Hope Rises in Homewood

Elwin Green walks us down his street, Race Street, in the middle of Homewood. It is mid-morning, the sun is shining brightly and the day is perfect for taking photos, meeting the neighbors, and assessing the potential of this street. Race Street is an five-block-long street of modest four-square brick Pittsburgh homes, like any street in the region.

However, Race Street, like much of Homewood, is plagued with an image problem. Sure there are some vacant properties--many of which could be fixed. But with people unable to obtain home improvement or home mortgage loans, public safety issues, and low self-esteem, Race Street, like Homewood, faces an uphill battle for legitimacy and its future.

Yet, the story does not end in a downward spiral of despair. Residents are fighting back. They are organizing, involving a diverse array of stakeholders, and, most importantly, getting the young people involved.

Race Street is a subset of efforts to revitalize Homewood that have galvanized around the Homewood Children's Village concept (Http://homewoodchildrensvillage.org), a direct descendant of the Harlem Children's Zone founded by Geoffrey Canada (http://www.hcz.org/). A public kick-off event for the Homewood Children's Village was held on September 14, 2010. Hundreds of people packed the gym at Faison school to watch a touching video, "One Square Mile," and to hear the elaborate plans and committees that have been organized. The room was filled with incredible optimism and hope.

Today (September 23rd), however, the U.S. Department of Education announced their latest round of grant awards, and the Homewood Children's Village was not chosen for federal funding. Yet, there is still reason for optimism, not just because Homewood's latest plan has the backing of elected officials and other community leaders.

Hope rises in Homewood because of the young people who are involved, who were well represented at the kick-off event.

The celebration ended with an original rap performance by four young people, who closed out their set with the catchy tune "Welcome to the Village." Yes, welcome to the Village. It was an amazing display of community cohesion and promise--which can only be sustained if the young people are involved.

We cannot, must not lose another generation to the streets, to the vacant buildings and empty lots, and to hopelessness. If we fail our children, we fail ourself.

Let's involve our children, get involved in their world, protect them, and make them feel welcome in all aspects of our lives. It is through them our legacy survives.

Advertising Signs and Historic Preservation

An important historic preservation issue is not getting the attention it deserves: advertising signs and how they affect historic neighborhoods and business districts.

Decades ago, signs were painted on brick walls to promote a business in the building or located nearby. These signs can be found across the Pittsburgh region today, but most have faded away and are commonly referred to as “Ghost Signs”. They unlock a piece of history and add great character to an otherwise nondescript part of a building.

The advertising industry shifted long ago to a more “in your face” attitude in locating and designing current billboards. Most of these are brightly lit at night so that they are center of attention. In the city of Pittsburgh alone, there are over 900 billboards lining our streets and neighborhoods (with greater numbers found in low-income areas). These signs try to pull our eyes away from what Pittsburghers cherish so much: the city skyline, tree covered hills, river views and our neighborhoods.

It is often cited that billboards are a major distraction to drivers, but they also are a visual distraction to pedestrians. Unlike watching television or reading a newspaper or magazine, billboards are front and center where someone can’t turn to a different channel or flip to the next page. That is one of the reasons the billboard industry does so well and why businesses constantly advertise with this medium.

In recent years, the signage industry has been moving focus to new electronic technology that has moving, flashing and color-changing elements. Primarily using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the light from the billboards is often seen for miles, especially in the Pittsburgh region with our topography. New York’s Times Square and the Strip in Las Vegas are examples of places designed for these bright flashing signs. Our residential neighborhoods and historic main streets should not fall into the same category.

Currently, new legislation is being developed to bring the zoning code up-to-date with the new technology. The City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning has been working with legal and lighting consultants to draft new regulations for electronic signage. The Planning Commission will have hearings on the issue in October. This would be the perfect opportunity for you to get involved and have your thoughts about these signs heard. Involvement from residents will be critical!

It is time to stop ignoring these signs and take action to reduce the visual blight on Pittsburgh’s landscape. Change must happen from both businesses and residents alike. Businesses need to understand that their historic main street is being plastered with clutter. Residents should demand the views from the streets be protected and not sold off for profit.

What happened to the simple painted signs on brick walls that showcased the Mom and Pop store? Instead we now have signs brightly shining into windows at night and billboards on rusting steel supports or tall poles that bring down property values. Most officially designated historic districts in municipalities have the most restrictions on advertising signs and generally don’t allow them at all. That leaves the majority of the city vulnerable and our historic urban character at risk.

To find relevant documents and more information on this issue, visit the Department of City Planning’s website (http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/), under the “Electronic Advertising and Message Signage” heading.

—Chuck Alcorn, YPA Board Secretary

YPA's Take on the Civic Arena

Historic preservation is at a crossroads. The current generation of preservationists is now grappling with preservation of the recent past. How we as a movement deal with the built environment of the past 50 years, as well as how we relate to our own colleagues will define the future effectiveness of our movement.

The definition and methods of preservation have been appropriately expanded beyond bricks and mortar. In addition to architectural and cultural significance, we must consider the social, political, and economic implications of our engagement.

The aim of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is to approach each instance with an appropriate objectivity. There are moments where casting a vision is necessary, and others when supporting the vision of others is of paramount concern. We do not seek to define what is right or what is wrong.

On the contrary, we hope to provide an atmosphere for dialogue and an exchange that leads to a heightened and inclusive discussion. YPA’s mission is to provide the tools to the next generation as they continue to craft their own definitions of preservation.

The effort to save a Modernist icon like the Civic Arena will not be the last time that preservationists will have to face this challenge. But we should encourage a strong, unified, and inclusive dialogue for such important preservation issues.

As published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 16, 2010: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10228/1080309-110.stm

Preserve our Cities, Preserve our Culture

I just started working part-time at the Andy Warhol Museum as a gallery attendant. My job is to look at the people who are looking at art. Although I’ve only been working a few short days, I’ve already noticed a trend in many of the guests. Many of the visitors don’t even really look at the artwork that is displayed. They seem to just enjoy breezing through the seven floors, soaking in the museum atmosphere of wide, open emptiness with a sprinkling of culture and color, while of course, holding hands with their date.

Visitors will stop and read descriptions of intriguing pieces of art to learn some background and many of them are shocked by “Oxidation Painting” (a painting Warhol made by urinating on a copper-coated canvas), but it seems that many people just come to the museum for the atmosphere, to be surrounded by culture.

I’m sharing this because I believe that the cities and towns that we live in are comparable to a museum. When you visit a historic town, you feel the atmosphere change. You are suddenly a part of the history that town has seen. Walking through old streets in the ancient city of Aachen, Germany, you are reminded of the Roman Empire that once ruled the world. These feelings can’t be mimicked in brand new developments and high-rises. They are the stories in the walls of houses that have seen wars, peace and change. The sensation of being in a place that remembers things is something that must be preserved.

Like a museum, we must tend to our property and take care of it, as not to disturb this ambiance. Otherwise we will stop and look around one day and nothing will catch our eye or intrigue us about our culture, because all we might see are Walmarts and condominiums.

—Meghan Leinbach, YPA Intern & student at the University of Pittsburgh

Preservation as a Tool

In my observation/opinion, when most people think about the term preservation, they think about it in the context of preserving something physical in a theoretical sense. For example, we should save a certain historical building or structure, a famous or old house, etc… The act of preserving gets lost in the mix, not because people don’t want to protect said building or structure, but because most people do not know how to actually preserve them.

I guess I am a case in point in that my background is in archeology, a field that fundamentally destroys areas (we like to call this excavation) in order to preserve the historical and/or natural integrity of an area. My technical knowledge in archeology has allowed for expertise in excavation, however it lacks in the restoration aspect of preservation.

You are all probably wondering where I am going with this. Well in my short experience with archeology and preservation, what I see that is lacking is preservation techniques being taught and exposed to the masses. Even as someone who has specialized in a field that involves preservation throughout school, I still have no concrete knowledge of how to preserve a standing building or structure myself.

I think it would be useful for people, especially the younger generation, to learn the basics of how to preserve a building or structure so that they have the necessary tools to preserve in the future. As every home or building has a history, old or new, preservation of that structure will need to be addressed at some point in time… so why not address it early.

Posted by Ashley Noia, YPA Intern, July 2, 2010

Perspectives From An Outsider

Meghan Leinbach and Ashley Noia are interns with YPA this summer. They were asked to write their impressions of historic preservation for YPA's blog. In the photo at left, Ashley prepares for YPA's Preservation Month Celebration held on May 21st at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty.

Ashley's blog entry is below.

As a Californian native, moving to Pennsylvania was not just a scenic change, but also a cultural discovery. Growing up in an environment where shopping centers, malls, and new residential and commercial developments sprouted up faster than their demand, more often than not one’s childhood park or restaurant became unrecognizable as change was an expected norm. Although change in moderation to fit the needs of the community is a good thing, the process in which one implements this change is another aspect entirely. As the recent decline in California’s economy has spawned blighting in businesses and neighborhoods throughout the state, one might infer that some of these issues are a result of over development and over consumption of resources.

This July will mark a year of my life that has been spent living in Pittsburgh, and the last few weeks with the Young Preservationists Association. From my short time here, I have learned the importance that preservation plays in order to protect Pennsylvania’s unique past, as well as act as a model for states like California, which tends to build and expand instead of restoring what exists and reusing standing structures. By no means are the efforts in Pennsylvania perfect, but the first step to preservation is that there is actual effort in existence.

The Pittsburgh region of which I have had the most intimate interaction with over the past year offers the state of Pennsylvania a rich cultural milieu. Not only does Pittsburgh maintain the decadence of four seasons, it also retains the architectural structure of the 1800’s and industrial spirit of which other cities and states depended, a historical picture for its citizens to enjoy and reflect on in the future. Most inspirational to me is the pride that the Pittsburgh citizen has in one’s community and state, a trait that is often lost in the transient cities in states like California.

Pennsylvania’s long history creates a playground of living history for its residents through the preservation of its most influential and unique buildings and landmarks. Preservation of one’s history through physical materials and structures allows for future generations to learn from the past so that they too may positively impact the future. From this outsider’s perspective, Pennsylvania is “Bringing History to Life,” and hopes the great western state might follow.

Ashley Noia is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College

Old is not Scary

Meghan Leinbach and Ashley Noia are interns with YPA this summer. They were asked to write their impressions of historic preservation for YPA's blog. In the photo at left, Ashley (far right) and Meghan meet with the Mayor of Braddock, John Fetterman.

Meghan's blog entry is below.

The first time I went to Homestead was by mistake. A freshman at Pitt, just trying to get to Target to buy some easy mac, I took the 61C and just never got off. I ended up somewhere on Eighth Avenue and was left to wander the streets in attempts to find a way back to the Waterfront. Too scared to ask for help, I followed the train tracks back. At the time, all I wanted to do was get away from the abandoned buildings and forgotten empty lots and back to the safe space of the Waterfront. My eighteen-year-old self just wanted to be near the familiar chain stores that I was raised on and escape the streets that I was warned to stay away from.

Homestead did not make a good first impression on me. And why would it? As a non-native to Pittsburgh, I knew nothing about the decline of the steel industry and the destruction of communities that the mill closings caused. The formerly thriving neighborhood was now abandoned due in part to the opening of the stores that I visited in the Waterfront. I did not see the worth in historic Eight Avenue; all I saw were abandoned buildings.

Since my freshman experience in Homestead, I’ve visited all the neighborhoods I was warned to stay away from. I’ve realized since then, that exploring the gritty places, which we are warned to leave alone, is way more exciting and worthwhile than frequenting the industrialized mall-parks we have come to accept as a society.

It’s in Nancy B’s Bakery where you can eat the world’s best chocolate chip cookies, not in Costco. It’s in the antiques stores along Eighth Avenue, not Target, where you can find the unique lamp you’ve been dreaming of that pulls your living room décor together perfectly. In the Tin Front Café you can have an Americano made by hand, not by the push of a button like in Starbucks. Now I travel to Homestead intentionally. I’ve learned that there’s nothing generic about Homestead, there’s nothing sterile about Homestead and there is definitely nothing scary about Homestead.

Meghan Leinbach will be a senior at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall. She is a double major in History of Art and Architecture and German, minor in Philosophy.