hill district? (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, New Kensington: transplants, tenants, gated)
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Hrmm...from 734 units of low-income housing to 200. And around 70 of them will be SFH/townhouse style infill in vacant blocks in the Lower Hill. Wonder where all the other people are going to go?
Presumably the HACP should be wondering the same thing. Maybe other HACP units? It sure seems like the inventory of project based units should be lower than ~ 10 years ago because there hasn't - as far as I know - been new development equal to the demolitions that have occured. Maybe the difference is being made up in Section 8 vouchers? Portable vouchers may be more cost effective and useful than project based (mixed or all low income) housing anyway, so if that is the case maybe it's not such a bad thing.
It will also be interesting to see how this endeavor develops, e.g., if semi-large scale mixed income housing will work in Pittsburgh. From what I've read the outcomes in other cities has been relatively positive. And the targeted customer base is what one might expect from these sorts of government/private partnerships: the market housing is priced above the median income (the economic group the private developers care most about) and the 'affordable housing' is oriented toward the chronically very low income, e.g., SSI, (the economic group the government typically cares most about when it comes to 'social welfare' spending), which ignores low and moderate income wage earners.
Presumably the HACP should be wondering the same thing. Maybe other HACP units? It sure seems like the inventory of project based units should be lower than ~ 10 years ago because there hasn't - as far as I know - been new development equal to the demolitions that have occured. Maybe the difference is being made up in Section 8 vouchers? Portable vouchers may be more cost effective and useful than project based (mixed or all low income) housing anyway, so if that is the case maybe it's not such a bad thing.
Pittsburgh actually seems to replace more of these units than the norm nationwide - possibly because few of our projects (aside from the demolished one in East Liberty) were the towers which concentrated massive amounts of low-income people into a tiny area. Typically, when a tower is knocked down, the mixed-income replacement apartment complex only has around 10% of the old units, with the other 90% getting Section 8 vouchers.
Section 8 is actually a much cheaper, and more effective, program to help low-income people afford rent than these projects, but various political pressures (the community, who wants to remain intact to some degree, the builders, who want projects, and the rest of the city, which doesn't want more Section 8) tend to demand some of the population remains concentrated.
Regardless, as the article notes, much of the population has already been moved elsewhere. I'm guessing a fair amount ended up in Northview Heights, because the Housing Authority has been shifting a lot of people there as the number of projects is declining. But the writing's on the wall. Addison Terrace will almost certainly be privately-managed when it's done. Bedford Dwellings will probably be shuttered entirely within the next few years. The Hill District is going to have no formal projects any longer. Within another decade, the rest of the city might not either.
Dispersal of Pittsburgh Public Housing Residents (To My Knowledge): Addison Terrace at Bentley Drive, Terrace Village, Hill District (set to be demolished-then redeveloped).
Addison Terrace at Elmore Square, Terrace Village, Hill District (razed 2012-soon will be redeveloped) ----> Residents mostly moved to Chauncey Drive Projects (Bedford Dwellings), the Shanahan Apts, and other places throught the Hill. In addition, a fair percentage of people (likely over 1000 people) were moved out of the Hill (possibly scattered to the Northside or Penn Hills/East Pittsburgh/Turtle Creek/Swissvale/McKeesport or Whitehall/Baldwin).
Allegheny Dwellings, Fineview (no changes TMK, yet likely will recieve/may have received a few residents from the Addison Terrace Projects/Lower Hill).
Allequippa Terrace at Whiteside Road, Robinson Court, Burrows Street and the "Mad Circle" & "Long Island" projects, Terrace Village, Hill District (razed in the mid 2000's-redeveloped into Oakhill Mixed-Income Apts) --> most residents relocated to the Addison Terrace Projects, and elsewhere in the Hill. Today (same since the 2010) very few former residents currently reside in the Oakhill Mixed-Income Apts (which is the section 8 southern end); on the other hand, many reside in the low income rental sections of the Bedford Hills Mixed-Income Apts (Bedford Hope Phases Initiative).
Arlington Heights Estates, Arlington Heights (over 2/3's of the complex razed in the late 90's; 7 buildings are left-decently occupied) ----> close to 100 residents relocated to the eastern end of Arlington. Sime former resisents likely relocated to Mt. Oliver Boro among other Southetn Hilltop neighborhoods. TMK never really had a significant change in population after being largely demolished. Though its possible that those seven buildings received residents of former to largely decimated housing projects/section 8 apartments.
Bedford Dwellings at Chauncey Drive, Bedford Dwellings, Hill District (buildings have been bordered up when vacancy was very high) ----> received most residents from Francis Street Projects (Bedford Dwellings), and recently received a few residents from Elmore Square (Addison Terrace).
Bedford Dwellings at Francis Street, Bedford Dwellings, Hill District (razed in the mid 2000's-property left vacant) ----> most residents relocated to the Chauncey Drive Projects (Bedford Dwellings), and other places in the Hill. To a lesser extent, residents moved other neighborhoods in the city/county other than the Hill District.
BroadHead Manor, Fairywood (largely razed in late 90's/early 2000's, yet 8 buildings were left-totally vacant since 2008) ----> initially majority of residents moved to the Westgate Village Apts in Fairywood, East Sheraden, part of Elliot, the Greenway Park Apts in Crafton Heights, and the East Liberty Towers.
-Then when flood damaged the eight remaining buildings in the mid 2000's residents moved to Westgate Village (which shortly after closed/was redeveloped), the Greenway Park Apts, the Northview Heights Projects, and many received section 8 vouchers.
-After final closer in 2008 (when the projets were completely shut down) those residents that moved back after the flood mostly relocated to the Greenway Park Apts, the Goodwill Plaza Apts in Sheraden, and probably/possibly McKees Rocks' housing projects.
Garfield Heights, Garfield (first Fern/Mossfield Street in mid 2000's, then more recently Cornwall/Columbo Street-redeveloped/redeveloping into Garfield Commons Mixed Income Apts) ----> most residents now live in the Garfield Commonsixed-Income Apts or section 8 vouchers via Central East Liberty, Penn Hills, Swissvale, & Upper Larwanceville.
Glen Hazel Heights, Glen Hazel (no notable changes, likely because it always had a high occupancy rate).
Homewood North at Molher Street, Brushton-Hilltop section Homewood North, (no noteable changes-with a decent occupancy rate & hopefully never does major change... This place is very hostile/localized gang of L.A. based Grape Street Crips affiliated since 1989/1990).
Northview Heights Estates, Northview Heights (buildings have been boarded up when vacancy is high) ----> in the past it temporarily housed BroadHead Manor flood victims, plus a many residents from St. Clair Village that later mostly relocated to Knoxville/Mt. Oliver Boro/Carrick... Currently some residents from an un-named Hill District complex (either part of the Reed Roberts Manor Apts or Addison Terrace's Elmore Square Projects) have surprisingly (due to street stuff) relocated there.
St. Clair Village, Saint Clair (razed mostly Bonifay Street, 2005-remaining projects, 2009) ---> a large percent of residents surprisingly (surprisingly due to gang rivalries in the 1990's) moved to Northview Heights. Well over 50% of the population eventually received section 8 vouchers to Knoxville, Mt. Oliver Boro and Carrick, as most former St. Clair Village Project residents live there now.
Last edited by Uptown kid; 04-24-2013 at 07:18 PM..
Dispersal of Pittsburgh Public Housing Residents (To My Knowledge): Addison Terrace at Bentley Drive, Terrace Village, Hill District (set to be demolished-then redeveloped).
Addison Terrace at Elmore Square, Terrace Village, Hill District (razed 2012-soon will be redeveloped) ----> Residents mostly moved to Chauncey Drive Projects (Bedford Dwellings), the Shanahan Apts, and other places throught the Hill. In addition, a fair percentage of people (likely over 1000 people) were moved out of the Hill (possibly scattered to the Northside or Penn Hills/East Pittsburgh/Turtle Creek/Swissvale/McKeesport or Whitehall/Baldwin).
Allegheny Dwellings, Fineview (no changes TMK, yet likely will recieve/may have received a few residents from the Addison Terrace Projects/Lower Hill).
Allequippa Terrace at Whiteside Road, Robinson Court, Burrows Street and the "Mad Circle" & "Long Island" projects, Terrace Village, Hill District (razed in the mid 2000's-redeveloped into Oakhill Mixed-Income Apts) --> most residents relocated to the Addison Terrace Projects, and elsewhere in the Hill. Today (same since the 2010) very few former residents currently reside in the Oakhill Mixed-Income Apts (which is the section 8 southern end); on the other hand, many reside in the low income rental sections of the Bedford Hills Mixed-Income Apts (Bedford Hope Phases Initiative).
Arlington Heights Estates, Arlington Heights (over 2/3's of the complex razed in the late 90's; 7 buildings are left-decently occupied) ----> close to 100 residents relocated to the eastern end of Arlington. Sime former resisents likely relocated to Mt. Oliver Boro among other Southetn Hilltop neighborhoods. TMK never really had a significant change in population after being largely demolished. Though its possible that those seven buildings received residents of former to largely decimated housing projects/section 8 apartments.
Bedford Dwellings at Chauncey Drive, Bedford Dwellings, Hill District (buildings have been bordered up when vacancy was very high) ----> received most residents from Francis Street Projects (Bedford Dwellings), and recently received a few residents from Elmore Square (Addison Terrace).
Bedford Dwellings at Francis Street, Bedford Dwellings, Hill District (razed in the mid 2000's-property left vacant) ----> most residents relocated to the Chauncey Drive Projects (Bedford Dwellings), and other places in the Hill. To a lesser extent, residents moved other neighborhoods in the city/county other than the Hill District.
BroadHead Manor, Fairywood (largely razed in late 90's/early 2000's, yet 8 buildings were left-totally vacant since 2008) ----> initially majority of residents moved to the Westgate Village Apts in Fairywood, East Sheraden, part of Elliot, the Greenway Park Apts in Crafton Heights, and the East Liberty Towers.
-Then when flood damaged the eight remaining buildings in the mid 2000's residents moved to Westgate Village (which shortly after closed/was redeveloped), the Greenway Park Apts, the Northview Heights Projects, and many received section 8 vouchers.
-After final closer in 2008 (when the projets were completely shut down) those residents that moved back after the flood mostly relocated to the Greenway Park Apts, the Goodwill Plaza Apts in Sheraden, and probably/possibly McKees Rocks' housing projects.
Garfield Heights, Garfield (first Fern/Mossfield Street in mid 2000's, then more recently Cornwall/Columbo Street-redeveloped/redeveloping into Garfield Commons Mixed Income Apts) ----> most residents now live in the Garfield Commonsixed-Income Apts or section 8 vouchers via Central East Liberty, Penn Hills, Swissvale, & Upper Larwanceville.
Glen Hazel Heights, Glen Hazel (no notable changes, likely because it always had a high occupancy rate).
Homewood North at Molher Street, Brushton-Hilltop section Homewood North, (no noteable changes-with a decent occupancy rate & hopefully never does major change... This place is very hostile/localized gang of L.A. based Grape Street Crips affiliated since 1989/1990).
Northview Heights Estates, Northview Heights (buildings have been boarded up when vacancy is high) ----> in the past it temporarily housed BroadHead Manor flood victims, plus a many residents from St. Clair Village that later mostly relocated to Knoxville/Mt. Oliver Boro/Carrick... Currently some residents from an un-named Hill District complex (either part of the Reed Roberts Manor Apts or Addison Terrace's Elmore Square Projects) have surprisingly (due to street stuff) relocated there.
St. Clair Village, Saint Clair (razed mostly Bonifay Street, 2005-remaining projects, 2009) ---> a large percent of residents surprisingly (surprisingly due to gang rivalries in the 1990's) moved to Northview Heights. Well over 50% of the population eventually received section 8 vouchers to Knoxville, Mt. Oliver Boro and Carrick, as most former St. Clair Village Project residents live there now.
That was pretty interesting. Sadly many of the people that I grew up with and have lived on the Hill before I did can no longer afford to live there and have long gone. Whiteside Road for example, out of all of the new houses I know three families that lived there when they were projects. When they build up like they are doing those with bad credit, low income jobs, past criminal histories will get rejected rather quickly.
I'm big on rehabbing existing housing, but that option is rarely part of a redevelopment plan. I'm sure if you follow the money you'll find that what they're doing is more profitable for the various entities along the redevelopment food chain.
Exactly! Somebody's pockets are being lined I noticed that there have been alot of predatory lending throughout the Hill and even if you go to certain banks (sounds like hollar) a few of the loan officers treat people like crap.
That was pretty interesting. Sadly many of the people that I grew up with and have lived on the Hill before I did can no longer afford to live there and have long gone. Whiteside Road for example, out of all of the new houses I know three families that lived there when they were projects. When they build up like they are doing those with bad credit, low income jobs, past criminal histories will get rejected rather quickly.
Well to my knowledge Oakhill didn't start off so nice... From its immediate existence to 2010 it was known as a place where shootings/stabbings were not uncommon, and where high drug activity/riff-raff returned from the Whiteside Rd/Burrows St Projects... Perhaps the complex now runs under a different management/ownership system, but I can definitely recall it being on my crime map for a reason. Still today the remaining eight Burrows Street project buildings/near by apartments are sketchy and claimed by the same "Flackside Riddaz" group. This is where a majority of the section 8 recipients are congregated (while they're scattered to a greater extent on Oak Hill Drive)...
Also, remember not all redeveloped projects turned out to have livable successors (although they are still improvements). For example,
-The McKees Rocks Terrace Housing Projects were redeveloped into the Meyers Ridge Mixed-Income Apartments. This complex is debatably the most dangerous part of McKees Rocks (though don't get it twisted, it's still not that bad).
-The Garfield Heights Housing Projects were redeveloped into the currently rough, Garfield Commons Mixed-Income Apartments. Though there's still hope for this complex to have Oakhill's fate, and eventually become mostly safe; however, for now/the foreseeable future its a place to avoid. As of right now, both mixed-income apts are disappointments... Yet they're undoubtably still healthier environments than their respective predecessors... While at the end of the day, despite ever present drug/crime issues in these "mixed income" apartments; having a functional family/raising children is a much more causable/possible opportunity in these sites than the previous ones.
-The Bedford Hills Mixed-Income Apts have some rough sites and some livable level of sketchy sites, so for right now IMO its bad- though there's hope for it to be like the Oakhill Apts.
Last edited by Uptown kid; 04-25-2013 at 09:28 PM..
Well to my knowledge Oakhill didn't start off so nice... From its immediate existence to 2010 it was known as a place where shootings/stabbings were not uncommon, and where high drug activity/riff-raff returned from the Whiteside Rd/Burrows St Projects... Perhaps the complex now runs under a different management/ownership system, but I can definitely recall it being on my crime map for a reason. Still today the remaining eight Burrows Street project buildings/near by apartments are sketchy and claimed by the same "Flackside Riddaz" group. This is where a majority of the section 8 recipients are congregated (while they're scattered to a greater extent on Oak Hill Drive)...
Also, remember not all redeveloped projects turned out to have livable successors (although they are still improvements). For example,
-The McKees Rocks Terrace Housing Projects were redeveloped into the Meyers Ridge Mixed-Income Apartments. This complex is debatably the most dangerous part of McKees Rocks (though don't get it twisted, it's still not that bad).
-The Garfield Heights Housing Projects were redeveloped into the currently rough, Garfield Commons Mixed-Income Apartments. Though there's still hope for this complex to have Oakhill's fate, and eventually become mostly safe; however, for now/the foreseeable future its a place to avoid. As of right now, both mixed-income apts are disappointments... Yet they're undoubtably still healthier environments than their respective predecessors... While at the end of the day, despite ever present drug/crime issues in these "mixed income" apartments; having a functional family/raising children is a much more causable/possible opportunity in these sites than the previous ones.
-The Bedford Hills Mixed-Income Apts have some rough sites and some livable level of sketchy sites, so for right now IMO its bad- though there's hope for it to be like the Oakhill Apts.
Just wait in ten years or so with them raising the rent there will not be too many "native Hill folks" left
Communities change, not too many babushkas still sweeping their stoops on the South Side after the changes over there.
True that. On a similar note, a couple years ago I knew a guy (who has since died,re: alcoholism) who just could not fathom that his rowhouse in Lawrenceville was worth much more than the $20,000 his father paid for it in 1990 and ended up selling it for $25,000. It sold again two months later, pretty much "as is" for $110,000. He was very white and his family had lived in Lawrencevill for generations; it can happen to anyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by simetime
Just wait in ten years or so with them raising the rent there will not be too many "native Hill folks" left
Maybe the Hill can become the black professional upper-middle income enclave that we hear about in other cities but is a little lacking in Pittsburgh (with the possible exceptions of sometimes cited Stanton Heights and increasingly parts of Penn Hills, although they may overall skew toward the lower end of 'middle income'). The cultural importance notwithstanding, I don't think the Hill was ever, overall, an upper-middle income area, or even middle income. Regardless of what one thinks about embracing "racially defined" neighborhoods in a self-conscious way, this is probably the time to act on it if people want to see it happen in Pittsburgh. Given the area's history I can't think of a more fitting neighborhood to be known as the place to move to if you're a professional person who is black.
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I noticed that there have been alot of predatory lending throughout the Hill and even if you go to certain banks (sounds like hollar) a few of the loan officers treat people like crap.
