Dear Friend and Neighbor, It has been a very busy two years since we last wrote to you about the activities we’ve taken on in pursuit of the development vision of the Highland Park Community Plan. While it has been both a rewarding and challenging time for the Highland Park Community Development Corporation, please let me begin by extending our sincere appreciation for your patience and support. In times of tightening budgets, the HPCDC has remained a good investment, able to leverage every dollar raised for our community many times over. Significant investments have already been made in Highland Park thanks to the consistent support of our community partners at the *URA*whose investments simply wouldn’t be possible without the bedrock support of *Mayor Luke Ravenstahl *and his Administration’s focus on neighborhood business districts. We have benefited greatly from the strategic vision and tireless fundraising support of *State Senator Jim Ferlo*. A big thanks also to *Councilman Patrick Dowd* for his ongoing engagement and timely support across many of our efforts. In a year that saw the culmination of years of hard work, *Park Bruges*opened on Bryant St. to rave reviews (and long lines!) While that achievement was cause for celebration, devastating cuts in the 2011 State Budget eliminated critical funds for development, undermining our efforts to make progress on other key initiatives. Though development dollars are tighter than ever to secure, we are fully engaged with our public sector partners to ensure continued investment in the rebuilding of our neighborhood, especially in the *800 and 900 blocks of Mellon and North Saint Clair Streets*. Eliminating blight there and restoring single-family home ownership is critical to all of Highland Park. The revitalization of *Bryant Street*, has generated lots of excitement in the neighborhood. But between bites of poutine and sips of Belgian ale at Park Bruges, diners need only look across the street to see that much work remains to secure Bryant Street’s place as a regional neighborhood destination. Thanks to a State grant, secured by Senator Ferlo through the Governor’s office and administered by the URA, we will be able to start the rehabilitation of 5802 Bryant Street, just across from Park Bruges. While we redouble our efforts in 2012 to raise funds and gather *public*support for both the Southwest Quadrant AND Bryant Street, the last two years has seen continued *private* investment throughout our neighborhood. Businesses like *Tambellini’s, E2*, *Smiling Banana Leaf*, *Food Glorious Food* and *Bryant Street Market* are writing their own Bryant Street success stories and home buyers from near and far have discovered our neighborhood and have taken advantage of historically low mortgage rates to make Highland Park their home. Though we do all of this work as volunteers, the operating costs of the HPCDC total more than $9,000 each year. Few organizations make your dollars go farther than the HPCDC. *Would you consider a generous gift to support this important work?* Please send your check to: *Highland Park Community Development Corporation, PO Box 4866, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.* We greatly value the engagement and encouragement of our neighbors to continue to make this neighborhood one of the best in the city. Thank you for your support! David Hance, President *All contributions are 100% tax deductible. Your contribution will make a difference, please invest in your community today!*** *HPCDC Board* *David Hance, Paul Svoboda, Ernie Hogan, Rudy Maceyko, Fran Escalante, Kelly Meade, Chris Sandvig* P.S. Letter + Park Bruges image may be viewed at: http://www.hpcdc.org/node/11