Julia Felton stories, Page 14
Tornado confirmed in Washington County
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has confirmed a tornado touched down Saturday in South Franklin Township in Washington County. An NWS storm survey determined an EF-1 tornado with weed speeds estimated at around 105 miles per hour struck the area. This marks the 16th tornado to impact Washington County...
Morning Roundup: Carnegie Learning to host Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Aug. 14: Carnegie Learning to host Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp High school students in Pittsburgh will be able to take part in The Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp thanks to Carnegie Learning. Trained volunteer corporate mentors...
URA to launch grant program for Hill District homeowners
Homeowners in Pittsburgh’s Hill District will have an opportunity to receive grants to cover the cost of home repairs under a plan approved Thursday by the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. The URA plans to use $465,000 from the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund to launch the grant program. Homeowners...
Former Public Works warehouse to be redeveloped into office, retail space
A former Pittsburgh Department of Public Works warehouse is set to be revamped as an office and retail space. The city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority on Thursday approved plans to sell the site at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Dinwiddie Street on the border of the Crawford-Roberts and Uptown neighborhoods...
Study says Downtown Pittsburgh needs more restrooms, lights, cameras
A study conducted by Point Park University suggested Downtown Pittsburgh would be improved by public restrooms, more public garbage and recycling receptacles, and lights and cameras in alleys. The study, released Wednesday, focused particularly on how the city could improve its alleys to improve quality of life for people in...
Allegheny County Jail Warden Orlando Harper announces retirement
Allegheny County Jail Warden Orlando Harper is retiring next month after 11 years as the jail’s top official, the county announced Tuesday. “I have been honored to serve in this role for over a decade and am announcing my retirement with mixed feelings,” Harper said in a statement. “When I...
Speed humps to be placed in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats to slow motorists
Workers will install speed humps and other traffic-calming measures this week in Pittsburgh’s South Side Slopes. The work will take place on Pius Street between South 18th and Brosville streets from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, weather permitting. City officials said data collected in 2021 showed that...
Pittsburgh council debates program to cut sidewalk repair costs
Pittsburgh residents and business owners are responsible for repairing the city sidewalks at their properties, but a pilot program proposed by city officials looks to make the process easier and more affordable. Legislation before City Council would create a pilot program that would see Department of Public Works crews performing...
Carnegie Mellon University gets approval to build new robotics center at Hazelwood Green
Carnegie Mellon University has received approval from Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission to move forward with plans for a new robotics center at the Hazelwood Green site. The university is planning to build a 150,000-square-foot research building with a two-story enclosure for testing robots and drones, according to Bob Reppe, the school’s...
Some Squirrel Hill business owners miffed over newly painted purple curbs — here’s why
John Mineo hadn’t heard about Pittsburgh’s smart loading zone pilot program until he saw crews painting the curbs purple outside of his Squirrel Hill pizza shop. He said he’s upset city officials didn’t work with business owners before implementing a new system that he says is hurting businesses. City officials...
Pittsburgh officials look to shift covid relief funds to other projects
Pittsburgh officials are looking to reallocate millions in federal covid-19 relief funds to invest in public safety vehicles, landslide remediation and other projects. Legislation before City Council would shift American Rescue Plan Act money to projects that “we need to spend money on now,” City Council Budget Director Peter McDevitt...
Bedford Dwellings to receive $62.5M makeover in Hill District redevelopment project
A $62.5 million redevelopment project that will bring new apartments and townhouses to Pittsburgh’s Hill District is moving forward. The Bedford Dwellings project, approved this week by the city’s Planning Commission, is being led by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh-based Trek Development Group. Plans include...
Pittsburgh leaders look to sell 200 Ross Street to affordable housing developer
Pittsburgh leaders are looking to sell a Downtown Pittsburgh office building that has housed several city departments and authorities, hoping that a developer would convert the space into affordable housing. The 200 Ross Street building had long been home to Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Housing Authority of the City...
New apartment building coming to Pittsburgh’s Uptown
Plans for a new apartment building in Pittsburgh’s Uptown received unanimous approval Tuesday from the city’s Planning Commission. The Standard on Fifth will be located on what is now a vacant site at Fifth Avenue and Moultrie Street. The four-story apartment building will house 51 apartments and include a fitness...
Upper Lawrenceville development would renovate old fire house, bring mixed-rate housing and retail
A proposed development in Pittsburgh’s Upper Lawrenceville would revitalize an old fire house and include mixed-income housing and a dog park. Illinois-based Albion Residential is looking to develop a Butler Street property by bringing the former fire house into reuse and constructing a new 354,000-square-foot apartment complex at a site...
City’s office cleaners march in Pittsburgh ahead of contract negotiations
Dozens of unionized office cleaners marched to Pittsburgh’s City-County Building on Tuesday to call for better wages and support. Their current four-year labor agreement — which covers more than 1,200 office cleaners in Pittsburgh — expires at the end of October. The workers are represented by the 32BJ SEIU union....
Heat wave arrives this week in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania is in store for its first official heat wave in three years. Temperatures are forecast to exceed 90 degrees on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The region likely will miss hitting 90 today by only a couple of degrees. The last time the...
$3 million food justice plan approved in Pittsburgh
Teaira Collins has advocated for Pittsburgh officials to dedicate cash to food initiatives with hopes that more fresh food would be available in her neighborhood. The mother has told City Council members that it’s difficult to find fresh food in the Hill District, which makes it harder to provide healthy...
$50M grant to fund Bedford Dwellings redevelopment project in Hill District
A $50 million federal grant will allow Pittsburgh officials to complete a major revitalization project in the city’s Hill District. The neighborhood revitalization grant will be used to rehabilitate the Bedford Dwellings housing complex, create additional affordable housing and make other investments in the Hill District community, officials said. Pittsburgh...
Penn Avenue getting upgrades, bike lane improvements in Pittsburgh
Penn Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh is set to see upgrades that will improve bike lanes and update loading zones, city officials said Friday. A $150,000 mobility enhancement project will update the corridor from Point State Park to 11th Street. Work is expected to include repaving Penn Avenue from 9th Street...
Pittsburgh considering sidewalk repair pilot program that would cut costs for residents to fix sidewalks
Pittsburgh officials are considering a pilot program that would see city crews repairing damaged sidewalks and curbs for residents at a lower cost. “The ultimate goal of the program is ensuring that the city of Pittsburgh has a complete and safe sidewalk system that services all pedestrians — especially members...
Pittsburgh’s Commission on Infrastructure Asset Reporting still on hold
More than a year after Pittsburgh officials created the Commission on Infrastructure Asset Reporting, its board remains empty, and City Council has pushed pause on Mayor Ed Gainey’s recent efforts to fill it. The commission was created after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse, as officials said the collapse highlighted the...
New spray park opens in Pittsburgh’s Chartiers neighborhood
A new spray park opened in Pittsburgh’s Chartiers Park Friday. More than a dozen local children had already flocked to the new attraction as officials celebrated its opening Friday. “What we know about water access in communities is it’s especially important during the hot summer,” Director of Parks and Recreation...
Officers begin added South Side patrols
Pittsburgh police has deployed a dedicated unit patrolling the entertainment district in the city’s South Side neighborhood on weekends. The unit includes seven Pittsburgh police officers Thursdays through Sundays, Police Chief Larry Scirotto told the Tribune-Review last week. That effort has started this week, public safety spokesperson Cara Cruz said...
Pittsburgh looks to dedicate $3.5 million to major Homewood Park renovations
Pittsburgh officials are looking to dedicate $3.5 million to a major renovation effort at Homewood Park. The park will be updated with a football field and other amenities. Homewood Community Sports — in partnership with The Heinz Endowments, Operation Better Block, Neighborhood Allies, Bridging the Gap Development and The Mission...
