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Community Corner

Documentary a Call to Action for Dormont, Brookline

Local leaders discuss how to rejuvenate "original suburbs."

Citizens, council members and community advocates put their heads together Wednesday night at The Hollywood Theater in Dormont.

Following a screening of the award-winning documentary, “The New Metropolis,” by Andrea Torrice, panelists from throughout the Pittsburgh area discussed the challenges and opportunities facing so-called first-ring suburbs—areas such as Dormont and Brookline which came into existence as city populations boomed.

The two-part documentary focused on how such communities were once symbolic of the American dream, but are now in crisis. They face a dwindling tax base and decaying infrastructure.

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Dormont alone faces tens of millions of dollars in street paving, according to Manager Gino Rizza—that in a borough less than one-square mile.

Dormont's problems are not unique.

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“We have some big challenges in front of us,” said Grant Ervin, regional director of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. In an effort to combat the downslide of first-ring areas, Ervin’s group has screened “The New Metropolis” in Penn Hills, McKees Rocks and Wilkinsburg.

Ervin said 10,000 Friends chose the Hollywood as its South Hills venue because the theater is an example of revitalization.

“It’s a great example of what citizens can do when they work together to invest in their community,” he said.

Dormont councilman Drew Lehman agreed.

One of Dormont’s greatest strengths, he said, is the ability to unite diverse people to a common cause. He pointed to both The Hollywood Theater and the Dormont Pool as proof.

“You can see solid results when people are willing to listen and work together, as opposed to lecturing and being closed-minded,” he said.

Panel member and Pittsburgh City Council Representative Natalia Rudiak said projects such as the theater are a key to effective first-ring reform in grass-roots reinvestment.

Her district includes Carrick, Beechview and Brookline. While it may seem odd at first that a city councilwoman would attend a discussion of inner-ring suburbs, she said, all three neighborhoods had once been separate municipalities.

Despite their city-suburb distinctions, which she suggested were more about semantics, the problems they face are similar.

“Before we start courting big companies from out of town, we need to invest in what we have now,” she said.

Lehman and fellow councilman John Maggio agreed.

But they stressed redevelopment doesn’t have to come at the cost of heritage.

“We realize that we need to think regionally when it comes to investment projects,” Lehman said. “But we also don’t want to lose our identity in Dormont as a small town.”

And when a panelist suggested inner-ring suburbs can't necessarily compete with big-box stores, Maggio interrupted to tout .

They're local, have been around a long time, and, he said, can compete with the big-box stores.

And Keith Knecht, vice president of Brookline's South Pittsburgh Develpment Corp. cited as an example of how communities can leverage their uniqueness.

To help Dormont and Brookline thrive without losing its essence, Kathy Risko, associate director of CONNECT, which encourages cooperation among Pittsburgh and neighboring municipalities, encouraged audience members to “be an anchor” in their neighborhoods.

“We are our own advocates for these communities,” she said.

Rudiak agreed, stressing throughout the evening the importance of community.

“Get to know your civic organizations,” she said. “Get to know your neighborhood. Build that sense of community.”

Lehman said residents can support the community by taking part in organizations such as Friends of Dormont Pool; Dormont Athletic Boosters; DIG Dormont; and Friends of the Hollywood Theater.

“Just support your local businesses,” Maggio said. “It’s really that simple.”

For example, he said, on a recent trip, he spotted a magazine he wanted to buy. Instead, he chose to wait a few hours and pick it up when he got home to Dormont.

“It’s a little thing,” he said. “But it all adds up. When you spend your money here, local businesses thrive. And when local businesses thrive, it attracts more business to the community.”

Lehman agreed.

“Buy local at least once every day,” he said. “Get your coffee at a local shop. Buy flowers, have lunch, get your watch fixed, or buy that obscure CD right here in Dormont.”

And try to keep a good attitude, said Maggio.

“When you go outside our borough, or in your emails or online comments, try to represent our community in a positive way."

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