Community revitalization happens when a community commits to improvement. Community leaders engage funders, policy-makers, nonprofits, and developers, and neighbors come together. Join GWP as we spend the afternoon with some of the organizations that are making significant contributions to the revitalization of Homewood and working hard to ensure that residents and businesses thrive in the neighborhood.
Site Visit 1: Homewood Children’s Village
At Westinghouse High School, The Homewood Children's Village (HCV) Interim President & CEO, Dr. Shannah Tharp-GIlliam, will provide an overview of their work in the community and through the neighborhood schools (Pittsburgh Faison, Pittsburgh Lincoln, and Westinghouse). Following the overview, we will move to Faison Elementary for a tour with on-site staff and teachers as we walk through the beautiful elementary school to see HCV’s initiatives in action.
Site Visit 2: Operation Better Block and Urban Innovation 21
At Café 524, an adaptive re-use project designed with and for the neighborhood of Homewood, Operation Better Block, Inc. (OBB) Executive Director, Jerome Jackson, will join us to describe the organization’s efforts to strategize, organize and mobilize, block by block, to benefit the Homewood community. He will share strategies for community safety, business development, greenspace, transportation, and updating community infrastructure, as well as detail OBB’s involvement with the development of the commercial space, Café 524.
We will stay at 524 N. Homewood Avenue to hear from representatives of Urban Innovation21, a unique public-private partnership that is supporting the growth of entrepreneurship in our region's innovation economy while simultaneously connecting that growth to underserved communities and the residents that live in those communities. Urban Innovation21 believes that an inclusive innovation economy is key to increasing regional competitiveness and sustainability. Community Engagement and Business Development Manager James Myers and Entrepreneurial Coach Dwight Mayo will join us along with a representative from a Homewood business with whom Urban Innovation 21 has worked.
Site Visit 3: 7800 Susquehanna Street
Bridgeway Capital (Bridgeway) is leading a Homewood revitalization project centered on the renovation of a 156,000 square foot light industrial space at 7800 Susquehanna Street. Built in 1925, the building is one of the largest and most enduring properties in southeast Homewood, making it an attractive asset around which neighborhood revitalization can occur. Redevelopment will create a commercial space that supports businesses, creates jobs, attracts investment, and benefits residents. Accomplishing this goal requires strategic development of the property and the surrounding environment, as well as an active community engagement strategy. Mark Peterson, Bill Krahe, and Matt Madia of Bridgeway will be on hand to show us around and give us an update on the project.
Please note that transportation will be provided for these site visits. We will be departing from in front of Centre City Tower at 12:30 p.m. and will return by 5:30 p.m. Alternately, you are welcome to join the group in Homewood at our first stop (Westinghouse) and we can drop you there at the conclusion of the visit before returning to Centre City Tower.
We hope you will join us for this exciting opportunity to see these innovative community development iniatives first-hand!