HPCC - March 2000 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes by Tania Grubbs

Meeting opened by President Diane DeNardo at 7:30 P.M.

The meeting started off with the introduction of Lt. Scott of Zone 5 who came to talk about the shootings that occurred in the 800 block of Mellon recently. The shootings were over drugs, money and guns. Three people were shot and they all knew one another. They will all recover.

The police have not yet made an arrest. The address, 839 Mellon, has been reported many times and now action is being taken to turn over this address as a nuisance address. The landlord is a major problem in this matter. Councilman Ferlo wants to crack down hard on property owners in the 700, 800 and 900 blocks of Mellon. The CDC has expressed interest in acquiring that property; however, the owner does not wish to co-operate, as he now is making tons of money off the tenants that presently live there even though he does little to help protect them or give them better living conditions, hence the problems.

Councilman Ferlo said we need to take on the slumlords issue and we need to build up the block watch in that area. Councilman Ferlo also suggested a Strike Force to survey tenants and come down hard on the landlords. The 800 and 900 blocks of Mellon have been the main focus of the CDC in buying and restoring properties but when something like the shootings occur it just makes their work that much more difficult. The CDC now owns 3 properties on 900 block of Mellon and soon expect to own 4.

Lt. Scott reported that the gang problem is much better than it was in that area just a few years ago.

Diane suggested that we post the slumlords names in the paper to see if we can get some action on their part to avoid this public humiliation.

If anyone sees anything suspicious in any area they should be sure to get a complete description of the person(s) involved, e.g., what they were wearing, how tall, distinctive marks or features, etc. As detailed a description as possible increases the chance of apprehending the culprit. Then call Zone 5 and make a complete report.

It was noted that Bloomfield had citizens groups that patrolled the bad areas to try to discourage bad activities. The officers in attendance warned everyone as the days get warmer more and more problems occur out there, resulting in the officers being very busy.

If anyone has any complaints they are to call the station Commander Zone 5.

Jeffery Dorsey, Director of the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative, presented a slide show of the properties along the Penn Ave. From Negley to Mathilda where they are acquiring and restoring properties. The objective is to nurture an artistic community along Penn Avenue.

The Board approved a $500.00 budget for Muzz Myers to put together another Marathon Party on May 7th, 2000. The city of Pittsburgh will match the funds.

April's Meeting will be at Dilworth Academy, 6200 Stanton Ave at 7:30pm; there is no program scheduled at the April meeting. The May meeting will be back at St. Andrew's and will feature representatives of the CDC and History and Landmarks Foundation discussing the issue of designating the Highland Park area as a National Historical District.

The CDC now has a prototype for a web-site that they are developing that will also include the HPCC.

There will be a meeting to discuss zoning remapping on Tuesday March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's. Although Highland Park participated in a remapping effort several years ago, the rest of the city is now catching up and it is thought necessary to revisit the information for Highland Park. A representative from the Mayor's office will be asking us what are issues of zoning and remapping. Volunteers will be sought to look at property and collect data.

As Chair of Block Watch, Jan Stayianos is recruiting Block Captains. She noted that the first step to set up a block watch on your street is to have a meeting of all the neighbors. The main purpose of the first meeting is just to get everyone's address and phone number and to get to know each other. Then it is a matter of contacting each other in case anything happens.

There will be no Spring House Tour this year. Norma Lipscomb has resigned. We will be joining the CDC in a joint effort House tour. The profits will be shared.

There was a discussion about the Union Baptist Church, which is at the corner of Negley and Stanton Avenues. An article in a local newspaper suggested the Church was essentially abandoned. The article also stated that the Minister could not be reached, but he expressed anger about this in a discussion with Diane because he stated that his number could be found in the book. Diane asked him to come to a meeting but she did not get much of a response. He stated that he has big plans for the church but would not comment on what his plans were.

Mercine reported on crime in the neighborhood. There were 13 thefts in January; however; February had fewer. Home Depot is experiencing more commercial theft than they expected.

A question came up of the decline in the visibility of the COPS. Maureen Kato runs the Zone 5 Public Safety Meetings. They do have undercover police on Buses and the T. There will be an open house at Zone 5 Station House in July. Mercine will give us more on that later.

Diane would like to form a committee to plan replacement of the entry signs to Highland Park. There are four. Signs were donated but they match the signs for the apartments on Negley and appear to be commercials for the apartments so they are not satisfactory as they are. The donor is looking into painting them but is not sure if it can be done satisfactorily because of the material of the signs. The committee Diane is proposing would pursue design and acquisition of new signs.

Tania Grubbs reported that there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the Children on Saturday April 15, 2000 (*note change of date from that reported last month) from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Lake Point Pavilion in the park. She requested a budget of $300.00 to host the event and the board approved. To volunteer, call Tania Grubbs.

Mary Lee Snuffer proposed that a review of the by laws be held. She suggested that consideration be given to increasing the term of our elected officers to two years; she would like to see if the by-laws are effective and should they be updated. She suggests forming a committee for a short term review and to take a look at the organization to see how it is managed from the top. Mary Lee is willing to be Chair and would like to have volunteer participants; to volunteer, call Mary Lee.

Mary Beth Steisslinger was asked by the East Liberty Community Council to become a liaison to them from Highland Park and to sit on their council, but not as a voting member. They have asked someone from neighboring communities to help focus on where East Liberty is headed. They bridge the ELDI and the EE Neighborhood Forum. Mary Beth is willing but wanted to ask permission to represent the HPCC. She plans to report back periodically to HPCC.

Meeting ended at 9:27 p.m.