Julia Felton stories, Page 17
New affordable housing development to cater to seniors in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood
A new development will bring affordable housing for senior citizens to Pittsburgh’s Fairywood neighborhood. Officials broke ground Thursday on Cedarwood Homes, a 46-unit development at the former Fairywood School site. “We’re going to make sure the people who live here can age in place and they can do it with...
Pittsburgh’s Junction Hollow formally designated as part of Schenley Park
Junction Hollow is now formally designated as part of Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park. The 28-acre area has long been viewed as part of the park, said City Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield. Warwick, who sponsored legislation to designate the land as part of Schenley Park, said she wanted to ensure that Junction...
Pittsburgh Public Schools to expand anti-violence, mentorship program with $2M grant
A program aimed at reducing youth violence in Pittsburgh Public Schools will use more than $2 million in state grant money to expand. The Safe Passages program, operated by Pittsburgh-based Operation Better Block, brings adult community leaders into schools to mentor students, help curb problematic behaviors and mediate potential conflicts,...
Pittsburgh pools offer free swimming for city children 15 and younger
Pittsburgh children 15 and under will be able to swim for free at any of the city’s 15 open pools this summer. “It’s all about … giving them opportunities for a safe, fun summer,” Mayor Ed Gainey said. Pittsburgh children had needed to have a recreation center membership tag to...
Pittsburgh City Council considers $45M, 10-year contract for police cameras, Tasers, other equipment
Pittsburgh City Council is considering a proposed $45 million, 10-year contract for city police to buy and upgrade body and vehicle cameras, Tasers and related equipment and software. The proposed contract would be with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Axon Enterprise. Pittsburgh police now use Axon for their body-worn cameras and tasers, but...
Pittsburgh city government employees to get free bike-share memberships
Pittsburgh city government employees are now eligible to receive free bike-share memberships. City Council on Wednesday approved a proposal to offer employees the memberships through Bike Share Pittsburgh’s POGOH, which offers traditional and electric-assist bikes in many —but not all — areas of the city. Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side,...
Some Pittsburgh City Council members question URA’s city-funded affordable housing plan
Pittsburgh City Council members expressed concerns Wednesday over a proposal that would put city taxpayers on the hook for $62.5 million in bond repayments to support Urban Redevelopment Authority affordable housing programs. Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration and the URA have provided few specifics on how the money would be spent,...
Homeless shelter at Smithfield United Church of Christ to close
Ally Cunha has “no clue” where she’ll stay after Tuesday night. For the last several weeks, the 18-year-old has been sleeping at the Smithfield United Church of Christ shelter. The shelter was scheduled to close on Tuesday. “It’s difficult, but we’ll figure it out,” she said as she sat outside...
Allegheny County affordable housing programs receive more than $8M in state funding
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency provided more than $8 million in funding to support about 30 affordable housing programs in Allegheny County. That was part of $61.5 million the agency awarded through its Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement, or PHARE, program. “PHARE is one of our most popular programs...
Juneteenth celebration to include fireworks despite questions surrounding security at Point State Park
The Juneteenth celebration in Pittsburgh will conclude with fireworks Monday night after weeks of questions surrounding security at Point State Park for the fireworks show, officials said. “We expect the fireworks to happen tonight. Everything should be in place,” said Wesley Robinson, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation...
Pittsburgh Public Schools looks to expand anti-violence program with help of $2M in state funding
A youth anti-violence program in Pittsburgh Public Schools has received more than $2 million in state funding to expand. The Safe Passages program, operated by Pittsburgh-based Operation Better Block, was launched as a pilot at Perry Traditional Academy in the city’s North Side. The grant money from the Pennsylvania Commission...
Pittsburgh to offer breakfast, lunch, snacks to city youth during summer
Pittsburgh’s Department of Parks and Recreation will launch its summer food service program next week. The CitiParks program offers free breakfast, lunch and snacks to anyone under 18 and residents with intellectual disabilities up to 21 over the summer months. This year, it will get underway Wednesday and continue through...
Proposal to give Pittsburgh city employees free bike-share memberships gets preliminary OK
Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a proposal that would offer free bike-share memberships to all city employees, even though portions of the city have no bike-share available. Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, introduced legislation last week to allow Pittsburgh to partner with POGOH, the bike-share network that...
Pittsburgh officials prepare for crowds, heavy traffic ahead of Taylor Swift, Juneteenth
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials Wednesday said they’re prepared for large crowds, heavy traffic and road closures as Juneteenth celebrations and Taylor Swift stadium concerts are expected to bring thousands to the city this weekend. “Our public safety bureaus have been working very closely with the organizers of both Juneteenth and...
Zoning change would clear way for GetGo with ‘expanded offering’ of fresh foods in Homewood
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission is considering a zoning change on a Homewood West site where GetGo is looking to open a gas station and convenience store with fresh groceries and hot food. The site, near the corner of Frankstown and Fifth avenues, is now zoned for residential use. The proposal before...
Allegheny General Hospital’s 10-year development plan gets recommendation of Pittsburgh planners
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend a long-range development plan for Allegheny General Hospital, despite hearing concerns from nearby residents. The proposal now moves to City Council for final approval. The long-range development plan, or master plan, includes the potential construction of new buildings within the hospital’s existing North...
Carnegie Mellon University earns approval to build commons area on Oakland campus
Carnegie Mellon University earned the city Planning Commission’s approval to build a new commons area on its Oakland campus where students could socialize and study. The Margaret Morrison Street Neighborhood Commons is set to be built under the existing Hamerschlag House dormitory. The space currently serves as a “not very...
Zoning fees capped at $40K for large development projects in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to cap zoning fees at $40,000 for large developments. Council previously approved a new zoning fee schedule that includes a fee of 0.1% of a project’s cost for residential developments and a 0.3% fee for commercial developments. The $40,000 cap council approved Tuesday is meant...
Western Pa. officials push for transition to electric vehicles, clean energy
Several Western Pennsylvania officials called Monday for a quick transition to electric vehicles and clean-energy generation. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, State Sen. Lindsey Williams and other advocates held a news conference to express support for proposed federal vehicle standards that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said would aim to “accelerate...
Pittsburgh looks to place cap on zoning fees for large development projects
Pittsburgh City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a proposal that would cap zoning fees at $40,000 for large developments. City Council already approved a new zoning fee schedule that includes a fee of 0.1% of a project’s cost for residential developments and a 0.3% fee for commercial developments....
Pittsburgh’s URA awarding $2.4M in grants to revitalize commercial corridors hurt by pandemic
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is awarding more than $2.4 million in grant money to revitalize commercial corridors adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic. The Avenues of Hope grants, funded with federal covid relief money, will go to 20 businesses across the city. The URA received 45 grant applications by the...
Pittsburgh, state officials say they aren’t canceling Juneteenth event at Point Park despite security questions
Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania officials said they don’t intend to cancel Juneteenth celebrations at Point State Park, though it’s unclear whether the event could move ahead if event organizers don’t meet the security requirements in place at the park. The annual Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth celebration has been held at Point State...
Tree Pittsburgh buys Lawrenceville property from Pittsburgh’s URA
Tree Pittsburgh is buying the Lawrenceville property that it’s been renting from Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. The nonprofit — which focuses on protecting and growing the city’s urban forest through education, advocacy and community tree planting — is purchasing the site for $365,000. The narrow, five-acre parcel sits along the...
SCI Laurel Highlands prisoner dies after being taken to hospital
An inmate at SCI Laurel Highlands died on Saturday. Richard Lundberg, 39, of Somerset, died after being taken from the prison to a hospital, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. He was found “lethargic,” the office said. An official cause of death was not immediately released, but Pennsylvania...
Crime Stoppers offer reward for information on 1983 cold case from Washington County
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information pertaining to a 1983 homicide in Cecil. State police responded to the homicide on June 24, 1983, according to Crime Stoppers. Betty Pieczynski, 63, was shot with a .25-caliber automatic weapon and found in her residence. Anyone with information on...
