STEEL VALLEY INTERGOVERNMENTAL INITIATIVE/THE AVENUES: BEYOND THE WATERFRONT

In summer 2007, the Homestead and West Homestead Council Presidents began working with The Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center at Carnegie Mellon to address the redevelopment opportunities and challenges facing their communities.  As a result, a local planning committee was formed to develop a site focused workshop for the area for May 27-30, 2008.

The Planning Committee identified the area of 6th and 7th Avenues, bound by McClure and Neel Streets as well as the WHEMCO and ASKO properties as the area on which to focus.  After a number of meetings with property owners, the Committee identified six national experts, who over the course of the workshop, interviewed local stakeholder groups.  After the experts collected local input, they brainstormed to create concrete action items to push responsible development forward in Homestead and West Homestead.

The experts engaged dozens of "stakeholders" including property owners, local elected officials, community-based organizations representatives, government representatives from county, state and federal agencies and the community at large.

The workshop recommendations were announced at a press conference on May 30, 2008 and subsequently reviewed at a public meeting on June 4th.  The workshop report may be accessed at http://www.cmu.edu/steinbrenner/brownfields/index.html.

As a result of the workshop and the relationships engendered during the workshop process, a Steering Committee was formed and Homestead and West Homestead leaders invited Munhall to participate.  The Steering Committee was reconstituted and was comprised of the following:

-David Weir, President of West Homestead Council, Co-Chair
-Drew Borcik, President of Homestead Council, Co-Chair
-Bernie Shields, President of Munhall Council, Co-Chair
-Michael Gornick, Allegheny County
-Bill Roth, West Homestead Borough
-Jeffrey Schaffer, Office of Congressman Mike Doyle
-Chuck Starrett, Steel Valley Enterprise Zone Corporation

 
The Steering Committee determined to organize committees in the following areas:

-Marketing & Public Relations
-Entry Points/Connections
-Environmental Enhancement and Control (to include public space/landscaping and parking)
-Historic Architectural Review Board/Zoning and Code Enforcement
-Public Safety & Security

Steel Valley Intergovernmental Intitiative Meeting Held on March 25, 2009

On Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Steel Valley Council of Governments Building, the Steering Committee of the Steel Valley Intergovernmental Initiative invited local stakeholders to join in developing plans, strategies and initiatives to revitalize and improve the Steel Valley area.

Mr. Weir highlighted intergovernmental efforts including joint planning and financing techniques for The Waterfront and the Comprehensive Urban Design Plan for Route 837/Eighth Avenue Corridor. He said he believes that a partnership among the three communities and development groups and citizens will offer a better chance to secure funding for projects.

Mr. Borcik pointed to the many successful projects and mutual aid agreements that have helped improve the area. He said there’s been an impressive amount of public and private investment in the Steel Valley in the last ten years.

Looking to continue the development momentum and the energy generated by last year’s workshop, Mr. Shields announced the five committees and committee chairpersons designated by the Steering Committee. The committees with chairs are as follows:

• Marketing & Public Relations:  Catherine Lesko
• Entry Points/Connections:  William Wakeley
• Environmental Enhancement & Control:  Walter Haglund 
• Historic & Architectural Review Board/Zoning & Code Enforcement:  William Roth
• Public Safety & Security:  Chris Kelly

The Steering Committee is seeking broad-based participation on committees. 

The Steel Valley Enterprise Zone Corporation is providing general administrative services for this initiative.