West End Revitalization

A few days ago, the Tribune Review had a really promising article on the plan to revitalize the West End Valley. Much of the article talks about local real estate mogul Rick Hvizdak. Mr. Hvizdak has done some wonderful things for the West End area, but I'm just wondering if this is all just dreams and hope that we have seen before, but without any real substance.

Here is another article from 2006, detailing some of Mr. Hvizdak's ideas. He really does provide a lot of promise to the residents of the area.

Just about a year ago, an article came out explaining that West End was picked for "Mainstreets Funding" by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Did anything actually get completed with this money?

We've heard all of this many times before. Remember when the Chapel of Blues opened, and around the same time, another bar/restaurant was supposed to open across from the West End ParkHouse/Grill 424/Temperanceville Tavern. I believe that building is torn down now.

Here's an article from about 3 years ago getting everyone pumped up for a new revitalization plan. How many of the businesses featured here are still in business? I remember being down in the West End a few years ago, eating lunch at an outside table at the ParkHouse. Mainstreet was closed, and there was a big party launching the plan to develop the entire building across the street. There were huge posters featuring artists renderings of what it would look like. I wonder what happened to those plans? Believe me, I was excited for while, but not anymore.

Here's another article from about 3 years ago.

Read this article from the City Paper, about how and why some of the plans may have failed. Granted, it's 4 years old, but has some pretty good stuff in it.

Being a life long West End resident, I am really hoping all these ideas come to fruition. There are already some really good business that I wish more residents utilized. I try to do my part. I order from Nikki's Pizza(I think they have the best Gyros's around), I get my taxes done at the Black Agency, I do Happy Hour at Tramp's every once in a while, I take my daughter to the Carnegie library. Carol's Restaurant is very good, I highly recommend it.

Mudslide

The West End enjoyed a big day in the local news yesterday due to a Mudslide that came down onto Steuben Street, from Elliott Street. Here is a video from the Post-Gazette. Here is the corresponding article.

The Pittsburghchannel.com has a good story on the mud slide, with a nice helicopter video. And another from WPXI.

Obituary

Just in case any of you remember Mr. Sites from Langley.

Obituary: Harry J. Sites / Carpentry teacher at Pittsburgh high schools

July 2, 1932 - Feb. 15, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
By Gary Rotstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Harry J. Sites, who taught carpentry for two decades in Pittsburgh high schools and tackled tough jobs for customers for longer than that, died of a heart attack Sunday in his Baldwin Township home. He was 76.
Mr. Sites was a self-taught craftsman and a keen thinker with an intuitive sense of how to get a job done without relying on detailed plans on paper. A Carrick native who lived most of his life there, he took on home addition and remodeling jobs for many years throughout the South Hills and occasionally beyond. In his own garage, he made fine furniture for his family.
From 1972 to 1993, Mr. Sites taught carpentry at Langley, Allegheny and South high schools in the city and at the Ridge Avenue vocational-technical center. He was a graduate of the city school district's Connelley vo-tech center who obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in vocational education in the 1970s from the University of Pittsburgh.
He was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served on ships in the Pacific during the Korean War.
Mr. Sites is survived by his wife, Mildred M. Sites; a son, Joseph H., of Canonsburg; a brother, James, of New Kensington; and a sister, Anna Schuler, of Overbrook.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at John F. Slater Funeral Home, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood. A prayer service will be held at 9:15 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. Mass in St. Bernard Church, 311 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon.
Memorial donations may be made to the Animal Rescue League, 6620 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh 15206.
Gary Rotstein can be reached at grotstein@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1255.

Old Stone Inn UPDATE

Old Stone Inn nominated for historic status

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Old Stone Inn in the West End has been nominated for city historic status, which stalls the progress of demolition plans and calls for hearings of the city's Historic Review Commission.

The prospective owner, Harris Masonry Inc., had applied for a permit to demolish the building and was due one within days of John DeSantis' nomination of the property last week. The property is at least 209 years old.

The first hearing on the matter could be at the commission's March meeting.

The owner of Harris Masonry did not return a call for comment, but Mr. DeSantis said he talked to a representative of the masonry company and the current owner, Mario Peticca, about his motive. "And they both get it," said Mr. DeSantis. "They understand the historic importance of the building."

He said he heard last week that the building might be demolished and "was shocked, stunned that this could be happening. I called the historic review staff for an application because I thought this [demolition] just can't happen."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on February 10, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Langley Wrestling Benefit

The Langley Wrestling Team benefit dance is just one week away!

Tickets will be available at the door for 12.50 per person!

Pizza and Beer is included, but you are welcome to bring your own dishes and drinks as well to enjoy with your group!

Any questions, please feel free to call me 412.583.7109

SAVE THE OLD STONE TAVERN

A local man by the name of Art Merrell is running a campaign to have the Old Stone Inn saved from demolition by petitioning the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Let's hope the foundation delays the demolition long enough to review the historical importance of this structure. It is reported that the tavern once served Charles Dickens and George Washington. The research hopefully will show if that's true or not.

The building has historical importance for me. My Jeep once had electric problems and it stalled coming down Greentree Rd. I was stuck in the intersection in friont of the tavern during rush hour. 2 very good samaritans came out the tavern during Happy Hour and helped me push the vehicle to the side of the road. (Thank you Jimbo Evans). For this reason alone the building should be saved.

Please check out the following articles about this. Post Gazette and Tribune Review

Baseball / Softball Signups

The Elliott West End Athletic association will be Holding signups for TeeBall, Baseball, and Softball on February 7th, 11th, and 21st. If your kids want to play, make sure get up there on one of the above dates. I can't say enough good things about this program.