An out-of-state commercial real estate firm has proposed to rent a newly renovated store front on Broad Street in East Liberty to a parole board agency. This would result in parolees frequently entering and leaving the facility. A number of East Liberty business people, neighborhood home owners, and civic organizations such as the East Liberty Quarter Chamber of Commerce and East Liberty Development Incorporated object strongly to this proposed step. It is felt that the frequent presence of parolees will be detrimental to the neighborhood, which is only now beginning to recover from the serious decline experienced since the Urban Renewal efforts of the 1960s. Much work has gone into attracting major stores such as Whole Foods and Target into East Liberty, and serious investment money has gone into upgrading the Broad Street properties.

Those who object to the proposed presence of a parole agency in East Liberty are invited to attend a Zoning Board Hearing on Thursday September 9 at 9:50 am on the third floor of the John P. Robin Civic Building, 200 Ross St., Downtown Pittsburgh. The Chamber of Commerce will provide transportation by bus if there is sufficient demand. Call the Chamber at 412-661-9660 if interested.