Welcome to “uptoberfest!”

This event IS A TEMPORARY INSTALLATION that summarizes the ideas you have shared with us about the COMMUNITY’S future. It will be open for the next two weeks

TO USE THE SPACE between October 6th and 19th, please email ecoinnovationdistrictpgh@gmail.com

We’ve had open houses here before. You shared your ideas and concerns about the community.

We’ve also distributed a survey to learn more about the community.

700 total surveys were filled out – thank you!

WE’VE LEARNED A LOT FROM A YEAR’S WORTH OF CONVERSATIONS

(TO DATE)

WHAT IS AN ECOINNOVATIONDISTRICT plan?

A community plan focused on equitable growth, economic development, and sustainability.

Centered around Uptown/West Oakland, this EcoInnovation District plan will be created WITH you and include your ideas FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. This includes ensuring that improvements here reinforce the work already underway in the Hill District.

FIRST, A QUICK REVIEW…

Website discussion

We launched ecoinnovationdistrict.org to HELP keep everyone informed.

In previous meetings, we talked about the community’s past…

…AND THE CHALLENGES THE COMMUNITY FACES TODAY LIKE VACANT LAND…

…THE LARGE AMOUNT OF SURFACE PARKING THAT’S OFTEN REPLACED HISTORIC BUILDINGS…

…THE NEED MORE SERVICES AND BUSINESSES…

“When I was a child there were a lot of stores up and down Fifth and Forbes Avenues- there were a lot of mom and pop stores, small businesses. There are some opening up near the university, but there aren’t many stores left. “

…ISSUES WITH SPEEDING TRAFFIC…

…AND POOR INFRASTRUCTURE

WE ASKED THE QUESTION: “WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT WOULD MAKE UPTOWN / WEST OAKLAND A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK & STUDY?” HERE’S WHAT YOU SAID…

These include Oakland 2025, the greater hill district master plan and greenprint to name a few. our task is to reinforce and support this work.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT Existing studies & plans

And, WE’VE HIGHLIGHTED the work of groups like Uptown partners who have helped to spearhead the reuse of vacant building AND ORGANIZE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

Time to pull it all together

WE’VE HEARD FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR IDEAS AND CONCERNS. ITS NOW

WHAT FOLLOWS ARE JUST IDEAS. THE IDEAS ARE NOT A “PLAN” UNTIL WE HEAR FROM YOU AND FIGURE OUT WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT

THE IDEAS ARE SPLIT INTO 4 THEMES

1. PRESERVE & STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING COMMUNITY

2. ENCOURAGE BALANCED, EQUITABLE, & GREEN DEVELOPMENT

3. PROVIDE CHOICE IN MOBILITY

4. INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

PRESERVE ANDSTRENGTHENTHE EXISTINGCOMMUNITY

SO WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO accomplish?

- Protect affordability- Create jobs for residents- Invest in what makes the

community unique

WHAT MAKES HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE?

TAXES CONDITION of HOMES REQUIRES

$$ FOR UPKEEP

COST OF UTILITIES

DEMAND: MORE DESIRE TO LIVE IN THE AREA MEANS

HIGHER COSTS

HIGH COST OF LAND

REGULATIONS CAN MAKE FIXING YOUR

HOME MORE EXPENSIVE

> Work with banks to address credit issues.> Connect residents with available housing programs.

> Create a housing advocate for Uptown / West Oakland to:

> Put the proposed Housing Trust Fund to work in Uptown for housing rehabilitation support for owner–occupied and rental housing

> Adjust the Homestead Exemption

> Work with the City to implement the Affordable Housing Task Force Plan:

INVEST IN EXISTING RESIDENTS & PROTECT THE RESIDENTIAL CORE OF THE COMMUNITY

TAXES

LAND

• Next assessments are 2021• Pursue a Longtime Owners Occupants

Program (LOOP) program which is a real estate tax discount. This requires coordination with State Government

• Land Bank – work to secure property for affordable housing

• Land Trust – protect long-term affordability by owning and controlling the land over time – would need to be managed by a non-profit

INVEST IN EXISTING RESIDENTS & PROTECT THE RESIDENTIAL CORE OF THE COMMUNITY

PROMOTE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND REDUCE UTILITY COSTS

> Support weatherization and basic systems rehabilitation for existing homes

> Monitor water / air quality> Create / expand local fitness programs

> Its about creating jobs and connecting residents with them. This requires workforce programs to train residents but also in making sure that jobs created to help improve the community are available to residents

ATTRACT TALENT & PROMOTE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN THE INNOVATION COMMUNITY

BUILD ON UPTOWN/WEST OAKLAND’S CHARACTER AND IDENTITY

> Invest in more public art

> Create welcoming neighborhood gateways

> Create new community events

> Monitor housing conditions and nuisance properties> Upgrade lighting> Tackle blight & illegal dumping> Expand community policing

WORK TOGETHER TO TACKLE BLIGHT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY

> Create a “chamber” of local institutions to coordinate services and responses to local issues / concerns

EXPAND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

ONE OF THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF UPTOWN ARE THE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS. THESE SHOULD REMAIN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

ENCOURAGE BALANCED, EQUITABLE, AND GREEN DEVELOPMENT

“Address blight; attract young people by bringing companies and businesses there where people want to work. uplift the people who already live there and give them a community they are proud to live in and where they feel safe.”

“Affordable housing, either homes or apartments, replacing all the parking lots, and continuation of the effort to clean up illegal activity on the streets.”

“More people residing in the area would make the area safer.”

“turn abandoned housing into businesses /restaurants/ cafes for the local community and support Uptown as an arts destination.”

Here’s s0me what you told us about development…

IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE & AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT

demand

> According to the Hill District Housing Study, there is a demand for over 500 units of student housing let alone additional market-rate family housing in the Greater Hill

> If we don’t meet this demand, it encourages property owners to convert single family homes

BUT TO MEET THIS DEMAND AND REDUCE COSTS FOR EXISTING RESIDENTS, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS WHAT MAKES BUILDING HERE EXPENSIVE

This is 5th & Dinwiddie today – there are some sites that could be redeveloped over time

The problem is that current zoning limits what can be built and we end up with variances, ground floor parking (instead of commercial uses and high housing costs

The idea is to change these rules from this…

…to this – higher densities where it makes sense in exchange for affordable housing, commercial ground floor use, etc.

2.3 IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT

> Encourage density and mixed uses in targeted areas

This could look something like this – a protected neighborhood core where new development would match the scale of the existing homes and higher densities closer to the arena and university

DIVERSIFY HOUSING OPTIONS

> Promote homeownership

> Look for opportunities to create new senior housing

> Create student housing to relieve pressure on existing homes

> Support live/work space where possible

But as development occurs, we need a diversity of housing types

The idea is to help encourage retail along 5th but also spaces for new businesses and jobs. 5th becomes a vibrant corridor again, driven by new offices, workspaces and retail.

Integral to this is to support the needs of existing businesses by helping to market local businesses and improve the look and feel of 5th

to welcome new customers

REVIVE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORSNew development could help to support more services – today, There is very little demand for new retail.

CREATE SPACE FOR JOBSAnd critically important, we must retain flexible space for new and growing businesses

CREATE SPACE FOR JOBS

These are all of the potential commercial spaces in the community that could support new jobs – we should preserve these structures where possible.

PROVIDE CHOICE IN MOBILITY & ACCESSIBILITY

Unfortunately, uptown / west Oakland is dominated by car traffic resulting in “places” like this.

The result is far too many crashes, many involving pedestrians. Note the darker blue areas – these are hotspots of crashes in 2013-2014. we need safer streets for everyone.

INCREASE TRANSPORATION CHOICE TO DECREASE CONGESTION

Uptown has way too many cars passing through but also a large number commuting to work in the community – almost 7 in 10 are driving a car

It goes without saying that the space a car takes up is significantly more than that of a bike or multiple people riding a bus. Too many cars result in congestion and poor air quality

We need to offer true choice in how to get around. If you want to drive, you should be able to do so but if you want to take transit, bike or walk, these should also be safe and efficient options.

CREATE A HUMAN-SCALED NEIGHBORHOOD STREET NETWORK This means designing for pedestrians,

children and those with disabilities.

BOULEVARD OF THE ALLIES: The original idea…

“With an ample roadway for all kinds of traffic, with trees for shade and decoration, with a broad promenade overlooking the river and the hills to the south, it would furnish rare and much-needed facilities for recreation”

1910 Olmstead plan for pittsburgh

But also tackling some larger ideas…like boulevard of the allies

What it became…

…and how it evolved

Look at the license plate – you can’t make this up

The boulevard is simply too fast, causes too many accidents and creates pollution. And most of these issues are not caused by anyone in the community

For blank buildings For empty / underused lots For intersections

So what could be done? There are some ideas that can be done without any changes to the blvd itself. improvements like these could help to create a buffer between uptown and the blvd and, present a much better face to those passing by…

But we should also start a conversation about the design of the road

+- Creates large promenade- Opportunity for landscaping- Retains 2 driving lanes during

high traffic times

-- Expensive- Requires active

management / monitoring

This option allows the same number of cars to pass through by using a middle alternating lane – more space is created for a trail / overlook facing the river

+- Creates large promenade- Opportunity for median

landscaping – a true boulevard!-

- Very expensive- Politically very

difficult to accomplish

This is a more aggressive approach that slows traffic, allows a turn lane – better access to uptown – and a lot more green space to improve air quality

The blvd could be a very different space – one that allows passing traffic but also offers amenities for uptown residents

IMPLEMENT TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS ON FIFTH & FORBES

For us, this is about safety, infrastructure and funding

You’ve told us about the issues with safety, fast moving cars, poor sidewalks and street flooding.

ISSUES LIKE THESE…

A DEDICATED BUS LANE OPENS UP FUNDING WE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHERWISE TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITH OUR STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

AND THESE UPGRADES DON’T INCLUDE STREET or INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

SO how COULD IT WORK? THERE ARE OPTIONS

TODAY, THE WIDTH OF BOTH 5TH AND FORBES ENCOURAGES speeding.

BOTH OF THESE OPTIONS SHOW SPACE FOR CARS, PARKING, BUSES, BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE LOCATION OF THE BIKE LANE. A similar approach can be taken to 5TH AVENUE.

Bike / Ped Counters

Real TimeParking Data

Open Data

Real-Time Transit Data

Electric /av fleets

TransitSignaL

Priority

SmartPGHSensor

Network

BUILD A SMARTER UPTOWNWe’re talking about using new technology to improve safety, monitor traffic and manage parking

Event management strategy

• Distribute parking toward downtown• Use real-time data to manage traffic / parking• Shuttle to remote parking• Expand incentives to not drive to the game

ESTABLISH A DISTRICT PARKING STRATEGYYes, the community will change but it should not be at the expense of residents. We have to find a way to better manage arena events

CARROTstick

We need to work to slowly transition those that don’t have to drive to choose other options – just a few ideas that have worked in other neighborhoods

• Expand financial incentives for commuters

• More shuttle services• Create more Park & Ride• Encourage Ridesharing and

Carpooling• Credit toward bike purchase• Improve Ped/Bike Infrastructure

• Parking pricing for visitors• Traffic calming• HOV preference parking

INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

“More green spaces like a play ground and place for the kids to play. They are always outside, which is great, but have to play baseball in the streets and explore the alleys for fun.”

“The boulevard of the Allies should not be a "highway." It should be more of a true boulevard - slower and more attractive.”

“Severe runoff is a problem, especially in heavy rainstorms water cascades from Fifth to Forbes, via connector streets such as Moultrie.”

“Too much of our neighborhood is used for parking. This space could be better used for bike lands, pedestrian safety, parks, etc.”

Here’s some of what you said about green space & infrastructure

USE LANDSCAPING TO ENHANCE LOCAL QUALITY OF LIFE

> Encourage alternative approaches to managing vacant land including greening, gardening and other uses

> Maximize local food production opportunities – let’s make the most of the community’s interest and experience in gardening / farming

> Update sewer/water laterals where possible.> Focus on stormwater retention strategies at the

surface to ease the burden on sewer systems.

UPDATE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

Watson street near boydfloods…a lot. What if we created a “blue alley” to better manage this issue but also retain parking and create some outdoor space?

Watson street near boydfloods…a lot. What if we created a “blue alley” to better manage this issue but also retain parking and create some outdoor space?

CREATE AND EXPAND OPEN SPACE AMENITIES FOR RESIDENTS

Remember this comparison? Uptown has significantly less open space than surrounding neighborhoods

Here are the opportunities we’ve discussed with you to expand existing open space and create new ones

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Gateway park:Near the Birmingham

bridge

blue alleysHillside park

We asked you about programming, here are some of your ideas

AIR QUALITY MONITORS / SCRUBBERS

Think of the unused land and surface parking here. What if we created a new park to better link uptown and the hill district?

And Tustin street. What if we created a true community park and improved the street to address frequent flooding?

CREATE NEW GREEN CONNECTIONS

We absolutely need a clear and safe connection to the heritage trail through this area

Someone suggested colwell street be treated as a green street and that the hillside provide trail connections to the hill district

BECOME A MODEL FOR INNOVATIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND UPCYCLING

> Establish a district composting program – this provides soil for farming / gardening

> Provide public trash and recycling receptacles where needed

PURSUE DISTRICT ENERGYFor more reliable and less expensive electricity

Combined heat and power solar

Here are the two main technologies to make this happen. Solar where we can and Natural Gas combined heat and power units distributed across the neighborhood

This map shows where these things could happen. Plus, what if we reused the food waste from the prison and turned it into energy? This is called a digester plant and could be considered near 2nd avenue

DISTRICT PARKING + BATTERY STORAGE + COMBINED HEAT & POWER + BIKE STORAGE AND BIKE SHARE + SOLAR + AIR MONITORING…

What if we looked at combining some of the community needs into “community infrastructure hubs?” these hubs would serve the neighborhood and could be larger…like in a parking garage…

DISTRICT PARKING + BATTERY STORAGE + COMBINED HEAT & POWER + BIKE STORAGE AND BIKE SHARE + SOLAR + AIR MONITORING…

…or on smaller parking lots, distributed where needed

> Installing high-efficiency lighting systems and controls> LED interior lights and street lights> Occupancy and daylight controls

> Converting electric air conditioning to: > Gas fired absorption chillers> Gas fired heat pumps

> Expanding opportunities for small Combined Heat and Power systems in commercial and multifamily new construction

Embedding these strategies in zoning and building codes would increase the use of renewable energy in Uptown and create jobs in the installation and maintenance of these systems

But we also need to Reduce energy demand by:

So to quickly recap, here Just a few of the challenges you face…

The idea’s shown here are intended to take a comprehensive approach toward ensuring an equitable community

So what do you think?

we need your help!

This is your checklist of activities, the more you tell us, the better this strategy will be. Have a question? Ask anyone with an ecoinnovationshirt on.

Activity sheet

THANK YOU! > ?