Last week, Mayor Peduto announced the launch of ForgingPGH, the first-ever citywide comprehensive land use plan for the city of Pittsburgh. The Department of City Planning is leading this effort to set a vision and plan for the city for the next 20 years.
An online workshop is now open for participation: https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/forgingpgh. From now until October 1, participants can identify locations on a map where they would like to see certain land uses (employment centers, open space, affordable housing, etc.) developed or preserved. The markers on the map will help shape the comprehensive land use plan, and in turn, the city’s future growth.
The Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure has shared the following update on the transportation projects that were discussed at the East Liberty Blvd and Negley Run Blvd Bike Lane Upgrade public meeting on July 28th:
East Liberty Blvd Bike Lane Upgrade project: Paused, Designs being updated
After hearing the concerns from residents and community organizations regarding impacts to parking and additional safety concerns for other modes of transportation on the corridor (transit and pedestrian access, engaging with vehicles, etc.), the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) paused the East Liberty Blvd project. The department is now developing new designs that reflects the needs expressed by the community, the focus will now be on improving intersection safety only. As soon as the designs are available, DOMI will schedule another public meeting, share all available content with neighborhood organizations, and reach out to the community to gather feedback on the new designs. 2. Negley Run Blvd Bike Lane Upgrades: Needs Community Feedback The Negley Run Bike Lane upgrade project received positive initial responses from the community. This project will not impact parking in the area and links to the Washington Blvd Trail connection. To see this project and the video for the first public meeting please go here:
The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) wants to hear your opinion regarding the Negley Run Blvd Bike Lane Upgrades. This survey will be open until 9/16/2020 and the results will be summarized published 2-3 days after the close date.
We have another amazing line-up this weekend! Be sure to thank our musicians for entertaining us again this weekend – and don’t forget to wear masks and stay at least six feet from people not from your household. Map attached.
NOTE: Because of their overwhelming popularity, we will continue to organize porch concerts until the end of September. However, because it is getting dark earlier, beginning next week (Sept 13), concerts will be an hour earlier, from 6-7 pm. New This Week! Vocalist Lilly Abreu and guitarist Eric Susoeff – hosted by the Grubbs
1033 Portland St
The Grubbs are out of town this weekend but still want to take care of our music needs so they invited special guests DUO vocalist and Highland Park resident Lilly Abreu and guitarist Eric Susoeff. Lilly Abreu is a versatile artist with numerous appearances as recitalist and soloist with orchestras and chamber ensembles in France, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, the United States and Brazil. Ms. Abreu currently teaches voice CMU and is on the roster of the Pittsburgh Opera where she has been in recent productions of Faust, Carmen, The Flying Dutchman, Street Scene, Turandot, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, Falstaff and Tosca at the Benedum Center. Over the years, Eric Susoeff has performed with local and international luminaries including: Dizzy Gillespie, Roger Williams, Frankie Avalon, Charo, Kenny Blake, Walt Harper, and many, many others. He has been seen on stage and TV and has performed with groups as diverse as the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, The Marcels, Carnegie Mellon University Drama Department and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.
Harpoon Duo (PSO members)
951 Wellesley Road.
Harpoon Duo features Gretchen Van Hoesen (harp) and David Sogg (bassoon), PSO members both. Playing music from France, Canada, Germany, and who knows where else.
Funky Fly Project
New location: 803 N. Highland
The Funky Fly Project is a Jazz/Funk band featuring four talented young men who have all grown up in Pittsburgh’s East End. Two are Highland Parkers and three of the boys got their start in music right here in the neighborhood at The Dilworth Traditional Academy. The FFP have played music venues all over Pittsburgh and sometimes travel as far as Ohio, Chicago, and South Carolina.
Jonathan Callard & Friends
5811 Stanton Ave.
Jonathan is a professionally-trained vocalist who’ll be playing acoustic guitar & singing an eclectic mix from folk, pop, gospel, and other genres. http://www.jonathancallard.com/blog
What an amazing line-up this week, including two new performers! Thank you performers – your music is a gift to us all! Audience members, in addition to applauding loudly, please remember to wear masks and stay at least six feet from non-household members. The map is attached.
Two new performers this week!
Doctors, Professors & Maharajahs – Tom Roberts
5434 Avondale Place
Tom Roberts is an internationally acclaimed pianist and Emmy award winning composer.
He will present the virtuosic piano music of New Orleans rhythm & blues legends Professor Longhair, Dr. John and the otherworldly James Booker along with choro, calypso, Harlem stride and even Louis Moreau Gottschalk. Tom was pianist and musical director for the late Leon Redbone, arranged and performed the music for Martin Scorsese’s film, The Aviator. He has performed multiple times at New York’s 92nd St Y Jazz in July, and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He has arranged for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and also writes and performed the music for Rick Sebak’s Emmy award winning Nebby series for WQED TV.
Devilish Merry
830 N Euclid Ave. (hosted by Alba Flamenca)
This appalachian-Irish fusion band combines hammered dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, fretted dulcimer, Irish flute, tinwhistle, harmonica, dumbek, bodhrán, bones and vocals to create a lively mix of old-time fiddle tunes, Irish jigs and reels, Pennsylvania folk and labor ballads and riveting new songs from the musicians’ own life experience.
Returning Favorites!
Glass Run Gals
New location: 923 N St Clair Street
This folk/americana duo that specializes in powerful vocal harmonies. Accompanied by guitar and mandolin, we re-imagine the work of some of America’s premier singer/songwriters.
Tania & Jeff Grubbs with master drummer Roger Humphries
1033 Portland St
The Grubbs are professional jazz musicians who comprise ⅔ of the Tania Grubbs Quintet. https://taniagrubbs.com/ This week they will be joined by special guest Roger Humphries on drums.
Christopher Shipton
5822 Bryant Street
Christopher will perform ambient experimental music using modular synthesizers.
Jonathan Callard & Friends
5811 Stanton Ave.Jonathan is a professionally-trained vocalist who’ll be playing acoustic guitar & singing an eclectic mix from folk, pop, gospel, and other genres. http://www.jonathancallard.com/blog
The Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) is proposing a set of upgrades to the bike lanes on East Liberty Blvd and Negley Run Blvd. DOMI has engaged community organizations including the HPCC and we will be scheduling a DOMI presentation to gather input on the projects at an upcoming HPCC meeting. In the meantime, there is a good summary of the proposed changes here.
