Archive for July, 2008
Malta Temple Building - City Council Vote
COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THIS NOMINATION ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 5TH FLOOR, CITY-COUNTY BUILDING, 414 GRANT STREET
AT 10:00 AM.
Allegheny County Comprehensive Plan - Public Open House
Where: Duquesne University Power Center (Corner of Forbes Ave and Chatham Sq. – Open House will be on the 5th Floor)
For more information and to view the plan, visit our website at www.alleghenyplaces.com.
MALTA TEMPLE Nomination Vote
The Nomination may be voted upon in Council on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 10 a..m. Anyone wishing to attend Council is encouraged to go. City-County Building, Fifth Floor, 414 Grant Street.
In December 2007, the MWSS nominated the Matla Temple Building at 100 W. North Avenue to be a city-designated historic structure. It passed through the Historic Review Commission and the City Planning Commission and now has been in Committee with the City Council.
We have had several discussions with Rev. Ricky Burgess, the councilman who chairs the Land Use and Economic Development Committee in which this case has been heard.
We have been in conversations with the Salvation Army and have heard their interest in demolition to rebuild on this land a facility that more suits their needs.
We have been asked to find a “happy medium,” a give and take in the issue. We have offered, as the HRC guidelines indicate, that we are only protecting the facade of the building as it faces onto North Avenue and Reddour Street. The Salvation Army may gut the interiors, re-set the floor plates, and build into the structure through the west and north walls of the structure. In addition, the Salvation Army may demolish the Acme Window Cleaning Building at 104 West North Avenue and they, too, own the vacant lot at 110 W. North Avenue. They may construct a facility that uses the historic structure as a corner/anchor building. We DO NOT approve of the demolition of the Malta Temple Building.
In sight of the historic preservation and redevelopment we are all seeking to happen on North Avenue and Federal Street, I am sticking by the nomination to preserve and protect the facade of the building as it is 1) a landmark building in a line of buildings along North Avenue, 2) it is a fine example of Tudor Revival architecture that was popular in the 1020s when the Knights of Malta constructed this home for their fraternal organization, 3) it represents an example of a fraternal/civic building that was popular in Allegheny City and the North Side in our rich history of development, 4) the building follows the rhythm and scale of this block of North Avenue, 5) the building is surrounded by four city-designated historic neighborhoods and a city-designated historic park, 6) there is no garantee that the building constructed by the Salvation Army on this site will be a suitable replacement to what we will have lost. The board of CNNC and the MWSS have both given their approval to the historic nomination. The North Side Leadership Conference has given its approval of the historic designation. The board members of either organization will be happy to answer and help you come to decision making if you are yet unsure about this vital issue.
Please contact all our City Council in order that this vote is a clean sweep. This will be a close vote and once the building is gone it is gone!
Darlene.Harris@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 1)
Dan.Deasy@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 2)
Bruce.Kraus@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 3)
Jim.Motznik@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 4)
Doug.Shields@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 5)
Tonya.Payne@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 6)
Patrick.Dowd@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 7)
Bill.Peduto@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 
Reverend.Burgess@city.pittsburgh.pa.us (District 9)
Cordially yours,
David McMunn,
President
Mexican War Streets Society
Northside Celebration in the Park
Celebrate West Park!
July 26, 2008
12-5 p.m., West Park
* Treasure Hunt *
Uncover the secret of a hidden city in the middle of Pittsburgh!
Play the new Where is Allegheny City? Treasure Hunt this summer, with a special Kick-Off Extravaganza at the North Side Celebration in WestPark on Saturday, July 26.
All you need to play is a cell phone, a Treasure Hunt map and lots of curiosity. You’ll discover lots of treasures all around the Northside, ranging from celebrated trees to world-famous museums to historic buildings.
Play the Treasure Hunt by answering questions and solving puzzles right on your cell phone and earn points for every correct answer. Score enough points and you receive fun prizes – from free passes to Northside museums to cool games and toys. Come compete at the Celebration in the Park for the chance to win a treasure chest of Northside goodies – a gift pack of admissions passes, merchandise
and gift certificates from a variety of Northside businesses.
For more information, please contact Jocelyn Horner at 412 -586-6026 or jhorner@pittsburghkids.org.
*General*
This year marks the Sixth Annual North Side Celebration in the Park. The North Side/ North Shore Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce that Jack “Johnny Angel” Hunt (Johnny Angel and the Halos), is Chairperson of the event. Jack, a lifelong North Side resident is ecstatic to be part of our Celebration because it represents the best of what our neighborhood has to offer. We are working together to bring the community together for this day-long family event. The North Side Celebration in the Park from the inception has been designed to be uniquely North Side because of our abundance of cultural resources, artists and civic organizations. Celebration in the Park advances the cultural dialogue not only in our community but county-wide and bridges the businesses and service provider community by offering unique opportunities for children, parents and young adults to not only enjoy cultural activities but educational experiences as well. Each year the event offers a new creative theme for the Celebration. This year we have Johnny Angel to thank for organizing a car cruise for Celebration in the Park. Commitments from two local groups have already been secured, translating into over 200 classic cars to be on display that day. With his history in the music community, he has invited the Manchester Craftmen’s Guild to feature musical talent from their outstanding music program. We are very excited about Comcast as one of our media sponsors, because they are promoting another addition to this year’s event, Canine Idol, which encourages animal lovers from all over the region to send their video clips of their dogs to Comcast for judging. Canine finalists along with their owners will be invited to Celebration in the Park for a good old fashion talent show with celebrity judges. As in previous years, we will work with a local artist Cheryl Capezzuti to create giant puppets that were be used to tell stories about the North Side. Accompanying that program is a tent that offers puppet making. There is also a plan to tie into the City of Pittsburgh’s 250th Anniversary Celebration through some of our event programming. For additional information you can call the NSNSCC office at 412-231-6500.
Click here to view application for vendors
Community Planning Initiatives July Committee Meeting
July 16, 7pm, Arch Court
Summer Street Party
1300-block of Arch Street.
Bring a side dish or dessert.
Food tickets - 50 cents or 3 for $1
Hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit, chips, pop, little hugs, water
Dessert contest! Bring your best homemade dessert, enter the contest and win a prize.
To enter the contest email your entry to Willie Dawson or call 412-322-5980.
To volunteer to help set-up, clean-up, or cook email Aaron Churchill or call 412-231-7742.