ALLEGHENY CITY CENTRAL — A small, but beloved Northside park is getting a facelift thanks to a group of volunteering organizations headed by the Mexican War Streets Society.

Joined by Tree Pittsburgh, Landforce and Davey Tree Expert Company, the Society began work to replace invasive plants at Mechanics’ Retreat for native species on April 21. The volunteers were further assisted by Commonplace Coffee, which provided water for the workers as they brought out their shovels and rakes for some heavy-duty gardening.

Michael Koester, a member of the Society’s board, explained that the park had several invasive plants that had begun to die. These invasives were removed, but that created a new problem.

“That took a lot of shade out of here,” he said. The Society got in contact with Tree Pittsburgh, who offered to help with planting new trees for free. Landforce also offered their services, while Davey Tree Expert Company donated trees to the project.

Susan Benn, the society’s garden consultant, explained that when the park was first established in the 1980s, several non-native species had been planted there. Most notable was a Bradford Pear Tree, which rapidly colonized both the park and some surrounding areas with its seeds, sprouting “thousands” of young Bradford Pears.

The issue with the Bradford Pear was that native caterpillar species couldn’t eat it, damaging the ecosystem by depriving those bugs of a food source, especially as the Bradford Pears’ seeds sprouted and overtook the park.

Replacing the Pear and other invasives will be more native plants, including Hawthorns, Inkberries and Redbuds. In addition to those trees donated by Davey Tree Expert Company, Benn was able to source trees for the replanting from some interesting places, including getting some from movie sets.

The park will also be receiving a new shed as part of the renovations.

Koester said the Society will likely have more work days on the park in the future, and that anyone interested in volunteering for such projects should follow the Society’s social media or newsletter for a chance to get involved. To sign up for the Society’s newsletter or find links to their social media, visit mexicanwarstreets.org Mechanics’ Retreat Park is located at the corner of Jacksonia and Buena Vista streets. The park is named after the old-fashioned name for laborers, which was simply “mechanic” regardless of the laborers’ actual job, Benn explained.

When your house sits on the market longer than expected, it can get frustrating fast.

You start asking: what now? And for a growing number of homeowners, that turns into: should I just rent it instead?

While it sounds like a simple backup plan, becoming “accidental landlord” is actually a much bigger decision than most people realize. That’s when someone planned to sell, didn’t get the price or traction they hoped for, and decided to rent the house out instead.

And lately, that’s happening more often.

Why the Number of Accidental Landlords Is Rising

If you’re faced with the same choice to rent or to sell, here’s what you need to know. First, you’re not alone. And that should actually be some comfort.

According to Zillow about 2.3% of homes available for rent were previously listed for sale. That may not sound like a lot, but it’s actually the highest share in almost 6 years.

Before you go that route yourself, it’s worth slowing down and looking at the full picture. Ask yourself these 3 questions first.

1. Would Your House Actually Work as a Rental?

What’s right for your situation is going to depend on your location, your home’s condition, and what the rental market looks like in your area. Think about: If you’re moving away, do you have a plan for how you’ll handle ongoing maintenance and repairs from afar?

Does your house need repairs before it’s rental-ready? And do you have the time, energy, and the funds for that?

What’s the market like in your area? Are there a lot of rental vacancies? What monthly rent could you realistically expect? As C&C Property Management explains: “At the heart of any rental market is the balance between supply and demand. When more tenants are looking for housing than there are available units, rental prices rise. On the other hand, if new construction adds hundreds of apartments or homes to a neighborhood, prices can soften as tenants have more choices.” If your home would struggle to stand out or command the rent you need, that’s something to take seriously. Just because you can rent it doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you.

2. Are You Ready To Be a Landlord?

This is the part people don’t always think about upfront. On paper, renting sounds like easy passive income. But in reality, it’s a hands-on responsibility.

Imagine:

Taking midnight calls about clogged toilets or broken air conditioners Chasing down missed rent payments Covering unexpected repairs Fixing damage between tenants And those costs can hit when you least expect them.

3. Have You Run the Real Numbers?

There’s also the financial side of things. For starters, renting out your house comes with extra expenses. Here are a few of the biggest according to Bank rate: Higher insurance premiums (landlord insurance typically costs about 25% more) Management fees (if you use a property manager, they typically charge around 10% of the rent) Routine maintenance and services Advertising fees to find tenants Gaps between tenants, where you cover the mortgage without rental income coming in For some people, that’s totally manageable. For others, it’s more than they want to take on.

Your Next Step: A Conversation with Your Agent Before you make any decision, talk to your current agent about overhauling your sales strategy first. Sometimes it’s not that buyers aren’t out there. It’s that something about the pricing, presentation, or marketing isn’t quite lining up with what they’re looking for.

And a few small adjustments can make a big difference.

Because while renting can be a great choice for the right person with the right house, if you’re only considering it because your listing didn’t get traction, there may be a better solution.

Bottom Line

If you’re torn between selling and renting, make sure to carefully weigh the pros and cons first. For some homeowners, the hassle (and the expense) of renting may not be worth it.

The event, titled Community Gathering, was held at Penn Brewery, and featured both silent and live auctions, raffles and the chance for neighbors to vote on what features they want to see for the planned park, which will be built at the vacant lot located at the corner of Tripoli and Chestnut streets and is owned by CASGED. The park will also incorporate the neighboring Food City, a community garden managed by CASGED.

“It’s an important park for us because we’re a really dense neighborhood with a lot of old houses and not a lot of yards,” said Erik Kath, CASGED’s president.

The community group is planning several amenities for the space — which is going by the name of Tripoli Park — such as a stage, a roof ed pavilion, the planting of additional trees, and the reuse of the old trolley tracks that used to run along Chestnut Street as a sculpture, kiosk or furniture. Attendees at the party were able to vote on some additional features, such as the shape and material for the park’s planned picnic tables. They were also able to vote for one of three additional park amenities, the choices consisting of grills, bike racks or a community bulletin board.

Check out the June 2026 issue of The Northside Chronicle for the complete story.

A group of baseball historians and fans gathered at The Lion, a bar located along Allegheny Avenue, to pay observance to the sesquicentennial of the game between the Allegheny Base Ball (sic) Club and local amateur club Xantha, which took place on April 15, 1876. The game was played at Union Park, which was located near the southeast corner of Allegheny and Pennsylvania avenues, hence the choice of The Lion as the celebration location.

According to Mark Fatla, author of the book Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks, Allegheny beat Xantha 7-3 and there were between 1,500 to 2,000 spectators at the game.

Some of the players there would go on to compete with the Pittsburgh Pirates when they eventually formed as a team.

In addition to the celebration, the gathering served as the founding for a new organization, the Sports History Education and Markers Project, or SHEMP.

Fatla, who is a member of this new group, explained that the goal of SHEMP is to promote the establishment of historical markers for major moments in sports history across Pittsburgh.

“Nobody has been focused on this,” he said. “There have been some individual projects” but nothing large scale.

The group’s abbreviation is a reference to Shemp Howard of “The Three Stooges.” Fatla explained that in one of the Stooges’ films, Shemp was a baseball manager, inspiring the name for the organization.

For anyone interested in joining SHEMP, Fatla said to contact him either via email (markfatla@gmail.com) or by phone (412-520-4888).

Allegheny West
Estate of Ingrid Margarett Berglund to Christopher Baiker at 922 Beech Ave. for $929,000.

Brighton Heights
Eric Miller to Corey Bisbal and Emma Thomas at 3640 Massachusetts Ave. for $241,525.

Observatory Hill
Marc Laspada to Alfonso Monoyek Mbomio at 38 Watson Blvd. for $300,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

The event will take place on May 19 from 2-6 p.m. at Stage AE, offering a central and accessible location for attendees from across the region.

Designed to strengthen the local workforce pipeline, the NorthsideWorks! Job Fair will feature a wide range of employment opportunities, from entry-level roles to experienced positions, across multiple industries. But beyond simply connecting candidates with jobs, the event is intentionally structured to remove common barriers that often stand between job seekers and employment.

Organizers have prioritized accessibility and support services to ensure all attendees can participate fully. Multilingual assistance will be available on-site, helping to bridge language gaps for non-English speakers. Professional attire will also be offered through partnerships with Dress for Success and Gentleman’s Interactive Network, giving both women and men access to career-appropriate clothing at no cost.

In addition, job seekers will have access to laptops to apply for positions on the spot, along with assistance to polish resumes and craft compelling cover letters. Recognizing transportation as another key barrier, free parking will be provided through Alco Parking, and bus passes will be available to help attendees return home after the event.

In my role as Executive Director of the Chamber, the NorthsideWorks! Job Fair is more than a hiring event; it’s about equity and access. We’re committed to creating an environment where every individual has the tools and support they need to succeed.

Employers and training providers are encouraged to participate by reserving a table at the event. This provides a valuable opportunity to meet face-to-face with a diverse and motivated talent pool, promote open positions, and build brand visibility within the Northside community. Businesses of all sizes are welcome to apply, and sponsorship opportunities are still available for Chamber members looking to further elevate their presence.

In addition to the job fair, the Chamber continues to support workforce development year-round through its online Job Board, available at its website, northsidechamber.mcjobboard. net/jobs. The platform serves as a centralized hub for local hiring, allowing businesses to post open positions and connect with job seekers actively looking for opportunities in the Northside and North Shore areas and beyond. Job postings are at no cost for Chamber members and available to nonmembers for a minimal fee, making it an accessible and cost-effective recruitment tool.

By encouraging employers to hire locally and residents to work locally, the Chamber is fostering a cycle of investment that benefits the entire community, proving that when businesses and neighbors support one another, everyone thrives. For additional information on either the Job Fair or the Job Board, please reach out to Robert Bertha at the chamber at: robert@northsidechamberofcommerce.com.

As the Northside continues to grow and evolve, initiatives like the NorthsideWorks! Job Fair and the Chamber’s Job Board play a critical role in promoting local hiring, supporting small businesses, and strengthening the regional economy.

The Chronicle’s article “MACS students headed to national academic competition” from the April 2025 issue was named a finalist in the Excellence in Written Journalism award in the Education category for Division 3.

The article was written by The Chronicle’s managing editor, Sean P. Ray, and was about a group of four Manchester Academic Charter School students competing in the Academic Games National Tournament in Washington, D.C.

There are three other articles competing for the award. One is from the Pittsburgh Business Times, while the other two are from the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.

The Golden Quills recognize excellence in journalism across multiple areas of the industry, including writing, photography, video and more, for media organizations in Western Pennsylvania and nearby counties in Ohio and West Virginia.

Last year, The Chronicle was nominated for a Golden Quill in Excellence in Written Journalism - Business/Technology/ Consumer category for a February 2024 article titled “Catching up with Tom Friday’s new owners.”

The awards will be given out at the annual Golden Quills Dinner on May 18 at Rivers Casino. The award ceremony is only open to participating organizations and their guests.

One-year subscriptions (Usually $60) are discounted to $40, or 33% off, for the first year, while two-year subscriptions (Usually $110) are discounted to $70, or 36% off, for the first two years.

Subscriptions are the best way for readers to support The Northside Chronicle, and come with multiple perks. Subscribers receive a printed copy of The Chronicle delivered to their door every month, ensuring they never miss an issue, and access to our archive of past digital issues on our website.

What’s more, subscriptions are a show of support for your community newspaper. The Northside Chronicle provides itself on being able to provide most of its services for free to our neighborhood, ensuring the Northside receives the attention it is due.

“We want to address this directly and transparently before any speculation begins: Penn Brewery is not closing,” wrote Stefan Nitsch, the brewery’s owner, in a statement released to social media on April 2. “Like many businesses, we are utilizing Chapter 11 as a strategic tool to restructure and secure a stronger future.”

According to court documents obtained by The Chronicle, Pennsylvania Brewing Company estimates it has between $1 million and $10 million in liabilities, with First Commonwealth Bank listed as its highest debtor at $5.1 million. Meanwhile, the company estimates having up to $50,000 in assets.

The case was filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Brewing Company did not return requests to comment for this story before publication.

In the statement, Nitsch said that Penn Brewery has faced “real challenges in a changing economy,” and “made the decision to keep our team intact” even when it “came at a cost.”

“This decision allows us to reset, reorganize, and move forward in a way that protects what matters most: our employees, our customers, and the legacy of Penn Brewery,” Nitsch wrote in regards to the filing. “Our gates to the biergarten here on Vinial remain open, and operations continue as normal.”

Following the filing, Penn Brewery permanently closed its location at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to an April 7 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Perry Hilltop
614 Homes LLC to Latawnya Jones -Smith at 2247 Wilson Ave. for $189,900.

Spring Hill
Break Brick LLC to US Bank Trust Co. NA trustee at 1315 Diana St. for $30,000 by sheriff's deed.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Co-owned by husband and wife Michael Schmidt and Jess Frandsen, The Eastman held its soft opening on April 16, preparing for a sort of trial by fire just ahead of the NFL Draft coming to the Northside.

Schmidt, who is a resident of the Northside, said the idea to open The Eastman came about from discussions between himself and Frandsen on how to invest in their community.

“Really, we wanted to see this location open,” he said. “We loved it back when it was Fat Cat.”

Located at 520 E. Ohio St., the building housed the short-lived but much-loved Fat Cat, the combination bar and music venue from July 2023 until its closure on March 20, 2024. Following that, the location hosted tacOcat, a pop-up by the New Mexican restaurant Taqueria Acosta.

Fans of tacOcat will be happy to know that Chris Acosta, owner of Taqueria Acosta, is serving as head chef at The Eastman, connecting the new bar to the location’s history.

“From a food perspective, we’re going to go back to a lot of the Taqueria Acosta favorites, really focusing on that New Mexican cuisine,” said Schmidt.

In addition, Schmidt intends to offer several traditional favorite bar meals on the menu as well, a decision driven by his background.

“Growing up in Western New York, things like chicken wings and pizza logs are something I’m really invested in,” he said.

“We want to be something for everybody without being nothing for nobody,” he added later.

Handling drinks as head bartender will be Patrick Cassidy, who formerly worked at Gi-Jin, a Japanese restaurant located on the South Side. Cassidy was trained in bartending in Boston, where he was taught a particular mindset when it comes to cocktails.

“We basically weren’t allowed to put any drinks on the menu unless it was better than a classic,” he said.

Classic drinks include daiquiris, gimlets, old fashioneds, Tom Collins and more. Cassidy hopes to, at least initially, focus on beverages such as these.

“Those drinks, for a while, will be the backbone for this,” he said. “I really want to train and hire bartenders, and eventually have them flex their creativity.”

Customers ordering cocktails from Cassidy might be surprised to find them different from what they expect. Schmidt said the kinds of daiquiris Cassidy makes are known as Hemingway Specials and, far from the frozen drinks one might typically expect from a daiquiri, consist simply of fresh juice, sugar and rum.

“To me, that sounds delicious,” Schmidt said. “It’s just so different than what most people think of when they think daiquiri.”

A selection of beers will also be available on tap for Eastman patrons. Schmidt hopes that the bar can be a place where “whoever comes in here, whatever their attire is, they’ll feel comfortable.”

One may ask where the name “The Eastman” came from. As it turns out, that happens to be one of the more unique aspects of the restaurant’s formation.

“Apparently, in the middle of the night, my brother-in-law woke up and had that idea as a name for the bar,” said Schmidt.

As plans for the opening drew closer, the owners kept coming back to “The Eastman” as a title. According to Schmidt, it held many positive aspects, including being a nod to East Ohio Street, being a name that “rolls off the tongue” easily, and because it’s a name that “sounds like a bar.”

While just newly opened, big plans are in place for The Eastman’s future.

“It’s no small secret we have the event space upstairs,” Schmidt said.

The space will not be an initial focus, but the owners hope to eventually do some kind of event in that area. When the location was Fat Cat, the upstairs was known as the bar’s popular music venue.

“It’s kind of a white space we can put our fingerprints on over time, without needing to rush into it, but not wanting it to sit vacant for too long,” Schmidt said.

The Eastman is located at 520 E. Ohio St. Exact hours for the business have not yet been determined, though Schmidt said he plans to be open Thursdays through Mondays. For more information or to learn opening times, visit theeastmanpgh.com or follow The Eastman Pittsburgh on Facebook.

The annual Steel City Duck Derby, a charitable event that sees the release of 10,000 rubber ducks to “race” in Lake Elizabeth, will hold its fifth iteration on May 9, starting at 11 a.m.

The derby is organized by North Shore Tavern and benefits Partners for Quality and its subsidiary agencies, a family of nonprofit organizations that assist people with intellectual disabilities, autism and/or behavioral challenges.

Interested participants can purchase ducks to race in the event for as little as $5 at SteelCityDuckDerby.org, while supplies last. Prizes are awarded to the owners of the top five winning ducks at the following levels:

• First place: $2,000
• Second place: $1,000
• Third place: $500
• Fourth place: One year family membership to the Children’s Museum
• Fifth place: One year family membership to the National Aviary 

Other activities at the derby include music, face painting, games and interactive exhibits, and the event is emceed by 3WS morning host Jonny Hartwell. There will also be a variety of food trucks at the derby.

The organization’s therapeutic preschool moved into 1300 Western Ave., formerly occupied by Pittsburgh Community Television, while its administrative offices moved into the Cardello Building, 701 North Point Dr. Previously Family Resources operated out of 1425 Forbes Ave. in Uptown.

Aimee Kolick, Family Resources’ Executive Director, told The Chronicle that the move will significantly expand the size of the preschool and provide greater convenience to both the organization's staff and clients.

“This room is maybe a little smaller than our entire building in Uptown,” Kolick said, referring to just one of the classrooms the preschool’s new location has.

Check out the June 2026 issue of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.

Andrew Moore, author of the book “Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit” was joined by Université de Montréal Assistant Professor Étienne Léveilé-Bourret and two of Léveilé-Bourret’s students — Marc-Aurèle Vallée and Étienne Lacroix-Carignan — in presenting a lecture and accompanying nature hike focused all around hawthorns, which are also known by the genus name Crataegus.

Moore explained that hawthorns are a genus which is “rare in the world” but “locally abundant” when it comes to the Pittsburgh region. In fact, he said, there is a population of hawthorns in Riverview Park that have lived in the park for over a century.

As a result of this relative rarity, among other factors, very little research on hawthorns has been done, and not much is known about them.

Léveilé-Bourret, who is a professor of plant taxonomy and floristics and is the curator of the Marie-Victorin Herbarium, said there are 169 identified species of hawthorns across Canada and the United States. Of these, 44 are vulnerable to critically imperiled, and four are presumed extinct.

“It’s hard to prove extinction,” he said in explaining the presumed aspect.

Rather bizarrely, the plants do best in “human-affected” environments, such as parks, abandoned farms or near urban areas. In England, hawthorns native to that country were used to make hedgerows, a kind of natural fencing to separate plots of cultivated land.

Hawthorns have also seen use as flavoring in Mexico, and can be used in tea, jelly and ketchup, with attendees at the lecture getting a chance to taste two kinds of hawthorn tea, one made from leaves and the other from the tree’s fruit.

The genus has also helped medically, used to treat hypertension and digestion issues.

It is not just humans who utilize hawthorns, however. Léveilé-Bourret said the plants are famously used by shrikes, the bird species known for impaling prey upon plant spines. In fact, the thorn branches of the hawthorn have made it a favorite nesting spot for birds, as it helps to keep predators away from their eggs.

Additionally, the hawthorn’s fruits are “loved” by mammals, birds and insects.

“You have a whole ecosystem that centers around these trees,” Léveilé-Bourret said.

The genus appears to be in decline across eastern North America for unknown reasons. Some hypotheses to this decline include the spread of invasive shrubs, changes in agricultural practices which deemphasize hedgerows, and urban sprawl.

The difficulty in identifying an exact reason for the decline is in part due to the lack of knowledge about hawthorns, which are difficult to study.

As Léveilé-Bourret explained, hawthorns are capable of reproducing asexually, producing children that are like clones of the parent. This means if a hybrid of two hawthorn species is made due to sexual reproduction, it can reproduce on its own and give the appearance of an entirely new species.

In fact, the Pennsylvania hawthorn, also known as Crataegus pennsylvanica, is believed to be a hybrid of two other hawthorn species, specifically Crataegus mollis and Crataegus coccinea, which has reproduced enough times to effectively become its own species.

This difficulty in identifying hybrids versus full species, Léveilé-Bourret explained, led to scientists naming thousands of hawthorn species once research began in the 20th Century. An academic paper called “The Crataegus Problem” in 1932 identified this over-naming, and led to the reduction in the number of identified species.

Vallée explained that he is working on devising a new, more effective way to identify hawthorns in order to boost research into the genus. His proposed method would utilize leaf spectroscopy — in other words, measuring light absorption of the plant’s leaves to determine its biochemistry and structural traits.

Lacroix-Carignan closed out the talk by going over more mundane identification methods for different species of hawthorns. Notably the anthers — the part of a flower which actually produces and holds the pollen — are different colors across species, ranging from cream to palest pink to burgundy to just standard pink.

Lacroix-Carignan did caution that the colors of the anthers fade over time, and young hawthorns are needed to use this method. The number of anthers per flower can also be used to find species differences.

Other techniques include looking at various aspects of the hairs on hawthorn leaves, examining the look of the trees’ flowers, the difference in berry appearance, and even down to variance between thorns.

Lacroix-Carignan said that hawthorns can live for more than a century and grow tall quickly, but are slow in terms of lateral growth.

At the end of the lecture, the academics presented a web page via QR code that has more details on documenting hawthorns. The URL for the page is inaturalist.org/journal/marc_aurele/124387.

Moore finished up the presentation by taking attendees on a walk around Riverview Park, pointing out various hawthorns along the way. 

East Deutschtown
816 Spring Garden Enterprises LLC to 3 Rivers Investment Group LLC at 816 Spring Garden Ave. for $79,000.

Manchester
Faiza Enterprises LLC to Byrd Empire LLC at 1417 Pennsylvania Ave. for $105,000.

Marshall-Shadeland
John Newman to Bellflower Real Estate LLC at 2923 Frederick St. for $24,000.
Shawn Coleman to Soulectve Solutions LLC at 1347 Oakhill St. for $99,735.
Estate of Michelle Brunick to La'Quaye Sloan-McBride at 915 Smithton Ave. for $12,500.

Troy Hill
Rose Marie Trzil to HTown 5 LLC at 1822-1824 Elbow St. for $20,000.
Mark Knaiger to Alessandro James Devito at 2063 Liedertafel Way for $42,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

It was the first time the draft was held in Pittsburgh since 1948, and brought with it a surge of out-of-towners looking to support their team as they made decisions which would, for better or worse, shape the upcoming season.

Two such visitors to the Steel City were Steve and Jeff Nagel, twin brothers from Dayton, Ohio. They were here supporting the Cincinnati Bengals, having held season tickets for the team for the past 44 years.

Despite the Bengals being rivals of the Steelers, the brothers had a positive impression of the city, with Jeff calling it “fabulous.”

“(It’s) such a beautiful city,” Steve concurred. “It’s just that we hate it from September to January.”

As for what they were hoping to see out of their team for the draft, the brothers had a very specific focus.

“Defense, defense, defense,” they said in tandem. The pair were among the “Inner Circle” for the Bengals at the draft. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL are able to select a group of fans to get tickets for an up-close seat during the draft process.

Joining them in the Inner Circle, though for a different team, were Jeff Davis and Rick Gozur. When it comes to out-of-towners visiting for the draft, few can say they’ve come as far as Davis, who hails from Los Angeles and was part of the LA Rams Inner Circle. Gozur is a friend of Davis’ and formerly lived in Los Angeles, but now lives in the much-closer city of Columbus.

Davis said he thought Pittsburgh’s organization for the draft was “well thought out,” noting that the crowds and traffic did not seem overwhelming. He also complimented the look of the surroundings.

“This city is wonderful,” he said. Davis and Gozur were hoping the Rams picked up “any Ohio State (University) player,” the pair being alumni from the school.

For both the Nagels and Davis and Gozur, the 2026 NFL Draft was the first they ever experienced. This was not the case for Casey Gullikson, of Asheville, North Carolina. he Pittsburgh draft was a very different experience from his previous times attending the event.

“This is my first time as a fan,” he said. Gullikson formerly worked for the NFL in product operations, with the draft representing a flurry of activity and hard work. This time, he was able to enjoy the event from the other side of the equation.

Despite living in North Carolina, Gullikson was backing the Minnesota Vikings during the draft. He held a particular hope that the team would pick up Kenyon Sadiq, a tight end from Oregon who ended up going to the New York Jets.

It was not just out-of-towners enjoying draft activities. Sean Sassaman, a Perry South resident, was among those who was out and about trying to take in as many draft events as possible. Sassaman spoke with The Chronicle at NOVA Place’s Draft Weekend Kickoff, held on the first day of the draft, April 23.

“It’s been fun watching all the different projects,” said Sassaman of seeing the build up to the draft on the Northside.

Living relatively close to the festivities, Sassaman was able to avoid the high parking prices around the draft. Parking spots were regularly listing prices of $50 or more, with one Chronicle reporter even seeing a sign for $200.

Despite being a Pittsburgher, Sassaman was backing the Denver Broncos at the draft, with his hopes on the team picking up a “good inside linebacker.” However, Sassaman enjoyed seeing all the love directed toward his place of residence as well.

“It’s really nice to see all the Pittsburgh pride,” he said. The Priory hosted a draft watch party on April 23 with four former Pittsburgh Steelers in attendance: John Banaszak, Ted Petersen, Jon Kolb and Randy Grossman.

As a Northside business owner, Priory President and CEO John Graf said preparing for the draft was something of a challenge.

“The hard part is we don’t really have a template for it,” Graf said. “We’ve never had an event like this in Pittsburgh. We’re doing our best to prepare for it based on other big events, Taylor Swift probably being the most recent.”

He overall thought things had come together smoothly despite a few “hiccups” on the city’s part in terms of parking restrictions and street closures.

As for what he hoped to see out of the Steelers in the draft, Graf was most hoping for a new wide receiver.

On the smaller scale of things, Calvary United Methodist Church hosted a free block party on April 25, the last day of the draft.

If you are not registered to vote, you must register by May 4 to vote in the upcoming primary. Even if you are already registered, it’s critical to verify that your current voter registration is accurate and up to date. If you moved to a new address recently, it’s important to update your registration as soon as possible. Additionally, Pennsylvania is a closed primary state, so you must be registered with a political party to vote in that party’s primary election, so be sure to check that your party registration is up to date with your preference. All of this, as well as finding your polling location, can be done online with a few clicks at vote.pa.gov through the Department of State’s website.

For those who prefer to vote by mail, the deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 12. All mail ballots must be received by the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. The best way to ensure that your ballot is received on time is to hand-deliver it to the County Office Building (542 Forbes Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh) as soon as you can, ideally well before the ballot return deadline on May 19. Detailed instructions on filling out a mail ballot are available on the county website. If you have any questions, you may contact the Allegheny County Elections Division at 412-350-4500.

Here in Pennsylvania, my colleagues and I have been working at the state Capitol to strengthen voting rights for all Pennsylvanians. Last year, I proudly voted for, and the state House passed, the Voting Rights Protection Act, legislation that would make commonsense reforms, including allowing the counting of mail ballots before Election Day, increasing options for early voting, creating a post-election audit process, and more. That bill has been in the hands of the state Senate since May 2025. For these reforms to become law, the bill must be passed by the Senate and signed by the governor.

As Trump continues to signal his desire to nationalize elections, fighting to ensure our elections remain safe, secure, and under state control is more important now than ever before. Across the country, we are seeing continued efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and, in some cases, to make voting more difficult. I want to be clear: your right to vote is protected by law. It is illegal for anyone to intimidate or harass voters, and there are safeguards in place to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot. If you ever witness or experience an issue like this at the polls, report it to a county election official and to the Department of State at 1-877-868-3772 immediately.

Our democracy is strongest when more people vote. By taking a few simple steps now to make a plan to vote, you can help ensure your voice is heard on May 19. If you have questions about registering to vote, applying for a mail ballot, or finding your polling place, my office can help you. Don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 412-3215523, emailing RepKinkead@pahouse.net, or visiting my office at 658 Lincoln Ave. in Bellevue. 

In response, I directed the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of short-term rental regulations across Pennsylvania. The findings were clear: this rapidly growing industry is operating without the transparency, accountability, or consistent standards needed to keep our communities safe.

For the past two years, I’ve worked alongside State Representatives Jennifer O’Mara and Mary Jo Daley to develop a commonsense, statewide framework. Our legislation, House Bill 2023, establishes baseline protections while recognizing the differences between homestays, vacation rentals, and large-scale corporate operators.

This bill would create countywide registries of short-term rental properties, require a 24/7 “person in charge” for every listing, and implement enforceable safety standards — with stronger requirements for high-volume operators.

Short-term rentals are already reshaping our neighborhoods, driving up housing costs and making it harder for longtime Pittsburghers to put down roots. This legislation is about restoring balance: protecting public safety, preserving housing access, and ensuring this industry operates responsibly in the communities it profits from.

I’m proud to have introduced this legislation in the Pennsylvania State House in mid-March, and it now awaits consideration by the House floor. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (412) 781-2750.

Be well, Lindsay Powell 

Centered around the theme “Beyond the Visit: Tourism That Transforms Communities,” the program emphasized that Pittsburgh’s evolution into a destination city is about far more than attractions; it’s about identity, storytelling, and neighborhood vitality.

Opening remarks highlighted Pittsburgh’s transformation from a steel town into a hub for innovation, culture, and tourism. While visitors are drawn by its skyline, rivers, sports teams, and institutions, speakers stressed that the city’s true appeal lies in its authenticity, the stories, traditions, and people that define neighborhoods like the Northside.

That focus on storytelling set the stage for keynote speaker Rick Sebak of WQED, whose decades-long career documenting the region has helped shape how both residents and visitors experience Pittsburgh.

“If you’ve ever fallen in love with Pittsburgh through a television screen… then you already know the work of Rick Sebak,” the introduction noted. “His storytelling invites people in, builds civic pride, and encourages exploration beyond the obvious.”

Sebak’s work, chronicling everything from neighborhood eateries to historic landmarks, was framed as a model for the kind of authentic, human-centered storytelling that fuels transformational tourism.

The luncheon also featured a panel discussion moderated by Amber Harkleroad of Destination Greater Pittsburgh. Panelists included Jerad Bacher of Visit Pittsburgh, Jason Brown of the Kamin Science Center, Christina Cassotis of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, David Morehouse of the Steelers, and Lucas Piatt of Piatt Companies.

Discussions centered on the role tourism plays in economic development, not just as a driver of visitor spending, but as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. Panelists pointed to its ability to fuel small businesses, support entrepreneurs, preserve historic character, and generate investment in local corridors.

At the same time, speakers emphasized the importance of intentional growth.

“Tourism should elevate local voices, not overshadow them,” the program noted. “It should strengthen community identity, not dilute it.”

On the Northside, where cultural institutions, sports venues, and historic neighborhoods intersect, that balance is especially critical. Leaders pointed to the opportunity to convert visitor traffic into long-term neighborhood momentum ensuring that residents benefit alongside tourists.

Ultimately, the luncheon underscored a shared vision: that success should not be measured solely in visitor numbers, but in thriving main streets, preserved heritage, and communities that feel a deep sense of pride.

As Pittsburgh continues to define its next chapter, the message was clear: when guided by authenticity and collaboration, tourism can be more than an industry. It can be a force for transformation.

A highlight of the luncheon was the presentation of the Second Annual Mary Ann Graf Community Spirit Award to Kyle Fahsel of Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh. The award honors individuals whose work strengthens the fabric of the Northside community.

John Graf, the owner of Priory Hospitality Group, created the award in 2025 in honor of his mother Mary Ann Graf who was a pillar in the community. The recognition also comes with a monetary award for the recipient.

“Reading is Fundamental is an organization that has been near and dear to my mom, Mary Ann’s, heart,” said John Graf. “She had been a public school kindergarten teacher and had seen firsthand the value of encouraging reading at a young age, and the positive results of such encouragement in children’s intellectual growth. When she opened the Priory in the mid 1980’s, my mom immediately befriended her Northside neighbors at RIF and embraced them in a variety of fashions — from financial support to hosting low or no cost events for RIF to assisting with fundraising. Awarding the Mary Ann Graf Community Spirit Award to Kyle Fahsel of RIF brings this support full circle, more than 10 years after my mom’s passing. She would be proud to be a part of recognizing Kyle’s hard work and the great efforts of RIF.”

“I’m extremely grateful for this award and the spotlight it puts on the work of Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Pittsburgh and our supporters, a group that includes hundreds of volunteer reading mentors who commit their time, passion, and energy to cultivating a love of reading in kids,” Fahsel said.

Founded to address literacy inequities, Reading Is FUNdamental (RIF) Pittsburgh focuses on helping children develop a lifelong love of reading while mitigating opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect Black youth and low-income families. In the past year alone, the organization distributed more than 84,000 books and served approximately 15,000 children.

On the Northside, its reach includes Pittsburgh King, Allegheny Traditional Academy, Pittsburgh Manchester, Manchester Academic Charter School, Training Wheels, Propel Northside, Pittsburgh Morrow, Pittsburgh Spring Hill, and Pittsburgh Conroy. Its programs span early childhood through adolescence, from Book Babies and Storymobiles to literacy mentoring initiatives and in-school reading celebrations all centered on access to culturally inclusive, high-quality books.

Fahsel, who has spent 17 years in education, shared that discovering RIF Pittsburgh after relocating to the city three years ago was transformative.

“I honestly didn’t believe it was real. An organization that provides tens of thousands of new, popular, and culturally relevant books for kids to keep,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of addressing what he described as a growing literacy crisis.

As the event concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and connection, inspired not only by the vision of tourism as a force for economic and community transformation, but also by the individuals and organizations doing the work every day to make that vision a reality. From elevating authentic neighborhood stories to investing in the next generation through literacy, the luncheon reflected the very best of the Northside—where collaboration, compassion, and commitment continue to shape a stronger, more vibrant future.

Historic Deutschtown
Bruce McKnight to WP Reality Holdings LLC at 605 Avery St. for $124,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

According to Eric Setzler, the chief engineer on the project with DOMI, Slide 4 is most likely the next landslide the department will seek to address, probably within the next year or two depending on funding availability.

Setzler said DOMI prioritized landslides based on their size and impact on travel through the park. Slide 9, for example, was the first DOMI remediated back in 2022, and is located near the park’s Chapel Shelter, along the main thoroughfare through Riverview.

“We have gotten to the biggest, most critical ones,” he said.

Slide 4, meanwhile, was considered only a minor landslide at first, and the city had hoped to get by just repaving the roadway near the slide. However, Setzler said that section of road has started to crack as a result of the landslide, increasing the urgency of getting it fixed.

So far, landslides 9, 8, 6, 1, 3 and 7 have been remediated, with those last three seeing work just last year. This means only four landslides — slides 2, 4, 5 and 10 — still require remediation.

Landslides are caused by numerous factors, including elevation, status of the rock and soil, and the introduction of water.

“There are a lot of areas in Pittsburgh, and Riverview Park is one of them, where the hillsides are susceptible to landslides just due to the geology,” said Setzler.

Due to the varied conditions under which a landslide can occur, the manner in which DOMI addresses fixing a slide is also variable. Slide 9 was remediated using soil nails, Setzler said, which are steel bars surrounded by construction grout placed into holes drilled into soil and rock.

When beginning a landslide project, DOMI has an engineering firm survey the area and take geo-technical borings, discovering where the bedrock for the area is. Based on those findings, the firm recommends solutions which, according to Setzler, “make sense” in terms of maintenance and matching the aesthetics for the park.

Often these remediations take the form of some kind of wall supported by steel and concrete, though Slide 6 had no wall at all. Instead, round concrete columns called caissons were placed into the earth near the slide, with only the tops of these beams being visible from the surface.

While these fixes can be expensive — $780,000 was budgeted toward addressing Slide 8 alone — they are designed to last decades.

“They are really long term fixes that are going to hold that section stable for a long time,” Setzler said.

While it is unknown exactly when the remaining landslides will be addressed, Setzler said DOMI has to prioritize what other projects and programs are going on in the city when deciding funding. Still, he was optimistic about how much work had already been done.

“I think it’s great we’ve been able to make as much progress as we’ve been able to get to over the past five or six years, because it really is an important road,” he said, referring to Riverview Avenue. “Without that road, you don’t have access to the park at all.”

For more information about DOMI’s landslide remediation work, visit engage.pittsburghpa.gov/riverview-park-landslide-remediation

During these same years however, Brunot Island witnessed a contrasting turn of events.

While not directly correlated to Westinghouse, his development of the island lead to the infrastructure needed to properly access the island, in which in 1903 — the same year that the railroad was constructed on Washington’s landing, a group of businessmen organized under the Pittsburgh and Allegheny Driving Club and constructed a one mile oval dirt race track on Brunot Island; of which, horse and motor vehicle races were hosted for an audience on the island. The first race was hosted in 1904, and in the following year Louis Chevrolet took the AAA championship title taking place on the island, according to WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR news station.

According to the National Park Service, this opportunity was short-lived, as Pittsburgh’s demand for energy increased and with it the powerplant as well, which increasingly expanded across the entire island by the 1930s, driving out the racetrack and its occupants.

By 1972, Duquesne light began operation of an oil-fired six-unit cycle peaking facility, which continued activity until Orion Power Midwest announced a conversion of the plant into a more efficient and environmentally friendly natural gas power plant, according to Historic Pittsburgh.

The plant has continued operation since then. While Brunot Island is known by the public as a Duquesne Light facility, today it is divided between two corporations.

This was exemplified during the 2023 fire on Brunot Island, in which multiple explosions occurred due to a power transformer failure leading to billowing smoke in the sky.

During this event, it was clarified by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the power generating plant facility located on the island is under the operation and ownership of GenOn, a power producing corporation delivering electricity to customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, according to GenOn’s website.

Meanwhile, Duquesne Light continues to hold a presence on the island, however its role in the energy industry is different from that of GenOn.

According to Duquesne Light’s website, its role in the region’s clean energy future is transmission and distribution of electric energy.

The key difference being that while Duquesne light conducts the transmission and routing of energy to Pittsburgh homes, the facility producing energy is under the directive of GenOn.

According to WESA, despite energy workers being present in the area, today a majority of the island is occupied by wildlife and animals.

Since the fire, events have seemed seldom on the island. However, on July 15, 2025, on behalf of the Duquesne Light company, the EADS group addressed Pittsburgh Council Members by revealing a permit application for a construction project named “BI Backchannel River Crossing Project,” involving the enhancement of electrical infrastructure, replacing conductors, and the installation of a duct bank on Brunot Island.

Unlike Brunot Island’s progression into the modern industrial complex, Herrs Island began seeing demise in its industrial outlook in the 1970s, with less than one-fourth of the island consisting of active operations at this time. Meanwhile, the rest of the island began to show its wear of dilapidated infrastructure, and industrial blight, according to a case study done by the Urban Land Institute.

“I just remember the people up on Troy Hill saying, no one’s ever going to buy a house on that island, because they remembered it for what it was, old stock yards and slaughter houses. But no, it really turned into its own community, you know,” said Northside resident Ray Meyer when referring to the first developmental planning of the island.

“In the early 80s or late 70s, plans started being made to turn Washington’s Landing into what it is now, light industry and residential living” said Meyer.

It wasn’t until the end of this decade of collapse that the process of redevelopment and interest in the island began taking action. According to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), through 1978 to 1989, in a combined effort of the state and Urban Redevelopment Authority, dozens of acres of land were purchased from the industrial companies in order to establish both a park and marina, as well as residential living. This marked the birth of Washington’s Landing, a name coined from the previously mentioned visit of Washington himself, thus bearing a new name in coexistence with Herrs Island to highlight its redevelopmental effort.

According to CMU, after acquiring ownership of the island, waste materials from rendering operations, high levels of heavy metals, contaminated soil, ground water that did not meet drinking standards, as well as a plethora of other hazardous materials were all found on the island, a lasting impact from the industrial operations that occurred for over a century. In addition to this, to create the marina that is now present today, sunken barges had to be lifted from beneath the river, and decaying organic waste such as livestock had to be extradited, solving the long term stench of the island that surrounding communities had experienced for years — in total costing both the city, government, and public investors over $44 million to complete the redevelopment.

“I forget how much money they were asking for, I believe it was between $180,000 and $200,000, and everyone was saying “there’s no way someone’s going to pay that for a house”, but again, it was literally stock yards and animal pens, and that is not what you see today,” said Meyer.

In 1983, Pittsburgh City Council pushed a redevelopment plan that would utilize the natural advantages of the island, including pedestrian trails circulating the outer island, landscaping that would better conceal inner infrastructure, and high income housing projects that offered a riverfront view, according to the Urban Land Institute.

Today, Washington’s Landing hosts such attractions as the Three Rivers Rowing Association, a privately held marina for boat owners, corporate enterprise, and recreational amenities such as tennis courts and even a restaurant named Redfin Blues. As part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, a walkway encircling the island takes pedestrians through the historic railroad bridge and park, with multiple viewpoints looking over the Allegheny River.

Washington’s Landing Marina owner David Gregory explained how his business was one of the first developments on the island, following the redevelopment project. Gregory said his father was early in the bidding process and was able to acquire the marina after the city government pushed for entrepreneurs to help create opportunity and build up the community using financial incentives.

“It was certainly a risk, but in the long run it certainly paid off,” he said. “It turned into a great, great, place.”

The party is open to Northside families, neighbors and NFL Draft visitors, and will include activity stations, face painting, balloons for kids, scavenger hunts, church tours and sensory-friendly activity options.

In addition, GBU North Side Neighborhood, who is organizing the party, will give out 200 shelf-stable birthday cake kits as part of the organization's 134th birthday celebration. GBU North Side Neighborhood is a volunteer-led group that organizes community projects and family events in the community.

Calvary United Methodist Church is located at 971 Beech Ave.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium announced on March 17 the start of a feasibility study that may lead to the construction of a standalone aquarium on the North Shore.

According to a press release from the zoo, the project is currently in “the conceptual and exploratory phase,” and is undergoing an “economic impact study” to explore if the construction is possible, possible funding sources and long-term community impact. The name for the potential aquarium is the Pennsylvania Aquarium.

“Pennsylvania is the most populous state without a stand-alone aquarium,” Pittsburgh Zoo President and CEO Dr. Jeremy Goodman is quoted as saying in the press release. “The Pennsylvania Aquarium would expand the Zoo’s physical and conservation footprint connecting the city and state to aquatic animals from around the planet as well as those that are native to the Commonwealth, celebrating our life-sustaining relationship with water and aquatic life in ways we can present only in Pittsburgh.”

According to the release, the aquarium would not duplicate existing displays at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

There is no construction timeline for the project as of yet, nor has a final location been determined. Pittsburgh Zoo intends to release more updates as the project continues.

Spring Hill Civic League announces meeting schedule for 2026

The Spring Hill Civic League has announced their schedule of meetings for 2026.

All meetings are held at Spring Hill Elementary School, located at 1351 Damas St., at 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

The schedule is as follows:

• April 6
• May 4
• Aug. 3
• Sept. 14
• Oct. 5
• Nov. 2 

All meetings are held in a hybrid online and in-person format. Those wishing to join digitally can do so at meet.google.com/ghu-yibp-kr

2nd Mary Ann Graf Spirit Award presented at Chamber Luncheon

Kyle Fahsel of Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh was the recipient of the second Mary Ann Graf Spirit Award, which is given out by the Northside | North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

The award was given out at the Chamber’s annual luncheon, which was held on March 5 at Kamin Science Center this year. Fahsel is the nonprofit’s director of mentoring at Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh.

“I am just overwhelmed, as somebody not originally from Pittsburgh, by the support of this community for our young people,” Fahsel said while accepting the honor.

In addition to the recognition, the award came with a $1,000 check. The Mary Ann Graf Spirit Award is named in honor of Mary Ann Graf, co-founder of The Priory Hotel. Last year’s winner was Nikki Heckman, owner of Bistro To Go.

The other nominees for this year’s award were Ed and Tammy Glover of Urban Impact, Shelly Kammerdiener of S&T Bank, Dr. Imran Qadeer of Allegheny General Hospital, Kristen Tsapis of Pennsylvania Women Work, Allegheny City Brewing and The Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh is an independent branch of the national literacy nonprofit Reading is Fundamental Inc. According to their website, Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh provided more than 84,000 books to more than 13,600 children last school year across Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg.

Chateau
Blackwood Supply Co. Inc. to Lionshare Properties LLC at 1231 Western Ave. for $3,498,000.

East Deutschtown
Amy Lynn Shreckengost to Alexis Phillips at 841 Blossom Way for $260,000.

Manchester
Martin Duggan III to John Kocka at 1226 Sheffield St. for $575,000.

Marshall-Shadeland
SCAR Investments LLC to Antonelli Sustainables II LLC at 2348 McCook St. for $55,000.
JCM Properties L.P. to Costruzione Realty LLC at 2835 New Beaver Ave. for $2,900,000.

Observatory Hill
John Jones to RCF 2 Acquisition Tr at 269 Dalton Ave. for $20,000 by sheriff's deed.
Heidi Jurecko to Thai Nguyen and Cassandra Morales at 2945 Perrysville Ave. for $340,000.

Perry Hilltop
Albert Grace to Grey Steel City LLC at 2917 N. Charles St. for $26,626 by sheriff's deed.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.

Harris was a longtime Northside resident, born in Brighton Heights and living most of her life in Spring Hill. She spent much of her life supporting her community, including serving on the Spring Hill Civic League and representing the Northside on the Pittsburgh Public School Board, even managing to become president of both organizations during her service with them.

Harris is perhaps most remembered for her 13 years on Pittsburgh City Council as the District 1 representative, which represented much of the Northside. She was elected to the role in 2006 and was Council President from 2010 to 2014. She held her position until 2020 after she was defeated in the Democratic Primary for the seat by Bobby Wilson, who holds the seat to this day.

For those Northsiders formerly or currently involved in community leadership, Harris is remembered for both her bombastic personality and her fierce love for the Northside.

“She was really dialed in with the people of the city when you had requests or problems, or needed help with anything,” said Ben Soltesz, current president of the Spring Hill Civic League.

Soltesz said he first encountered Harris after he moved to the Northside in 2001 and watched meetings of the Pittsburgh Public School Board. He said he often saw her getting into arguments with her fellow board members, and was skeptical of her when she ran for City Council.

However, Soltesz said he found that Darelne had a deep knowledge of the Northside and was an active participant in community organization and improvement efforts, regularly attending Spring Hill Civic League meetings even while she was on City Council.

In particular, he said Harris had a lengthy knowledge of Spring Hill’s history.

“She would always let us know ‘We used to do this, we used to do that,” he said.

Former Northside Leadership Conference Executive Director Mark Fatla described Harris as always wanting “to know what her neighborhoods thought on issues that might affect them.” He said she was always seeking public opinion on matters from the introduction of liquor licenses into a community to thoughts on the sale of properties owned by the city.

“I wish every councilperson was like that,” Fatla said.

Both Fatla and Soltesz cited Harris’ fierce opposition to a 2010 plan by then-Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to privatize Pittsburgh’s parking meters and garages as among her top accomplishments. The plan, which was rejected by Council in October 2010, would have leased the city’s parking infrastructure to a JPMorgan investment group for $452 million. Harris was among the most fierce opponents to the deal.

“I think she probably saved the city from some ridiculousness down the road with some private company jacking the prices up,” Soltesz said.

Former Observatory Hill Inc. President Dorrie Smith-Richie had perhaps one of the closest relationships with Harris, having fostered a close friendship with her and even working on Harris’ election campaign for City Council.

Smith-Richie said Harris was “instrumental” in supporting many projects to improve the Northside. One such personal example is the Zenshine Community Garden in Riverview Park that Smith-Richie organizes.

“One thing about Darlene, she cared about the Northside, she truly did,” Smith-Richie said.

While the two didn’t always agree on every matter, Smith-Richie said Harris was able to separate work from life, and the pair could always go out for coffee and hang out as friends, even when they were bumping heads on policy matters.

But above all else, Smith-Richie remembers Harris for her powerful and lasting love for the Northside.

“One of her quotes was ‘There is the other side, and then there’s the Northside,’ which embodies everything about Darlene,” she said.

Harris’ funeral was held on March 11 at the Stephen M. Brady Funeral Home.

Estate of Grant Latimore to Peptrix Inc. at 1244 Buena Vista St. for $145,000.

Carolyn Shields to Ava Keck at 1507 Federal St. for $465,000.

JFXK Investment Tr to Cassaroots LLC at 1214 Sherman Ave. for $138,000.

Daniel Dennehy Rodriguez to Elizabeth Brent at 1410 Federal St. for $625,000.

Allegheny West

Light LF Ministries Inc. to Allegheny City Warehouse LLC at 913-915 Western Ave. for $741,706.

Brighton Heights

Amir Harris to Birch Investments Management LLC et al. at McClure Ave. for $43,500.

US Bank Na Tr to Ariana Cort at 3604 Brighton Road for $137,550.

Estate of Virginia Jean Buchmann to Chloe Schoepflin at 3506 Gerber Ave. for $258,000.

Duane Nauman to Zhichuan Zhao at 3321 Minnie St. for $38,500.

Estate of Helen Dubisak Rose to KLG Real Estate Inc. at 1853 Wittmer St. for $112,000.

Luxxe LF Bundles LLC to Kristina Barron at 1840 Perrott St. for $265,000.

Trevor Litwiler to Tyrone Latimer at 1317 Stokes Way for $135,000.

LSF9 Master Participation Trust to JS 6447 LLC at 3825 Atkins St. for $146,500.

Estate of Nadiyah Lee Al Amin to Steel Ventures LLC at 3513 Fleming Ave. for $91,837.

Jeffrey Fountain to Fairmont Friendship Park Partners LLC at 3725 Millerton Ave. for $195,000. Brooke Nee to Alexis Jabour at 3454 Rigel St. for $250,000.

East Deutschtown

JWT Master LLC to North Shore Investments LLC at 843-845 Tripoli St. 8016 for $190,000.

Fineview

Pittsburgh City to Daniel Wetmore at Mountford Ave., parcel 0046-P-00383-0000-00, for $6,740.

Historic Deutschtown

Blanco Al Holdings LLC to Charleroy LLC at 514 E. Ohio St. for $532,500.

Manchester

Woco Holding LLC to Woco Holdings LLC at 1445 Nixon St. for $272,000.

Pittsburgh Public Parking Authority to Samuel and Debra Patti trustee at 1424 Liverpool St. for $90,000. Jonathan Bergholz to Grack Co. LLC at 1426 Pennsylvania Ave. for $525,000.

Marshall-Shadeland

Tony Patterson to Zeal Ventures PA 2 LLC at 2814 California Ave. for $98,500.

Jayz Property Solutions LLC to EMCO 412 LLC at 1030 Grand Ave. for $45,000.

Laron Lane to Amber Watson at 1306 Gifford St. for $5,000.

Estate of Edward Obuchowsky to Joseph and Stacey Himmelstein White at 821 Grand Ave. for $75,000. Pittsburgh City to Christine Matuszewski at 3228 Mcclure Ave. for $2,200.

Regis Miklos to James Dittler trustee at 1237 Dickson St. for $23,500.

Marie Bucek to Lisa Underwood at 1309 Highwood St. for $134,900.

Marshall-Shadeland

MTL Ventures Inc. to Chachma LLC at 2918 Breker St. for $50,000.

Barbara Hawthorne to Wayne Property Group LLC at 1116 Ingham St. for $67,000. Pittsburgh City to Jennifer Kraus at Rothpletz St. for $29,850.

Northview Heights

Pittsburgh City to Sandy Keesler Kaminski at 139 Chicago St. for $21,409.

Observatory Hill

Estephany Funez Arela Zoila to Angela Brundage at 3830 Baytree St. for $165,000.

Roberta Kardell to Karen Panyi and Isabel Edwards at 218 Bascom Ave. for $142,000.

Cole Harris Carlino to Joshua Edward Bonnett and Jessica Fay Silver at 3823 Perrysville Ave. for $210,000. Benjamin Tolan to Juliana Muller at 65 Semicir St. for $30,000.

Perry Hilltop

Penn Pioneer Enterprises LLC to AB Property Development LLC at 749 Chautauqua Ct for $60,000.

Pittsburgh City to Mitchell Thompson at Norwood Ave., parcel 0046-A-00049-0000-00, for $200 (state deed transfer stamps indicate a value of $28,700).

Patrick Connors to Gregory Higbee at 847 Maginn St. for $77,000.

Brittany Cheeks to S8 Affordable Homes LLC at 2622 N Charles St. for $45,000.

Spring Garden

Welser LLC to Warehouse On Welser LLC at 1239 Welser Way for $55,400.

Pittsburgh City to East Side Property at Itin St., parcel 0024-F-00044-0000-00, for $3,755. Pittsburgh City to Jeffrey and Melanie Fletcher at Voskamp St. for $3,700.

Henry Chai to Walter and Shanna Flaschka at 1154 Voskamp St. for $380,000.

Spring Hill

Pittsburgh City to Jarvey Klein at 1313 Itin St. for $4,776.

Edward Sauer to Maurice Brown at 1706 Rhine St. for $193,750.

James Powers to Tristan Veronie and Lindsay Schmitt at 2201 Harbor St. for $144,255.

Estate of Robert Earl Blackwell to GM Prime Investments USA LLC at 1123 Buente St. for $60,000.

Summer Hill

RHK Hodlings LLC to Jack Sweeney and Ji Youn Park at 3512 Sirius St. for $255,000.

Troy Hill

Peter Ai Moei to CJA Rentals LLC at 1337 Lowrie St. for $65,000.

David Meade to Pitt Stop 2 LLC at 1524 Froman St. for $282,500.

Troy Hill Citizens Inc. to Brown Oak Companies LLC at 1619 Lowrie St. for $90,000.

Co-owned by husband and wife Michael Schmidt and Jess Frandsen, The Eastman held its soft opening on April 16, preparing for a sort of trial by fire just ahead of the NFL Draft coming to the Northside.

Schmidt, who is a resident of the Northside, said the idea to open The Eastman came about from discussions between himself and Frandsen on how to invest in their community.

“Really, we wanted to see this location open,” he said. “We loved it back when it was Fat Cat.”

Located at 520 E. Ohio St., the building housed the short-lived but much-loved Fat Cat, the combination bar and music venue from July 2023 until its closure on March 20, 2024. Following that, the location hosted tacOcat, a pop-up by the New Mexican restaurant Taqueria Acosta.

Check out the May 2026 issue for the complete story.

The Y launched its $23 million renovation back in January 2025, and was originally aiming for a reopening at the start of this year. However, the reopening was pushed back by two months by construction delays.

Not all facilities were open when the YMCA welcomed the public back in. The pool, CrossFit gym, auxiliary gym and Kids Zone remained closed, with the goal of opening them sometime in April, according to YMCA staff.

But in the meantime, visitors were able to take advantage of the changes to several other YMCA amenities. Perhaps the largest difference is the moving of several pieces of exercise equipment to one half of the Y’s main gymnasium.

This has created additional space in the building’s weightlifting room, but, along with a new room above it, means the main gym cannot be used for basketball or other full court activities. According to Y staff, the auxiliary gym will be used for those purposes once it is reopened.

A ribbon cutting and block party to celebrate the renovations are planned for June this year.

Brighton Heights
Brighton Heights Citizens Federation to Breezing Point One LLC at 3328 Fleming Ave. for $109,000.

Fineview
Estate of Andrew David to Jeffrey Daniel Phillips at 310 Lafayette Ave. for $252,000.

Manchester
James Berry to Jame Kuhn IV and Ruth Llan at 1323 Liverpool St. for $700,000.

Perry Hilltop
Kathleen Gilson to William Emerson Behrens at 301 Milroy St. for $131,000.
Matthew Lee Gilson to Steven Farley at 2904 Perrysville Ave. for $313,500.

Spring Hill
Alaina Investment Co. LLC to Sherrill Industries LLC at 15 Solar St. for $129,500.

Troy Hill
Carlos Pinto to HBE Property Investments LLC at 1124 Province St. for $195,000.

Real Estate Transactions provided by <RealSTATs>.  Contact <RealSTATs> at 412-381-3880 or visit www.RealSTATs.net.