South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association

"Neighbors working together to make the Slopes a more livable, beautiful, and safe community"

Category: in the news

  • Church Route Signage Installed

    Church Route Signage Installed

    church-route-sign-live

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) is excited to announce the installation of signs marking the “Church Route” through the South Side Slopes. The Church Route is a walking tour that goes up and down our unique stairways providing beautiful views of the city, and featuring glimpses of the eccentric hillside architecture and historic churches. For 10 years this route was a part of the SSSNA’s annual StepTrek but the association decided to formalize the route into a permanently signed walk instead. Funding for the signage was provided by the SSSNA in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, who manufactured and installed the wayfinding signs.

    Adam Jette, a volunteer for the annual StepTrek event stated, “It will be nice to have a self-guided tour that residents of Pittsburgh and visitors to our city can use to explore the crazy hillsides of this city. StepTrek is only one day a year but these signs will be available every day.”

    The signs are posted at intersections leading from the start of the route at 15th and E. Carson Streets. The Church Route travels up 15th Street eventually ascending many different stairways and adjacent to the historical church of the Slopes. St. Adalabert’s, St. Michael’s, St. Paul’s, and St. Josephat’s churches are highlights of the trip, along with several stunning views of the city and the streets made of stairways.

    In keeping with the tradition of StepTrek, an annual tour of two different courses up and down the South Side Slopes, a narrative of the route is provided on the website here: http://www.southsideslopes.org/steptrek/church-route. A brochure with a map and helpful navigation information will be printed this summer, and will be available at the South Side Chamber of Commerce office on 11th and Carson Streets. In addition to a map, the brochure will provide historical anecdotes about the churches and community as well ongoing improvements and changes to the neighborhood.

    Press Release: Church Route Signage Press Release

  • Windom / McArdle Gateway Sign

    Windom / McArdle Gateway Sign

    sssna-mcardle-gateway

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) is pleased to announce the completion of a unique entrance marker reflecting the uniqueness of the neighborhoods it announces. The signage has been erected on PJ McArdle Roadway on the corner of Windom Street. A grant from the now-defunct South Side Local Development Company (SSLDC) made the project possible.

    Peter Kreuthmeier of Loysen + Kreuthmeier Architects, the lead on this project stated, “similar to other ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ markers, the Windom/McArdle Gateway makes use of cor-ten steel as its primary material – paying tribute to the neighborhood’s rich steel history.”

    The site is an entry point to both the South Side Flats and South Side Slopes, depending on the direction of travel. The words welcome drivers into each neighborhood – either the Flats or the Slopes. Mr. Kreuthmeier added, “Although the piece has no moving parts, when approaching the Flats, it reads ‘South Side,’ and from the other direction, it reads ‘South Side Slopes.’ For such a simple effect, there was quite a bit of study to get the angles just right.”

    Loysen + Kreuthmeier interns, Jonathan Tomko and Mary Waelder played a huge role in seeing the idea become a reality. Credit also goes to the following: the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works for removing a power pole and repositioning traffic signage; to the U.S. Postal Service for their promise to relocate the relay mailbox; and to Standard & Custom for their expert fabrication and installation services.

    Press Release: Press Release_South Side Entry Signage 5-2016

  • Monastery Street Steps Demolition Update

    There are at least 2 sides to every story.

    From our perspective: 10 of the residents of Monastery street received letters on June 27, 2013 that the city had funding to replace the Monastery Street Sidewalk & Steps this year. They were directed to a contact number at the Department of Public Works if they wanted more information.

    Throughout the summer, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) met with city officials (including the city’s public works director Rob Kaczorowski) to discuss our plans for the 13th annual StepTrek and make requests for step repairs. Many minor repairs were made. The Monastery Street project was never mentioned.

    On October 5,  StepTrek brought ~800 people onto the Monastery Street Steps – unknown to us that they were considered dangerous and structurally deficient by the city. We just thought they were another set of steps.

    A board member who lives on Monastery Street (but did not receive notice) woke up Monday morning to the sound of steps being demolished, and since then the SSSNA has been on full alert to this project.

    The original plans call for reducing the number of stairs from 118 to 30. To remove these stairs, requires a very steep grade of 17.5% along the sidewalk. A benefit with this plan is that all of the houses on Monastery Street would have direct access to the roadway. It is also cheaper.

    As an association, we want to reach a compromise that will bring the grade into standard architectural guidelines (maximum of 10%) while improving the safety and livability of our neighbors. Furthermore, we demand an opportunity to learn about capital projects in our neighborhood before the backhoe shows up. The city publishes paving schedules for the season ahead of time. The city requires all zoning hearings to be published in the newspaper and open to public discussion. Why isn’t a $177K re-design of our steps and sidewalks given the same requirements for public disclosure? With time, we could potentially have raised private funds to offset the city’s cost and create a win-win situation for everybody as opposed to a last-minute frantic compromise.

    Additionally, we want to work with the city to come up with a reasonable set of guidelines that the city will follow for determining which steps need to be replaced. Currently, Mr Kaczorowski says that the city guideline for a maximum sidewalk grade is 20%. For reference, here is a 20% grade hill:

    Both KDKA and the Post-Gazette have given some coverage to the sensitive issue of tearing down city steps without adequate public input.

    Post-Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/06/Tearing-down-city-steps-draws-ire-in-Slopes/stories/201311060085

    KDKA:
    http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/11/05/south-side-slopes-residents-upset-over-new-plans-for-steps/

    Board members are meeting with the Department of Public Works this morning to try to reach a compromise. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for timely updates as we make any progress in this important safety issue.

  • Tree Planting This Saturday!

    Join us this Saturday 11/19 at 10 AM at the 18th Street entrance to South Side Park to plant ten new trees. Registration is required. Please go to http://www.paconserve.org/300 to reserve your spot.