Connecting Chateau and Manchesterworkshop summary

Spring 2017

Connecting Chateau and Manchester

Monday, March 13th, 201710 am - 2 pm

at the

Manchester Citizens Corporation 1319 Allegheny Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15223

Lunch will be Provided

RSVP By Friday, March 10th at lfaulk@manchestercitizens.org

The Manchester and Chateau neighborhoods of Pittsburgh are divided by Pennsylvania Highway 65. This separation limits the community and economic potential of both neighborhoods by preventing the movement of residents, employees, and visitors between them.

The Manchester Citizens Corporation is hosting an interactive visioning workshop for local planners, residents, and other stakeholders to offer development solutions for neighborhood connections.

Tap into your creative mind and join us as we explore possibilities to link the communities over, under, across, through and/or around the overwhelming community divide.

For further information, please contact:LaShawn Burton Faulk, Executive Director

Manchester Citizens Corporationlfaulk@manchestercitizens.org

412-3231743 x302

Purpose and Planning

the purpose of this project is to complete the initial steps needed to reposition former brownfield sites on the chateau riverfront that are currently under redevelopment to be reintegrated into surrounding community of Manchester, as they were before industrial development. The Riverside Center for Innovation (RCI) worked to enter the project into the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center’s (NBAC) Site Ready Program in the Fall of 2016. the project was awarded a $12,500 mini-grant and additional technical assistance through July 2017.

NBAC and RCI partnered with the Manchester Citizens Corporation to facilitate a workshop in March of 2017, where attendees participated in structured engagement activities to discuss perceived opportunities, challenges, and action items to reconnect the communities.

The project team worked with the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group to plan activities and facilitate the event.

Site Ready – Chateau Boulevard Project

Project Timelines and DeliverablesChateau Boulevard Timeline

Team ConveningAug 2016

RCI Phase IMillcraftSept. 2016

Initial MtgMCC/RCINov. 2016

Tour ManchesterFeb. 2017

Site Ready TeamIncludes MCCJan. 2017

Community WorkshopMarch 2017

Site Team DebriefApril 2017

Site TeamOrganize Report

May 2017

Draft ReportJune 2017

Report Delivered To MCC

August 2017

Final ReportJuly 2017

Project Deliverables

Identify the Project on Water Front Engage Community Input

Provide Technical Assistance – Market Study Identify Sources of Final Complete a Final Report

Timeline of Project Deliverables:

Event Invitation:

There were 26 attendees representing facilitating organizations, the Manchester Historical Society, and local consultanting firms, as well as local business owners and residents at the event.

Small Group Discussion Summary

Following presentations of neighborhood and project background, attendees were divided into small groups, where they discussed and recorded responses to several questions. The following pages provide a compilation of all recorded group responses:

Question 1:What businesses, residents, and community groups can benefit from neighborhood connectivity across PA-65? How will they benefit?

Who-Manchester, Allegheny West, California Kirkbride, McKees Rocks, Brighton Heights, The Manchester Craftman Guild, Bidwell Training, Chateau Café, 5 Star Development, Manchester Historic Society, Air B&B, Manchester School, Casey Industrial Park, UPS, All the Suppliers Business, Bicycle Heaven, Music Museum, PGH Transportation, Millcraft Development, Cardello Office Building, Rivers Casino, Western Avenue Business District, Pilgrim Church, New Zion Church, Church of God, La Prima Espresso Roastery, All Businesses on Chateau St, and All Businesses on Western Avenue.

How-Noise reduction, Air Quality Improvement, Bike Trail Access, Bike Lanes in the Neighborhood, Increases in River Activity such as the Gateway Clipper, Attracting Consumers from Other Areas, Improved View from Front Porches, Access to New Street Grids, Grocery and Retail Opportunities, Community Access, Walkable Churches, Reduced Noise Pollution, Bike Share, and Grand Entrance into the City.

Question 2:What are the challenges to achieve neighborhood connectivity across PA-65?

• The street grids on each side of PA-65 do not align.• Commuter education of Sewickley, Bellevue, Avalon is needed.• Skywalks could be unsafe.• Increase property taxes may cause opposition.• Continued community engagement is needed throughout the project.• Determining and reaching short term goals• Meeting height requirements for zoning• No existing crossways• The project may lead to additional vehicles parking in Manchester. Parking planning and policy is needed.• The project will take time.• The wall and highway are significant barriers• Alliances with regional leaders are needed.• Initial planning is important.

Question 3:What are potential solutions to achieve neighborhood connectivity across PA-65?

• Bring it down• Design and build a European-type boulevard with roundabouts• Increase greening potential• Build a light rail on or below grade, outside the community.• Create opportunities for small businesses.• Consider a multi-purpose use of the land• Have smaller lanes along Chateau St• Lower PA-65 and extend the “T” along the route to restore community unity and create green space.• Replace it underground.• Punch holes through it.• Build bridges over it.• Update zoning codes in Chateau with input from Manchester stakeholders.• Install a light rail along Beaver Ave.• Repopulate the area with trees.• Engage River Life• Direct Steeler parking up the river and offer boat shuttle, like is offered on the South Side.

Stakeholder Engagement Matrix Broad and directed stakeholder engagement is needed for project success. While some folks can provide local background, others can may offer support through project management, advocacy, funding, and other types of support. When asking various individuals or entities to participate in a project, it can be helpful to discuss strategies with the project team to determine the most appropriate requestor of support, etc.

This matrix includes the collective input of the groups at the workshop and may serve as a guide for who, why, how, and what stakeholders to engage in the project. Further discussion with the project team is suggested to refine and complete components of this matrix, in order to make clear, directed asks to potential project supporters.

Who needs to be engaged?

Why should they be engaged?

How can you get them engaged?

What action steps can they take?

Churches Proximity to neighborhood Weekly announcements Support of the parishioners Stadium authorities / SEA Problem prevention/ political

power/funding CDC Contacts SEA Community endorsement of

the plan UPS – Casey Industrial They can save $, improve

accessibility and efficiency Meet with management Funding to the plan -

improvement for accessibility Green Building Alliance Sustainability of the

community Meet with Executive Director Provide Best Practices for

stormwater management, provide micro-grid study

State – Dept of Corrections

Funding Political representatives Advocate funding

State - Dept of Community and Economic Development

Funding constituency Advocate funding

Penn Dot Government - All Critical for their support Community meetings Provide the necessary funding River Life / PA Conservancy / Tree PGH / Duquesne Light

Green Space Development, increase sustainability

Set up meeting with appropriate staff

Provide best practices, trees, river

Suburbs Barrier Attendance to community meeting/ social media

Support of the project

Residents – CBO’s/ NSLC Health issues/barriers, our neighborhood

MCC / Vote, attend meetings Engagement of the plan and support

Supermarkets

City of Pittsburgh – Mayor Peduto, council, city planners

Drive – Leverage change meetings Assist with funding, short term- studies, long term- make it happen

Local businesses

Port Authority

Allegheny County, Rich Fitzgerald

Casino Potential funding, stakeholder

Steelers

Urban Redevelopment Authority

Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation

Northside Leadership

Historic Review Commission US Postal Service

CMU Study Team

Millennials Many do not have cars or houses, ride bicycles and have small carbon footprints

Fire Dept

Allegheny General Hospital/ University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Potential development Approach Funding / influence

Bidwell Center

Andrew Dash City Planner, Manchester resident

Call Coordinate with city

Brian O’Neil Newspaper writer Call Spread information

Bill O’Driscoll Resident, newspaper Call Spread information Sam Patti Business owner Call Advocate John DeSantis advocate Call Knowledgeable advocate Cardello stakeholder MCC Stakeholder Manchester High School Stakeholder Kevin Acklin Mayor Contact

Buhl Foundation Stakeholder Petition Funding Nova Place Potential development Mike Doyle Congress Contact

Group 1:

Group Presentation Materials: Each small working group prepared displays to present to the larger group during the meetings conclusion. the displays include a graph rating the impact and workability of proposed solutions and mapping of site mechanics relating to the project. Photos of Display materials are included in the following pages.

Group 2:

Group 3/4: