Civic Arena sight area gets grant.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by alastad

I see this as good and bad. I see it as good because Pittsburgh does need more green space. I see it as bad because what happen if criminals who live in the Hill District decide to take a leisurely stroll down to the park to harass park users?

The Hill District isn't nearly as dangerous as it was even just a couple of years ago. Zone 2, which includes the Hill District, Downtown, Uptown, Strip District, Polish Hill, and Lawrenceville, is the only city police zone which has not had a homicide yet in 2016. I had to get drug-tested back in June for a new job, and I walked from my home on Brereton Street up Herron Avenue to Wylie Avenue and walked that through the heart of the Hill to UPMC Mercy. I survived. I exchanged pleasantries with people I passed on the sidewalk. Nobody gave me a second glance as a young lower-middle-class white guy.

Homewood, on the other hand, still gives me the creeps after dark as a delivery driver. During the day I don't hesitate to spend time in Homewood, though.

The VAST majority of violent crime in Pittsburgh is targeted. Also, for whatever reason roughly ~90% of those who commit homicides and roughly ~90% of homicide victims in the city each year are African-American males. With rare exceptions like the Wolfe sisters case you have absolutely nothing to fear as a law-abiding white person OR law-abiding black person anywhere in the city.

Property crime in this city is out-of-control right now, though, but having someone egg my front door or key my car door wouldn't make me want to clutch my pearls and flee to Wexford.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Property crime in this city is out-of-control right now, though, but having someone egg my front door or key my car door wouldn't make me want to clutch my pearls and flee to Wexford.

Any more details you can provide? This isn't something I've seen reported in the news

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by alastad

I see this as good and bad. I see it as good because Pittsburgh does need more green space. I see it as bad because what happen if criminals who live in the Hill District decide to take a leisurely stroll down to the park to harass park users?

Given that the majority of the Hill residents are non-criminals, I think the benefit is worth the perceived cost of some criminals having a nice walk to "harass park users." Who knows, some criminals may drive or take the bus to do their crimes. I've spent a fair amount of time in the Middle Hill near library, YMCA and shopping center and haven't been harassed or crime victim.

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

Any more details you can provide? This isn't something I've seen reported in the news

You can follow Pgh bureau of police zones on Facebook. Zone 4 recently reported that there have been a lot of bike thefts in Sq Hil and Shadyside.

[lprmesia]

I was really hoping they'd leave a giant parking lot so we can use this as an autocross course.

Sarcasm aside, that would be a pretty ridiculous autocross venue and we'd likely be able to score national events and decent press having downtown as a backdrop like that.

[lets_go_pens]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

"It's a waste of my tax dollars..."

WAHHHH!!!

It looks like it's only going to be $390k of local dollars. The majority will come from a DOT Discretionary grant request and some state funding.

[Geeo]

Several foundations will also be supporting this project.

[lets_go_pens]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

The Hill District isn't nearly as dangerous as it was even just a couple of years ago. Zone 2, which includes the Hill District, Downtown, Uptown, Strip District, Polish Hill, and Lawrenceville, is the only city police zone which has not had a homicide yet in 2016.

Not saying it's dangerous, but homicide stats aren't the only barometer of safety. Assaults, rapes, muggings, etc. tell more of a story. (Again, not saying that it's high in those categories...I have no idea...just stating that it's not all about murder.)

[wpipkins2]

The section of the Hill District closest to the development area is stable. It consist of working and middle class home owners and renters. The area of the Hill between Dinwiddie an Crawford is not inhabited by rapist, muggers, and murderers. Drive through the area park and take a nice stroll. You will be pleasantly surprised.