E. Hills residents seek to turn closed school into community hub

East Hills residents seek to turn closed school into community hub An East Hills group yesterday sought the city's help in turning a shuttered school building into a community center that would offer sports, education and social programs...

Konota Gaskins, a Democratic committeeman and president of East Hills Community Youth Adult Council, pitched the idea to Neil D. Parham, the city's youth policy manager, in a meeting at the City-County Building. Also present was Arlinder Lang, a former East Hills resident helping Mr. Gaskins.

Mr. Gaskins said he has been trying for three years to establish a community center in what he described as a dying neighborhood. He said the East Hills International Studies Academy building, which the Pittsburgh Public Schools closed in June, would be an ideal site.

Don't hold your breath. We've got a closed indoor ice rink on the South Side that has not been opened for years. There is no hope of doing any expansion in the city because those on Grant Street now are only worried about their own needs (selfish) and they're too busy trying to manage the downward spiral of decline.