Julia Felton stories, Page 10
Pittsburgh to provide protection for renters experiencing domestic violence
Pittsburgh renters experiencing domestic violence will now be able to terminate leases early without penalty and request locks to be changed. Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that requires landlords to permit domestic violence victims to exit leases early without penalty and requires them to change victims’ locks...
Homeowners need protection from predatory property wholesalers, experts tell Pittsburgh City Council
Housing experts told Pittsburgh City Council members Wednesday that legislation is needed to protect vulnerable homeowners from predatory residential property wholesalers. Legislation introduced in August would require residential property wholesalers — corporations that buy up houses and sell, lease or use them for Airbnbs — to get an annual license....
Pittsburgh police officer to receive living kidney donation
Pittsburgh police Officer Jeffrey Crawford is scheduled to receive a living kidney donation next month after about two years of dialysis treatment. The city held a ceremony on Tuesday recognizing Crawford and his kidney donor Sonya Brown. Pittsburgh officials and representatives from the National Kidney Foundation credited Crawford for helping...
Allegheny County Council proposal would ban single-use plastic bags
Allegheny County Council is set to consider a ban on single-use plastic bags that largely mimics a similar measure recently implemented in Pittsburgh. The measure is set to be introduced to County Council on Tuesday. Council members Anita Prizio, Olivia Bennett, Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis and Paul Klein are sponsoring the legislation....
Rollout of Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban leaves some customers, businesses confused
Pittsburgh officials say they are working to address areas of confusion as the city’s plastic bag ban takes effect. The ban, meant to reduce litter and waste, went into effect earlier this month. It prohibits most single-use plastic bags, but allows exceptions for unpackaged prepared foods, produce bags, meat packaging,...
Butler’s Mike Kelly again votes against Jim Jordan for House speaker
A Republican congressman from Western Pennsylvania again voted against U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, being named House speaker. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, instead voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Jordan for a third time failed to garner the necessary votes to become speaker. This comes about two...
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to replace water mains with $37.3M in state funding
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority plans to replace about four miles of water mains in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights and Squirrel Hill South neighborhoods. The authority said it has secured a $37.3 million funding package from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the project to replace aging and undersized water...
Pittsburgh considers peak pricing, more metered parking in Lawrenceville’s business district
Parking has been a problem for Eric Keller since he opened a business on Lawrenceville’s busy Butler Street about seven years ago. Keller said it’s hard for his customers at Lawrenceville Pet Supply to find parking spots in the crowded business district, but he’s hopeful that legislation before Pittsburgh City...
Recovery specialists would respond to Pittsburgh overdose calls in $1M pilot program
Pittsburgh is looking to launch a pilot program that would help people who have overdosed. In the proposed Post Overdose Support Team — or POST — pilot program, teams of certified peer recovery specialists and case managers would respond to overdose calls and help connect overdose victims with recovery services,...
Warhol Museum proposes $45M entertainment venue on Pittsburgh’s North Shore
The Andy Warhol Museum is looking to expand with a new, $45 million entertainment venue in Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Dan Law, the museum’s associate director, said the proposed Pop District Entertainment Venue is part of the Andy Warhol Museum’s Pop District initiative, which aims to include “physical and programmatic expansion...
Proposed video screen would show Pirates games in North Shore plaza
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission is considering a proposal to put a large video screen in a new plaza near PNC Park where people could watch Pirates games, though commissioners have voiced concerns that the screen may be visible from as far as I-279. A new plaza space is set to be...
B’Nai Israel Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Garfield recommended for historic designation
Pittsburgh’s Historic Review Commission and Planning Commission have recommended the former B’nai Israel Synagogue in Garfield for historic designation. The North Negley Avenue site was recently redeveloped into a 45-unit, mixed-income housing complex called The Carina. Boston-based Beacon Communities, which owns the site, nominated the former synagogue for historic designation...
Affordable housing projects in Allegheny County to receive $24M in state grants
More than a dozen affordable housing projects in Allegheny County are set to receive more than $24 million from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The agency last week announced a total of $98 million in grants that will assist 66 housing projects across Pennsylvania. The Housing Options Grant Program was...
Nonprofit looks to develop laboratories for STEM programming in Hill District
Plans are in the works to build laboratory space for STEM programming in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. The city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority board on Thursday unanimously approved plans to sell property in the Hill District to The Citizens Science Lab. The Citizens Science Lab previously had a location in the Hill...
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority seeks input on $10M affordable housing plan
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is seeking public input on a $10 million spending plan for its Housing Opportunity Plan. The proposed spending plan for the Housing Opportunity Fund, the city’s trust fund supporting affordable housing, includes $2 million for the URA’s Rental Gap Program. That program provides loans to nonprofit...
Control of parking lots on former Civic Arena site to shift from Penguins to 2 government agencies
Control of the parking lots at the former Civic Arena site in the Lower Hill District will shift from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Sports & Exhibition Authority later this month. The Penguins have been paying rent and retaining net parking revenue from the...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy working to improve sprawling Hays Woods Park
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is working to improve Hays Woods Park, the newest park in the city. The 642-acre park — located in Pittsburgh’s Hays and St. Clair neighborhoods and Baldwin — is the second-largest park in Pittsburgh, behind Frick Park. It was formally designated as a city park in...
Pittsburgh to offer child care to city employees when Pittsburgh Public Schools cancels
The city of Pittsburgh will offer child care to city employees when Pittsburgh Public Schools cancels classes unexpectedly and to city residents who are participating in certain public meetings. Child care will be available to members of the public who participate in meetings hosted by the mayor’s office, including budget...
Giant Eagle to donate money from paper bag sales to charities as plastic ban takes effect
Giant Eagle will donate money from the sale of paper bags at its Pittsburgh stores to local nonprofits. This is set to start on Saturday, the same date Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban goes into effect. The ordinance bars most single-use plastic bags and requires stores charge a 10-cent fee for...
Some Plum residents, activists push back against additional injection well
Some Plum residents, officials and local activists are continuing to push against the possibility of a second injection well in the borough. Delmont-based Penneco Environmental Solutions is looking to launch a second injection well on a site off Old Leechburg Road, where the company has had one Sedat injection well...
Pittsburgh to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day starting next year
Beginning next year, the second Monday in October will be recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the city of Pittsburgh. This comes despite concerns from some council members that the day is also known as Columbus Day in honor of Christopher Columbus, who has become a controversial figure. Some people...
Pittsburgh looks to add protection for renters experiencing domestic violence
Pittsburgh City Council will consider a measure to offer additional protection for renters who face domestic violence in the city. This bill would require landlords to permit domestic abuse victims to exit their leases early without penalty and would require them to change victims’ locks within five days upon request....
Pittsburgh businesses, shoppers prepare for plastic bag ban
Pittsburgh businesses and shoppers are preparing for the city’s new plastic bag ban, which is set to go into effect Saturday, Oct. 14. The measure bans most plastic bags but allows exceptions for produce bags, meat packaging, pharmacy bags, bags used to wrap flowers and similar items, garbage bags and...
Proposal would raise Lawrenceville parking rates for infrastructure updates
Legislation before Pittsburgh City Council would increase rates and hours of metered parking in Lawrenceville and reinvest the money made into mobility improvements in the community. The measure would create what officials call a mobility enhancement district in Lawrenceville. It would allow the city to charge more for parking spots...
Traffic calming project to get underway in Brookline
Construction is scheduled to start next week on a traffic calming project in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood. The city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure will begin work Monday on Dunster Street between Hartranft Street and Abstract Avenue. Work is expected to last at least two days, officials said. The project will...
