Oakland 2025 Master Plan
A vision for sustainable living and mobility
IMPLEMENTATION CHART
Making Oakland 2025 HappenThe Oakland 2025 Master Plan is grounded in market research and benchmarks that are appropriate, feasible and achievable. To be successful at achieving the vision, the community will use this worksheet to track and coordinate the multitude of projects, large and small, comprising the plan. Organized by the five planning themes used to facilitate community input, this worksheet will be continually updated and available on OPDC’s website, www.opdc.org. Version Dated: January 26, 2015
3.2 Housing
Project/Recommendation Time Horizon, Cost Project Status Update, Partners
Housing Markets
Develop key corridors for new
apartment housing Mid-to-long range Projects: Schenley H.S., SkyVue – 3333 Forbes, Boulevard of Allies at Bates, Fifth past Robinson, N. Craig/Centre; private developer-driven
Housing Policy Strategies
Employer assisted housing 1 – 2 yrs; costs to be determined through program design
OPDC retained professional services to convene employer partners via a steering committee. The pilot program design was completed July 2014.
Code enforcement Current, ongoing; low
cost Oakwatch: The Oakland Code Enforcement Project is active – monthly meetings, various advocacy opportunities. Database of rental property owners is complete and used for communicating directly to owners about issues. Oakwatch launched “citizen observers’ patrol” to be eyes and ears for community during late-night disruptive events. OPDC‘s part-time Oakwatch Coordinator assists with project management. Student-Resident Relations
(related to code enforcement and community stewardship section)
Current; low cost Good Neighbor Campaign implemented each fall and includes packets to off-campus students with “Trash talk” magnet, Pitt’s “off campus guide,” 12 other information pieces. Pitt hosted three community block parties in fall 2014.
construction cost to assemble properties for redevelopment. Homeowner
purchase/rehab/resell program 1 - 3 yrs; moderate OPDC Rehab for Resale program in place; OPDC utilizes Oakland Development Fund, a pool of revolving capital, to support this program and also spreads word to existing owners who may be interested in selling to OPDC.
Innovative Housing Opportunities
50+ intergenerational
communities, CCRC 3 – 5 yrs; high cost
Trailhead neighborhoods Additional planning needed to fully develop next steps
Quality of Life Improvements
Renovation and weatherization Current, moderate
cost In 2014, OPDC partnered with Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh – no cost senior homeowner renovation projects. OPDC awarded grants in 2014 through residential façade improvement grant program; expanded pool of funds needed. Residential marketing and
branding 1 – 2 yrs, low-moderate cost To follow and support housing policy programs listed above.
Housing Preservation
Develop a comprehensive survey 2 – 4 years; low cost Work with local universities – a potential class project?
Promote historic district
designations Near term; low cost See marketing/branding, above
Create ‘model blocks’ Near term; low cost Additional planning needed to fully develop next steps
3.3 Transportation
Project Time Horizon, Cost Project Status Update, Partners
Expand Connections to Oakland
Bus Rapid Transit 1 – 5 yr; high cost PAAC, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon; OPDC, OTMA, others participate in stakeholder committee. Two alternatives to progress to further analysis. Uptown/Oakland Eco Innovation District to interface with this process.
Downtown Circulator Look to City’s MOVE PGH plan to guide here
Provide New Transit Options
Unified Local Shuttle Circulator
System Additional planning needed to fully develop next steps
New Mobility Hubs, Intermodal
Parking Facilities Long term; high cost Additional planning needed to fully develop next steps
Improve Major Corridors
Transform Fifth/Forbes Corridor Long term; high cost BRT a potential catalyst; also potential for City’s MOVE PGH to lead here
Transform Bates and Blvd of
Allies Long term; high cost Additional planning needed to fully develop next steps. Work with PDOT re: Bates/Boulevard – CMAQ project.
Green Key Corridors Bates Street hillside near completion with
Western PA Conservancy Use intelligent transportation
systems to improve efficiency Manage parking comprehensively to improve utilization
Expand residential permit parking
and improve operations 1 – 2 yrs; low cost Expansions in Oakcliffe and South Oakland complete; COR subcommittee pursuing extended enforcement hours in RPPP areas B, D, and M.
Improve neighborhood wayfinding OBID and OTMA working on pedestrian wayfinding project.
Evaluate minor directional changes to mitigate cut-through traffic on key residential streets (Coltart, Robinson, Bates)
Current; low cost Additional planning needed to fully develop next steps
Connect Bikes through Oakland
Forbes Avenue Cycle Track Mid-term; moderate
cost Investigated during ThinkBike Workshop, additional interest at Pro Walk Pro Bike conference and release of Bike Pittsburgh Better Bikeways vision, coordinate with MOVE PGH. Oakland bike-ped committee is in place in conjunction with Oakland Green Team.
Improved Trail Connections
Louisa Street steps runnel Near term; moderate
cost New item since plan release – consistent with plan and also related to open space recommendation re: Louisa St steps. OPDC
partnering with City of Pittsburgh to redesign Louisa Street steps using concept design funded by Sprout Fund. City constructed the city’s first runnel in December 2013.
Joncaire Steps reconstruction to be completed in 2015 – will include a runnel.
3.4 Business & Development
Project Time Horizon, Cost Project Status Update
Oakland’s Neighborhood Service Retail
Fifth/Forbes core Semple/Bates Blvd of Allies S. Craig
N. Craig/Centre Current; low cost OPDC and BACA organizing business owners, property owners, and stakeholders to coordinate district improvement projects and business support services through URA and other available programs. Recruiting new businesses, assisting owners to apply for façade improvement funds, working to raise capital for a signage improvement matching grant program.
Atwood
Commercial Development Opportunities
Centre/N Craig Park 7 Group multi-family residential
development Western Gateway portal Currently in approval
stage
General Development Strategies
Encourage mixed-use redevelopment
Advocate for design excellence Facilitate site acquisition Integrate open space improvements into new development
Encourage start ups and spin-offs Current; low cost OBID and RevvOakland Start Up Oakland project
Site Specific Recommendations
Bates/Blvd of the Allies redevelopment
3.5 Open Space and Art
Project Time Horizon, Cost Project Status Update
General Recommendations
Create, improve and connect
trails Rock Alley Trail: City not supportive because of issues with lack of space where rock alley meets Second Avenue and Eliza Furnace Trail
Louisa St staircase: conceptual design complete – see above. Joncaire Steps to be reconstructed in 2015.
Reinforce cultural destinations
Restore hillsides Current Bates St project: removal of invasive species and targeted landscaping – Western PA Conservancy
Plant trees Current, ongoing;
low-Cost TreeVitalize: yearly fall and spring plantings Increase green infrastructure to
capture stormwater Long-term; high cost
Improve and add parklets Harris parklet complete.
Improve neighborhood gateways
3.6 Community Building
Project Time Horizon, Cost Project Status Update
General Recommendations
Create alliance of neighborhood organizations – Coalition of Oakland residents
Near term, low cost Completed – COR in place with ongoing meetings
Strong communication and
community organizing Current, moderate cost OPDC community organizing program and communications program active and partnering with COR
Create design standards 1 yr, low – moderate cost
Strengthen connections to local institutions & programs
Improve access to social services Create “third spaces”
Support immigrant communities Near term; low cost Support local youth programs
