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Design teams present ideas for the Gladstone Annex, Monongahela-Marsden | The Homepage
Also: New arts trail is live, Environmental Charter School will move near Hazelwood in 2027; green job fair Nov. 13
By Managing Editor Juliet Martinez
The Oct. 13 Greater Hazelwood community meeting had a packed agenda featuring an update from the mayor’s office, information about the Environmental Charter School, the introduction of a new representative from Pitt, a new arts trail and ideas to spark discussions about the Monongahela-Marsden area and the future of the Gladstone Annex.
Gladstone Annex
The Gladstone Residences are complete and occupied, so it is time to think about Phase 2 of the Gladstone redevelopment: Revitalizing the Annex.
Joshua Surratt, Hazelwood Initiative Inc. architecture and urban design intern, presented the history and possible future of the 100-year-old building.
He and fellow UDream interns Hanibal Grant, Jermesha Martin, Shahadah Muhammad, Rohithkrishna Saravanan, Myles Sloan and Miracle Thomas developed the concepts for a possible second life for the annex.
Mr. Surratt summarized the design concept as “a vibrant mixed-use community hub” with affordable apartments that can meet a range of housing needs, and community amenities that support wellness, creativity, local businesses and social connection, while preserving the historic structure and creating a sustainable, accessible space for future generations.
Third spaces were prominent in the proposal. These places are neither home nor work. Examples include parks, coffee shops, bars and libraries where people gather. The design team imagined a variety of third spaces in the Annex where people could meet friends or get to know neighbors on neutral territory.
The current parking lot at the corner of Hazelwood and Sylvan avenues would be reimagined in this scenario with a variety of these spaces: An outdoor amphitheater, café seating, a basketball court, a community lounge and public art. Part of the lot would still be for visitor parking.
The design team imagined the unused pool in the Annex basement as a gathering space for all visitors and residents, a place for events and performances. One of the team’s instructors said he challenged them to think of a new use for the space because of the high cost of maintenance, staffing and insurance for a swimming pool.
Monogahela-Marsden
Next, Mr. Surratt presented the results of a land-use study that he and another team worked on over the summer. The other members of that team were Dyanavita Balaji, Dana Goodridge, Uma Gupta, Teja Kotkar, Sushruti Santhanakrishnan and Kayla Wade.
“Our team was asked to examine how this area can better support housing, economic opportunity, community development and future growth,” Mr. Surratt said. They held a focus group meeting in August to identify residents’ concerns.
The northern border of the roughly 16-acre Monongahela-Marsden area is Mobile Street. The southern border is Hazelwood Avenue and Marsden Street. The area is bounded to the east and west by Gladstone and Irvine streets.
Much of this area contains vacant lots, underutilized parcels, deteriorated properties and fragmented ownership patterns, he said. These conditions are not ideal for growth, but the area is also close to Hazelwood Green.
“Because of its location, this area has tremendous potential to become a bridge between existing residents and future economic opportunities,” he said.
About half of Hazelwood residents own their home while the other half rent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Community Survey and the City of Pittsburgh. Half of the neighborhood’s households bring in less than $38,000 per year. Half of the individuals earn less than $23,000, so affordable housing is a priority, Mr. Surratt said.
One of the challenges the team identified is the area’s isolation from the rest of the neighborhood. It is bordered by the greenway on two sides. Reaching Hazelwood’s business district or Hazelwood Green entails crossing busy streets. The team suggested traffic-calming measures like roundabouts, bike lanes and other improvements on Second Avenue and Flowers Avenue to make the neighborhood safer overall.
The team suggested improving the sidewalks and crossings, lighting and seating at the intersection of Hazelwood Avenue, Second Avenue and Irvine Street. These changes, along with more trees, public art and temporary markets could make the intersection more active.
They also presented a vision of a revitalized and reconnected Irvine Street Foot Bridge. One side of the bridge stands on the east side of Irvine Street. The team imagined a rebuilt, modern and accessible bridge creating a link between Monongahela-Marsden and the jobs and opportunities coming to Hazelwood Green as it gets more developed.
Arts trail is live
Cassie McDonald, managing director of Hazelwood Local, announced the launch of the Hazelwood Arts Trail. This project is a collaboration with Arts Excursions Unlimited and other nonprofits and businesses. Its goal is to highlight the art and creativity in the neighborhood.
Visit hazelwoodartstrail.com to use the interactive map or download printable maps. More artworks will be added in the future.
Ms. McDonald said Hazelwood Local plans to hold another portrait fair on Nov. 14 at Propel School. See the ad on Page 6 for details.
Hazelwood Local will also host a holiday tree giveaway with real trees as part of Light Up Hazelwood on Dec. 5. Residents can pick out a tree and volunteers will help them load it onto their car.
Mayor’s office
Community Affairs Liaison Samantha Podnar from the office of Mayor Corey O’Connor spoke briefly about the 311 calls from Greater Hazelwood last month. Most related to missed trash pickups. She said an abandoned boat and an abandoned box truck were both towed away from Chatsworth Avenue.
The Civic Leadership Academy offers residents a way to learn about city government. Two Greater Hazelwood residents are currently enrolled.
Ms. Podnar encouraged everyone to either volunteer for the Snow Angels program or request help with clearing snow if they need it. Call 311 for more information.
Residents aired complaints about streets being torn up as sewer lines and water mains are being replaced. Ms. Podnar acknowledged that it is a mess, but said it’s the same all over the city where that work is happening.
Green job fair
Hazelwood resident Tiffany Taulton announced the Dream.org career fair on Friday, Nov 13 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Ave. All are welcome to learn about green jobs and training programs for youth and adults. Employers and trainers will be there to accept applications for internships and jobs.
New director
Morgan Overton, the new director of the University of Pittsburgh Greater Hazelwood Commitment, introduced herself. See Page 1 for a Q&A with Ms. Overton.
Environmental Charter School
Environmental Charter School CEO Patrick Dowd spoke to the meeting. The school has 1,100 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. It will be moving its middle- and high-schoolers to a building near Second Avenue north of Bates Street next year. He encouraged Hazelwood families to look into the school. Visit ecspgh.org for details.
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