Category: Organizational

  • 2025 Board Updates

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) is excited to announce its updated Board of Directors as of our Annual meeting on March 11, 2025.

    Re-elected board members were: Hannah Lewandowski, Kristin Raup, Fritz Swartzbaugh, and Coralee Toal.

    We also welcomed new board member, Donna Tarkett. Donna previously served on the SSSNA Board from 2016 to 2021, and she is the steward of the Bandi Schaum Community Garden.

    We wish our sincere thanks to Blake McLaren who served on the SSSNA board since 2016, and stepped down this year.

  • May 14, 2024 General Meeting Agenda

    Join us at the Kollar Club (3226 Jane St., 15203) at 6:30pm on Tuesday May 14, 2024.

    1. Police Zone 3 update
    2. City Council Update
    3. Office of the Mayor update
    4. State’s 36th District update
    5. Mural at Arlington Recreation Center
    6. Summer Activities Announcements:
      1. Summer Flower Contest 2024
      2. Summer Picnic – 7/9/2024
      3. Goatfest – 7/27/2024
      4. National Night Out – 8/6/2024
    7. Committee Reports
      1. Beautification – June Cleanup – 6/12/2024
      2. StepTrek – Meeting 5/16/2024
  • Slopes 2024 Winter Survey Results

    What You Love About the South Side Slopes!

    Thanks to everyone who filled out the survey and especially to everyone attending our meetings and other events. We received 34 responses.

    In general, everyone who responded loves living in the Slopes! Top highlights were the neighbors, the convenience and accessibility, and the natural environment combined with our amazing views.

    There were 3 main areas of concerns, and honestly, none of them are a surprise. All of them we do attempt to address via the Neighborhood Association.

    1. Infrastructure and Maintenance:

    • Road repairs and maintenance were mentioned by several respondents, indicating a desire for better road conditions.
    • Specific mentions include the need for improved snow/ice removal, repairing broken or uneven stairs, and addressing overgrowth on stairs.
    • The SSSNA encourages all neighbors to call 311 for these maintenance issues. If you are not getting a response, the office of city councilor Bob Charland can help you get heard.

    2. Community Safety and Quality of Life:

    • Safety concerns were prominent, with mentions of speeding cars, violence, drug-related activities, and homeless encampments.
    • Traffic management and enforcement of parking rules were highlighted as areas needing improvement.
    • Suggestions were made for more community events and activities.
    • The SSSNA hopes to see you at our next general meeting, Summer picnic, or a future event! We always invite our elected officials to all our events.

    3. Litter and Environmental Issues:

    • Several respondents expressed concerns about littering, trash, and the presence of abandoned properties.
    • Suggestions included more cleanup efforts, graffiti removal, and initiatives to tackle absentee landlords and vacant properties.
    • The SSSNA hosts cleanups throughout the warm seasons to help cleanup our neighborhood.

    If you filled out the survey and specified that you were interested in cleanups, StepTrek or the board, we will make sure you are on the right lists, so you are notified how to get involved! If you are interested in getting more involved, please email info@southsideslopes.org.

  • 2024 Slopes Board Updates

    Annual SSSNA Meeting at the Kollar Club

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) is excited to announce its updated Board of Directors as of our Annual meeting on March 12, 2024.

    Re-elected board members were: Cara Jette, Gavin Robb, Lucia Sanchez-Madrigal, Jami Szalla, Marc Bowman and Andrew Fetzko. We also welcomed new board member, Hannah Lewandowski.

    Hanna moved to Pittsburgh and directly into the Slopes in 2018 and immediately knew this was the part of the city she would stay in. Hannah enjoys reading, working out, and trying the best and newest places for a cup of coffee or happy hour. She brings her passion to sharing the Slopes neighborhoods to her work in real estate and political campaigns always convincing someone to become a new neighbor. 

    There is now one opening for a Board positions. Please contact info@southsideslopes.org if you are interested in joining the Board or a committee. You must have attended 2 meetings or events in the last year to be eligible to join the Board of Directors.

  • Tell Us Your Thoughts!

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) wants your feedback! We are an all-volunteer organization. Our mission is to maintain, foster and improve the quality of life, safety and unity of our Slopes neighborhood. 

    This short survey aims to capture your experiences, preferences, and suggestions, helping us to make informed decisions that support our community. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!

    Fill out this Brief 4-question Survey!

  • Welcome New Board Member

    The South Side Neighborhood Association is very excited to introduce new board member Dr Coralee Toal.
    Coralee moved to Pittsburgh in 2018 from Oklahoma and then to the South Side Slopes in 2020. Coralee is an OB/GYN for Magee hospital and enjoys biking, skiing, and balloon arch making. She lives in the Slopes with her husband, Austin, and their rescue dog Collins.
    You’ll find Coralee walking around the neighborhood with her pup and a trash bag, as she believes in keeping the streets clean.
    So please join us in welcoming this incredible neighbor to our board!


    There are now two openings for Board positions. Please contact info@southsideslopes.org if you are interested in joining the Board or a committee. You must have attended 2 meetings or events in the last year to be eligible to join the Board of Directors.

  • October 17, 2023 General Meeting Agenda

    Join us at the Kollar Club (3226 Jane St., 15203) at 6:30pm on Tuesday October 17, 2023.

    Meeting Agenda
    1. Meet the Candidates

    • Sam Schmidt, Allegheny Council District 13
    • David Bonaroti, Allegheny County District 13
    • Pat Sweeney – Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

    2. Neighborhood Updates

    • Zone 3 – Meet Commander Jeffrey Abraham
    • District 3 – Councilman Bruce Kraus, Bob Charland

    3. Committee Updates

    • Step Trek
    • South Side Park
    • Holiday Party – save the date!
    • New Board Member – Meet Dr Coralee Toal
  • Save the Dates for 2023

    Every year, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association holds five public meetings open to the community (two of which are parties!)

    • Tuesday, March 14 – Board Elections & General Meeting
    • Tuesday, May 9 – General Meeting
      Meet the Candidates @ the Kollar Club (3226 Jane St., 15203)
      Doors open: 6:30 p.m. | Candidate forum starts: 7 p.m.
    • Tuesday, July 11 – Summer Picnic
      LaPalapa Food Truck @ Bandi Schaum Community Garden
    • Tuesday October 17– General Meeting
      Location: The Kollar Club (3226 Jane St., 15203)
    • Thursday December 7 – Holiday Party
      Location: The Zenith (86 S 26th St, 15203)

    Meetings start @ 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. We will be updating meeting locations as we get closer.

    All South Side Slopes residents are invited to attend. Join us to meet new people or reconnect with long-time neighbors, learn what is happening and planned for the community, and share your ideas, concerns and love for the Slopes.

    In order to be a voting member of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, you must attend at least 2 meetings and/or events per year.

  • SSSNA Development Activities Meeting (DAM) for 32-44 Pius Street project

    South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association is hosting a virtual Development Activities Meeting (DAM) on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. to review a revised plan for a development project.

    What:  Desmone Architects & Abode Well Realty, Inc. will share significant updates to their 32 and 44 Pius Street development plans. The new plan proposed includes the demolition of the existing 44 Pius Street building and construction of a new building with a similar footprint, height and size, instead of the previous plan to renovate the 44 Pius Street building.

    Why:  SSSNA is a Registered Community Organization (RCO) through the Department of City Planning to provide input and feedback on local development activities and planning procedures in partnership with community stake holders.

    Where: This will be a virtual Zoom meeting. The meeting zoom link will be sent via email to the SSSNA e-blast list before the meeting. If you do not receive it, please email info@southsideslopes.org to be added to the list or receive the Zoom meeting link.

    For more information about RCOs and DAMs, visit https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/dev-activities-meeting.

  • Proposed SSSNA Bylaws Update

    UPDATE: This Bylaws change was approved at a vote at the May 14, 2022 General Meeting of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association. The updated Bylaws are now posted on our website here: SSSNA Bylaws

    The Board of the South Slide Slopes Neighborhood Association is proposing a change to the bylaws of the association. This change to the bylaws regards the eligibility to be considered for board membership. It would more accurately reflect how we engage with our community and broaden the pool of potential board members.

    Here is how Article IV: Members, Section 1. b. currently reads:

    Voting Members: those members eighteen (18) years or older who attended at least two public meetings in the past year.”

    We propose that this sentence of the bylaw be revised to read:

    Voting members: those members eighteen (18) years or older who attended at least two public meetings, events, or activities convened by the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association in the past year.”

    The entire current bylaws are available here: http://www.southsideslopes.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SSSNA-Bylaws-UpdatedMarch2020.pdf

    We, like many other for- and not-for-profit organizations, have experienced a shift in the way that we interact with our members – and the way that they interact with us. It’s clear that the pandemic has fundamentally changed how people are choosing to spend their time outside of family, work, and other obligations.

    It’s important for us to understand and respond to these shifts. Expanding the pool of potential Board Members to more accurately reflect how the organization engages with the community – now, and going forward – will put us in a better position to achieve our goals. We see the challenge of attracting and retaining board members as a long term one – and this is the appropriate opportunity to make this small, but impactful change.

    This proposed change will be published in the South Pittsburgh Reporter and on our website. The change was introduced to the membership at the March Annual meeting. We will have a discussion before a formal vote at our May 10th general meeting. This vote will be open to all board members and general members in good standing. If you have any thoughts on the topic in the meantime, please reach out to any of our Board Members in the meantime and let’s chat! 

    Thank you,

    Blake M. McLaren

    President of the Board – SSSNA