All Discussions Tagged 'jazz' - Pittsburgh Jazz Network2024-03-29T05:36:06Zhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/group/newgranadatheater/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=jazz&feed=yes&xn_auth=noLandmark collaboration for Hill District community revitalizationtag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2014-07-18:1992552:Topic:3322502014-07-18T00:50:04.157ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<div class="post-meta clearfix"><div class="the-time"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/07/16/" rel="bookmark" title="4:40 pm">Jul 16, 2014</a></div>
<div class="by-author"><span class="sep">By</span> <span class="author-name vcard">Courier Newsroom…</span></div>
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<div class="post-meta clearfix"><div class="the-time"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/07/16/" title="4:40 pm" rel="bookmark">Jul 16, 2014</a></div>
<div class="by-author"><span class="sep">By</span> <span class="author-name vcard">Courier Newsroom</span></div>
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<div class="post-content"><div class="featured"><div class="featured-thumb featured-landscape"><div id="attachment_99783" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-99783 align-center" src="https://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/marimbamilliones.jpg" alt="MarimbaMilliones" width="680" height="454"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Marimba Milliones</p>
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<div class="content-body"><p>Nearly three years ago, the Hill District community completed a comprehensive master plan that envisions the revitalization of one of Pittsburgh’s most historic neighborhoods. Today, the Hill District community moves forward in fulfilling its long-held goal of collaboration between the Hill Community Development Corporation (Hill CDC) and Hill District Consensus Group (HDCG).</p>
<p>The groups, including staff and board of directors, worked closely to create a new “Development Review Panel” which will provide inclusive community-level review of development efforts for the neighborhood.</p>
<div id="attachment_8591" class="wp-caption alignright"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8591 align-center" src="https://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/carlredwood08.jpg?w=213&h=347" alt="CarlRedwood08" width="142" height="231"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Carl Redwood</p>
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<p>The Hill CDC was founded in 1987 and the Hill District Consensus Group was established in 1991. The Hill CDC has focused on community and economic development, while the Hill District Consensus Group has served as a community forum for nearly twenty years. Both organizations were key in the completion of the neighborhood’s master plan. “The master plan contains the hopes and dreams of the residents, so it was critical to find a way to maximize this opportunity by working together,” said Hill District Consensus Group Director, Carl Redwood.</p>
<p>“I am encouraged by our collaboration, and excited by this inclusive model that advances a community-driven vision,” said Hill CDC President & CEO, Marimba Milliones.</p>
<p>The Development Review Panel will be comprised of Hill District residents appointed by both organizations. The Panel will be staffed and convened by the Hill CDC and a launch date will be determined. The Hill CDC will begin planning over the next several months and will begin to seek funding to support the initiative. “For many years, governmental agencies, philanthropic organizations and developers have encouraged a clarification of roles between the two organizations, we are happy to have answered that call,” said Chloe Velasquez, Board Chair of the Hill CDC.</p>
<p>Emma Lucas Darby PhD, Board Secretary of the Hill District Consensus Group agreed.</p>
<p>“As a resident who has served on multiple community boards, this is such an important benchmark. The community is better-suited as a result of this tremendous effort on the part of both organizations,” she said.</p>
<div id="attachment_99784" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-99784" src="https://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/daniellavelle.jpg?w=680&h=454" alt="DanielLavelle" width="680" height="454"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Daniel Lavelle</p>
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<p>Councilman Daniel Lavelle and state Rep. Jake Wheatley were both key supporters of this collaboration and said they will do whatever possible to support this important moment for the Hill District. Both played key roles in facilitating the conversation between the two organizations.</p>
<p>“This is a huge step for the Hill District and helps government to interact with the Hill District in a transparent, productive and healthy manner,” Lavelle said. “It removes questions about which organization performs which functions. I, for one, am happy to have a well-written document that clearly outlines the development-review process for the Hill District.”</p>
<div id="attachment_28473" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28473" src="https://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/jake-wheatleycasinoweb.jpg?w=680&h=454" alt="jake-wheatleyCasinoweb.jpg" width="680" height="454"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Jake Wheatley</p>
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<p>Wheatley, a veteran law-maker, commented on the potential of the Hill District and additional investment with this clarification of roles.</p>
<p>“This was long overdue, and yet right on time, as the neighborhood reaches a clear tipping point,” Wheatley said. “This wasn’t an easy process, but both organizations put serious effort into making it a reality – they should be commended.”</p>
<p>Additional details will be provided at upcoming meetings with key community and broader stakeholders. Representatives of the Hill Community Development Corporation and Hill District Consensus Group will participate in the ongoing process.</p>
<p>The Hill CDC can be found online at <a href="http://www.hilldistrict.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.hilldistrict.org</a>.<br/>The Hill District Consensus Group can be found online at<a href="http://www.hdcg.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.hdcg.org</a>.</p>
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<p></p> $27 million project could reunite Downtown and the Hilltag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2014-04-20:1992552:Topic:3230622014-04-20T19:07:39.794ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
<p><br></br><span class="storydate">April 10, 2014 11:17 PM</span></p>
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<div class="byline">By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</div>
<div class="thisStory"><p>A local authority is laying the groundwork for a daunting — and expensive — plan to reunite Downtown and the Hill District.</p>
<p>The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority expects to begin preliminary design work by summer for a proposed deck over Crosstown Boulevard, one that would connect Downtown with…</p>
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<p><br/><span class="storydate">April 10, 2014 11:17 PM</span></p>
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<div class="byline">By Mark Belko / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</div>
<div class="thisStory"><p>A local authority is laying the groundwork for a daunting — and expensive — plan to reunite Downtown and the Hill District.</p>
<p>The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority expects to begin preliminary design work by summer for a proposed deck over Crosstown Boulevard, one that would connect Downtown with the 28-acre former Civic Arena site in the lower Hill.</p>
<p>SEA board members approved an agreement Thursday to access a $918,684 federal grant to help fund the $1.1 million preliminary design work, which is expected to take about nine months. The balance of the money will come from the SEA.</p>
<p>The deck — which in essence would cover Crosstown Boulevard, a part of Interstate 579 — is part of a larger plan to rebuild a street grid on the former arena site and link it to the rest of the Hill, with some of that work to start this summer. That connection was severed more than half a century ago when the Civic Arena was built.</p>
<p>Preliminary design work will look at the best method for building the deck, the type of engineering involved and the cost of the project. Plans call for a park to be placed on top of the deck. Estimates place the cost of the project at $27 million — money that neither the SEA, the city, nor the county has at this point.</p>
<p>That’s in addition to the $30 million needed for the infrastructure work at the former arena site. To date, the SEA has been able to secure only half of that amount.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, SEA executive director Mary Conturo appeared to be undaunted by the task.</p>
<p>“We’re taking it a step a time,” she said. “Once we have a better plan as to design and cost, that gives us more information to go and find the funding.”</p>
<p>State Sen. Wayne Fontana, SEA board chairman, said the project and the former arena redevelopment have the support of politicians such as Gov. Tom Corbett and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, both of whom could be instrumental in supplying funds.</p>
<p>“The 28 acres is a priority. I think there is reason to be optimistic,” he said.</p>
<p>To help with the infrastructure funding, the SEA, with the backing of the city and the county, will be applying again for a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant. Applications are due later this month.</p>
<p>The SEA sought $18 million in the last round of TIGER grant funding but lost out. It is expected to seek about the same amount in the latest round. If the SEA gets the money, a portion would go to fund final design related to the deck over Crosstown Boulevard.</p>
<p>SEA officials hope to begin infrastructure work on the 28-acre former arena site in August. It is expected to start on the eastern half of the site closest to Crawford Square and include the construction of some of the interior roads. The SEA has $15 million in state redevelopment capital assistance funding to help pay for the work.</p>
<p>The Pittsburgh Penguins are under an October deadline to start development on the site. The hockey team, which won the development rights to the land in the deal to build Consol Energy Center, is planning a residential, office and commercial development on the property.</p>
<p><em>Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.</em></p>
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<p><span><br/><br/>Read more: <a style="color: #003399;" href="http://www.post-gazette.com/business/2014/04/11/Bridge-could-reunite-Downtown-and-the-Hill/stories/201404110017#ixzz2zSGWYxan">http://www.post-gazette.com/business/2014/04/11/Bridge-could-reunite-Downtown-and-the-Hill/stories/201404110017#ixzz2zSGWYxan</a></span></p>