URA adds Green Incentive to enhance Consumer Loan Program

Funding for Energy Audits now available for homeowner improvements

(PITTSBURGH) December 18 – The URA Board today announced that the Pittsburgh Home Rehabilitation Program has been enhanced to promote energy-efficient improvements to owner occupied homes in the City of Pittsburgh.

“Energy Efficient improvements save homeowners hundreds of dollars annually in utility bills,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said. “‘This enhanced program will not only provide the funds for those improvements, but also the expertise needed to undertake them.”

The URA administered Pittsburgh Home Rehabilitation Program (PHRP) provides 0% interest loans and grants for improvements to eligible City of Pittsburgh homeowners. The loan term can be spread over 20 years, making payment as low as possible. Income limits apply for participation; qualifying households earn less than 80% of the area median income. (A household of one cannot earn more than $35,000, a household of two cannot earn more than $40,000.)

Homeowners may borrow up to $25,000 for a single unit home and $35,000 for a two unit home. In combination with the loan, grants are available for an assortment of needs, including repair or replacement of the sidewalk, exterior improvements, removal of lead hazards, and accessibility improvements

PHRP Plus features a $2,500 grant to be used to pay for an energy audit (required) and insulation, air sealing and duct sealing. Participants in this program are eligible to receive $10,000 above the $25,000 limit for the standard PHRP loan. The additional borrowing limit can be used for qualifying energy-efficient improvements, including insulation, air and duct sealing, efficient heating and cooling, lighting, water heating equipment, and efficient windows and doors.

West Penn Energy Solutions will provide energy auditing services which include diagnostic testing as well as combustion safety testing. A report will be generated that will provide recommendations for energy-efficient improvements, along with the approximate cost and savings associated with these improvements.

The URA will provide a Construction Advisor for each homeowner and along with the Auditor will meet with the homeowner to select improvements and finalize a work write-up. The URA can also assist the homeowner in having contractors competitively bid on their job. A URA approved licensed contractor is required for participation in the program.

“Energy efficient improvements can save homeowners money on utilities and make their homes more comfortable right away,” Matt Smuts, Sustainability Coordinator, URA said. “In the long-term simple improvements like sealing air leaks and adding insulation increase the value of these homes.”

Interested applicants for the PHRP and PHRP Plus programs should contact Jenny Kohnfelder at 412.255.6639 or visit www.ura.org .

Groups Unveil Plans for Immigrant Museum at Former Troy Hill Church

The fate of the former St. Nicholas Church on Route 28, just below the neighborhood of Troy Hill, has stirred a lot of debate since it closed in 2004 whether or not the nationally historic building would be demolished.

Now several preservation groups say they have a new plan to redevelop the property

From the Northside Chronicle:
The ball for a National Immigration Museum in the closed St. Nicholas Church building is rolling, but it still has a long way to go, and it will take at least five years to get there.

At a press conference on Dec. 4, the Preserve Croatian Heritage Foundation and the Northside Leadership Conference unveiled the positive results of a design and feasibility study that explored turning the building into a museum and adding a trail system.

Integra Realty Resources, the consulting firm hired to do the study, predicted that the region could, in fact, support the museum. It would draw about 25,000 visitors per year and operate at a cost between $500,000 and $600,000 per year.

The Foundation has been working to save St. Nicholas for over 10 years, said President Bill Vergot. It brought the Leadership Conference in as a project manager after it developed the museum idea.

Vergot said “We’ve had our highs, we’ve had our lows … but never did we stop thinking we would save the church.”

Another important part of the plan is connecting area neighborhoods, including Troy Hill and East Deustchtown, to the Riverfront Trail system by means of new trails around the museum that would utilize the pedestrian bridge by the Sarah Heinz House and the 31st Street Bridge.

Read the entire article here.

Penn Brewery is Brewing!

From the Penn Brewery website: Penn Brewery announced today (December 8th) that at 10:20 am they “mashed in” for the first brew since the brewery discontinued production in January. The first beer being brewed is Penn Pilsner, the company’s flagship brand.

Tom Pastorius, President and founder, said “After about 2 weeks of cleaning and tightening up, the brewery production is on schedule. This batch of Penn Pilsner will be ready in about a month and will be for draft packaging. We’re looking forward to shipping our beer from our own brewery again. It’s great to be brewing. We are all very excited.”

The restaurant will reopen as soon as the beer is ready.

From an interview with the Northside Chronicle, Pastorius said the brewery will begin three brews this week, two of Penn Pilsner and one of a new American-style pale ale. Those interested in the new beer should check the Penn Brewery website for updates on a possible “sneak preview” event. All of the Penn brands will be brewed at the Pittsburgh Northside brewery from now on.

With Iron City no longer brewed in Lawrenceville, this really will be Pittsburgh’s big hometown beer. “The Northside is now the beer capital of Pittsburgh,” says Mark Fatla, the Northside Leadership Conference’s executive director. (… East End Brewery, we love you too.)

GO TOM!

Krampus! … Meet Santa’s Sinister Sidekick

What better way to kick off the Sparkle Season then with …. Krampus. While not too well known in the United States, many Alpine European towns start the celebration of St. Nicholas with a Krampus Festival. If ever Troy Hill was looking for a unique event, and given the German history of the neighborhood, this would be it.

As some of the old-timers up here might be able to tell you, Krampus, who originated in Germanic folklore, is believed to be a beastial creature who accompanies St. Nicholas on his journey. While St. Nick rewards the good children with gifts and candy, Krampus dispenses punishment to the bad children — he takes care of St. Nick’s “naughty list.”

Traditionally, on the eve of St Nicholas day, December 5th, townspeople dress in Krampus costumes, ragged animal furs and elaborate masks resembling the devil, bulging eyes, horns, wild tongue, etc, and parade (run rampant) through the streets with switches and ringing loud cowbells, putting a scare in the youngsters. After the children have been given a proper fright to ensure they stay on the straight and narrow, the rowdy Krampuses (Krampi?) are rewarded with holiday libations.

Still don’t believe it? Watch this:

One Way to Burn Off Those Turkey Calories…

For the 26th year in a row, on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, the Dirty Dozen bicycle race/ride descended upon Troy Hill and Rialto Street. A baker’s dozen actually, the ride hits the 13 steepest hills in Pittsburgh, and 50 miles of pedaling. This year the ride had 181 participants, and was documented by the folks at Global Ride for a training video, proceeds which will go towards Live Strong, Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research.

Whatever Kind of Turkey You Are …

… Happy Thanksgiving.

Penn Brewery and Restaurant Another Step Closer to Reopening

The founder and former CEO of the Pennsylvania Brewing, Tom Pastorius, is another step closer to getting back into the beer and restaurant business by the end of this year. With a loan from the URA, the Troy Hill brewery/restaurant is on track to getting the business back from the venture capital capital firm Birchmere Capital, who have tried as hard as they could to kill this wonderful, world-famous brand and business that Pastorius spent years building.

“I’m very optimistic” the deal to buy the business will be complete in December,” Pastorius said.

Go Tom Go!

A full article on this story can be found here.

When Are the Two Best Times to Plant a Tree?

1. Twenty years ago.
2. Right now!

A great big THANK YOU to the fifty-two volunteers, young and old, who showed up to help plant trees in Troy Hill on Saturday, November 14. And thanks to everyone who coordinated, recruited help, provided supplies, food or anything needed to make this planting a success. It was a great day and couldn’t have happened without the wonderful folks at Western PA Conservancy, TreeVitalize, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest and the amazing people of Troy Hill.

Fourteen trees were planted, including: 4 Turkish Filbert trees on Ley St., 1 Cherry Dogwood on Sundeman St., 2 gingko, 3 Japanese Lilacs and 4 Hedge Maples on Harpster/Froman Sts. Additionally contract planting will happen sometime between now and the end of 2009, adding 9 more trees in front of UniMart, and along Lowrie Street near the office. Wow.

This is the second straight year of tree planting in Troy Hill. Let’s keep it going.

Why trees? Trees are good for communities. They provide shade and beauty, increase property value, and have even been show to have increased business on main streets. Not to mention they clean the air and help with soak up rain water. They are a gift to your children and their children and to their children.

Want a tree in front of your house or business? It’s FREE. Applications are available in the THC office.

More photos from the planting can be seen at the flickr Troy Hill gallery. It’s an open group. Join up and start adding those neighborhood memories.

Magnolia Café Opens in Troy Hill

Troy Hill welcomes Magnolia Café. This great new addition to the neighborhood offers La Prima coffee and premium tea drinks, wonderful on-site baked goods and just in time for the cooler weather a nice selection of homemade soups and panini sandwiches.

The cafe is located in the heart of the business district, right between Montileone Hair Design and the Gulf Station on Lowrie St. Magnolia Café is operated by sisters and Pittsburgh natives, Ilona and Naomi Auth. Ilona is a film major turned entrepreneur. Naomi ran a similar successful business that specialized in health-promoting fermented drinks and foodstuffs in Portland OR before moving back east. In addition to this unique expertise, the cafe offers a range of catering services to fit any occasion.

Naomi bought the building at 1721 Lowrie St. about a year ago, and has been working on it ever since, transforming the space into a bright and inviting spot. She lives above the cafe with her family.

Magnolia Café is open from 7AM to 4PM Tuesday through Saturday, and 8:30 to 2 PM Sunday.

Happy and thankful Veterans Day to all past and present.