The title of the newly proposed Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan exemplifies its challenging yet fundamental goal: “Develop Without Displacement.”
The City of Pittsburgh Planning Department presented the proposed plan at the City of Pittsburgh Planning Commission meeting Tuesday.
The neighborhood plan, which is part of the city’s comprehensive plan, was designed in collaboration with the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative to “strengthen and improve the community while proactively preparing for future growth and change,” according to the description posted on the city website.
Ose Akinlotan, a neighborhood planner with the city, recognized that it is “a hard feat,” but said the community is committed to the goal. “They want Greater Hazelwoodians to remain in Hazelwood,” Akinlotan said. “We wanted to ensure that [the Hazelwood residents] really saw themselves in this plan. This is their plan.”
The plan is broken into four chapters — community, infrastructure, development and mobility — with specific priorities in each chapter. Priorities include:
- Prevent displacement through innovative, affordable and targeted housing.
- Create a strategy to enhance the Second Avenue corridor.
- Develop a strategy to address vacant properties.
- Maximize resident opportunities associated with Hazelwood Green.
- Improve neighborhood walkability and bikeability.
- Address barriers to further education, training and employment.
- Improve air quality in Greater Hazelwood.
In 2017, the city’s southeast neighborhood of Greater Hazelwood had more than 5,000 residents. The neighborhood plan addresses many of the challenges residents face: old housing stock, poverty, 31% land vacancy, insufficient transit options and the upcoming development of the Hazelwood Green.
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