In anticipation of students moving out, OPDC launched a long-term Electronics Recycling Drive. Drop items off at OPDC office at 235 Atwood St between the hours of 8:30am and 5pm. Learn more about what is accepted here:
http://www.opdc.org/news/opdc-host-electronics-recycling-drive/
Community
Next to Frazier Fieldhouse, Frazier St and Dawson St
A community garden. Priority given to residents for limited space.
There are only a few beds unassigned, but everyone welcome to come help and learn. Be sure to ask about the “wet club”, for helping to water during dry spells.
Check the calendar for scheduled dates.
Our monthly kids movie night and adult get-togethers at the Frazier Fieldhouse adjacent to Dan Marino Field on Frazier St. Any volunteers, donations of food or beverages, or even lending of movies is encouraged and welcome.
Friday April 25th is the kids movie night from 5pm-7pm.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of children to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include child’s name, parents’ names, address and contact number.
Children ages 5-15 are welcome. Any children ages 5-9 are required to have a parent or older sibling to accompany them.
Some food/snacks will be provided, but parents must provide and coordinate any special diet or other restrictions.
Donations of snacks and beverages are definitely welcome.
All children MUST be picked up by 7pm.
Saturday April 26th is the adult get-together from 7pm-10pm.
This event is more of an eat, meet and greet so that neighbors can introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest and ideas for future events like like music, movies, games, etc.
This event is for ages 21 and older.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of adults to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include your name, address and contact number.
Donations of a covered dish, hors d’oeuvres, snacks and beverages are requested and welcome, but not mandatory.
Anyone that would like to share some of their favorite beer or wine for their neighbors to try is also welcome. To avoid this becoming a “bar” night, we ask that you limit to one or two drinks total per person.
We reserve the right to ask anyone who is disruptive at any event to leave.
Please RSVP via SONG contact page, call or text 
, or talk to Janet Sims in person.
04/21 2014
If you aren’t already aware, street cleaning season is here. Check the signs in your area to be sure, but most South Oakland streets are cleaned on the third Wednesdays or Thursdays from April through November between 8:30am-2pm.
04/17 2014
Post Gazette Article “New housing gives South Oakland street a shot at a second life”
Residents now have until Monday April 14th to submit applications and estimates.
Original Article:
Our monthly kids movie night and adult get-togethers at the Frazier Fieldhouse adjacent to Dan Marino Field on Frazier St. Any volunteers, donations of food or beverages, or even lending of movies is encouraged and welcome.
Friday March 28th is the kids movie night from 5pm-7pm.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of children to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include child’s name, parents’ names, address and contact number.
Children ages 5-15 are welcome. Any children ages 5-9 are required to have a parent or older sibling to accompany them.
Some food/snacks will be provided, but parents must provide and coordinate any special diet or other restrictions.
Donations of snacks and beverages are definitely welcome.
All children MUST be picked up by 7pm.
Saturday March 29th is the adult get-together from 7pm-10pm.
For this first event, we are planning more of an eat, meet and greet so that neighbors can introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest and ideas for future events like like music, movies, games, etc.
This event is for ages 21 and older.
Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of adults to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include your name, address and contact number.
Donations of a covered dish, hors d’oeuvres, snacks and beverages are requested and welcome, but not mandatory.
Anyone that would like to share some of their favorite beer or wine for their neighbors to try is also welcome. To avoid this becoming a “bar” night, we ask that you limit to one or two drinks total per person.
We reserve the right to ask anyone who is disruptive at any event to leave.
Please RSVP via SONG contact page, call or text or talk to Janet Sims in person.
03/13 2014
Next meeting: Wednesday, March 19th, 12pm, UPMC’s Scaife Hall, Room 1105 BC. 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Directly across from Petersen Events Center. Take elevator to 11th floor. Please RSVP by contacting 412.621.7863 ext. 21 or oakwatch@opdc.org.
If on foot, enter at 3500 Terrace Street (across from the Petersen Events Center) and take the elevators to the 11th floor. Presby’s cafeteria is on the 11th floor if you would like to arrive early and grab a sandwich.
If driving, you may park in Presby’s main garage (enter on either Terrace or Lothrop).
Parking vouchers will be provided, but be sure to take a ticket upon arriving at the garage. Upon leaving, you will present your ticket with the voucher and be home free! Or, back to the office, free!
Read up on last month’s meeting here:
If you’re considering applying for a facade grant through OPDC, or other home improvements, Design Consults if offering FREE 15 minute consultations Tuesday 3/18/14 6-7:30pm at Oakland Career Center – Community Room 294 Semple St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Bring photos of your property so the designers can provide personalized advice.
Click on the flyer for more info and how to sign up for a consultation:
02/28 2014
If you’re interested in a free tree for the sidewalk, please fill out the application and bring it to the next SONG meeting Tuesday March 4, or give or mail it to David Zwier at 235 Atwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. The deadline to have them as part of this neighborhood grouping is Saturday March 15. There will be a site inspection for each application, because not all locations are suitable for trees.
You can also volunteer to help plant and maintain the trees. More info on TreeVitalize Pittsburgh’s website
There is a PDF version you can print and fill out by hand, or the DOC version, you can fill out electronically, print and sign.
Tree-Planting-Request-Form_2014.pdf
Tree-Planting-Request-Form_USE-ME-14_02.doc
OPDC is now accepting applications for the 2014 Residential Façade Grant program. The program restores historic character to our neighborhood’s homes, instills pride in our community and catalyzes neighborhood investment.
The Façade Grant Program is available to residential property owners in all four neighborhoods of Oakland – Central, North, South and West. With a limit of $5,000 per grant, awardees receive a 1 to 1 match for an owner-occupied building, and a 1 to 2 match for a non-owner-occupied building.
Last year, OPDC awarded $21,000 in grants. Projects included roof and gutter repairs; painting; walkway and sidewalk repairs; landscaping; porch repairs; window and door replacements; and wall and foundation repairs.
Join OPCD as they celebrate Oakland 2025 implementation
projects to-date and brainstorm ideas to continue the momentum.
Oakland 2025 Master Plan: Project Development Workshop
From code enforcement to housing development, greening projects, public art,
citizen engagement, and much more, the Oakland community is moving closer to the Oakland 2025 vision.
To keep things going in a positive direction, join your colleagues and community
members at a workshop to brainstorm even more Oakland 2025 implementation
action steps.
OPDC will host a session led by an independent facilitator. They will gather
information on existing projects and brainstorm ideas to move forward other
plan recommendations. They’ll also discuss ways to ensure our most vulnerable citizens have the resources and services they need to succeed here in Oakland.
March-2014-O-2025-Workshop-Flyer-2.pdfThis week is our first planned monthly kids movie night and adult get-togethers at the Frazier Fieldhouse adjacent to Dan Marino Field on Frazier St. Any volunteers, donations of food or beverages, or even lending of movies is encouraged and welcome.
Friday February 28th is the kids movie night from 5pm-7pm.
- Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of children to 30, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include child’s name, parents’ names, address and contact number.
- Children ages 5-15 are welcome. Any children ages 5-9 are required to have a parent or older sibling to accompany them.
- Some food/snacks will be provided, but parents must provide and coordinate any special diet or other restrictions.
- Donations of snacks and beverages are definitely welcome.
- All children MUST be picked up by 7pm.
Saturday March 1st is the adult get-together from 7pm-10pm.
- For this first event, we are planning more of an eat, meet and greet so that neighbors can introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest and ideas for future events like like music, movies, games, etc.
- This event is for ages 21 and older.
- Due to the size of the building and limited people to run the event, we are limiting the number of adults to 40, so signing up beforehand is recommended. Please include your name, address and contact number.
- Donations of a covered dish, hors d’oeuvres, snacks and beverages are definitely welcome.
- Anyone that would like to share some of their favorite beer or wine for their neighbors to try is also welcome. To avoid this becoming a “bar” night, we ask that you limit to one or two drinks total per person.
We reserve the right to ask anyone who is disruptive at any event to leave.
Please RSVP via SONG contact page, email or talk to Janet Sims in person.
Just a heads-up, the second monthly events will be Friday March 21st for the kids and Saturday March 22nd for adults.
Due to some weather affecting getting the word out and planning, and lack of RSVPs, the events for kids on Friday January 31 and adults on Saturday February 1 have been cancelled.
The next monthly events will be Friday February 28th for the kids and Saturday March 1st for adults. The general details in previous email are still good. Another email will go out with any updates after the SONG meeting on Tuesday February 4.
We hope to see you soon!
South Oakland Neighborhood Group (SONG)
Public Hearing and Post Agenda to focus on Land Banking Bill currently under consideration in City Council
Sent 01/29/2014 @ 10:53 am
Greetings Residents and Neighbors of District 6-
In late 2012, the State of Pennsylvania passed legislation authorizing municipalities to create land banks, entities that acquire, manage and dispose of vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties to facilitate their redevelopment and reuse.
City Council is currently reviewing an ordinance that would create a land bank for the City of Pittsburgh (to access a copy, click here). The legislation will forever change how real property and development are dealt with in Pittsburgh. In District 6, certain neighborhoods, such as the Hill District, Perry North and South, hold up to 50% of properties which would be eligible for the land bank.
Some key highlights in the bill include:
- The creation of a new authority in the City to manage the land bank
- The creation of a Mayoral controlled board to oversee the authority with no formal oversight or checks and balances from City Council
- The ability for the authority to seize any and all property they deem necessary including owner occupied, tax-delinquent property
- The lack of a process for formal community input
Given the significant impact this legislation will have on the City of Pittsburgh and in our District, it is important to inform ourselves of the bill’s provisions, its implications, and to discuss how it could be improved to better serve the interests of our communities. To this end, I encourage you to attend a Pubic Hearing being held on Thursday, February 6, at 1pm in Council Chambers to share your thoughts on the Land Bank bill. There will also be a Post Agenda on the subject the same day,February 6, 2pm in Council Chambers.
I look forward to seeing you there, as we work together to craft a bill that truly benefits the residents of our district and the greater City of Pittsburgh.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle