By Councilman Wilson

Hello everyone, The fall season is finally here and with that comes cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, and pumpkin-flavored treats everywhere you turn. There’s one pumpkin- themed event that you won’t want to miss: East Allegheny Community Council’s 30th Annual Pumpkinfest! This year’s event will be held on Oct. 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Allegheny Commons East, at the corner of East Ohio Street and Cedar Avenue. There are many activities for all ages including pumpkin decorating, hayrides, crafts, and more. I especially want to thank Barbara Burns for her work in organizing this event for the past 30 years and to the EACC Board for their continual support of this event. More details can be found here: deutschtown.org/pumpkinfest.

In January 2022, the Department of City Planning published the Pittsburgh Housing Needs Assessment which provided a comprehensive understanding of housing needs and trending conditions across all household incomes and housing typologies. The assessment established an objective, data driven resource on the housing market to guide future policy decisions. Based on the report, the Department of City Planning announced a series of zoning reforms designed to increase and diversify Pittsburgh’s housing supply, lower housing costs, and provide opportunities for residents of all income levels to find housing they can afford in neighborhoods across the city.

These reforms include accessory dwelling units (ADU), inclusionary zoning (IZ), transit-oriented development (TOD), parking reform, minimum lot size reform, and residential rezoning. I highly recommend reviewing each policy reform and sharing your critical feedback via the Engage Page found at engage.pittsburghpa.gov/implementing-housing-needs-assessment.

At the end of August, over 500 feet of new sidewalk was installed along Homer and Buente Streets in the Spring Hill neighborhood as well as the planting of sixteen new tree pits. This project safely connects residents to a school bus stop and Spring Hill Elementary School. I’m proud to have worked with the Mayor’s Administration and the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) to deliver on our commitment to safer, more accessible neighborhoods.

The Brighton Heights neighborhood is also getting new sidewalks near Marmaduke Park! After hearing the concerns from residents about the lack of safe spaces to walk to and from the park, I reached out to the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to see how to improve this heavily trafficked area. Through DOMI’s Critical Sidewalk Gaps Program, new sidewalks will be added along Perrott Avenue, Oswald Street, and Hiawatha Street at Marmaduke Street. The projected start date for construction is mid-October and more details can be found on the Engage Page, at engage.pittsburghpa.gov/critical-sidewalk-gaps-program/marmaduke-park-sidewalk-connections.

In addition to these sidewalk improvements, the spray park and playground at Marmaduke Park are in the beginning phase of the reconstruction project which received $400,000 in the 2024 Capital Budget. The intended work includes building a new playground and safety surface, upgrading the hardscape and walkways, and selecting updated spray features. The Department of Public Works is currently conducting a survey to collect feedback from the community on what types of improvements they would like to see. Please review the project and take the survey on the Engage Page, at engage.pittsburghpa.gov/marmaduke-playground.

Finally, my office is currently hiring for a Legislative Aide position! Responsibilities include legislative and policy research, drafting ordinances, resolutions, and wills of council, responding to constituent issues and concerns, and attending various meetings on behalf of the District 1 office. If you or someone you know is interested, please apply here: governmentjobs.com/careers/pittsburgh/jobs/4653570/legislative-aide.

If you have any questions or concerns, call us at (412) 255-2135, email us at district1@pittsburghpa.gov, or find us on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter). My staff and I look forward to hearing from you!