Wednesday, April 29, 2009

City making plans for Allegheny riverfront

City making plans for Allegheny riverfront: "Toward that end, the city Urban Redevelopment Authority has hired Perkins Eastman to conduct the $350,000 master plan. It intends to hold three community meetings over the next year to gather input.

A 10- to 12-member steering committee that includes representatives from the city, the URA, Riverlife, companies like Buncher, and community organizations will oversee the effort. It will hold its first planning meeting today. An advisory committee also will be formed.
Is this another hand-picked, authority, without minutes, without accountability, without democracy, without spectators?

What's the name of this advisory committee, exactly? I'd like to add it to the list.

It makes me think of the aborted Fifth & Forbes plans for downtown.

And, was there a RFP for the selection of the firm, Perkins Eastman?

Who is on the 'advisory committee?' Names please.

2 comments:

Chris Peak said...

I appreciate your hawkish eye on bureaucracy, Mark, but even if there are questions about how this authority and advisory committee will operate, I still think that it's good to see that area along the river getting attention. I'm personally of the opinion that Lawrenceville will truly turn the corner if/when the area between Butler Street and the river is revitalized.

But at the same time, I see what you're saying, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if this whole authority/advisory committee just ends up filling the pockets of local developers (ahem, Wylie Holdings) with little tangible results.

Mark Rauterkus said...

Of course the city needs to do what it can to promote investment in the city -- and these are precious places. Of course we need to get that area of town better.

I love the rivers! I'm a water person.

The post is all about the process and the lack of responsibility / accountability.