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Archive for the 'University of Pittsburgh' Category
Pittsburgh RANT: Sour Resident Relationships in Oakland
“Some students are good and some are not” – a long-term elderly resident of Oakland, Meyran Ave. Study (GSPIA)
As a former resident of Oakland (for four proud years), I can very well understand the tensions that many are not aware exist in the small area that comprises South Oakland, home of the University of Pittsburgh. I was a college student and had been at a few gatherings of less than 10 people where barely any noise was made, but that local residents reported out of their hatred for student renters in the town (so sympathetic to the student’s plight). But, I also lived next door to a sweet old man, with whom my boyfriend (at the time) and I always had a great relationship with and who was terribly sad to see us go (most likely fearing the next terrible group of college students to move into our apartment). AND, I was constantly furious at the parties of hundreds in houses set to hold 20 max as well as the resultant street garbage, noise during finals week, and other student-bred annoyances (so I am also sympathetic to the older residents of Oakland). As a concerned citizen of Pittsburgh, I think it is important to seriously concentrate on living conditions in Oakland - and along with living conditions - with the general happiness of the populace, both young and old.
Many residents agree that not all off-campus student renters are bad, but many feel like the students do not respect Oakland or the properties in the area. One said,
“I think most students like to be off-campus because then they can have their playground. They can study during the day and then they can raise hell at night and to hell with everyone else who lives there.”
Residents feel that the mainly student population contributes to such problems as trash on the streets (and the rodents introduced into the neighborhood as a result of this), a heightened noise level late at night, damaged property, and hard to find parking.
It is a vicious cycle. Student renters are living in bad conditions, and may not do much to make this situation better. Landlords, believing that students will only destroy their properties, do not make the proper repairs when needed; hence the vicious cycle. The students now expect a low quality of housing and the landlords are willing to provide it. Now, porches and streets are lined with pizza boxes, beer cans, furniture, and other trash. Full Story »
Pitt Basketball Uses Underdog as Rally Cry as Starters Sit and Newbies Start…
Why do Pitt sports teams always kick butt when their oldest, best players are injured? This year’s Backyard Brawl, anyone? So, once again, because two starters were injured (in this case Levance Fields and Mike Cook), Pitt wins! Now, that doesn’t mean that I think Fields or Cook aren’t good players, but it just seems that ‘underdog’ is the rally cry of University of Pittsburgh sports problems - and do correct me if I’m wrong.
Either way, Pitt basketball is at number 13 as of now and climbing. Maybe they’ll actually do something in March Madness this year. Or, maybe we’ll be pitted against Wisconsin in Wisconsin again?
Student Residents: Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?
Oakland Series Continued…
“You’re paying how much money to live here? They should be paying you to live here!” – my Mom when she saw my sophomore off-campus house.
Please see my past postings on Oakland housing if you are interested in learning more about the Oakland community - and if you are interested in helping to improve the problems!
Students agree with the resident’s assessment (mentioned in a recent posting on long-term residents in Oakland) that landlords are the cause of Oakland’s demise. In an all student focus group monitored by the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC), the complaints surrounding the need for repairs were endless. The problem of landlords neglecting to make repairs is a universal one. Some students have moved into messy apartments infested with fleas or termites, but the landlords did not respond immediately to these complaints. One student’s bathroom window broke. The student explained,
“The window [which was on sash weights] collapsed and exploded. The past week it’s been like 30 degrees outside and we just don’t go in our bathroom and our whole apartment is cold. It was broken for a month…she [the landlord] didn’t send anyone to fix it until today and that was because our parents called and said they would no longer send the rent until it was fixed, so she finally sent over this dude and he put in like a piece of garbage bag plastic.”
Other horror stories included a broken stove, a refrigerator (which was replaced by a mini-fridge!) and other safety concerns. Full Story »
ATTN: Caring Pittsburgh Landlords Needed
Oakland Series Continued…
“The majority of the current owners appear to use the properties strictly for investment purposes, and once sufficient return is generated by the real estate, it is sold to the next willing absentee landlord” – a study by Pitt’s Graduate School for International and Public Affairs, on Meyran Ave, a popular student rental street in Central Oakland.
As I’ve written before, the arrival of student renters into the Oakland community has unleashed a string of problems. The renters’ property is owned by absentee landlords who make a huge profit, but do not make necessary repairs due to the negligent enforcement of local building codes. The depreciating property values result in a loss of tax revenue on many local properties.
Based on the aforementioned study and other focus groups conducted by OPDC, it seems that the older residents are in agreement that the main problem is the absentee landlords, not the college students themselves. “They [landlords take care of their house in Upper St. Clair or Mt. Lebanon but they forget, they think Oakland is trash so let’s damage [it] and you know students live there, so let’s trash it,” one long-term resident said. A major concern is that landlords who do not live in the neighborhood do not maintain their properties suitably and any of us who have lived there and suffered through trying to get a hold of an absentee landlord for housing repairs know that this is indeed a problem. Full Story »
The University of Pittsburgh Men’s Basketball Team has done a superb job this year in continuing the tradition of stellar athletics from the University of Pittsburgh. After a great defeat of neighboring Duquesne University this week, Pitt’s 9-0 record earned them the ninth position for NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball teams. I remember when I broke my leg really badly in college and had to move home for a few months in March. Honestly, if it wasn’t for March Madness and Pitt basketball - I may have well been driven into insanity, so they certainly hold a near and dear place in my heart. So, having said that - I dont’ have anything else to say except “GO TEAM!”
Pitt SMASHES West Virginia; Wannstedt Stays
In response to Jared’s (guy who doesn’t really live here) recent posting on this site regarding whether Dave Wannstedt should remain head coach for the University of Pittsburgh football program, I’m going to have to say that despite his absence from the city, his judgment was not at all impaired. Jared said, and I quote:
“With the exception of West Virginia, no one has really blown out the Panthers since he joined the school. I think Pittsburgh is fully underrated and the aforementioned WVU will get a big surprise when it visits Pitt later this year.”
After DEFEATING West Virginia in the always legendary Backyard Brawl, Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt was rewarded a three year extension for his coaching contract. Turns out Pitt answered our question as to whether he should stay or go. He will remain head coach for the Pitt Panthers for an undisclosed salary amount, which (of course) has got some twittering. But I say… who cares? Don’t tell me you’re not all REALLY impressed by the WVU kill!?!? Full Story »
Oakland: The Loss of a Community, Part 2
This is Part 2 of the Oakland Series. There’s so much to say about the Oakland community that you will see a number of posts devoted to Oakland, The University of Pittsburgh, and especially, bad housing conditions in Pittsburgh - one of my personal crusades for change. This entry is dedicated to the history of housing law and the older residents who have lived in Oakland for a long, long time (and who many simply have forgotten).
I would like to note that the University of Pittsburgh has done an excellent job to rebuild the bridges they broke in the late 60s and early 70s with Oakland’s long-term residents (as explained in this posting), but there is still more work to do when it comes to improving housing conditions for both the students renters and the long-term residents of Oakland.
Oakland in the 1950s: The Cathedral of Learning Mobbed by Many as the University Grows in Popularity!
Law and Housing Conditions
“Miserable and disreputable housing conditions…may indeed make living an almost insufferable burden. They may also be an ugly sore, a blight on the community which robs it of its charm; which makes it a place from which men may turn. The misery of housing may despoil a community as an open sewer may ruin a river”
~ Supreme Court Justice William O.Douglas, in Berman v.Parker. Full Story »
Should Dave Wannstedt Stay or Go?
By: Jared, aka: the guy who doesn’t really live here
Ed Note: For you out-of-towners, Dave Wannstedt is the head football coach for the University of Pittsburgh’s football team: The Pitt Panthers
What is there to be said about Dave Wannstedt? He’s a helluva Pittsburgher and he loves the Pittsburgh area. He was born in here and attended Baldwin High School. Dude probably would get out and kiss the sidewalk in the South Side if you asked him to prove how much he loves Pittsburgh. We give him some major raves for that. But, he’s not much of an NFL head coach (Neither was Pete Carroll or the ‘ole BallCoach Steve Spurrier) and, so far, not much of a College Head Coach. Besides several top 10 recruiting classes (number 11 in 2006 and #8 in 2007) in a row, Pitt still has not done much on the football field. However, with the exception of West Virginia, no one has really blown out the Panthers since he joined the school. I think Pittsburgh is fully underrated and the aforementioned WVU will get a big surprise when it visits Pitt later this year. Let’s discuss this a little people. Please tell us whether you think Dave Wannstedt is a Pittsburgh Rant or a Pittsburgh Rave!
The Pittsburgh Quote section will contain quotes about Pittsburgh (past and present), as well as just good quotes from people who have been related to Pittsburgh!
Here’s the first:
“My father always taught me to appreciate what you’re fortunate to have and give back to those who need it. No part of our society is more important than the children, especially the ones who need our help. “
~Dan Marino, a Pittsburgh native and University of Pittsburgh Panther Quarterback, who set a school record for total offense with over 8,500 yards
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PS: The building in Moscow has a long tower of a star at the top (which isn’t very aesthetically pleasing), so Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning is technically the world’s largest pretty educational establishment!
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 Rant and Rave!
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