Councilman Lavelle introduced a legislative package which authorizes the joint filing by the City and the County of an application for federal assistance from TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant program dollars. The monies would be used to help finance the infrastructure costs of the former Civic Arena site in the Lower Hill District.

On April 22, 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new round of funding under the TIGER grant program. Portions of the Lower Hill infrastructure are eligible to be funded by this program. The Lavelle-sponsored resolutions, bills 2013-1529 and 2013-1530, authorize the filing of the application and the designation of the SEA as the agent of the City and the County in the application process, and as the administrator of the grant, if awarded.

With the clearing of the 28 acres of the Civic Arena, the master planning process for the development is underway. The Sports & Exhibition Authority, a joint City-County public authority, is managing the design and construction of the infrastructure (streets, water lines, sanitary and storm sewer lines).

Councilman Lavelle sees the great potential for economic revitalization offered by the 28 acres of the former Civic Arena site. With infrastructure funding well on its way, the Councilman looks forward to the commencement of vertical construction on site, and ensuring that the Hill District community and the City of Pittsburgh are strengthened by the work on site.

We are excited to announce the addition of a new "Parent Resources" tab on our website. The intention of the page is to provide information to parents on childcare services, recreation centers, after school programs and health centers located throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Please take a minute to check out the new page here and let us know what you think.  

At City Council’s regular meeting on April 15th, Councilman Lavelle  introduced an ordinance regulating valet parking in Pittsburgh. The proposed bill would shift management responsibilities of the City’s licensing program for valet parking from the Police Department to the Department of Public Works, would institute penalties for violations, and would require operators to display proper signage for valet drop-off and pick-up points. 

The ordinance is modeled after similar measures taken in Chicago, IL and Charlotte, NC, and includes clauses pulled from Pittsburgh’s police variance regulations. Councilman Lavelle’s decision to sponsor the bill resulted from complaints of improper management of valet services in Market Square. Various reports of improper utilization of public street parking spaces in Market Square, Graeme St, Forbes Ave and Fourth Ave prompted the Councilman to respond with the proposed bill.

To read the legislation in full, click on the title header link.

On April 18, at the Northside Institutional Church on West North Ave, Councilman Lavelle and Council President Harris hosted an informational community meeting on the application for expansion of the Mexican War Streets historic district. The purpose of the meeting was to provide residents with answers to technical questions they had on the conditions and guidelines of a neighborhood that receives historic designation status. City Planning gave a presentation clarifying some of theses questions, which was followed by a lively Q & A.

 As City Council prepares to make a final decision on the application, a public hearing will be held in which residents will be given the opportunity to express their support or opposition to the application. The hearing will take place on:

Tuesday, May 28
1:00pm
Council Chambers
City-County Building, 5th floor
414 Grant St 

The District 6 office Spring newsletter is out! 

The latest version of our office newsletter is meant to better inform you of what is happening throughout District 6. The Spring Update provides dates and times for the Remote Site visits for the remainder of 2013, neighborhood updates, and information on our 'Job Start' Job Fair and the Spring basketball tournament. Please click on the title header or the thumbnail below to access an electronic copy of the newsletter.

The Duquesne University School of Law has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) that will be utilized for developing the future site of the school’s Clinical Legal Education Program.

The new clinic, located in the Uptown community at 914 Fifth Avenue, will enable the law school and its students to directly deliver much-needed legal services to citizens in the community. The law school’s seven clinical programs—which benefit underserved families, individuals and communities—address the areas of civil rights, community enterprise, federal practice, pro se motions, unemployment, urban development and veterans.

The Hill CDC, together with Councilman Lavelle’s office, will host a series of community meetings to receive input from residents on the development of the Lower Hill District (former Civic Arena site). The first meeting will take place on:

Wednesday, April 10
6pm-9pm
Kaufmann Center
1835 Centre Ave

The intent of the meetings is to provide the Hill District Community and broader public the background and current status of the Lower Hill site development, as well as to communicate to the community and other stakeholders the ongoing work related to economic and social issues concurrent with the overall development outline.

Please come to give your input and get updated on what’s happening at the Lower Hill District. Your contributions are vital in ensuring the Hill District benefits from the development on the former Civic Arena site.

Councilman Lavelle has long been an advocate of low-moderate income communities, supporting education, employment and health care initiatives that open up a path towards self-sustainabililty. In that spirit, and in light of the Commonwealth Court's recent majority decision ordering the Corbett administration to spend tobacco settlement proceeds on health care programs for the working poor, Councilman Lavelle introduced on March 12 a Will of Council urging the Governor to respect the Court's decision by refunding the adultBasic program or other similar health care program.

Health care costs are on the rise, with medical bankruptcies one of the principal causes of bankruptcy in the US. Now is not the time to be cutting these services to our populations in need. Councilman Lavelle intends the Will of Council to serve as a strong signal to the Corbett administration to respect the Court's decision and to reinstate a health program that provides affordable healtch care to Pennsylvanians that do not receive insurance from their employers, earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, or are too young to receive Medicare.

To read the Will of Council, click on the title header link.

The Schenley High RFP Review Panel was formed to review 4 proposals submitted for reuse of the former Schenley High School and provide a recommendation to the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board for final approval. The panel voted on February 8 to recommend the proposal submitted by the PMC Group, which would convert the building into luxury apartments, and the proposal will come before the PPS Board on February 27 for a final vote.

Councilman Lavelle is opposed to any plan that does not keep the Schenley building as a school. In a statement drafted to the PPS Board, the Councilman advised that a vote be delayed until the results of an economic study on the renovation costs is completed. Among the other asks was a request that in the event of the sale, a portion of the proceeds be directed to University Prep to make the school suitable for high school students, and that the auditorium be open to the public and UPrep students.
 

Councilman Lavelle has partnered with Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh to start a pilot program for home repairs within District 6. The pilot targets 3-5 homes in the Schenley Heights neighborhood of the Hill District. Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh delivers no cost home repairs to low income seniors. Councilman Lavelle realizes that many seniors have had their homes for years and they take pride in them. As with anything, over time problems arise and the repairs can be costly. This program will give some of these seniors the opportunity to live safely and more comfortably.

Councilman Lavelle also views the program as a workforce development opportunity. He has requested that the Pittsburgh Wealth Building Initiative be involved with hands on training on some of the work that will be completed.

Over the next few years we will be rolling this program out to other communities. If you have any questions, please be sure to give us a call at 412-255-2134.

On December 20th, The Pittsburgh Promise Park was officially open to the children of the Hill District and to the general public. Promise Park was a vacant lot on 2217-2221 Centre Avenue, but with the help of the Department of Public Works and the commitment of the Pittsburgh Promise, the vacant lot was cleared and pathways were put in place. Councilman Lavelle was in attendance for the ribbon cutting event along with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and students from Pittsburgh Weil (K-5). Councilman Lavelle commends the efforts of Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski and his staff in brining about a beautiful park for children and their friends that is safe to walk through. 

On December 11, 2012, Pittsburgh City Council gave final approval on the reapportionment plan that was amended from the original plan presented by the Council appointed Reapportionment Committee. The approval of this plan has resulted in a few changes for Council District 6. Precincts 2-2 in the Strip District, 4-2, 4-5 and 4-16 in Oakland and 22-1 and 22-3 in Central North Side have been ceded from District 6. Precinct 4-6 in West Oakland, 26-1 and 26-4 in Perry South and 5-9 in the Upper Hill/ North Oakland have been added to District 6.

Councilman Lavelle has enjoyed serving the residents of the precincts that will no longer be a part of District 6 after the New Year. He looks forward to continuing working with those neighborhoods, and building a partnership with Council President Darlene Harris to ensure a smooth transition as the new district lines are implemented. The Councilman also welcomes the residents newly added to the District, and encourages all to contact the office with any concerns, questions and ideas they may have. 

City Council has approved two pieces of legislation aimed at improving minority and women owned business participation in city awarded contracts. Bills 2012-0530 and 2012-0533 strengthens the Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC) and authorizes the city to update a 2001 disparity study. An audit by the City Controller earlier this year confirmed that the EORC had not been able to track its goals of 18% minority participation and 7% female participation in city contracts. Bill 2012-0530 now allows the EORC to track Minority and Women Business Enterprise participation in city contracts. The companion piece, bill 2012-0533, authorizes the City to enter into an agreement or contract for the purpose of updating the City's disparity study from 2001. The EORC is now elevated to a departmental level, with directors that report directly to the mayor and issues quarterly and yearly reports to Council and the Mayor. The bills are an essential component of providing fair access and equal opportunities to disadvantaged businesses that will provide a powerful tool to ensure MWBEs receive equitable consideration in the City’s contracting process. 

On Thursday, November 8, a press conference was hosted by the Hill House in the Kaufmann Audiotrium to announce that the funding gap for the Shop 'n Save grocery and retail center has been closed. Vertical construction on the site is set to begin by year's end, an exciting prospect for a neighborhood that has been without a grocery store for 30 years. With an estimated completion date of late 2013, this is exciting news for Hill District residents and the City of Pittsburgh. The District 6 office will continue to follow up on all of the progress and updates as the building of the store moves forward. Please check our site for more information in the future.