South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association

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

Author: cara.jette

  • Knoxville Incline Greenway

    Knoxville Incline Greenway

    DSC_7479 DSC_7961

    From 1890 to 1960, the Knoxville Incline served as a connector between the South Side Flats and the hilltop. In 2011, a mural was added at the intersection of Brosville and East Warrington Avenue to remember the historic site. There is a foot trail accessible off of Brosville Street which leads to the Welsh Way stairs and Fritz Street – which both connect to the South Side Flats.

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association worked with the Hilltop Alliance, Allentown CDC, and GTECH Strategies to revitalize this area and establish the Knoxville Incline Greenway on the site of the old incline.

    The groups worked together to add signage, replace graffiti tagged jersey barriers with natural boulders, add benches, and plant wildflowers. From the benches, you can see a view of Oakland.

  • 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

  • 2016 Slopes Survey

    Do you live in the South Side Slopes? If so, South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association wants to know what you think about our neighborhood! Please take 5-10 minutes to complete our online survey, and you can be entered to win a $50 gift card to Giant Eagle!

    Click here to take the survey: http://www.southsideslopes.org/survey

     

  • 2016 Meeting Dates

    Mark your calendars! These are the planned 2016 Meeting and party dates for the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association:

    • UPDATE: Tuesday January 19 – General Meeting @ Brashear Changed Due to Snow
    • Tuesday March 8 – General Meeting
    • Tuesday May 10 – General Meeting
    • Tuesday July 12 – Summer Picnic
    • Saturday October 1 – StepTrek
    • Tuesday October 11  – General Meeting & Elections
    • Tuesday December 13 – Christmas Party

    All general meetings are held at the St Paul of the Cross Monastery Retreat Center at 7PM. The address is: 148 Monastery Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Parking is available.

    In order to be a voting member, you need to attend at least 2 meetings and/or events during the year.

    We will have more details for each event as we get closer. We hope to see you at an event this year.

  • StepTrek 2015

    facebook-step-trek-2015

    More Details: http://www.southsideslopes.org/steptrek/

     

  • Proposed Hotel – E. Carson St & Sarah St

    There is a new hotel being proposed at the intersection of E. Carson Street and Sarah Street. They are requesting 4 site variances:

    • 60’ max. height : requesting 85’-4”, with majority of structure at 73’-4” and 69’-4”
      ( the 85’-4” height is isolated to tower element along East Carson Street )
    • 10’ sideyard setback : requesting 3’ ( NW side)
    • 10’ sideyard setback : requesting 0’ ( SE side )
    • 20’ rear setback : requesting 0’ ( not adjacent to a way )

    More details and renderings are here: EAST CARSON ST HOTEL_presentation_[08.06.15]

    Questions about this process? Contact the developer or info@southsideslopes.org

  • South Side Slopes Receives $15K grant for South Side Park

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Contact Brian Oswald, SSSNA

    814-599-4627

    brian.oswald@southsideslopes.org

    SOUTH SIDE SLOPES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION RECEIVES $15,000 GRANT FROM BIRMINGHAM FOUNDATION FOR SOUTH SIDE PARK DEVELOPMENT
    Pittsburgh, Pa. (July 17, 2015) – The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from The Birmingham Foundation for continued development in South Side Park, located off Mission Street in the South Side Slopes.

    The grant will fund projects with a focus on connecting the South Side Slopes/Hilltop communities to South Side Park and promoting the park as a neighborhood amenity. Projects planned include youth programming as a way to introduce kids in the surrounding communities to the park, trail improvement projects working in conjunction with MWCDC’s Emerald Trail Corps., and new signage for trail heads and other points of interests within the park.

    Brian Oswald, president of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, commented, “The grant will allow the SSSNA to continue work to make the park a destination for the entire community, and help keep the momentum going.”

    The grant will ensure that trail work and youth engagement with the park continues. The SSSNA is committed to improving the park and transforming it into a community amenity for all to appreciate and enjoy.

    # # #

    About South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association
    The mission of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) is to maintain, foster and improve the quality of life, safety and unity of the South Side Slopes neighborhood. The SSSNA was founded in 1998 after a fire on Holt Street spread to three houses before the city fire trucks could get to the site. Since then, The SSSNA has advocated for the South Side Slopes community and works to promote neighborhood communication and investment in our community. The SSSNA was designated a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2007.

    About The Birmingham Foundation
    The Birmingham Foundation is a private (independent) community-focused foundation dedicated to health-related and human services grantmaking in South Pittsburgh. The Foundation serves as a change agent for improved health and wellness in South Pittsburgh through the dynamic use of resources such as grantmaking, information-sharing, partnering, and leveraging of assets.

    Press Release: 2015 Birmingham Foundation $15K Grant for South Side Park

  • Welcome New Board Member

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association is happy to announce the addition of Laura Officer to the Board of Directors. Originally from Mt. Lebanon, Laura moved to the South Side Slopes in 2011. She works at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, where the mission is to feed people in need and mobilize our community to eliminate hunger. Laura works directly with over 100 food assistance programs, some of which are located in the South Side Slopes, South Side Flats, and Hilltop communities. Laura brings her expertise in Non-Profit Management to the Board as well as experience in program evaluation, grant writing and strategic planning.

    Laura is replacing Jamin Bogi who stepped down from the Board last month. We thank Jamin for his dedication to the South Side Slopes, and we know he will continue to contribute to the Slopes neighborhood with his regular clean-ups, pruning, reporting issues to 311, and more!

     

  • 2016 Pittsburgh Capital Budget Hearing

    The city is holding a capital budget hearing on Tuesday June 22. This is your chance to tell the city how to spend their money in 2016.

    This year, the hearing will follow a new format that gives residents the chance to learn more about what goes into the Capital Budget, discuss needs and priorities in a small-group setting, and ask questions of an expert panel. Residents will also have the chance to let the City know of specific Capital work in their neighborhoods that they would like to see done in 2016.

    Monday June 22, at the South Side Market House, 1 Bedford Square.

    The event will be held from 6:00-8:30 PM, and refreshments will be provided. The city asks that residents pre-­register by filling out the following form (walk-­in registration will be available on the day of the forum).

    More details here: http://pittsburghpa.gov/cip/cip-announcements