Hill District Residents Take To The Streets To 'Fight Blight'

Residents in Pittsburgh’s Hill District took to the streets last night in an effort to alert city leaders to problems facing the community.

Members of the Schenley Heights community are asking the city to help clean up their streets in an effort to “fight blight.”

Part of the plan is to get many vacant homes torn down.

Additionally, residents voiced their concerns about the lack of traffic signs, overgrown weeds and broken storm drains.

“There’s no stop sign coming that way, there’s no stop sign coming that way,” said Hill District resident Chester Glenn. “It causes problems. There’s going to be a bad accident here.”

City officials agreed with residents’ concerns.

“I think they brought up some very valid points,” said Michael Kenney, executive director of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. “We will look at it, and we will comply with what they’ve requested.”

Community members also requested an increase in police patrols to keep crime in check throughout the Hill District.