CIMS | City Information Management System

In this month's issue:

Patrick introduces updated cell phone antenna zoning, incentivizes camouflaged tower construction
OpenSpacePGH comes to Bloomfield
Citywide Public Safety Meeting
District 7 team continues fighting blight

Council to Go
Community Events

News and Updates

Patrick introduces updated cell phone antenna zoning, incentivizes camouflaged tower construction

On Friday, March 25, 2013, Pittsburgh City Councilman Patrick Dowd submitted legislation that will create updated regulations for the new construction of communication antennas, towers and facilities in Pittsburgh.

Among the updates contained in the legislation are incentives for new towers, antennas and facilities to incorporate new concealment and camouflage options that will allow newly built towers and facilities to better blend in with surroundings. Examples of concealed towers include the construction of antennas located inside of structures such as church steeples and bell towers, as well as antennas disguised as flagpoles, chimneys, and camouflaged similarly to other features consistent with the su rroundings of the proposed construction area.

Visit the City’s legislation information page to read the legislation and keep up with its progress through the legislative process.

OpenSpacePGH comes to Bloomfield

Did you know that open spaces comprise 18.7% of the land in Pittsburgh? The Pittsburgh Department of City Planning is working to improve the open space is utilized, with the intent of making Pittsburgh’s parks, greenspaces, and other public areas the best public assets they can be. City Planning is visiting different neighborhoods throughout the City to provide an overview of its OpenSpacePGH plan to residents, as well as inform them about how they can get involved as the plan is implemented. OpenSpacePGH will be coming to Bloomfield on April 16^th for a presentation at the West Penn Hospital Burstin Room beginning at 6:30 pm.

Citywide Public Safety Meeting

Join concerned residents, public officials, as well as public safety experts and activists on Tuesday, April 23^rdat for a citywide public safety meeting. The meeting, titled Keeping our Youth on the Right Track, will feature guest speakers Thera Greene of the Community Intensive Supervision Program and William Simmons of the Allegheny County Shuman Juvenile Detention Center. Both speakers will be presenting on topics related to juvenile development and resources for troubled youth in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Please RSVP to Melanie Brown by emailing melanieb.1@verizon.net or call 412-281-8199.

Doors for the event will open at 6:00 pm, with the first speaker beginning at 6:30 pm. This citywide event will be hosted by the Public Safety Councils of Zones 2, 4, and 5.

District 7 team continues fighting blight

As always, our office is committed to blight mitigation and beautification issues in District 7. We work with community groups, residents, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection to ensure that problem property owners are held accountable. Blight mitigation is more than just keeping up appearances- it's about improving the quality of life in our communities.

We want to hear from you about problem properties in your neighborhood! Contact moira.egler@pittsburghpa.gov with information regarding blight in your neighborhood.

Upcoming Events and Meetings

Council to Go

Join Patrick and his staff for Council to Go, Councilman Dowd’s mobile district office, where residents are encouraged to voice their concerns, ideas, and questions related to City government and services.

Polish Hill – Wednesday, April 10^th, 7-8pm – Polish Hill Civic Association, 3060 Brereton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Union Project – Thursday, May 2^nd, 7-8pm – 801 N. Negley Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Community Events

There will be a public community meeting to discuss proposed zoning variances for the expansion of the Thunderbird Café - located at 4023 Butler Street - on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 6:00 pm in the Arsenal Middle School Auditorium located at 220 40th Street. Lawrenceville Holdings VI LP, the owners of Thunderbird Café and other adjacent properties have filed for zoning approvals relative to these new development plans. Zoning approvals are being sought to expand the current Thunderbird Café, to develop a new restaurant at the corner of 41st and Butler, and to redevelop residential apartment units.

Get hungry for a good cause and attend an upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Sarah Johnston, former manager of the Morningside Senior Center, on Saturday, April 6^th from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm. The fundraiser, which will be held at the Lawrenceville Senior Center, at 4600 Butler Street, will benefit Sarah and her family, who lost their Brighton Heights home in a fire in December 2012. Proceeds will go towards the rebuilding of the Johnston’s home.

The Highland Park Community Council and Highland Park tree tenders will be planting 59 trees on Farragut St. and Sheridan Ave. Planting Day will be April 27 at 8:45 am - rain or shine or snow! To volunteer to help plant the trees, click here and enter your name and contact information. Volunteers will meet at the Farmhouse, located on the corner of Heberton and Grafton in Highland Park. Contact Nancy Levine, Highland Park Tree Tender, at 412-439-5172 or nlevinearnold@gmail.com for additional information.

Join Representative Dom Costa’s office for its Shredding and E-Waste Recycling Event on Saturday, May 11th from 9 a.m. – 12p.m. at St. Raphael School Parking Lot at1154 Chislett St. For more information, contact Representative Costa’s office.

Did you know?

In the spirit of this year's Major League Baseball opening day, April 1st, this month’s Did you know focuses on the famous historic baseball players buried in District 7’s own Allegheny Cemetery. Among the historic baseball figures buried in Allegheny Cemetery are legendary Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords catcher Josh Gibson, Crawfords owner, business man, and philanthropist Gus Greenlee, and late 1800’s Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mark Baldwin.

Follow this link for a list complete list of historic figures interned in Lawrenceville’s Allegheny Cemetery.