Date: July 2nd, 2010

PLANNED PAVING OF SWISSVALE STREETS WITHIN REGENT SQUARE- urgent action request There are requests for support or action throughout this email so please review each point carefully. Regent Square is faced with an immediate issue that requires your attention, especially if you are a Swissvale resident within Regent Square. The WPJWA plans to replace the water main on Macon Avenue. In doing so, they will also replace the brick with asphalt for the entire length of that block. This is the first in a series of planned replacements which will forever change the character of our neighborhood. This is a real and precedent setting issue for all Regent Square residents- especially those in Swissvale (not just the 1400 block of Macon). After hearing the WPJWA Executive Director speak at the Swissvale Council Meeting on 6/30, it is clear that their mind is made up and they will asphalt any road the WPJWA tears up when replacing water lines (which all lines in the Square are slated for). Please plan to meet us TODAY 7/2: 5:30 – 8:30 pm, at the Wilkins School Community Center, 1st Floor in the Trevanion Room. The RSCA and concerned Swissvale residents are setting up a table at the WSCC on Friday, 7/2 from 5:30 – 8:30. Please stop by for 5 minutes to personally sign and handwrite your return address on prepared letters and envelopes. These letters will be sent to Swissvale council members and the Mayor in Saturday’s mail. Postage will be provided. (Residents may bring their own address labels to save you from writing the information multiple time.) Contact the RSCA to volunteer to help with this effort (work shifts, supply additional printers, envelopes, etc). Next- a large number of Swissvale residents are needed to attend the Borough Council Meeting on Wednesday, 7/7. Please contact Carrie Webber, Neal Harrison or Trevor Lloyd, if you plan to attend. Do not assume your neighbors will take care of it- show up and show you care!!! Contact Information: RSCA- www.regentsquare-rsac.org, contact@regentsquare-RSCA.org Carrie Webber- carrie.webber@stantec.com, 412-225-0893, 412-371-2895 Trevor Lloyd- trevor@lloydsofpittsburgh.com, 412-398-4899, 412-243-6775 Neal Harrison- Neal@ehschwab.com SUMMARY OF CURRENT ACTIONS REGARDING PAVING OF SWISSVALE STREET WITHIN REGENT SQUARE (from Trevor Lloyd RS/ Swissvale resident, notes by C Webber- RSCA President) Hi Everyone, I have had many productive conversations today with a lot of great people who support brick street preservation in Regent Square/Swissvale. Here are some highlights, random thoughts and a suggested plan (in no particular order): 1) First and foremost, the near-term goal is to get at least a 4-3 (or better) vote from Swissvale council against WPJWA’s request to use asphalt vs. re-bricking. a. If we win that, it should help us if a legal move is necessary to combat a WPJWA objection to Council. 2) To effectively reach council members, we need to mail physical letters to their personal mailboxes. a. The thought here is receiving 50 pieces of regular mail provides a visual response that is serious. 3). We can still do an electronic campaign/petition to supplement the physical letters. Kitty Brunkhorst and Sally Thomas will lead this effort. Submit email addresses to the RSCA email contact. 4) Given the Monday holiday, we are shooting to have letters mailed on Saturday to insure Tuesday delivery. One can still mail over the weekend or Tuesday if they would like to. The RSCA will also post the letters on the RSCA home page for people to print and send on their own 5) We will also send mail to the Mayor, as she is a tie-breaking vote if not all Council members show up. 6) At this time, we should take no legal action or make verbal/written threats so as not to alienate council members who may be scared of potential legal costs, etc. a. However, we can start preparing ourselves for a potentially losing the vote or WPJWA legal action against a vote not in their favor. 7) Injunction? 8) Can the State or National Historic preservation groups/commissions help us? 9) I spoke to the PA Historical & Museum Commission today. (Contact the RSCA if you are knowledgeable and able to assist us with these issues) 10) If it can be proven that WPJWA uses/needs any State or Federal: a. Permits b. Licenses c. Money 11) They may be able to step in if needed legally to slow WPJWA down. a. Need help making these connections. b. Via PA DEP 12) Long-Term goal: Look to get Regent Square an Historical Neighborhood designation? a. Like Mexican War Streets on the Northside? b. Or at least get the streets designated on their own? 13) In our letters and comments this week, we have to tread very lightly with respect to the point of us being the main tax base in Swissvale. a. 7 of the 8 voting Council members (and Mayor) do not live in Regent Square. b. There is some past history in Swissvale politics of an “us vs. them” attitude. i. Who do we think we are? ii. Why do we feel we are so special? c. Swissvale Council knows we are the tax base, we just don’t want to flaunt it or shove it in their faces; they can figure it out on their own. 14) The letter campaign and physical presence on Wednesday will also create and infer that we will not lie down and that there will be a voting backlash against council members who do not vote in our favor. The impact of voting against this issue: a. They will lose their council seat. b. Some council members have further political aspirations such as District Justice. c. We will not vote for them if they are against us. 15) The City of Pittsburgh conducted a study a few years ago and concluded that the long-term cost savings, historical value, etc. warranted the protection of (at least) the Pittsburgh streets in Regent Square. a. Residents are trying to obtain this study. b. This will be a great reference piece to show facts/figures in favor of bricks. i. Especially from a governmental body! 16) Over the weekend RSCA is posting signage around the neighborhood to encourage participation on Wednesday. a. Contact Neal Harrison or Carrie Webber to offer assistance if you would like to. b. The RSCA will post “Posters” on the RSCA homepage. Folks can print them and post them around the neighborhood or in their yards. (please be sure to remove them afterwards.) 17) If the issue goes past next Wednesday… a. Further the grass roots campaign with yard signs (like the political signs) b. Obviously take the next legal step via injunction, etc. i. May have to raise money if that happens (hopefully not). 18) Neal Harrison offered to write a template letter from residents to Council/Mayor. a. Then Carrie Webber will draft a statement to be read at the meeting with additional details and information. If you have facts and figures, to support our case, please send them to Carrie Webber. i. Are there other opportunities? Please volunteer. b. After proofing letter(s), Mark Foerster will review for a final version. i. Mark is a Former Mayor and Councilman who would be a good source to review to insure that we do not press any unnecessary buttons. 19). Residents, of course, have their right and can handwrite in any additional comments they may want to on the letter. Do you want to see brick or black when you look out your window or look down your beautiful tree-lined street? Thanks to all, and contact us with any questions or projects you want to help with! SUMMARY OF SWISSVALE BOROUGH MEETING, 6/30 (from Trevor Lloyd- Swissvale/ RS Resident) The meeting started off well, as the few of us that showed up got to say a few words and state our position on this extremely important issue. However, when Anthony Russo from WPJWA spoke, things got dire. He is digging his heals in and means business. He has an estimate to pave the 1400 block of Macon with asphalt and that’s it, period. Council seemed to be on our side, which is great, but Mr. Russo expressly mentioned his intent to turn this into a legal fight. I recognize that the Regent Square Civic Association most likely will not want to “choose a side” on this issue. However, we are asking the help and assistance of the RSCA’s ability to reach RSCA residents, as we will need a grass roots awareness campaign. After such a great turnout on Monday, we may have had 12 people show up. 10 or more will not do it at next week’s actual council meeting. We need to have a standing room only turnout. It is imperative that Regent Square residents not on the 1400 block of Macon care about this particular issue. Because if WPJWA gets approval to asphalt from either Swissvale Council or via the legal route, the game is over for the Square. WPJWA will cite this block as a victory and fuel for future line replacements. I.e., when it is Trevanion’s turn, for example, to get their new water line…Trevanion will be asphalted instead of bricked when they put the road back together. SUMMARY OF RSCA MEETING FOR SWISSVALE RESIDENTS TO DISCUSS NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES (in the interest of time, only notes relative to the paving are included here. More detailed notes about the other issues will be posted to the RSCA website with the week.) There were approximately 50-60 people in attendance. Introduction by Carrie Webber, RSCA President. Briefly reviewed current RSCA activities, invited non-members to join RSCA, requested volunteers for future initiatives and introduced Regent Square resident and Swissvale Council members Mike Epitropoulos. In his introduction, Mr. Epitropoulos explained that he was here to gauge support and gather concerns for a handful of issues that Swissvale Council is considering. These include changing Sanders to a one-way street, exploring the possibility of a crosswalk at Braddock and Sanders, and concerns that the WPJWA and/or Swissvale are eager to pave the brick streets with asphalt. Mr. Epitropoulos explained that recent water line breaks and poor asphalt repair jobs on brick streets by the WPJWA have brought this issue to the fore. The he recent damage at Macon and Trevanion was cited by a number of residents as a point of concern. A unanimous show hands was in support of doing whatever is necessary to maintain the neighborhood’s brick streets. Residents had a number of comments: Questioned whether Swissvale has an ordinance that requires brick streets to be replaced/repaired following wok that requires they be torn up. If there is no ordinance, what would be required to have one written and passed by Swissvale Borough? Some residents wondered who would “win” between Swissvale and WPJWA on an issue like this. It was suggested this question be put to the Borough solicitor. Many residents voiced concern that the condition of the brick streets has steadily gotten worse over the last 20 – 30 years. There was frustration that Swissvale has not set aside money to re-set bricks and provide a planned maintenance of the streets. Although unable to cite an exact dollar amount, many residents argued that paving the neighborhood streets would inherently require more maintenance in the long run. It was said that all of Swissvale had probably been repaved numerous times since the bricks in regent Square had been laid. Residents discussed ways to prevent the borough and / water authority from paving. All agreed to have representation at the Wednesday, 6/30 agenda meeting and at the 7/7 council meeting. The RSCA agreed to solicit residents to attend and issues reports etc, as needed.