Draft Master Plan Presented
By Lisa Kunst Vavro

On Thursday evening, October 11th, at the CMU Research Facility at the Pittsburgh Technology Center, the Draft Master Plan for Hazelwood and Junction Hollow was presented for discussion by Peter Fairweather of The Saratoga Associates (TSA). With an attendance of thirty-six (36) community people from Hazelwood, Oakland and Four Mile Run, Fairweather pointed out the focus of this Master Plan as economic activity; the type of redevelopment and connections.

Redevelopment should be 1) catalytic; 2) connected to the neighborhoods; and 3) community friendly, providing services and employment to area residents. In detail, the development of the LTV site should first encourage mixed use with residential development later. Therefore the remediation of certain areas of the LTV site for new housing would be key for larger development. The land adjacent to the existing Pittsburgh Technology Center should be developed into a new office park, an extension of the Pittsburgh Technology Center, which could work closely with Oakland institutions and create training programs for local residents. Initially the site should contain open space; a trail system; and various recreation uses along the waterfront. TSA recommends that a marina could be a capstone project after the development of an office complex and hotels. (Fairweather pointed out that a boat lift costs $800,000.00 alone, for a five month operation of a marina.)

With regards to connections, any Hazelwood-Oakland transit connection must protect the quiet residential character in Junction Hollow. A non-diesel, non-petrol, slow Maglev or light rail is favored for a transit connection between Hazelwood and Oakland via Junction Hollow. The draft report also recommends that existing rail operations should be re-routed to reconfigure the Second Avenue underpass at Greenfield Avenue. However, the feasibility of realigning the railroad lines was not studied in this plan. In addition, one of the most important key elements of the Master Plan is NO TOLL ROAD. If the Mon/Fayette would be built as the Turnpike Commission plans, the communities must revise their vision, this vision. This draft Master Plan has a resounding NO to the Mon/Fayette and a resounding NO to a road through Junction Hollow.

Although several questions were thrown out to Peter Fairweather in response to the Draft, it is obvious that the vision for Hazelwood-Oakland focuses on lifestyle enhancement. With knowledge that the foundation community plans on purchasing the LTV site as soon as it is relinquished from bankruptcy court, the question now becomes:

How much community input will be included in the development of this land?

We must strengthen our strategy with this Master Plan in hand, and be willing for the "patient planning" of the foundation consortium.