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Events

Resources

Public Officials Design Institute

RECAP

The annual Public Officials Design Charrette held last week by Sustainable Pittsburgh and the American Institute of Architects, Pittsburgh Chapter was a great success bringing sustainable design solutions to several municipalities from around the region.

Held at the Borough of Greentree Municipal Building, the Charrette concentrated on determining practical solutions to help speed revitalization of core downtown areas of: Borough of Clymer (Indiana Co.), Borough of Heidelberg (Allegheny Co.), Borough of Irwin (Westmoreland Co.), Moon Township (Allegheny Co.), and the Municipality of Murrysville (Westmoreland Co.). Each municipality, represented by elected, community, and staff leadership, was paired with a team of pro bono experts (see list below) representing disciplines of design, engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability.

Municipalities invited to participate were those that have submitted case studies to the Sustainable Communities 500 website.

Key insights:
- Moon gained new insights to designing transit oriented development that would contribute to unified development along a key commercial corridor. This would surmount fragmented approaches and simultaneously contribute to a sense of place and quality of life.
- Irwin departed with new ideas relative to broad scale community development and streetscape design in establishing a gateway hub for the community.
- Clymer departed with new determination to facilitate a community process to create a vision, work with regional planning bodies and the state, and begin to set in place standard planning and development tools to guide future growth, all toward strengthening their central business district's market position.
- Murrysville focused on continuing the momentum the community is building stemming from state investment in Rt. 22 and their Hometown Streets program. Strategies including design guidelines, mixed use development, bike/ped connections, shared parking, and community visioning were among the list of good bets for next steps.
- Heidelberg was inspired by the team's drawings showing helpful reconfigurations of traffic patterns to add to safety, traffic calming, and walkability in the commercial center. Also a heightened appreciation for the unique market niche of the community was noted.

Special thanks to the resource experts who donated their talents:
Steve Altheer, Burt Hill
Tom Briney, Perkins Eastman Architects
Chuck D'Aprix, Economic Development Visions
Lynn DeLorenzo, NAIOP
Rob Dower, Strada Architects
Alex Graziani, SGPWC
Matt Johnson, Design Alliance
Paula Maynes, Maynes Associates
Rebecca Mizikar, Burt Hill
Jack Nolan, DCED
Mark Peluso, Town Center Associates
Ray Reaves
Evaine Sing, Burt Hill
Matt Smith, STV
Ed Shriver, Strada Architects
Kevin Wagstaff, Perfido, Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel

Resources Continued

Pittsburgh Public Schools Public Hearing for the application of The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park...an Imagine School

Monday, December 10
6:30 pm
Pittsburgh Board of Education - 341 South Bellefield Street, Oakland - 1st. Floor Conference Room
Contact: Barbara S. Hicks - barbleeh@verizon.net or 412-242-1469

City residents may speak for 3 minutes - call 412-622-3600
Non city residents may attend to support speakers and environmental school Everyone should wear a green shirt, sweater or blouse to public hearing.
For more info go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pghenvironmentalcharter

Our Region's Plan Open House

Monday, December 10
12:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Xplorion Lobby, Regional Enterprise Tower (425 Sixth Avenue, Downtown)
Contact: Southwestern PA Commission - 412-391-5590 or www.projectregion.org

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) invites you to celebrate the release of the Region's Plan! Join SPC for an open house to learn more about how they are taking the Region's Plan from Vision to Action. Stop by for coffee and refreshments, and share how everyone can continue working together to make Southwestern Pennsylvania one of the best places to live, work, play, and invest!

SPC is the region's forum for collaboration, planning and public decision-making.

Local Foods Happy Hour

Friday, December 14
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
WYEP Community Broadcast Center
67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh 15203 (South Side)
Space is limited. Email RSVPs to info@alleghenyfront.org or go to www.alleghenyfront.org

The Allegheny Front, environmental radio for Western Pennsylvania, celebrates the holiday season with its 2nd Annual Local Foods Happy Hour. Enjoy live music while sampling local produce, cheeses and meats, vegetarian soups, locally brewed beers, regional wines and non-alcoholic drinks. During the event, the Allegheny Front will be taping elements to air in a special broadcast. Be a part of radio in the making at WYEP's Community Broadcast Center, on Pittsburgh's Southside. A $5 donation will be requested at the door.

The Allegheny Front features environmental news, interviews and stories about Western Pennsylvania. It airs on WYEP 91.3-FM in Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 7:00 pm and Saturday at 6:30 am. To listen online and for a station listing, go to www.alleghenyfront.org

"Creating Community in the 21st Century - Intro to Cohousing"

Sunday, December 16
2 - 4 pm
Squirrel Hill Library, corner of Forbes and Murray Ave. Free parking under the library
Register: TPCHG@aol.com or 412-963-1971
Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cohousing Group

A free introduction to Cohousing in Pittsburgh. Learn about creating, building and living in Pittsburgh's first Cohousing Community.

Environmental Leadership Days

Leading the Way for a Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Green Region
December 12-13, 2007
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Fifth Avenue Place • Center Court (Downtown)
www.FifthAvenuePlacePA.com

With the new year just around the corner, make "going green" one of your resolutions! Representatives from Sustainable Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance, and the Rachel Carson Homestead will be on hand with information and giveaways. The first 500 guests to visit one of these non-profits’ tables will receive a free compact fluorescent light bulb! CFLs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and pay for themselves in less than six months. On Wednesday, December 12 meet international environmental expert, Devra Lee Davis PhD, MPH. She will be personalizing copies of her latest best selling book The Secret History of the War on Cancer.

Resources

Australia ratifies Kyoto Protocol

He said the Federal Government would do everything in its power to help Australia meet its Kyoto obligations, including setting a target to reduce emissions by 60 per cent on 2000 levels by 2050. It also would establish a national emissions trading scheme by 2010 and set a 20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020.

Thomas L. Friedman: Energy innovators

First, Google said last week that it was going to invest millions in developing its own energy business. Google described its goal as "RE < C" -- renewable energy that is cheaper than coal -- adding: "We're busy assembling our own internal research and development group and hiring a team of engineers tasked with building 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal." That could power all of San Francisco.

More

Sidewalk plan awaits approval

Imagine walking a dog along Beaver Grade Road without worries of being hit by a passing vehicle, or making a quick run to a University Boulevard store without needing a car. Eventually, that dream will become a reality in Moon Township, according to a sidewalk and trail master site plan to be approved by township supervisors . "It's for (all residents) because it includes sidewalks, multi-purpose trails and even hiking trails," said Scott Brilhart, township assistant manager and planning director.

Dems Reach Deal on Energy Bill

An agreement among congressional Democrats — including those from auto industry states — to support a 40 percent increase in vehicle fuel efficiency is likely to be the tonic needed to push energy legislation through Congress before Christmas.

A local approach to easing gridlock

With 55 of the nation's 85 densest population centers estimated to have Los Angeles-style road congestion within the next 20 years, local road planners are increasingly blowing by the stagnant revenue from state and federal fuel taxes and instead raising their own money to build new roads and optimize existing roadways.

US Steel to pump $1B into Clairton Works

The program, the largest capital construction project in Western Pennsylvania since construction of Pittsburgh International Airport's Midfield Terminal in 1992, would be done over a period of years and include building of two new technologically and environmentally advanced coke batteries and an electricity cogeneration plant.

Is Urbanism the New American Dream?

This new trend is being driven by demand from Gen Xers, empty nesters, never nesters and singles looking for neighborhoods where cars are not absolutely essential--as opposed to what Leinberger refers to as "drivable sub- urban" developments characteristic of the American landscape since the 1950s. "The 'Leave It To Beaver' drivable suburban vision of the American Dream is being supplemented by the 'Seinfeld' vision of walkable urbanism," stated Leinberger. "As demographic trends and consumer preferences take hold, the nearby suburbs of many major cities are changing to meet the pent up demand for this new way of life. The outer suburbs are also beginning to follow suit, through the development of so-called 'lifestyle centers.' The American Dream, as laid out on the ground, is changing."

Stop sign: Kilbuck's fired police underscore a bigger problem

There are notoriously 130 municipalities in Allegheny County, a patchwork quilt of inefficiency held together by inertia and local egotism. When one considers that police protection is a core function of government, it is necessary to ask what is the point of perpetuating these fiefdoms if they can't afford the basic symbol of their independence? Rather than consolidating police departments among neighbors, the Kilbucks of this corner of the world should be thinking of merging entirely with other municipalities.

A city’s ‘character’ changed for good

The federal government heaped praise on the city, too. In 1976, the Inn Street Mall won the top prize from the Federal Highway Administration for “outstanding example of sympathetic treatment of historical, cultural or natural environment.” And when the National Trust for Historic Preservation published a “how-to” handbook on “recycling old buildings,” Newburyport was one of the featured cities. Architects and planners made pilgrimages to Newburyport to study its success. Officials from other cities came to learn the nuts and bolts of restoring a downtown.

Green power, green jobs... green dream; Brown reveals vision

Brown pledged yesterday to put Britain on the road to a green revolution which will create hundreds of thousands of jobs. In his first major speech on the environment since moving into No10, Mr. Brown hinted he is ready to extend the target to cut emissions by 2050 from 60 to 80 per cent...But he said transforming the world's energy economy will require a "fourth technological revolution", changing society as fundamentally as the harnessing of steam power, the invention of the internal combustion engine and the microprocessor.

Energy alliance predicts creation of 40,000 Pa. jobs

Pennsylvania stands to gain more than 40,000 jobs in renewable energy manufacturing if the United States commits to a 10-year program of stabilizing carbon emissions, according to a report released yesterday.

'Green' paint comes in all colors

Green isn't just a paint color. Major paint manufacturers are developing and marketing new interior paint products sporting the "green" label, appealing to customers interested in environmentally friendly paints or simply trying to reduce potential allergens in their homes. Low odor and the reduction or elimination of VOC's or volatile organic compounds reduces vapors in the air than can impact indoor air quality.

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Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2007 from:

Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
University of Pittsburgh


Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP