS is not the only item on the agenda for either of these meetings, and sometimes they last a long time. In order to express your opinions, it’s important to show up in at both of them, but especially the 2nd one. There is no advance signup. Just get there early and get in line.

After the Commission votes, City Council must vote. This is another opportunity for community members to speak up. There will probably be a public hearing prior to the City Council meeting.

From A+ Schools Website.

Choosing Our Next Superintendent: A Community Discussion

Thursday November 11th 6-8 PM
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Wylie Avenue, Hill District
Dinner will be served
Childcare available for children over 1 (must pre-register)

Join us for an informative and interactive community discussion. Speakers include Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools and an education advocate currently spearheading efforts to boost academic performance in the nation’s big-city schools; and Thomas Payzant, professor of practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, former superintendent of Boston Public Schools and former assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education with the U.S. Department of Education.

Following the presentations, community members will meet in small groups for a guided discussion on qualities, qualifications and priorities for the new Pittsburgh Public School superintendent. They also will participate in hand-held polling. A report on the discussion and polling results will be presented to the Pittsburgh Board of Education immediately following the community meeting for the board’s consideration in the selection process.

This meeting is co-sponsored by the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.

You can register for the event here. (Registration is only required if childcare is needed.)

Last night, there was a very sad incident here in Park Place. Late in the evening a dog was being walked on East End by his owner, between Tuscarora and Brashear Street, when a pitt bull from a few houses down escaped it’s chain and attacked the dog being walked.

Despite the best efforts of the owner and others who came to help, they were unable to prevent the pit bull from mauling the other dog to death. The pit bull has since been euthanized. This is a heartbreaking outcome for all involved, as two families have lost pets as a result.
(See news articles here:
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/allegheny/25555778/detail.html
http://www.wpxi.com/news/25554446/detail.html
)

This tragedy presents an opportunity to reflect on how we can protect ourselves and our neighbors from this sort of needless incident.

We live in a neighborhood with close proximity to the park and lots of dog owners that take advantage of that fact and live in the immediate community. This is not the first incident of this kind in our area, as in past years we have had cats attacked, and many have seen national news headlines where even people have been killed by dogs.

It is an unfortunate fact that some people select breeds that require advanced skill and experience in dog training, when they are in fact incapable or unmotivated to do the work required to remain in control of their pet. The puppy that was so cute when they first came home, grows into an animal that can be deadly if not properly trained.

I would recommend that those walking their dogs attempt to be aware of the dogs in the area where they walk, and particularly ones which are not contained by a fence. While this is not always easy, or completely effective, it may help you avoid potential problem situations.

If you find yourself the owner of a dog that shows aggression towards others, buy a fence of sufficient hight to contain them, or leave them inside at all times unless on a leash and muzzled– provided you are physically cable of restraining them. Go to training classes to learn what you are doing wrong with managing your dog. (If you are having aggression problems with your dog, make no mistake, it is you, not the dog with the problem.) Finally if you cannot afford these measures, find the time, or you just are plain unsuccessful for whatever reason, then you need to place the dog for adoption and get a more innately mild (and perhaps small) breed that will not pose such a danger when you do not control them. Or consider a gold fish.

Some online resources for owners dealing with aggressive dogs can be found here.

Concerned about an agressive or uncontrolled dog in your neighborhood? You can take steps to force the owner to take actions. See this article here: Take Action Against Dangerous Neighborhood Dogs

Ballots are now available here and can be sent in by mail. Ballots must be received by Monday, November 1st. You must be a member in good standing for your ballot to be counted. If you need to send a membership application and dues for the year ($10 a year, per person), you may place your ballot in a separate blank envelope and mail it in with your application and dues.

If you believe you paid your dues for 2010-2011, make sure that your name is legibly printed on the outside of your envelope so we can verify that you are in good standing, and place your ballot in an unmarked envelope inside. If you need to determine whether or not you have paid your dues for the current year (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011), please e-mail us at infoATparkplaceblogDOTcom.

CANDIDATES FOR GPPNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The GPPNA Bylaws permit the Board to have up to nine members. Current members who are not up for reelection are: Sabina Deitrick, John Mayberry, Khrys Myrddin, and Timothy Sweet. We have five candidates running for five open positions:  Sue Breslow, Katy Frey, Mary Hupe, Jim Lenkner, and Joni Rabinowitz. Continue reading Ballots now available. »

Come to the Social Hall at Waverly Presbyterian Church (corner S. Braddock & Forbes Aves) at 7PM to hear what GPPNA has been doing for the last year and vote in the annual election for the Board of Directors. If you have not yet joined, or need to renew your membership, you can fill out a membership application and mail it with your $10 annual dues to the address on the form. You will also be able to complete a form and pay dues at the meeting.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE MEETING, YOU CAN STILL VOTE. Ballots will be available on the website and can be sent in by mail. Ballots must be received by Monday, November 1st. You must be a member in good standing for your ballot to be counted. If you need to send a membership application and dues for the year, you may place your ballot in a separate blank envelope and mail it in with your application and dues.

CANDIDATES FOR GPPNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The GPPNA Bylaws permit the Board to have up to nine members. Current members who are not up for reelection are: Sabina Deitrick, John Mayberry, Khrys Myrddin, and Timothy Sweet. We have five candidates running for five open positions: Sue Breslow, Katy Frey, Mary Hupe, Jim Lenkner, and Joni Rabinowitz.

Susan Breslow

I am a native of Pittsburgh and have lived in either the city or suburbs for all but eight years of my life. I’ve lived on East End Avenue in Park Place for the past thirteen years.

We are fortunate to have the Greater Park Place Neighborhood Association as one more great thing to love about this neighborhood. I’m excited about the possibility of participating in all of the conversations about our shared civic life that takes place both within and outside of our Park Place boundaries.  Some new ideas I would like to explore in the next two years include developing a special event for all the dogs and dog owners in our neighborhood, seeing if there is interest in a program for residents who have home-based business (e.g. getting together for lunch once a month), and connecting with the firemen who operate out of the firehouse at the corner of Hamilton and North Braddock Avenues.

I am ready to support the neighborhood programs and events that are already operating and need to be maintained as well as those ideas and initiatives that are still being developed by the current Board. I’m particularly interested in increasing the circulation of the fabulous Park Place Update e-newsletter, pursuing more funding for programs, maintaining ties with our City Councilman’s office, and all activities that involve maintaining and upgrading the appearance, function, and value of our houses apartments, landscapes, streets, and infrastructure.

I am an architect and have my own small office in Edgewood. I work with property owners and construction contractors and plan renovations and additions to single family houses and small commercial and institutional buildings.  Before being self-employed I worked for firms that provide architectural services to a variety of larger public and private entities.

Katy Frey

I moved to Park Place in 2008 and as homeowners in the second house from the Walgreen’s, my husband and I consider ourselves de facto gatekeepers to the neighborhood. I love the friendly and civic-minded nature of Park Place residents, and am especially interested in pedestrian safety, preventing crime, and supporting development that has a positive impact on our community. My professional background is in education, and I’m currently working as a high school math teacher.

Mary Hupe

I have lived in Park Place since 1980 with my husband Ken. I began my community involvement by passing out Citiparks coupons and Zoo tickets with my toddler son. From there I helped get Park Place recognized as a city neighborhood, served as association president, took Community Festival training, and began hosting the Park Place Picnic. I have also served as a member and officer of the Zone 4 Citizens Public Safety Council for 20 years.

In the past, Park Place Association was an informal collection of Block Watch groups that gathered for meetings as issues arose, and at the annual picnic. Now we live in a time when our neighborhood association needs to be more tightly and formally organized so that we have a strong and recognizable voice in our future.
I welcome the talents and knowledge of our residents who have stepped forward to incorporate the organization, fight for neighborhood preservation and keep us all informed.
I would be honored to continue my involvement with Park Place by serving on the Board.

Jim Lenkner

The Park Place Neighborhood has been my home for more than twenty five years. It is the place where my wife and I purchased two different houses and raised our two children.

I believe GPPNA can serve to mobilize the strengths of our community so that we can respond to future challenges and opportunities as a chorus of different yet harmonious voices. In my professional life, I work with many non-profits, foundations and schools, mostly in the area of public education and technology. My interests are in the area of public education, safety, affordable housing and quality of life. Despite the large percentage of rental units in Park Place, it is not a transient neighborhood. I’d like to think we can keep our neighborhood a place where people stay.

As a member of the GPPNA board I will gladly contribute to the communications, outreach and organizational work of the association and I commend Stephanie, Mary, John, Jim and the many others who have diligently worked to establish the association. There is a lot of talent in this community. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Joni Rabinowitz

My husband John Haer and I have lived in Park Place since 1976.  I’ve always been a big fan of the neighborhood.  I’ve worked for many years on the summer picnic and was also one of the spearheads of the campaign to stop Walgreens from tearing down 3 houses. (It was a partial victory).  As a trained “tree-tender” I worked on the first and 2nd tree planting in the neighborhood. John and I are Democratic committee people and work to get voters out for 2 elections every year. One of us is always at the polls on election day. I would like to serve on the board. I would like to work on getting another tree planting and getting the 2 houses sold on East End and Braddock next to Walgreens.