Expansion plans upset West Oakland residents (Pittsburgh: house, dorms, neighborhoods)

[airwave09]

Here's a gem of an article:

Expansion plans upset West Oakland residents - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Have at it NIMBY haters...

They seem to be primarily up in arms about increased traffic on their "quiet little residential street", yet they also mention the height being an issue? Why do NIMBYS always try to neuter great projects by claiming the "height card"? The developer can just as easily move more square footage to lower levels and house the same amount of space anyway.

[stburr91]

Yes, those terrible people that think that just because they live in an area, and pay taxes, they should be allowed to have opinions about what's best for their neighborhood.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by airwave09

Here's a gem of an article:

Expansion plans upset West Oakland residents - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Have at it NIMBY haters...

They seem to be primarily up in arms about increased traffic on their "quiet little residential street", yet they also mention the height being an issue? Why do NIMBYS always try to neuter great projects by claiming the "height card"? The developer can just as easily move more square footage to lower levels and house the same amount of space anyway.

I'm surprised they didn't at least mention the racial aspect in passing.

West Oakland is an artificial neighborhood created by the city. On paper, it's roughly racially balanced, but in practice, almost all of the white population lives in Pitt and Carlow dorms. The residential section is majority (around 60%-65%) black, rising to upwards of 90% in the areas below the new Oakland Portal project and on the northern side of 5th Avenue.

I have to assume, for many who live in this area, there is a "caught between a rock and a hard place" feeling, as this area has traditionally been safer than the Hill District, avoided by students, and usable by university and hospital employees. Students are slowly, if not gentrifying it, turning it into an area similar to most of Oakland, and Oak Hill, on the opposite side, seems to be heading in the same direction at an even slower rate, as it used to be 95%+ black, and has fallen to around 75%.

My guess is a lot of people, particularly lower-income renters, are seeing this as another sign within a decade they'll be dislodged and forced to move into the Central Hill District, if not clear across town, either ending up in an outright ghetto or a low-income white neighborhood they aren't wanted.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by eschaton

West Oakland is an artificial neighborhood created by the city.

And cherished by the likes of SCR.

I like that term, BTW, "artificial neighborhood."

[Moby Hick]

Robinson is a mess at rush hours because it isn't wide enough for two cars to pass if the parked cars aren't pulled on to the side walk. However, I don't see how new development at 5th and Robinson would hurt traffic on Robinson Street. More people up the hill is what I expect would add traffic there. However, this

The new traffic signal that would legalize turns to get on the Boulevard of the Allies, she said, "will vastly increase the use of Robinson by commuters."

seems certainly true. Now, if you want to come down from the hill and go east, you have to go the other way where there is a bunch more traffic. I don't think people set out to take the illegal right so much as find themselves with a choice between taking an illegal right or driving downtown and decide to cheat.

It would be nice to do something about the Port Authority buses. They sit on Fifth at that corner for long periods of time, I assume waiting to start a run. They aren't in the way, but it takes some getting used to before you realize you can pass them to take the right.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by jay5835

And cherished by the likes of SCR.

No, no, no. I really despised working in Oakland. I also hate parking there for my deliveries. I find parking in Oakland to be more difficult than parking Downtown.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

No, no, no. I really despised working in Oakland. I also hate parking there for my deliveries. I find parking in Oakland to be more difficult than parking Downtown.

Oh, that's not what I meant. I was talking about the artificial neighborhood, "West Oakland," the likes of which you used to create your "favorite neighborhood" poll the other day.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by jay5835

Oh, that's not what I meant. I was talking about the artificial neighborhood, "West Oakland," the likes of which you used to create your "favorite neighborhood" poll the other day.

Ahhhh! I see! You'd rather it just be "Oakland" instead of "West Oakland". Gotcha.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Ahhhh! I see! You'd rather it just be "Oakland" instead of "West Oakland". Gotcha.

Right. Just Oakland. Not the four Oaklands you divided the neighborhood into (as well as the two Squirrel Hills, the two Point Breezes, and so forth) in your poll. I think if you'd structured your poll this way, more people would have voted for neighborhoods they recognize, that they've actually lived in and visited, and Fairytown wouldn't have gotten the most votes.

I have lived in what you and the Pittsburgh Blue Sign Squad (AKA the Pgh. BS Squad) call North Oakland, South Oakland and Central Oakland, Squirrel Hill North and Squirrel Hill South, and I just think of those places as -- and call those places -- Oakland and Squirrel Hill.

[pman]

Originally Posted by stburr91

Yes, those terrible people that think that just because they live in an area, and pay taxes, they should be allowed to have opinions about what's best for their neighborhood.

everyone is entitled to an opinion, just not the right to force it on others. per the article they sound like a bunch of whiners. wah, there will be people. umm, it is in the city, not waterford.