Kelly Hamilton Herald- Jan-May 2019

January-May 2019
INSIDE:
Construction Update
Voices of Homewood
Hiring Progress
Announcements
WELCOME TO HOMEWOOD
H
omewood is a reflection
of the industrial
shifts, economic growth, and
population changes that affected
much of the northeastern
United States during
the 20th Century. Filled
with grand architecture and
family homes, Homewood
has always commanded a
respect from visitors. Due to
displacement and changes in
major industries in Western
Pennsylvania, the demographics
of Homewood
changed as well, with African-American
families moving
in from the Hill District
and other neighborhoods.
Over several decades Homewood
changed to cater to a
successful and passionate
Black population. Frankstown
and Homewood Avenues
were home to small
businesses including record
shops, pharmacies,
and movie theaters thrived
in Homewood in the 1960s
and 1970s.
The Kelly-Hamilton
Homes project is an effort
to contribute to the new
growth in Homewood.
KBK Enterprises has
worked in other Pittsburgh
neighborhoods
bringing community centers
and affordable and
mixed-income housing to
the Hill District, Garfield,
and Larimer. This project
is our first development in
the Homewood neighborhood.
Since 2016, our team
has worked with elected
officials and community
groups to ensure a successful
and welcomed project.
We hope that this newsletter
will provide insight into
our team’s process, keep
you up to date on the construction
progress, and
share successes of local
businesses and workforce
initiatives. We are honored
to be a part of Homewood’s
transformation.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
he Kelly Hamilton Homes
T development officially closed
on March 15, 2019. The total cost
of the 58 units, management office,
aong with site and infrastructure
is estimated at over
$20 million. The project is bordered
by Hamilton Avenue and
Kelly Street, between North
Murtland Avenue and North
Lang Avenue. The Kelly Hamilton
Homes will feature 16 market
rate units, 14 affordable
units at 60% area median income
and below, and a 2,530 sq. foot
management office with resident
community space. There will be
three accessible units. Bedroom
sizes include, four 1 bedrooms,
thirty-five 2 bedrooms, and nineteen
3 bedrooms with estimated
market rents between $1,100-
$1,300. is fully underway at the
Kelly Hamilton site. Framing,
underground plumbing work,
footers, and slabs are being installed
currently. In the next two
weeks, shingles, insulation, and
drywall will follow. Geotechnical
site work on Kelly Street is in
progress with the excavation and
re-compaction of dirt. Pittsburgh
Water and Sewer Authority
(PWSA) is continuing work to
repair the 42” sanitary line on
Kelly Street.
While new residents won’t be
moving in until this Fall, the
waiting list for affordable units
will open on June 3rd. Applications
will be accepted via the
Housing Authority website only.
Visit HACP.org for information
and instructions. The waiting list
for market rate units will open
soon
May 2019

I CALL HOMEWOOD HOME
THIS COLUMN IS DEDICATED TO THE STORIES OF HOMEWOOD RESIDENTS
was born in Homewood in 1964 me back to the old Black Arts Festival
when I was a child. I can still wood began to take a drastic
In the late 80s, early 90s Home-
I on Tioga street. Shortly after
that my family moved to Frankstown
Road, not too far from Crescent
elementary school where I
remember the sound of brothers change for the worst. What was
once a thriving neighborhood with
black pride and businesses slowly
attended the first grade. I have
became inundated with drugs,
two older sisters Chris and Tracey,
one older brother Jason, and one
younger brother Vance, there are
five of us all together. Although I
was too young to fully understand
what was going on at that time,
my older siblings did. Until this
very day, my older brothers and
sisters can share a vivid story of
what they have experience during
gangs and crime. The basic infrastructure
of Homewood began to
deteriorate, and it seemed like it
was every man for himself.
Homewood today is not as bad as it
was in the 90s. There are organizations
that are striving to make
Homewood a better place to live
and work. The Harambe Festival
is coming back and building up
the riots in Homewood as a result
momentum, slowly but surely
of the assassination of Dr. King.
One thing that I can remember
about Homewood as a child was
the elaborate Homewood Arts Festival.
I can remember seeing hundreds
of people on Frankstown,
playing African drums on the
streets and the smell of good food
everywhere you went. Afros and
dashikis were adorned by almost
everyone. Homewood was a place
black businesses are starting to
return. New housing is underway;
this will provide new opportunities
for families to live and flourish.
I know it will take some time, however
Homewood is picking up momentum
Bennet and Hamilton avenue. of Black Power and Pride. Although
and headed in the right
Back then the Black Arts festival
was huge, even today if I smell a
certain incense fragrance, it gives
me a sense of nostalgia that takes
I was never a great roller
skater, I can remember going to
the famous Homewood Coliseum
with my brothers and sisters.
direction.
- Brandon Jennings
Historic images of
Homewood.
Courtesy of the Carnegie
Museum of Art, Charles
“Teenie” Harris Archive

SECTION 3 HIRING
The chart to the left reflects changes in
the reporting protocols: hires counted
are only those confirmed as Section 3 by
both KBK and HACP. The Federal Section
3 program ensures that low and
very-low income individuals within the
City of Pittsburgh have the opportunity
to benefit from training and employment
opportunities available due to the
Kelly Hamilton development. The KBK
Foundation is committed to ensuring
the fair and successful implementation
of the program.
If you or an associate are interested in a
job in construction, please contact the
KBK Foundation at (412) 363-4401 or
j.barnes@kbkenterprises.net
ANNOUNCEMENTS