Alleged development 'flaws' cited in struggling North Side
As two yellow school buses carrying community activists, concerned citizens and city officials drove through Manchester on Thursday afternoon, Will Thompkins pointed out flaws of his neighborhood.
There was a community pool that closed years ago, next to rows of vacant homes with broken windows and boarded-up front doors. And down that alley, he said, a young man recently was shot and killed, one of several violent attacks in the area.
"A lot of these vacant lots used to be homes and businesses," said Thompkins, chairman of the economic development committee for the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP. "This is unacceptable."
Northside United and other community organizations assembled the bus tour of several struggling North Side neighborhoods to illustrate how they say past development projects hurt the area.
About 80 people attended the two-hour tour, including Councilman Bill Peduto, Democratic council nominees R. Daniel Lavelle and Natalia Rudiak, and a representative from state Rep. Don Walko's office.
Northside United officials said development — including construction of highways 279 and 65, the former Three Rivers Stadium and Allegheny Center — razed established neighborhoods and hurt surrounding areas.
They said they believe more damage is happening as North Shore development progresses. They are trying to get Continental Real Estate, which has exclusive rights to develop some land between the North Shore stadiums, to halt construction and broker a community benefits agreement.
"We need for everyone that's going to build in our community to make investments that will last longer than their stay," Spring Garden resident Janice Parks said. "We need to get real about requiring those who benefit from our land to give back to the community."
Continental officials did not return calls seeking comment.
At a city planning commission meeting two weeks ago, Barry Ford, Continental's president of development, said "it's inappropriate to ask a project developer to meet with private groups and help resolve their problems."
Peduto said the Ohio-based developer should rethink its position.
"I think it's in Continental's best interest to be a good community partner," Peduto said. "Their offices may be in Columbus, but they're having a large impact on the North Side."
He said he supported a benefits agreement in the Hill District, where the Sports & Exhibition Authority is building an arena for the Penguins. The city and team agreed to invest millions into the area.
That's what the North Side needs, said Ronell Guy, executive director of Northside Coalition for Fair Housing.
"The North Side has lost 3,500 housing units in 25 years," she said. "In my 25 years of working in social service, I've never seen poverty like I'm seeing now."