Riverview Park Day to take place Oct. 3
The Northside’s big annual celebration of all things Riverview Park will take place Oct. 3, as Riverview Park Day makes its return.
Festivities will kick off at noon and run until 4 p.m. The event is centered around the Riverview Park Activities Building, located at 142 Riverview Ave.
Activities during the festival include a mushroom hike, bounce houses, face painting, free tours of Allegheny Observatory, guided hikes through the park and more.
There will also be live music performances. The lineup consists of:
- Slag Mountain, performing from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
- The Turpentiners, 1:45-2:45 p.m.
- Anni Mai and The Rhythm Of The Night Fusion Band, 3-4 p.m.
For more information, visit pittsburghparks.org/rp-day/.
East Allegheny Community Council elects new board
The East Allegheny Community Council elected its new volunteer board of directors at their Sept. 8 meeting, with the majority of board positions changing hands.
The roles of board president, vice president and treasurer all changed during the election, as did the four at-large members. One board position, recorder, has been left vacant for the time being, as no candidates stepped up to fulfill the role.
The new board is as follows:
- President: Sarah Bailey (Position formerly held by Kathleen Dapper)
- Vice President: Doug Kamper (Position formerly held by Phil Hake)
- Treasurer: Euan Morgan (Position formerly held by Leslie Hake)
- Secretary: Ben Weaver (Unchanged)
- Recorder: Vacant (Position formerly held by John Fitzpatrick)
- At-large Members: Phil Hake, Kevin Klingensmith, Alden Merchant and Nathan Salamacha (Positions formerly held by Sarah Bailey, Eric Booth, Douglas Kamper and Jennifer Paliani)
All of the board elections were unopposed.
URA seeks to remove historic designation of vacant property
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is seeking the removal of the historic designation of a vacant property on East Ohio Street in order to facilitate its eventual demolition and redevelopment.
As discussed at the Sept. 8 meeting of the East Allegheny Community Council, the URA is beginning the process to remove the historic designation of 624 E. Ohio St. in Historic Deutschtown, a property which the agency has owned since 2005 and has been unable to find a buyer in the decades since.
The property, known as the Hefty House, was built sometime between 1825 and 1840, making it one of the oldest-known buildings on the Northside. However, URA Project Manager Gordon Hall said the building has severe water infiltration, partial collapses of the structure, widespread mold growth and rot, which has resulted in the “loss of the historic character it was once known for.”
Further, Gordon said the URA is seeking to sell several buildings to the Buhl Foundation for a planned development of a “Community Engagement Center” and that 624 sits in the middle of this planned construction. The other properties involved in the potential project include 620 and 628 East Ohio Street.
In order for the removal to go through, the URA will have to hold hearings before the City of Pittsburgh Planning Commission and Historic Review Commission. Hall told The Chronicle that the URA is targeting November for the Historic Review Commission, which typically meets at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.
The removal would then go before Pittsburgh City Council for a vote.
Sarah Heinz House names new board member
The Sarah Heinz House — a nonprofit organization in Troy Hill that offers health and education programs for various age levels — has announced a new member of its board of directors in a Sept. 1 press release.
Karla Villatoro de Friedman has joined the House’s board. Villatoro de Friedman currently serves as executive vice president, chief deposit and administrative officer, and corporate secretary of TriState Capital Bank. According to the release, she has a law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
“I chose to serve on the Sarah Heinz House Board because I believe in what happens when young people have a place where they feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow,” Villatoro de Friedman is quoted in the release. “The House has been a part of the Pittsburgh community for generations and I’m inspired by its focus on character, leadership, service, healthy choices, and belonging. I’m excited to help support that work and contribute to its future impact.”
