Projects

In 2003 a series of community collaboration meetings were held to identify a half-dozen reachable goals for business district improvement. Litter, graffiti, storefront appearance, landscape beautification and other issues were targeted in the discussions. The Doggi-pot program grew out of the litter control issue, which was seen as the issue most easily addressed. It was noted that Brookliner's love their dogs and like to walk them along the Boulevard, but many were adding to another kind of litter problem.

South Pittsburgh Development Corp. researched finding a suitable dispenser for dog waste bags that could be mounted on light poles in the business district. Initially, the City of Pittsburgh did not embrace our idea, but through persistence we were able to convince them let us do a one-year pilot program. The dispensers are mounted at adult height and are maintained by SPDC. Almost immediately the dog waste problem got better. In fact, the idea of picking up after one's dog seemed to catch on in a larger way, as it is common to see residents taking bags with them for dog walks on other streets. While we haven’t eliminated the problem 100%, there has been a drastic reduction in dog waste. Because of our success, the City of Pittsburgh is now considering using the doggi-pot in other high dog traffic areas. Initial funding for the purchase of the doggi-pots was provided by the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Mainstreet program.

South Pittsburgh Development Corporation uses the National Trust’s Mainstreet Model as its organizational framework for improving the conditions of the Brookline Business District. Since the Mainstreet model’s success depends on a “crawl before you walk, walk before you run” methodology, SPDC has focused primarily on the first two points of Organization and Promotion.

However, we have also worked on the Design phase by attempting to secure grants from the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority’s “Streetface” program for Boulevard building owners who are interesting in improving the appearance of their building facades. SPDC has also applied for grant monies through our elected representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce and Economic Development for to administer “mini-grants” to businesses and building owners to entice them to improve building appearance through smaller but effective upgrades such as exterior paint, display lighting and better signage.

South Pittsburgh Development Corporation has also been an instrumental watchdog in the boulevard reconstruction project that has been on the city’s agenda for nearly eight years. Recently the project became news again as the city prepares its final design and budget. SPDC has spearheaded community concerns related to the substantial reduction of construction scope, budget and design for this critical improvement. Along with the Chamber of Commerce and Brookline Area Community Council, our board has met face to face with our elected representatives and the City public works and engineering department making sure that Pittsburgh’s second largest tax base gets a fair shake.

To become familiar with the National Trust’s Mainstreet Approach, please read the outline below excerpted from http://www.mainstreet.org:

What is the Main Street Approach to Commercial District Revitalization?

The Main Street Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts. The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a comprehensive strategy that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. It encompasses work in four distinct areas — Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, and Organization — that are combined to address all of the commercial district's needs. The philosophy and the Eight Guiding Principles behind this methodology make it an effective tool for community-based, grassroots revitalization efforts. The Main Street approach has been successful in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban.

The Main Street approach is incremental; it is not designed to produce immediate change. Because they often fail to address the underlying causes of commercial district decline, expensive improvements, such as pedestrian malls or sports arenas, do not always generate the desired economic results. In order to succeed, a long-term revitalization effort requires careful attention to every aspect of downtown — a process that takes time and requires leadership and local capacity building.

In 1993, the newly elected Murphy administration along with HUD and the Pittsburgh Housing authority proposed a plan that would allow a program called “Scattered House Development” to start in the City of Pittsburgh. This plan was in response to the “Saunders Decree” which mandated that Housing Projects should be moved into mixed neighborhoods.

One of the first sites in the city was the 1.3-acre plot at the corner of Whited/Jacob Streets in Brookline. In response, over 750 Brookline residents appeared at a public meeting and protested the project. From that protest a community group was formed. It was initially known as the South Pittsburgh Housing Task Force and eventually became South Pittsburgh Development Corporation (SPDC).

SPDC struggled with the Murphy administration. However, the organization overcame the many obstacles laid in its path, funding was raised and the organization became a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation in 1996. During the confrontation, SPDC pointed out the illegal infill of the former strip mine by a third party and the environmental and geo-technical pitfalls of the construction project. It also exposed the backhanded awarding of contracts and the secrecy involved, and eventually identified other sites that were part of the plan in our area.

SPDC petitioned to have the site turned into a Green Space to which Mayor Murphy agreed. However, the administration continually stalled the agreement in order to deter SPDC, but ironically, it had the reverse effect. With the help and pressure of our city councilman Michael Diven, his successor Jim Motznik, and the organizations determined membership, the Pittsburgh Housing Authority (who held title to the property) agreed to sell the parcel to the City.

The Murphy administration ended without completing its promise to SPDC. With the election of the new administration, SPDC continued to apply pressure through Councilman Motznik and SPDC members for the City to honor its agreement. Recently, through the Ravenstahl administration, the property was transferred back to the City after 12 years of persistence by SPDC. SPDC has signed a letter of intent to lease the property for 20 years for use as a welcoming and landscaped green space.

If you look at the site, now in 2010, you will notice we have started to beautify it by adding the lighted Brookline Sign, flagpole and landscaping. This improvement was made possible thru a DCED Grant however; more grant money will be needed to continue with improvements.

We are always looking for more volunteers to help maintain the space. Weeding, lawn mowing, and general maintenance are needed year round. If you would like to volunteer, you can call Bob Beiler at 412-563-3573 or leave a message on this website.

As part of a city wide effort to increase the awareness of Pittsburgh’s litter problem, South Pittsburgh Development Corporation has organized with PA Cleanways (http://www.pacleanways.org) a neighborhood clean-up which has taken place since 2004 on the national Earth Day weekend.

With the help of resident volunteers, Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation, and allied organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, We have had success in cleaning hundreds of bags litter, recyclables, discarded tires and other junk from Brookline Boulevard, it’s rear service alley, Brookline and Moore parks as well as slope area greenways along major traffic arteries.

If you know of areas within the Brookline area that need attention because of litter or illegal dumping, or you would like to know more about how to help our community fight the litter problem, please contact us!

A clean, orderly and attractive storefront and a litter free sidewalk make a great first impression and say “Welcome!” to potential customers. Merchants who take pride in their business and community make the overall experience more enjoyable and build customer confidence. In recognition of those who show attention to these basic but important details, South Pittsburgh Development Corporation periodically issues “The Golden Broom Award” thanking merchants for taking pride in their business appearance. Winners are given a decorative corn broom and a certificate of merit. Past awardees have included The Moonlite Café, South Hills Art Center and Jo’s Beauty Salon. Look for the Golden Broom Award to continue in 2010.

As part of the their “Images of America” series, Arcadia Publishing Company contacted South Pittsburgh Development Corporation to consider doing a photographic history of the Brookline neighborhood. Like many older neighborhoods, Brookline had a tale worth telling. However, the task of gathering the stories and photographs of the past would require a community wide call and considerable coordination in gathering these resources into a cohesive effort. Fortunately, the project tapped the interest of the board, members, volunteers and contributors who came together to research and collect the necessary information from the community.

SPDC organized a search for historical photographs and stories from residents. Many turned up for the research event with rare photographs, recollections and other materials that were recorded for the book. The book committee led by board member Amy Fisher, past President Linda Dimitroff, local historian Clint Burton and several hard working volunteers then organized the materials for Arcadia Publishing to perform the final editing and production.

When “Brookline, a Photographic History” was released, SPDC held a “Brookline Benefit” at the communities newly renovated branch of the Carnegie Library. Featured was a slide show and a lecture by George Gula of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, farming artifacts from the homestead farm of the Miller and Anderson families as well as an opportunity for residents to record their Brookline recollections on video by students attending Pittsburgh’s CAPA high school program.

The book project began as a fundraising initiative to benefit SPDC, but more importantly it preserved and documented our community history and engaged former and current residents in supporting SPDC and our mission. By all accounts the project was a shining success for our organization and the community we serve. The book sold well locally and even shipped across the country where former residents have purchased it through our internet site. With the exception of a small inventory held by SPDC, “Brookline, a Photographic History” completely sold out of its first printing.

To learn more about Brookline’s history see Clint Burton’s site under “history” on our home page.