Gentrification by Design: Shaping Neighborhood Change Karen Abrams - Community and Diversity Affairs Manager, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
Loeb Fellow 2017, Harvard GSD
October 22, 2016
Overview •
Introduction to my work in Pittsburgh including brief overview of Pittsburgh context
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Provide preliminary description of Community Toolkit Projects
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Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle (District 6 Pittsburgh)
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Presentation of Schenley Heights and Central Northside Neighborhood Toolkits
Western PA Context
City of Pittsburgh •
310,000 residents
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64.8% white
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25.8% black
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4.4% Asian
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2.7% other
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2.3% Hispanic*
Pittsburgh, PA: Median Income •
$44,200- white
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$21,200 - black
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33% of black pop. lives in poverty (24.2% US)
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16.6% black unemployment vs. 6.7% whites
African American Neighborhoods of Choice •
Research based group established in 2012
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African American community development practitioners
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Supply-side amenities for African American middle class
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1st report to be released January 2017
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Supported and funded by The POISE Foundation and The Heinz Endowments
URA Equity Working Group
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The URA Equity Working Group was established within the agency in July 2015. It is a vehicle through which URA staff and board members align principles of equity and justice with the internal and community-facing policies and practices.
Community Engagement
Urban Matters Program •
Art and design based program for high school students living in Pittsburgh’s poorest census tracts
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Demystify urban policy and planning practices that impact their communities
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Increase participation in decisionmaking processes that shape communities
Community Toolkit Projects •
Started in 2013 with a redesign of green space in the Schenley Heights neighborhoods
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Fellows from CMU School of Architecture
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Collaboration with community groups and residents, elected officials, URA and City Planning staff, Mayor’s Office and the Design Center of Pittsburgh
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One year community planning design project
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Provides valuable experience for recent graduates
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A resource for residents, community groups and real estate development interests
Work Related + Personal Affiliations •
Pittsburgh Land Bank Board
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Urban Land Institute (ULI) Pittsburgh District Council + National Urban Revitalization Product Council
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Design Center of Pittsburgh
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Green Building Alliance
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Vacant Property Toolkit Working Group
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MWBE Minority Capacity Group
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Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group Community Development Summit Planning Committee
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My Brothers Keeper (Pittsburgh)
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Community Development Data Pilot Advisory Committee
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Hill District Consensus Group - Resident Member
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Hill District Arts Plan Advisory Committee - Resident Member
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Larimer Consensus Group
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Larimer Green Team
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Blog at unblight.com
Thank you kabrams@gsd.harvard.edu