You may have seen yesterday's WSJ and the op-ed "Europe's Crisis of Ideas" which lays the blame at the feet of a statist mentality. This is evidenced in that "Since 1990, only three of the 36 winners of the Noble Prize in Economics were then affiliated with a European university".
Today, in our culture, many people do not understand the need for profit in running a business. As a result, many do not seek to participate in promoting a competative edge. Even in our brief intro to CDC there is a request for "more and better restaurants" in Penn Hills without the recognition that if there were a market, there would be some better
restaurants. That is just Economics 101.
The green roofs projects border on micro economics. In Penn Hills and surrounding communities there are a number of examples of good and poor businesses which may well provide younger people especially with a better understanding of where jobs come from. So I would propose that one of our projects would be to provide a framework of seminars that examine the business models of companies that exist or existed in our community. I would hope that the presentations would be of such good quality that were video recorded and made available on a community web site. Perhaps a blog or two would result and our residents would learn the necessity and benefit of hard work and right thinking.
I would like to see presentations on Turner Dairy, Universal Atlas Cement, McCullough Tire, Crawford Insurance, McDonald's, J&L Steel, Westinghouse Electric, UPMC, Westinghouse Air Brake, Giant Eagle, East Hills School and a number of craftsman and contractors. Perhaps some of the local universities have presentations on business models they would be willing to present.
Other important aspects of successful living could include logical thinking as presented in classical education (Trinity Christian School), a person's motivation ( I am the most important person in the world or I seek to honor my Lord), family economics, work ethic, civic responsibility, etc. These subjects seem to be missing from normal public education.
How many of our residents know of the underground railroad tunnel? How about the history of coal mining in our area? Even a presentation on road maintenance, sewerage disposal, water provision, electrical supply, school bus maintenance, law enforcement, first commercial radio (KDKA), etc . . .
We had a report of one of the disaster relief teams that went to Haiti.
They were commended for their work discipline, ability to contribute under very trying conditions and willingness to adapt to changes. That was the result of training and character.
Perhaps these proposed seminars could be presented once a quarter. The object is to learn and teach how to put our shoulder to the wheel to accomplish that which is worthwhile.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Ideas on how to use vacant properties
Deb Hardy sent an email sharing a great idea for how to use vacant property in Penn Hills:
What I was thinking for the old library is to turn it into a gallery space for Penn Hills' artists (and others) to exhibit. The only downside is that it's in a somewhat secluded location so don't know if it would get the interest and foot traffic that would be necessary for it to become a "place to see and be seen." Plus, there's not a lot of parking if there were any ongoing events planned there. Just a thought though. I'm trying to come up with interesting ideas to reuse some of the many vacant building sites that are in the community.
I'd also like to turn the old Foodland lot into a community garden that the high school would have a vested interest in as well. My husband (Erik) thinks that is such a huge space, but right now my thoughts are just to do something with that space, unless of course we can get another grocery store interested in reuse. I know we have a lot on our plates right now with forming the CDC but I guess I'm thinking ahead and hoping that we can, as a community, not necessarily raze empty buildings but reuse them.
Great idea. Thoughts?!
What I was thinking for the old library is to turn it into a gallery space for Penn Hills' artists (and others) to exhibit. The only downside is that it's in a somewhat secluded location so don't know if it would get the interest and foot traffic that would be necessary for it to become a "place to see and be seen." Plus, there's not a lot of parking if there were any ongoing events planned there. Just a thought though. I'm trying to come up with interesting ideas to reuse some of the many vacant building sites that are in the community.
I'd also like to turn the old Foodland lot into a community garden that the high school would have a vested interest in as well. My husband (Erik) thinks that is such a huge space, but right now my thoughts are just to do something with that space, unless of course we can get another grocery store interested in reuse. I know we have a lot on our plates right now with forming the CDC but I guess I'm thinking ahead and hoping that we can, as a community, not necessarily raze empty buildings but reuse them.
Great idea. Thoughts?!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
What is the one thing you would like to see tackled first by a Penn Hills CDC?
Our CDC panelists shared with us that the most successful CDCs take on one or two community issues and address them rigorously. Taking on too many issues can undermine the work of a CDC.
So, if you had to choose one thing you would like a Penn Hills CDC do, what would that one thing be?
So, if you had to choose one thing you would like a Penn Hills CDC do, what would that one thing be?
CDC Panel Tribune Review Article
Experts warn Penn Hills: Don't expect miracles with development groups
By Tony LaRussa
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Experts in the operation of community development corporations say one could help Penn Hills tackle a host of problems.
But the experts, who last week led a public discussion on whether Penn Hills should form such a group, cautioned people against unrealistic expectations.
Nonprofit development groups can address a broad spectrum of issues, from public safety to foreclosure prevention and neighborhood revitalization, said Bethany Davidson, deputy director of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, which works with dozens of the corporations in Pittsburgh.
They are unique in that some funding, such as federal housing rehabilitation grants, is available only to them.
Davidson urged residents to set short- and long-term goals for the community, but cautioned against taking on too much.
"As you discuss the future of community revitalization in Penn Hills ... don't try to tackle it all," said Davidson. "Start small, start with a vision and take small, incremental steps to get to that end result."
Aggie Brose, who belonged to the core group that launched the city's Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. in 1976, said its efforts began around the simple credo that "this neighborhood needs to have a voice. It has to hold people accountable."
The group's first project was to persuade a supermarket to paint the exterior of its building. Since the group's inception, it has been involved in the rehabilitation and construction of several hundred homes. It advocates for a range of services including health-care initiatives, youth programs, work force development and credit counseling.
Brose noted that while her group often works closely with government, it considers holding government officials accountable as part of its mission.
"We can be their best friend or their worst nightmare," Brose said.
Scott Leff, associate director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, agreed that while nonprofit development corporations can accomplish a lot, obtaining financing for their work can be difficult because of competition for the money available from local foundations.
"It's very hard to become much of a nonprofit without foundation support," said Leff. "You are going to have to make a compelling case as to why Penn Hills needs a CDC, why it needs to be an independent organization, how it's differentiated from other groups out there. And you will have to assure the foundation that you are going to be able to stay in business."
Penn Hills Planning Director Howard Davidson, who helped organize the discussion, said identifying projects that a group might take on should not be difficult. His office conducted a residential survey that elicited 700 responses, which were incorporated into the municipality's comprehensive plan to guide its future.
By Tony LaRussa
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Experts in the operation of community development corporations say one could help Penn Hills tackle a host of problems.
But the experts, who last week led a public discussion on whether Penn Hills should form such a group, cautioned people against unrealistic expectations.
Nonprofit development groups can address a broad spectrum of issues, from public safety to foreclosure prevention and neighborhood revitalization, said Bethany Davidson, deputy director of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, which works with dozens of the corporations in Pittsburgh.
They are unique in that some funding, such as federal housing rehabilitation grants, is available only to them.
Davidson urged residents to set short- and long-term goals for the community, but cautioned against taking on too much.
"As you discuss the future of community revitalization in Penn Hills ... don't try to tackle it all," said Davidson. "Start small, start with a vision and take small, incremental steps to get to that end result."
Aggie Brose, who belonged to the core group that launched the city's Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. in 1976, said its efforts began around the simple credo that "this neighborhood needs to have a voice. It has to hold people accountable."
The group's first project was to persuade a supermarket to paint the exterior of its building. Since the group's inception, it has been involved in the rehabilitation and construction of several hundred homes. It advocates for a range of services including health-care initiatives, youth programs, work force development and credit counseling.
Brose noted that while her group often works closely with government, it considers holding government officials accountable as part of its mission.
"We can be their best friend or their worst nightmare," Brose said.
Scott Leff, associate director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, agreed that while nonprofit development corporations can accomplish a lot, obtaining financing for their work can be difficult because of competition for the money available from local foundations.
"It's very hard to become much of a nonprofit without foundation support," said Leff. "You are going to have to make a compelling case as to why Penn Hills needs a CDC, why it needs to be an independent organization, how it's differentiated from other groups out there. And you will have to assure the foundation that you are going to be able to stay in business."
Penn Hills Planning Director Howard Davidson, who helped organize the discussion, said identifying projects that a group might take on should not be difficult. His office conducted a residential survey that elicited 700 responses, which were incorporated into the municipality's comprehensive plan to guide its future.
CDC Panel Post Gazette Article
Penn Hills asking: Can a CDC address needs for community?
Panel considers a range of options
Thursday, November 19, 2009
By Deborah M. Todd, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As lowering property values, rising crime rates and stagnant development become increasing problems in some suburban communities, Penn Hills residents are considering options that city neighborhoods have utilized for decades.
More than 50 residents packed the municipal building last Thursday to discuss the idea of creating a Community Development Corporation to address Penn Hills' most pressing needs.
CDCs have been used for years in urban areas to attract development, form community watch programs and raise overall awareness for issues facing specific communities. CDCs also are eligible for some grants and government funding that communities cannot apply for.
The panel discussion, hosted by the planning department, featured representatives from five local organizations who discussed the process of creating a CDC and how a CDC's presence can impact a community.
"[CDCs] range in variety from unincorporated neighborhood associations, block watches, block clubs ... really informal to very formal, legally incorporated, nonprofit groups with sophisticated professional staff that have multimillion-dollar, bricks-and-mortar development entities," explained Bethany Davidson, deputy director of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group.
Matthew Ciccone, co-founder of GTECH Strategies, a nonprofit organization geared toward reclaiming vacant properties, said: "When we want to come into some place to do a project, we find CDCs typically know the most about what's happening and can speak about what people in those communities would like to see happen."
Alexandra K. Murphy, a Princeton University doctoral candidate and planning department intern, is studying Penn Hills for a dissertation on poverty in the suburbs. She said the main purpose of the discussion was for citizens to offer suggestions about what a CDC should address.
While some residents mentioned code enforcement and commercial development as issues they hoped a CDC would tackle, many were more concerned about the kind of CDC the community would adopt.
"I think it's important to address the various issues in Penn Hills, because some neighborhoods have different issues than others," said resident Jim Getsy, president of the Crescent Hills Civic Association. He suggested the formation of a large CDC to serve as an umbrella organization for smaller neighborhood groups.
Churchill Valley resident James Beck questioned whether a CDC geared toward commercial development would be as effective in Penn Hills as it has been in some city neighborhoods. He encouraged the audience to consider a wide range of options before deciding what the CDC should be.
"What do you see as having the best chance for success? Unlike in city neighborhoods, there's not a vital business district or the remnants of a vital business district to be built upon. I don't see that in Penn Hills," he said.
In the end, panelists said the meeting put Penn Hills residents in the right direction toward establishing a CDC, but emphasized that continued discussion and a dedicated group of residents will ultimately determine the plan's success.
"CDCs aren't sexy," said panelist Scott Leff, associate director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.
"Not that you shouldn't be here talking about this ... but be realistic about it because starting up any nonprofit is very challenging."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09323/1014547-56.stm#ixzz0XK5xiQME
Panel considers a range of options
Thursday, November 19, 2009
By Deborah M. Todd, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As lowering property values, rising crime rates and stagnant development become increasing problems in some suburban communities, Penn Hills residents are considering options that city neighborhoods have utilized for decades.
More than 50 residents packed the municipal building last Thursday to discuss the idea of creating a Community Development Corporation to address Penn Hills' most pressing needs.
CDCs have been used for years in urban areas to attract development, form community watch programs and raise overall awareness for issues facing specific communities. CDCs also are eligible for some grants and government funding that communities cannot apply for.
The panel discussion, hosted by the planning department, featured representatives from five local organizations who discussed the process of creating a CDC and how a CDC's presence can impact a community.
"[CDCs] range in variety from unincorporated neighborhood associations, block watches, block clubs ... really informal to very formal, legally incorporated, nonprofit groups with sophisticated professional staff that have multimillion-dollar, bricks-and-mortar development entities," explained Bethany Davidson, deputy director of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group.
Matthew Ciccone, co-founder of GTECH Strategies, a nonprofit organization geared toward reclaiming vacant properties, said: "When we want to come into some place to do a project, we find CDCs typically know the most about what's happening and can speak about what people in those communities would like to see happen."
Alexandra K. Murphy, a Princeton University doctoral candidate and planning department intern, is studying Penn Hills for a dissertation on poverty in the suburbs. She said the main purpose of the discussion was for citizens to offer suggestions about what a CDC should address.
While some residents mentioned code enforcement and commercial development as issues they hoped a CDC would tackle, many were more concerned about the kind of CDC the community would adopt.
"I think it's important to address the various issues in Penn Hills, because some neighborhoods have different issues than others," said resident Jim Getsy, president of the Crescent Hills Civic Association. He suggested the formation of a large CDC to serve as an umbrella organization for smaller neighborhood groups.
Churchill Valley resident James Beck questioned whether a CDC geared toward commercial development would be as effective in Penn Hills as it has been in some city neighborhoods. He encouraged the audience to consider a wide range of options before deciding what the CDC should be.
"What do you see as having the best chance for success? Unlike in city neighborhoods, there's not a vital business district or the remnants of a vital business district to be built upon. I don't see that in Penn Hills," he said.
In the end, panelists said the meeting put Penn Hills residents in the right direction toward establishing a CDC, but emphasized that continued discussion and a dedicated group of residents will ultimately determine the plan's success.
"CDCs aren't sexy," said panelist Scott Leff, associate director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.
"Not that you shouldn't be here talking about this ... but be realistic about it because starting up any nonprofit is very challenging."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09323/1014547-56.stm#ixzz0XK5xiQME
"Does Penn Hills Need a CDC" Panel Notes
On Thursday, November 12, 2009 over 60 residents, business owners, church leaders, and community leaders attended the panel entitled "Does Penn Hills Need a CDC?" The panel consisted of five experts who shared their diverse perspectives on what CDCs are and what they can do for a community like Penn Hills. A summary of what was discussed is below:
Overall, the panelists believed that a CDC could be a great tool for a community like Penn Hills through which businesses can be revitalized or new businesses brought in, public safety issues can be addressed, and blight can be taken care of. The panelists warned that we should not be swayed to tackle every issue that Penn Hills faces, but instead choose one or two and address them very well.
Panelist Bethany Davidson from the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group discussed the multiple forms that CDCs can take: they can be volunteer organizations, they can be official nonprofit organizations, they can be as small as a block group or as large as a million dollar nonprofit (think the Mon Valley Initiative).
Scott Leff, of the Bayer Center for Nonprofits, warned that garnering foundation support is a critical component of creating a successful CDC. This is a difficult task he warned - to procure such support requires making a convincing argument for why Penn Hills needs a CDC (including why Penn Hills needs its own CDC instead of working with others, why it is important to tackle the issues it chooses to take on, etc...).
Panelists agreed that a CDC requires a board and a lawyer. The Bayer Center for Nonprofits are a useful tool for putting a board together and learning best practices. Panelists said that it is possible to get committed volunteers and community organizers (e.g. an Americorp volunteer or a volunteer from the Regional Internship Center)to work to put together a CDC infrastructure - this is something that may appeal given the commitment that starting a CDC requires.
Matt Ciccone, co-founder of GTECH, told the audience that for the work that his organization does (they revitalize blighted, vacant land for green purposes) CDCs are invaluable. CDCs, he says, serve as an excellent source of collective memory and information about any given community. When organizations want to bring in development or rehab, a CDC is usually the first stop an outside organizations takes to learn about the needs and desires of the community.
A significant advantage of CDCs are they are eligible for a number of community and economic development grants not available to local municipalities or other types of nonprofits. Without a CDC a community like Penn Hills is blocked from such resources.
Aggie Brose shared her experiences founding and working to make successful the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation. She recounted how one vocal neighborhood priest pulled residents together to tackle small problems. In the beginning, member paid $5 - money that was used for the corporation's work. The first thing the group got done was push a local grocer to paint their building. Since its foundation, the corporation has brought business to Bloomfield-Garfield, kept certain businesses out, created workforce development programs, rehabbed housing, and the list goes on. Aggie shared with us a paper that the corporation publishes. In the paper their is printed community news that features community strengths and weakness. For example, the paper highlights good work that community people are doing in the neighborhood, but also features pictures of folks who have abandoned their property or let their property become an eye sore. According to Aggie, one of the biggest jobs of a CDC was to hold people accountable - residents, politicians, businesses, etc...
After each panelist spoke, many audience members had questions and/or concerns. For the most part, audience members thought a CDC would be good for Penn Hills. One idea was to create small, neighborhood CDCs in Penn Hills and then one big, umbrella CDC. A panelist said this could work but emphasized that people need to realize that development that goes into one area is good for the whole community - sometimes groups need to be selfless for the sake of the whole community. Many of the panelists agreed that much community education would need to be done for CDCs to be successful.
One audience member asked what types of development can we bring to Penn Hills that would turn the community around. Panelists agreed that the heart of the CDC was local sentiment, and only local stakeholders can decide what is best for the community.
An audience member warned the audience to be careful of strong developers who could conduct development in ways not desired by the community. The Waterfront in Homestead was cited as an example of a successful development that has decimated the local downtown.
Questions were asked about where the line stands between CDCs, the local municipality, the county, and the state. Panelists agreed that CDCs can be politician's best friends and worst enemies. She talked about the delicate dance that occurs between working together to get things done, and exerting pressure despite resistance, to get things done.
Did I miss anything? If so, please feel free to add to these notes!
Overall, the panelists believed that a CDC could be a great tool for a community like Penn Hills through which businesses can be revitalized or new businesses brought in, public safety issues can be addressed, and blight can be taken care of. The panelists warned that we should not be swayed to tackle every issue that Penn Hills faces, but instead choose one or two and address them very well.
Panelist Bethany Davidson from the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group discussed the multiple forms that CDCs can take: they can be volunteer organizations, they can be official nonprofit organizations, they can be as small as a block group or as large as a million dollar nonprofit (think the Mon Valley Initiative).
Scott Leff, of the Bayer Center for Nonprofits, warned that garnering foundation support is a critical component of creating a successful CDC. This is a difficult task he warned - to procure such support requires making a convincing argument for why Penn Hills needs a CDC (including why Penn Hills needs its own CDC instead of working with others, why it is important to tackle the issues it chooses to take on, etc...).
Panelists agreed that a CDC requires a board and a lawyer. The Bayer Center for Nonprofits are a useful tool for putting a board together and learning best practices. Panelists said that it is possible to get committed volunteers and community organizers (e.g. an Americorp volunteer or a volunteer from the Regional Internship Center)to work to put together a CDC infrastructure - this is something that may appeal given the commitment that starting a CDC requires.
Matt Ciccone, co-founder of GTECH, told the audience that for the work that his organization does (they revitalize blighted, vacant land for green purposes) CDCs are invaluable. CDCs, he says, serve as an excellent source of collective memory and information about any given community. When organizations want to bring in development or rehab, a CDC is usually the first stop an outside organizations takes to learn about the needs and desires of the community.
A significant advantage of CDCs are they are eligible for a number of community and economic development grants not available to local municipalities or other types of nonprofits. Without a CDC a community like Penn Hills is blocked from such resources.
Aggie Brose shared her experiences founding and working to make successful the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation. She recounted how one vocal neighborhood priest pulled residents together to tackle small problems. In the beginning, member paid $5 - money that was used for the corporation's work. The first thing the group got done was push a local grocer to paint their building. Since its foundation, the corporation has brought business to Bloomfield-Garfield, kept certain businesses out, created workforce development programs, rehabbed housing, and the list goes on. Aggie shared with us a paper that the corporation publishes. In the paper their is printed community news that features community strengths and weakness. For example, the paper highlights good work that community people are doing in the neighborhood, but also features pictures of folks who have abandoned their property or let their property become an eye sore. According to Aggie, one of the biggest jobs of a CDC was to hold people accountable - residents, politicians, businesses, etc...
After each panelist spoke, many audience members had questions and/or concerns. For the most part, audience members thought a CDC would be good for Penn Hills. One idea was to create small, neighborhood CDCs in Penn Hills and then one big, umbrella CDC. A panelist said this could work but emphasized that people need to realize that development that goes into one area is good for the whole community - sometimes groups need to be selfless for the sake of the whole community. Many of the panelists agreed that much community education would need to be done for CDCs to be successful.
One audience member asked what types of development can we bring to Penn Hills that would turn the community around. Panelists agreed that the heart of the CDC was local sentiment, and only local stakeholders can decide what is best for the community.
An audience member warned the audience to be careful of strong developers who could conduct development in ways not desired by the community. The Waterfront in Homestead was cited as an example of a successful development that has decimated the local downtown.
Questions were asked about where the line stands between CDCs, the local municipality, the county, and the state. Panelists agreed that CDCs can be politician's best friends and worst enemies. She talked about the delicate dance that occurs between working together to get things done, and exerting pressure despite resistance, to get things done.
Did I miss anything? If so, please feel free to add to these notes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
