Progress Tracker
Stay up to speed with the implementation of the Homewood Comprehensive Community Plan by following our Progress Tracker! As community partners undertake projects, programs, and policies, this tracker will be updated.
If you are working on any of these projects, feel free to reach out so we can update the tracker accordingly!
| Complete | Action has been taken to complete a project/program as described by the Plan. |
| In Progress | Active work is underway to achieve the outcomes outlined for each project/program. |
| Ongoing | Work has been underway prior to the Plan and continues moving forward. |
| On Deck | Projects/programs are identified as next in line for implementation. |
| Not Started | No active work is underway at this time. |
Goals and Strategies
| C | 1 | 1 | Foster healthy living by providing physical activity programming before and after school | Not Started |
| C | 1 | 2 | Promote an increase in Farmers Markets and Farm Stands in Homewood | In Progress |
| C | 1 | 3 | Convene Stakeholders to better understand how poverty, inequities, and food costs lead to food insecurity and how current initiatives are combatting this and could be replicated in Homewood | Not Started |
| C | 1 | 4 | Expand and solidify garden skillshare program to encourage home gardening and foster community knowledge | Not Started |
| C | 1 | 5 | Encourage corner stores and small scale food retailers to become healthy food retailers that promote healthy food options | Not Started |
| C | 1 | 6 | Coordinate access to healthy breakfast and lunch options for residents, seniors, and students, especially outside regular school hours | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 1 | Explore potential for way-finding amenities.Improve overall quality of curriculum, access, and teaching force for Early Learning Programs and K-12 Schools | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 2 | Seek out technical assistance to increase quality of Early Childhood Programs | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 3 | Develop and implement ongoing research and evaluation methodology for Homewood school performance in partnership with universities. Link policies to research agenda. | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 4 | Improve Education Quality for all Homewood Students | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 5 | Seek the involvement of students, families, and community in the learning and education decision making process | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 6 | Ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all Homewood students | Not Started |
| C | 2 | 7 | Create opportunities for parents and family members to be more involved in improving school quality by encouraging parents to contribute to health activities, services, and programs at school | Not Started |
| C | 3 | 1 | Coordinate and align out-of-school time (OST) resources to ensure quality and necessary resources are available to all students. Align OST programming to school day curriculum and increase evening and weekend opportunities. | In Progress |
| C | 3 | 2 | Fund supplemental library options such as building a mobile library that travels throughout Homewood that community organizations or residents could rent books or textbooks from, or building little free libraries throughout the neighborhood to promote reading at a young age | Not Started |
| C | 3 | 3 | Create an after school healthy cooking club for parents and students to learn about healthy eating, and partner with local restaurants to host cooking demonstrations | In Progress |
| C | 3 | 4 | Secure qualified, credentialed, and well-trained staff to increase the number of out-of-school time (OST) providers committed to continuous quality improvement | In Progress |
| C | 3 | 5 | Create opportunities for youth to participate in out-of-school time (OST) program design and decision making | In Progress |
| C | 4 | 1 | Work with local drug abuse organizations to identify harm reduction strategies | Not started |
| C | 4 | 2 | Identify how youth and young adult residents prioritize public safety and to remove barriers to reporting violent incidents | Not Started |
| C | 4 | 3 | Bridge connection with jail, probation, and community so that returning citizens can be connected to existing program and jobs prior to their return and immediately afterward | Not Started |
| C | 4 | 4 | Host community dialogues and events that center community experiences and improve relations with police | Not Started |
| C | 4 | 5 | Increase Alma Illery's Presence and Capacity in Homewood | In Progress |
| C | 4 | 6 | Work with Main Street Partners and Businesses to Increase Safety through Lighting, Creative Design, and other initiatives | Not Started |
| C | 4 | 7 | Foster healthy living by providing physical activity programming before and after school | Not Started |
| C | 5 | 1 | Develop a Framework and Hub so that community partners can better connect residents to local employers and business opportunities | Ongoing |
| C | 5 | 2 | Coordinate and communicate internship and training opportunities to community and students to increase access and placement | Not Started |
| C | 5 | 3 | Connect with regional corporations and partners to better understand 21st century job field projections and tailor workforce programs accordingly | Not Started |
| C | 5 | 4 | Create outreach programs to support vulnerable populations and pursue subsidies, such as senior community service employment program, to employ seniors | Not Started |
| C | 5 | 5 | Change the scope of job fairs and certificate programs to become career and continuing education fairs for living wage career paths | Not Started |
| C | 5 | 6 | Create documents checklist and empower entities to ensure Homewood residents have documentation needed to access employment | Not Started |
| C | 6 | 1 | Promote Homewood's past through interpretive storytelling, neighborhood branding, murals and public art and the reuse of vacant parcels | Ongoing |
| C | 6 | 2 | Support existing community organizations and upgrade their facilities | Not Started |
| C | 6 | 3 | Increase cultural education to include music, art, and Black history | Ongoing |
| C | 6 | 4 | Utilize press relationships and positive media coverage to showcase Homewood's past and present | Not Started |
| C | 6 | 5 | Develop a destination of museum of African-American history and culture that tells the story of Homewood and the broader history of African-American Pittsburgh | In Progress |
| C | 6 | 6 | Partner with owners, historical organizations, and funders to secure, then potentially repair and reopen National Opera House | In Progress |
| D | 7 | 1 | Partner with City and Developers to Rebuild Homewood's Commercial District through Mixed-Use, Mixed-Income Opportunities along Homewood Avenue | In Progress |
| D | 7 | 2 | Provide education to residents regarding commercial property leasing and ownership, including creative ownership mechanisms as co-op, rent-to-own, etc. | Not Started |
| D | 7 | 3 | Partner with financial institutions and business development technical assistance providers to provide guidance on securing financing for commercial property purchase | Not Started |
| D | 7 | 4 | Create incubator that offers below-market rents for resident-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and cultural spaces | In Progress |
| D | 7 | 5 | Provide architectural/design services for rehabs or new build commerical space for Homewood businesses | Not Started |
| D | 7 | 6 | Provide pro bono or discounted assistance for Homewood business owners including legal services, business plan assistance, and mentoring | In Progress |
| D | 7 | 7 | Formalize HBBA's role in policy decisions related to commercial and business development in Homewood | Not Started |
| D | 7 | 8 | Identify or fund full-time staff member (such as Homewood main street manager or HBBA) to act as liasion among business owners, residents, developers and City government | Not Started |
| D | 8 | 1 | Develop a neighborhood build-out strategy that includes long-term targets and initial focus areas, with a substantial population goal by 2040 | Complete |
| D | 8 | 2 | Update the City's Zoning Code to support the community's goals. Pursue zoning changes to promote affordable development and access to rental income for residents | In Progress |
| D | 8 | 3 | Access feasibility of neighborhood market or small scale grocery store | In Progress |
| D | 9 | 1 | Review push-to-green parcels with community in order to establish long-term greening uses where appropriate | In Progress |
| D | 9 | 2 | Apply for grant funding to secure implementation and maintenance materials | Ongoing |
| D | 9 | 3 | Where appropriate, transfer vacant lots to adjacent property owners through the sideyard program | In Progress |
| D | 9 | 4 | Partner with permits, licensing, and inspection to prioritize properties for demolition and ensure community involvement and notice | Not Started |
| D | 9 | 5 | Initiate 311 Blitz to report buildings as vacant, request boarding up where needed, and attempt to contact owners | Not Started |
| D | 10 | 1 | Target Development and Redevelopment South of Frankstown Avenue in Homewood South and near neighborhood gateways to improve development conditions and create "tipping-points" for redevelopment | In Progress |
| D | 10 | 2 | The URA should work with the Collaborative to determine a pipeline of future development sites and request for proposals (RFPs) | In Progress |
| D | 10 | 3 | Encourage neighborhood initiated development of land through tools such as Pittsburgh Property Reserve and the Land Bank | In Progress |
| D | 10 | 4 | Register the Homewood Community Development Collaborative as a Registered Community Organization | Complete |
| D | 10 | 5 | Set standards for community benefits that include hiring Homewood residents and utilizing Homewood-based businesses | In Progress |
| D | 11 | 1 | Focus on rehabilitating the following types of vacant housing stock: 1) Dividing large homes into ownership and rental units to provide owners with rental income; 2) Duplexes that can provide owners with rental income; and 3) Single family homes | In Progress |
| D | 11 | 2 | Provide homeownership education for Homewood residents who are working towards buying a home or who already have a home and need additional assistance | In Progress |
| D | 11 | 3 | Get banks' buy-in to provide closing cost/down payment assistance and appropriate loan products, and coordinate with programs that provide additional assistance with bank fees and down payments | Not Started |
| D | 12 | 1 | Maintain and develop quality senior housing options with a range of affordability and ownership options including creative solutions such as communal living and service provision | In Progress |
| D | 12 | 2 | Provide a broader diversity of housing types, including more high-quality market-rate and affordable rental housing units, and options for smaller households. Target a final neighborhood composition of one-third affordable ousing, one-third workforce housing, and one-third market-rate housing | In Progress |
| D | 12 | 3 | Support single-parent headed households through developments that include supportive services and communal resources for single-parent families | Not Started |
| D | 13 | 1 | Ensure that all new development projects, as well as substantial rehabilitations of vacant properties, include energy efficiency standards that help keep the property's utility bills affordable | On Deck |
| D | 13 | 2 | Help existing homeowners and landlords make their units energy-and-water-efficient to reduce cost burdens on existing Homewood residents | Not Started |
| D | 14 | 1 | Grow and fund homeowner stabilization programs for existing homeowners, including home repairs, tangled title services and property tax assistance | In Progress |
| D | 14 | 2 | Create channels for existing organizations who aid with emergency financial need to share best practices and resources | Not Started |
| D | 15 | 1 | Ensure contextually appropriate, sustainable, and equitable development | In Progress |
| M | 16 | 1 | Conduct a pedestrian audit to a short term goal of prioritizing problem areas and a long term goal of providing safe and stable sidewalks in all of Homewood | Ongoing |
| M | 16 | 2 | Target sidewalk improvements to high traffic areas, transit locations, schools, and other community assets | In Progress |
| M | 16 | 3 | Update pedestrian standards, including lighting, benches, and trash cans and ensure new development supports pedestrian activity | Not Started |
| M | 16 | 4 | Improve access to grant programs for sidewalk repairs | Not Started |
| M | 16 | 5 | Implement a neighborhood wayfinding system in coordination with community branding | Not Started |
| M | 16 | 6 | Identify, advocate for and aggressively pursue federal, state, and regional funding sources to improve access to transit and parks | Not Started |
| Program | M | 18 | 1 | Encourage parents, community members, elders, police, and fire to volunteer as crossing guards | Not Started |
| Program & Project | M | 18 | 2 | Create signage along school routes with empowering messages and improve lighting along routes | In Progress |
| Project | M | 18 | 3 | Install 15 MPH signs and other appropriate signs in school safe zones | In Progress |
| Program | M | 18 | 4 | Work with Zone 5 to request officers to patrol school routes during morning and afternoon times | Not Started |
| Program | M | 18 | 5 | Create a play street program in Homewood to provide free opportunities for community exercise | Not Started |
| Program & Project | M | 18 | 6 | Install "No Idling" signage throughout the neighborhood, enforce "No Idling" areas | Not Started |
| I | 19 | 1 | Redevelop Homewood Field to improve the football field and swimming pool to incorporate a new gathering space, and improve the connection to Westinghouse Park | In Progress |
| I | 19 | 2 | Create a new, centrally located park North of Frankstown Avenue | Not Started |
| I | 19 | 3 | Relax restrictive policies on the use of Westinghouse Park to improve equitable community access | In Progress |
| I | 20 | 1 | Work with ongoing efforts to develop tree planting strategy for Homewood | In Progress |
| I | 20 | 2 | Streamline and target specific areas for ongoing air quality monitoring | Not Started |
| I | 21 | 1 | Align planning and redevelopment efforts toward establishing a network of green stormwater infrastructure practices that safely allow runoff to convey toward a restored Silver Lake | Not Started |
| I | 21 | 2 | Advocate for expansion and alignment of City policy to support construction of green infrastructure in Homewood | Not Started |
| I | 21 | 3 | Collaborate with Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, and Negley Run Taskforce to assess block-by-block approach of microshed small-scale green | Not Started |
