Pittsburgh Should Be Ashamed At Urban Plight (Lancaster, Harrisburg: houses, neighborhoods)

[ainulinale]

I just spent a few days in the Eastern part of the state (Harrisburg, Lancaster and York) and Baltimore. Now, I've been to Philly twice, DC once and Baltimore at least four times. After such experience, I am convinced of a few things: (1) Pittsburgh is undoubtedly part of the Pennsylvania version of the East Coast as the structure, style and architecture is intensely similar in the Eastern part of the state as it is in Pittsburgh. These smaller cities could undoubtedly be neighborhoods in Pittsburgh...no where else have I seen blocks of row houses with cursed awnings and aluminum siding, third story dormer windows and ugly bungalow-like porches.

My complaint, however, is that where cities like Harrisburg has preserved vast quantities of its core architecture (and are now growing in population), Pittsburgh has let its corrupt. And cities like Baltimore utterly put us to shame.

Four districts: Manchester, California, The Hill, and Uptown had a combined 74,000 people at their peak. Today these historic neighborhoods combine for a whopping 15,000 and are filled with so much urban prairie, it's sickening. No wonder our downtown is dead after hours and on weekends...no one wants to live near these slums! Whereas Baltimore has continuous urbanization from downtown to its slums, Pittsburgh's breaks down right after downtown, and a ghetto separates the second and third largest central business districts in the state! It's maddening!

Here's the Hill District in its heyday (an intensely urban district filled with row houses and jazz):

Full record for Allegheny Conference on Community Development (HSWP): MSP285.B033.F04.I02

The Hill District today:



Manchester would be filled with this if we hadn't let it turn to trash:



And California:



In addition to this, the city of Pittsburgh burned in 1845 destroying nearly all it's old Georgian period architecture. What terrible fortune has befallen our city.

How did we ever let this happen? Is there any solution to this other than building hideous modern crap to fill in the open spaces?

[alphabetsoup]

Originally Posted by ainulinale

... cities like Baltimore utterly put us to shame.

....whereas Baltimore has continuous urbanization from downtown to its slums, Pittsburgh's breaks down right after downtown ....

Ok, so I'm relatively new to this city, and I'm sure there are lots more neighborhoods I've yet to explore. BUT... Baltimore puts Pittsburgh to shame? Do you honestly think so? I lived in Baltimore for two years - and while I do like that city and have a great deal of affection for it - I honestly can't agree with you on this point. Continuous urbanization from slum to downtown? Utter myth. There are entire city BLOCKS in Baltimore - whole neighborhoods, almost - of once elegant, beautiful brick homes that lie utterly crumbling and abandoned - or put to use as crack houses. I've never quite seen anything like it. I've certainly never seen anything like it in Pittsburgh. I mean yes - parts of Manchester and Deutschtown and the various hill districts could certainly use some help. But based on my own observations, Pittsburgh cannot even BEGIN to compare with Baltimore in terms of urban plight.

[PeterRabbit]

Baltimore is in terrible shape compared to Pittsburgh and they have a lot more of it. Our worst areas don't approach what they have and there's just so many slummy areas in that city. You should go there again with your eyes open.

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by alphabetsoup

. But based on my own observations, Pittsburgh cannot even BEGIN to compare with Baltimore in terms of urban plight.

I agree. What I'm trying to say is this: when I went to Baltimore, Downtown/Mt. Vernon to Federal Hill to Fells Point to Patterson Park to Bolton Hill area were in fantastic shape--this represents the core of the city and it's continuously urbanized. The core of Pittsburgh, IMO, = The Hill, Uptown, Southside, Northside neighborhoods, the Strip, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Oakland. The Hill and Uptown are truly run down and aren't very urban anymore; the Northside neighborhoods, while nicely restored in parts, are terribly crumbling in others. That's a huge chunk of the core, and most urban part of our city blasted away. Cities like Lancaster, Harrisburg and Baltimore seem to have retained most of their core--something that probably stimulates inner city growth.

[alphabetsoup]

Originally Posted by ainulinale

I agree. What I'm trying to say is this: when I went to Baltimore, Downtown/Mt. Vernon to Federal Hill to Fells Point to Patterson Park to Bolton Hill area were in fantastic shape--this represents the core of the city and it's continuously urbanized. The core of Pittsburgh, IMO, = The Hill, Uptown, Southside, Northside neighborhoods, the Strip, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Oakland. The Hill and Uptown are truly run down and aren't very urban anymore; the Northside neighborhoods, while nicely restored in parts, are terribly crumbling in others. That's a huge chunk of the core, and most urban part of our city blasted away. Cities like Lancaster, Harrisburg and Baltimore seem to have retained most of their core--something that probably stimulates inner city growth.

Thanks for clarifying. The neighborhoods you mention - particularly Fells, Federal Hill and Mt. Vernon - are in good shape overall (though even Federal Hill has some less-than-appealing blocks). However, these rejuvenated parts of town are very much the exception rather than the rule. For example, large swathes of Bolton Hill (particularly those sections that border with Druid Heights/Reservoir Hill) are still horribly derelict. Fells Point to the east of downtown has come a long way over the past decade or so, but those neighborhoods directly to the west of downtown (with the exception of tiny Barre Circle & Ridgeley's Delight): Washington Village/Pigtown, and basically the entire west side - still leave a LOT to be desired. I agree that there is some significant urbanization and rebuilding taking place at Baltimore's core, but there is a long way to go before it could be considered "continously urbanized". More of a patchwork quilt of urbanization and dereliction at present, IMHO

[TheReason]

So how do we turn things around?

Now, this is something that has taken place longer than the past couple years, BUT... do you think having a young Mayor, who may not be in touch with Pittsburghs past and history may have aided this within the past?

I'm not sure if Pittsburgh people want to hang out downtown after hours? And I def dont think that people who dont live near downtown are willing to drive downtown to enjoy any festivities.

I am NOT from Pittsburgh, but I adore this City. Its one of my favorite to live in....

BUT Ive noticed something about Pittsbrugh folks... they make it a REAL big deal about crossing a bridge to go somewhere, they act like that 20 second ride accross the bridge takes hours, or that they are going to a land that speaks a different language or something...

Pittsburgh is so convenient, and the bridges make it that way. You can get from one end of the City, to the other in less than 30 minutes. But the majority of local people dont appreciate that.

So in short, my answer is this... you can clean downtown up more, but I do not think that it will create much of a buzz because Pittsburgh folks like to stay in their own little area and drive the least amount possible to do something.

[PeterRabbit]

People from all over used to go to the city every night to party in the various clubs/bars. Harper's Attic and the Crazy Quilt in Market Square had people waiting outside to get in. Places were crowded elsewhere too. It stopped when the city decided to create a cultural district.

[By~Tor]

Sidenote: Don't you mean "BLIGHT", and not "plight"????

[aveojohn]

The Hill was a vibrant community pre 1968 riots. It had a lot of small shops and grocery stores. These morons who rioted destroyed their own local economy by burning many of these businesses to the ground. Many shop owners never rebuilt and relocated elsewhere. The Hill never recovered, and never will, at least to pre 68. I predict the grocery store that is to be built will close within a couple of years due to retail theft. These people cried because they couldn't get a grocery store to locate there, but when ever they did, they robbed it blind. I feel sorry for the good people of the Hill, but until the weed out the knuckle heads, it will be more of the same. This so called wonderful architecture will never be refurbished under these conditions and will continue to deteriorate.

[fleetiebelle]

See, I think that Pittsburgh is in a great position for urban preservation. Many cities don't have organizations like the History and Landmarks Foundation or the Young Preservationist Association. Places like Allegheny West and Carson Street are considered Historic Districts, and building/home owners have to go through procedures to alter their properties.