South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association

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

Category: News

  • Windom / McArdle Gateway Sign

    Windom / McArdle Gateway Sign

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    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

     

  • 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.

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    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!

     

  • Hearing Notice for New Residences

    An application has been submitted by Cipriani Studios on behalf of Salmar & Warhola (property owner) requesting approval of new residences located in the Steep Slope Overlay Zoning District. Zoning Code Section 906.08 requires that development on slopes of 25 percent or greater be reviewed by the Planning Commission.

    If you are interested in attending, there is a public hearing on Tuesday April 21, 2015 at 2PM on the 1st floor of the John P. Robin Civic Building, 200 Ross St.
    hearing-notice-slopes-4-21

  • South Side Slopes Year in Review 2014

    What an exciting year for the South Side Slopes! Here are some highlights from 2014:

    January: We welcomed in Bruce Kraus as President of City Council and Bill Peduto as Mayor of Pittsburgh.

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    February: First General Meeting of the year

    March: Meet the Candidates Night for our State Representatives

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    April: Earth Day event in South Side Park collaborated with Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy & Planted the Western Conservancy Gardens for the season

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    May: Acacia Happy Hour with funds being generated for South Side Park signage

    June: South Side Slopes receives a grant for $100K for Steps repair and maintenance

    July: Annual Summer Picnic & Trail Improvements to South Side Park continue with our grant 

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    August: Major progress on Knoxville Incline Overlook Park & Emerald Trail Corps wraps up for the summer

    2014-knoxville-incline-overlook-painting

    September: Hosted the Pro-Walk Pro-Bike Conference for a walking tour of the South Side Slopes

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    October: StepTrek (with honorary chair County Executive Rich Fitzgerald)

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    November: First Annual Dirty Dozen Viewing

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    December: Annual Christmas Party & Successful Fundraiser for Signage at the Knoxville Incline Overlook Park

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    Hope to see you on January 13 as we re-group and start 2015 with new projects and goals!

  • South Side Park Trail work to begin this month!

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    As part of our grant award to improve South Side Park, the SSSNA has partnered with the Mount Washington CDC’s Emerald Trail Corps to improve the hiking trails in the park.  Pending final city approval, the Emerald Trail Corps will begin working on trail improvements in South Side Park on July 7th and the work will last approximately 3 weeks.  The trail corps will be working on sections of Ol’ Renziehausen the trail starting at Quarry Field continuing up to Arlington Field and then down to Bandi Schaum Community Garden.  These trail improvements and re-routes will help make the trail system less steep, more user-friendly, and more stable from a water management and erosion control perspective.

    As always, you can help the SSSNA keep South Side Park safe by reporting illegal activity including camping and motor biking to 911.

    It is illegal to camp or operate a motorized dirtbike in a city park. (city code 473.03-473.04)

    If you have any questions, email info@southsideslopes.org

  • South Side Slopes Receives $100K Grant for Steps

    For Immediate Release

    June 24, 2014

     

    Contact: Brad Palmisiano

    Phone: 412-951-3899

    Email: brad.palmisiano@southsideslopes.org

    SOUTH SIDE SLOPES RECEIVES $100K TO EVALUATE, REPAIR PUBLIC STEPS

    Allegheny County grant will strengthen network of vital infrastructure

     

    Pittsburgh, PA—On June 20, 2014, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association (SSSNA) was awarded $100,000 from Allegheny County’s Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund for the rehabilitation of public steps in the neighborhood. The grant will allow the SSSNA to complete an engineering study of the neighborhood’s stairways, prioritize repairs, and rehabilitate some sets of steps. The South Side Slopes has 68 sets of public steps, the most of any neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

     

    “The steps are the bones of the Slopes,” said Brian Oswald, association President. “They connect the thousands of residents in the Slopes to the East Carson business district, to bus lines, and to the parks throughout the neighborhood. Life would be a lot harder in the Slopes without these steps.”

     

    Oswald added, “Walkable neighborhoods are highly coveted, across the country. Keeping our walking infrastructure in good repair means our neighborhood will hold and grow its value. This grant is good for our neighbors, good for business, and good for the city.”

     

    Over the last few years, the SSSNA has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in private and municipal grants for improvements to the public steps. Volunteers have spent countless hours painting handrails, cutting back overgrowth, and picking up litter along the stairways. Proof that the community values these steps is given each year during StepTrek, a self-guided tour of the neighborhood that attracts around one thousand participants. StepTrek 2014 is scheduled for Saturday October 4

     

    All studies and funded repairs are planned to be completed by June 2016.

     

    The South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association works to “maintain, foster and improve the quality of life, safety and unity of our Slopes neighborhood.”

     

    The Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund provides “financial assistance to entities to facilitate economic development through infrastructure assistance, stabilize or correct existing infrastructure problems, or plan and prepare sites and buildings for future use.”

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    SSSNA CITF Grant Press Release 2014

    Some News Coverage of the Grant:

    Post-Gazette: South Side neighborhood group gets funds to address crumbling Slopes steps

    Tribune-Review: Allegheny County steps up with $100K to improve Slopes staircases

  • Congratulations to our new Pittsburgh elected officials!

    Last night, South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association President Brian Oswald and former President Brad Palmisiano celebrated the inauguration of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and the election of new City Council President Bruce Kraus. Congratulations to our new officials, and we look forward to working with you going forward.

    kraus-brian-brad peduto-brad-brian