SNN Meeting March 10, 2012 In Attendance: Terry Doloughty, Polish Hill Civic Assoc.; Liz Style, Mayor’s Office; Melissa Gallagher, Fineview Citizens; Maureen Copeland, GTECH; Karina Westfall, CNNC; Tom Westfall, CNNC; Terry Aiello, BDC; Deno De Ciantis, Penn State; Joe McCarthy, Penn State; Lauren Byrne, LU; Donna Jackson, LCG; Nettie Henning, Stanton Heights Neighborhood Assoc.; Darla D’Anna, MWCDC; Ryan Walker, OBB; Zinna Scott, Homewood; Carolyn Peeks, LCG. ***KEY CONTACTS FROM TODAY’S SESSION*** Penn State Cooperative Extension Website: www.pennstatecenter.com Key Staff: Deno De Ciantis,
[email protected] and Joe McCarthy,
[email protected] GTECH Strategies Website: www.gtechstrategies.org Staff Contact: Maureen Copeland,
[email protected] Allegheny CleanWays Map of Dumpsites: www.alleghenycleanways.org Staff Contact:
[email protected] **To report leftover trash after a demolition, please contact Liz Style at the Mayor’s Office @
[email protected] ** Welcome and Introductions ‐ EA briefed the group on PCRG’s activities and SNN history and scope of work. Each attendee introduced themselves and their organization. Presentations: Deno De Ciantis and Joe McCarthy, Penn State Co‐Operative Extension Deno and Joe detailed the work that the Penn State Extension has done in the Pittsburgh area recently. As an arm of Penn State University and leveraging the knowledge base created by Pitt and CMU, the Extension seeks to serve as a conduit for knowledge and research, and have been active in smart grid, storm water management, and renewable energy projects. Using students from Penn State University, they generally select 2 communities to work in and designate 3‐5 projects per neighborhood. Work generally begins with a community‐centered process, and work to help communities create effective partnerships. The Extension offers a wide variation of resources from model municipal ordinances to project planning and support. One recent area of work has been the urban greening process, where they work with communities to involve residents at the beginning of process in order to create community ownership of the project and allow residents to drive the project. Community ownership is increased through the use of long‐ term maintenance plans for all sites. Throughout this process the Extension works to teach residents the Why, What, and How of urban greening. Extension can only work on publicly owned land (through MOU’s with local government) due to legal/insurance issues. The Extensions provides work on a number of different greening options.
The options are: ‐ Basic ‐ Passive ‐ Used in Greenways throughout city ‐ Community Gateway ‐ Perfect way for a community to signal neighborhood entrance ‐ Urban Woodland ‐ Trees/Ground cover, very low maintenance ‐ Meadow ‐ Grasses and Perennials, very low maintenance ‐ Urban Farming ‐ Larimer Urban Garden has been very successful, grown to 40 total beds. The Extension looks to put resources into lots that will be fairly long‐term green, and avoid devoting greening resources to lots the community wants to be fully redeveloped (e.g. – rebuilt) in the but there are shorter, interim interventions to clean/green lots prior to development. This decision requires heavy community input and the Extension does not want to prescribe one specific solution. Typically the Extension will work with URA/City to help determine neighborhoods for project. Neighborhoods that are chosen tend to be “transitional” or on the verge of growth/improvement. However, if communities have an idea of a specific project the Extension can offer design work to support specific ideas. Pollution, specifically lead, is a historical issue in urban areas. Best option for abatement is clean fill to either cover soil or dilute lead content, as even “high uptake” plants aren’t that effective. The consultant piece (design work, etc) of the Extension’s work can be done at no cost. PSU does not have funds for plant materials and site prep, so they do tend to rely on grant money, volunteers, etc. Mo Copeland, GTECH Strategies GTECH is often known as “the sunflower people,” but they also have a Fossil Free Fuel Initiative and a Green Economy Initiative. To quickly dispel myths about sunflowers, Mo pointed out that they will improve the soil, but aren’t a magic wand to negate pollution. When sunflowers are taken out, their roots stay in the ground and so pollutants do not really leave the soil. However, roots leave organic matter in the soil, and when mulch and compost is added, the soil can be improved. GTECH firmly believes that every community is different with different wants/needs and there can’t be one answer for all. GTECH never works alone and always encourage partnerships, they do not want to be a “one stop shop.” “A lot of people make light work.” GTECH looks for quick solutions to vacant land, which is one reason for their use of biofuel plants like sunflowers and canola. These act as in‐betweens and quickly can improve the lot’s appearance while the community works to determine a long term solution. A number of factors influence future possibilities for sites including: ‐ ownership ‐ soil quality ‐ sunlight ‐ community wants/needs
GTECH works with residents on both seed collection and also their Fossil Free Fuel Initiative. Collected seeds are stored for replanting or packaged for sale. GTECH currently runs two public drop‐ offs for old cooking oil for their Fossil Free Fuel initiative, they are located at Whole Foods and Construction Junction. They are also open to the idea of working with communities to establish community drop‐off locations, although this hasn’t occurred yet. The GTECH website has a community application to be considered for a project. Individuals/communities can contact Mo regarding vacant lot projects. However, GTECH need time to plan projects, calling in April for a May project won’t work. Myrna Newman, Allegheny CleanWays Allegheny CleanWays engages volunteers to clean up illegal dump sites. In 2009, 279 illegal sites were reported in Pittsburgh alone; in reality that number is 3‐4x higher. Allegheny CleanWays has partnered with Google to develop a map for residents to report dumpsites and track cleanup; the map is still being improved but is operational. Reports of all dumpsites are assessed before being added to the map. The map is available via CleanWays website at www.alleghenycleanways.org, just click on “Map of Illegal Dumpsites.” Dumpsite clean ups are prioritized with dumps near residences given the highest priority. Cleanup events are listed online. Myrna stressed that it is important for residents to report not just dump sites but also any redumping that can occur after cleanups. Harsh reality of dump prosecution is that there is a need to catch someone IN the act, once dump is found, nearly impossible to prosecute anyone. She encouraged residents to report any dumping they see, but witnesses need to go to court to get a conviction. One suggestion she has offered to residents is to tell contractors and others “we’ll pay you the remainder of the bill when we see the dump receipt.” Myrna highlighted some recent successes of the “Dumpbusters” crew. A West View dump site cleanup uncovered 300 tires in a ravine and ,literally, tons of other trash. Work on this site has been ongoing for 3‐4 months, but is almost finished. In Pittsburgh, CleanWays has been active in the Duck Hollow dumpsite. The cleanup there is completed and over 150 tons of trash were removed, a total of 26 truckloads. There are 3 different Red Up ideas, the Red Up Zone; Red Up Crew (more demo side/vacant lot maintenance) ; and Spring and Fall Neighborhood Red Up. CleanWays works to provide supplies and coordination for Spring and Fall Neighborhood Red Ups. CleanWays has a form to alert DPW that a cleanup is taking place so they know to come and pick up the trash that is collected. Myrna can email the form to anyone her email address is
[email protected]. Roundtable/Related Issues Some group members mentioned issues that have arisen at the sites of demolished structures where trash/debris was left on the site. After a demo, land is to be down to dirt with straw covering, TRASH
SHOULD NOT BE LEFT. Liz Style asked anyone to alert her when there is a demo site is not properly cleaned up in your neighborhood. Her email address is
[email protected]. EA announced VPWG as a vehicle for community groups to obtain vacant property in their communities. HA and LGA will be holding blight training in the coming months. Also, please contact Bethany Davidson regarding VWPG. Penn State will have landscape architecture and landscape design interns for design work in the near future, if you have any plans in your neighborhood and would like design/planning capacity, please contact Dino. Community Announcements: Larimer: LCG Kick Off Event for Larimer Avenue Corridor Vision at 6 PM on March 29th at the Kingsley Association. LCG also hosting Councilman Burgess’ Town Hall Meeting on March 27th at 6 PM. Polish Hill Civic Association has released their Community Plan, it is available online and the Community Building Section could be helpful and enlightening for this group. The Penn State Extension is beginning to work with the Penn State College of Architecture on a project which will involve a public building of 20‐30,000 square feet. If your community has an idea for a project of this nature Penn State would like to work on the design of it. Please contact Dino for more information.
