Wanted to link to this P-G article of Cleda Klingensmith's about what the headline says is the Schenley Plaza Boondogle.
I'm of two minds on Schenley Plaza, an attempt to make a City Beautiful green space between Hillman Library and the Carnegie Library.
I believe Oakland, the university population, and visitors deserve a green space such as Schenley Plaza. I'm not sure, however, about the Plaza fulfilling the need for a commanding and scenic entrance to Schenley Park. Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, and the Carnegie already possess the land to make that possible. And I agree that a "closed hermetic design" is the last thing we need there.
One of my biggest issues with Schenley Plaza is Pitt's championing the need for this "green space" while being poor stewards of the open space it has, especially between Hillman and Forbes Quad and behind David Lawrence and the Law School.
If Pitt expects the city, and state taxpayers, to make sacrifices for this project I believe it's time for them to make their own sacrifices and create a viable plan for the use of this open space. I think you could probably continue Sennott Street creating either a through street or cul-de-sac. If street vendors, parking, and other activities were concentrated there instead of in the plaza, this would become a busy thoroughfare, and a truly satisfying place to be, and behold, life in Oakland.
So if it's too late to make changes to the proposed Schenley Plaza, I hope it's not too late to make sure the needs of the community are met, and that funding is "found for what needs to be done."
Posted by mastr at June 2, 2004 09:29 PM