Negley Corridor - City of Pittsburgh

V. Existing Conditions: Challenges and Assets
In 1997, Eastside Alliance, now known as East End Neighborhood Forum
(EENF), received a grant from the Department of City Planning (DCP)
to conduct a development strategy for the Negley Corridor. The original
consultant completed Phase One of the project, including data collection
and identification of issues, assets, and general recommendations. Their
report is entitled Negley Corridor Renaissance: A Strategic Plan for Negley
Avenue and Adjoining Eastside Neighborhoods, July 25, 1997 (prepared
for the Negley Corridor Initiative by Environmental Planning and Design
(EPD) and Urban Market Research). EPD provided an inventory of
properties and public space improvements along Negley Avenue as well
as an analysis of demographics, real estate trends, zoning, roadway
conditions, and public services. The team also described the various
issues and assets found in the Negley Corridor study area; their
findings are summarized here in this chapter.
The first section of this chapter contains the issues and assets that
community members expressed when asked about the area in various
forums. These items are primarily their perceptions, although some
community members based their responses on actual experience. To test
the community perceptions, the Phase One consultant team and Negley
Corridor Initiative Community Representatives collected data on existing
conditions. As is described in the Existing Conditions Data section,
the community perceptions were closely in line with the reality.
Challenges
The Negley Corridor presents a wide range of challenges to residents and
community-based organizations. The following information is from City
Planning analysis as well as a review of the Phase One report completed
by Environmental Planning and Design.
Property Maintenance
A major concern along Negley Avenue is property maintenance.
Deteriorated or unkempt buildings and properties can have a negative
impact on surrounding properties and a neighborhood overall. The most
serious complaints refer to absentee landlords who do not keep their
properties in good condition. Many multi-family rental properties are
owned by out-of-town or off-site owners who do not attend to basic
building maintenance, proper trash disposal, parking compliance, etc.
Thus, the properties deteriorate, present a blighting influence on the
Existing Conditions: Challenges and Assets 45