Last month the City, Uptown Partners, Oakland Planning & Development Corp., and neighbors had a hugely successful OPEN HOUSE to kick off the Uptown/West Oakland EcoInnovation District planning process! This event signaled the start of robust community engagement to create the City’s most sustainable and equitable district plan.

If you missed it, there will be another chance to share your thoughts about the neighborhood!
Public Open House #2 will be
Wednesday, March 30th, 6-9 pm at 300 Gist Street
See the attached flyer for more info or visit the main website at ecoinnovationdistrict.org

pdf icon EID_flyer_033016.pdf

Zone 4 Public Safety Council meeting will be held this Thursday, March 17th at 6:00 pm at the Jewish Community Center, Room #307.
     The deadline is approaching for the annual FOP Caring Cops Easter Project.  This is our annual Easter candy drive and all candy donated will be used to make up gift bags and baskets. Those gift bags/baskets will be delivered to children who are victims of crimes at Children’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital and The Women’s Shelter of Pittsburgh.  If anyone would like to donate candy for this project, the following options are available:
*You can drop off candy at Zone 4 station.  There is a collection box located in the lobby at the front entrance of the station.
*If you are attending the Zone 4 Public Safety Council meeting they will be collecting candy there as well.
*Contact Community Resource Officers Leshen, Pauley or Shifren and they can arrange to pick up any donations.
The deadline for the candy drive is this Thursday, March 17th.  Any donations are greatly appreciated.
PWSA WILL INSTALL A NEW 20-INCH WATER MAIN ON FORBES AVENUE IN OAKLAND
 
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) will continue repairs on Forbes Avenue at Morewood Street due to a 20-inch water main break.  A geotechnical engineer assessed the safety and integrity of the road after the break.  It was determined installing a new 20-inch water main would be the best solution. PWSA is coordinating repair efforts with PennDOT and the Department of Public Works.  We appreciate the public’s patience as this issue gets resolved in the safest and most efficient manner possible.
 
The PWSA contractor will be working 24/7 through Friday, March 18, 2016, at 4:00 p.m.
 
Forbes Avenue (South Craig Street – Morewood Avenue) will remain closed to all traffic until repairs are completed. PWSA does not anticipate any impact to water service.
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Traffic Advisory

Upcoming Events in Oakland to Close Bigelow Boulevard between Fifth/Forbes Avenue

On Friday, February 26, 2016, a ‘March’ will be held from 4 – 5 p.m. as part of the USAS/USW national conference being held in Pittsburgh from February 26-27, 2016. Set-up will begin at 2:45 p.m. Bigelow Boulevard is to close from 2:30 – 5 p.m.

On Saturday, February 27, 2016, a ‘March for Bernie’ will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Set-up for volunteers begins at 9 a.m. Bigelow Boulevard is to close from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. Participants will march from Bigelow Boulevard to Market Square via Fifth Avenue. Anticipate travel delays as participants, estimated to be 2,000 make their way to Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh.

Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays
​March​ 1​6​,​ 12pm at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, located at 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
They ask you to please RSVP.​
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Oakwatch webpage

Green Team : Putting the “oak” back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
​March 17, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team webpage

pdf icon Forbes-Ave.-Apartments-Planning-Commission-02.03.2016.pdf

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Attached are the latest designs for the Campus Advantage project on Forbes Avenue. The developer presented these designs at the Public meeting on Wednesday, February 3, 2016.
The new designs have a significantly larger footprint for the building because they include the neighboring lot (Arby’s). The designs also show a lower building height than the original drawings.
Please review the attached designs and provide any feedback, concerns, or questions you have. OPDC intends to sit down with the developers prior to their Planning Commission briefing.
  • Planning Commission briefing: Tuesday, February 23
  • Planning Commission hearing: Tuesday, March 8.
Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays
February 17, 6pm at the Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team : Putting the “oak” back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
February 18, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pgh, PA 15213.
Southwestern PA Commission is scheduled to present their road safety audit of Bellefield Ave.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
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Forbes Avenue Lane Closures   
Furthest Left Driving Lane:
  • This lane closure is due to a new project that is adjacent to SkyVue
  • Due to such close proximity and zero laydown area, the City awarded a permit to close off the farthest left driving lane to allow the project team for the hotel to have space to store necessary equipment and materials
  • The lane is, and will remain closed from now – February of 2017
  • However, only half of the length of the lane between Craft and Halket (the portion in front of hotel project site – to – Halket, or, second 1/2 of block) will remain closed. The portion from Craft to the hotel site (approx. first 1/2 of the block) will re-open when SkyVue is finished later this year
Parking Lane:
  • This will remain closed for the remainder of the SkyVue project schedule
  • The parking lane will remain closed through the duration of the hotel project, February 2017. But this is the same as the driving lane – only the portion in front of the hotel – to – Halket will be closed
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Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs
 January 30

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– May 22

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In the new exhibit Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs, rare fossils, life-size models, and hands-on interactives bring these ancient animals to life.
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They flew with their fingers. They walked on their wings. Some were gigantic, while others could fit in the palm of a hand. Millions of years ago, the skies were ruled by pterosaurs, the first animals with backbones to fly under their own power

Inline image 1On Wednesday, February 3, OPDC is convening a community-wide meeting at 6pm at the Oakland Career Center for residents to discuss the many proposed developments in Oakland with City of Pittsburgh representatives. The agenda will include the Oakland Gateway Venture Project at Bates and the Blvd of the Allies, the potential redevelopment of the Jewish Federation’s property on McKee Place, and the expanded Campus Advantage Project on Forbes Avenue. Please share the flyer with friends and neighbors. It is located here:  http://www.opdc.org/plan-partner/development-in-oakland-a-community-wide-meeting-on-february-3/

All Proceeds Benefit Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh
 
Thursday, February 25, 2015
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m
Oakland Location: Peter’s Pub (116 Oakland Ave)
 
 
The Oakland Business Improvement District and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership with sponsorship from Dollar Bank, have joined forces to raise funds for Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh by simultaneously hosting Drink for Pink events. 
 
Both locations will include Pittsburgh celebrity bartenders –  a unique twist on the Drink for Pink theme. We'd love to see you there! Last year, we raised over $7,000! All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh.
 

Spend Smart while Eating Great!
A record of 22 restaurants have teamed up to provide $6 lunches for six days, allowing you to save on lunch without compromising taste. Take advantage of this deal, and you can also enter to win FREE LUNCH FOR A MONTH along with other great prizes from participating Oakland retail businesses.
 
Enjoy a Meatless Monday option thanks to the Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants Program — the Oakland Business Improvement District’s way of helping to reduce the impact on the environment.
 
This event is funded by the Oakland Business Improvement District with additional support provided by Sustainable Pittsburgh
 
Oakwatch : The Oakland Code Enforcement Project
Third Wednesdays
January 20th at 12pm at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, located at 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
Green Team : Putting the "oak" back in Oakland
Third Thursdays
January 21st, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Check the webpage for further details and any last minute changes.
 

Tech Thursday will be a celebration of Oakland’s startup and technology culture fueled by our world class universities and hospitals.  From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Fifth & Oakland Avenue parking lot, TIAA-CREF will be setting up an interactive exhibit as well as exhibits from UPMC, The University of Pittsburgh & CMU.
 
OBID will also partner with Revv Oakland, Oakland’s first member driven community of startups, to host a “Tech Crawl” from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. where ‘crawlers’ can explore Revv’s offices home to over 18 startup companies – all while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Revv Oakland is a company in the heart of Oakland that provides productive work environments for early stage companies. This event is sponsored by TIAA-CREF, LUXE Creative, Securitas Security Services USA and Dollar Bank.
 
Tech Crawl Locations:
  • *Revv Oakland – 3710 Forbes Ave.
  • NoWait – 122 Meyran Ave.
  • Stitch Fix – 115 Atwood St.
  • Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence – 3520 Forbes Ave.
*Must be 21 years of age or older to attend the REVV OAKLAND location