Letter to District Attorney
Stephen Zappala

By Carlino Giampolo
September 26, 2021

Has Moral Corruption Escalated
to Criminal Corruption?

Stephen A. Zappala Jr.
Allegheny County District Attorney

Mr. Zappala,

The attached September 22, 2021 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describes actions that many people would characterize as moral corruption. 

Although the article does not go into depth about those actions, do they represent another red flag to consider in an investigation, in determining whether they have escalated to the level of criminal corruption?

How could the decimation of communities like Oakland, whose business and residential districts have already been decimated by the actions of universities, nonprofit institutions, city and county elected officials, and developers, among others, be explained if not by criminal corruption?

Your tenure is ending. In the future, would you be able to look back and say to yourself, with impeccable integrity, that you used your powers of choice, responsibility, love, and healing to the fullest to protect the residents of Oakland?

Carlino Giampolo

Walnut Capital’s ambitious Oakland building plan, proposed zoning change stir controversy

Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published September 22, 2021, 1:36pm

A plan by a Shadyside developer to hold a series of public meetings over its ambitious proposal to reshape part of Central and South Oakland has done nothing to appease a major community group opposed to the initiative.

Walnut Capital will start off with three virtual public meetings on Sept. 30 to discuss a plan that involves the construction of more than half a dozen new apartment buildings and a pedestrian bridge over the Boulevard of the Allies.

The proposal also involves a zoning change that would create a new subdistrict to the five existing public realm districts in Oakland. Mayor Bill Peduto's office introduced the legislation for the zoning change to City Council Tuesday.

But the proposal and the change are coming under fire from the Oakland Planning and Development Corp., the neighborhood’s registered community organization.

Wanda Wilson, OPDC executive director, charged that the zoning legislation was essentially written by Walnut Capital and that it usurped the norm of having the city planning department involved in its drafting and introduction.

"It's absolutely outrageous. It's appalling," she said, adding she has never seen anything like it in the 25 years she has worked in Pittsburgh, including a stint with the planning department.

"It's wrong to do this, especially for something of such scale for our community."

But Dan Gilman, chief of staff to Mr. Peduto, disputed Ms. Wilson's characterization of the situation.

He insisted that the planning department was involved not only in conversations surrounding the zoning legislation, but also in "multiple meetings" where it was reviewed and amended and where recommendations were made.

Mr. Gilman also said that it is not unusual for such legislation to be introduced by the mayor or a City Council member. He said that it was recently done with an amendment to a specially planned district at the Hazelwood Green redevelopment in Hazelwood.

"This isn't out of the ordinary," he said.

Mr. Gilman and Todd Reidbord, Walnut Capital president, noted that the zoning legislation would be subject to public hearings before the planning commission and City Council before it could be enacted.

Walnut Capital had "a little input" in the drafting of the legislation, but nothing more, Mr. Reidbord said.

OPDC isn't the only one that has complaints about the process.

Caroline Mitchell, an attorney for the Oakcliffe Community Organization, also questioned it.

"Since when does a developer go into City Council to say, 'Here is the plan, I want you to adopt it?'" she asked. "I'm astonished that this is how they do it."

Ms. Mitchell also said much of the community has been in the dark over exactly what Walnut Capital is proposing. She wanted to know what the building heights would be and other details.

"Everyone seems very concerned that we have no idea what they're proposing. They have been cooking this up for several months. Where is the public input of what they're proposing?" she said.

In its announcement, Walnut Capital stated that the public meetings are designed to "inform the public of its plans and gain feedback."

The release stated the developer had taken part in many Oakland Action Team meetings as part of the EngagePGH Oakland plan and that its vision, which spans some 17 acres of prime neighborhood real estate, aligns with that initiative and the 2025 Oakland master plan.

With its proposal, "we believe we're addressing the wants and needs of the community," Mr. Reidbord said.

But Ms. Wilson accused Walnut Capital of jumping the gun. She said the community is still in the middle of the Oakland planning process.

For the developer to offer such a massive proposal before that has been completed "is completely wrong in every way," she said.

However, Mr. Reidbord maintained Walnut Capital was under no obligation to wait until the end of the planning process to put forth its proposal. He accused OPDC of refusing to hold public meetings on the proposal.

In response, Ms. Wilson said no one knew about the zoning legislation until it popped up on the City Council agenda Tuesday, adding OPDC has no obligation to hold meetings about a "concept that is put forth by a developer that has no validation in terms of a public process."

"I'm under no obligation to hold public meetings just because Todd Reidbord thinks I should," she said.

The Oakland Crossings proposal envisions the construction of three apartment buildings on Halket Street opposite UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, an apartment building at the back of the historic Isaly's site on the Boulevard of the Allies, and at least four residential structures on McKee Place.

In all, about 1,000 rental units are contemplated. They would complement a plan by the University of Pittsburgh to convert the Quality Inn and Suites on the Boulevard of the Allies into apartments specifically geared to nonstudents. Pitt also is planning at the site a grocery store, a long-sought neighborhood amenity.

Walnut Capital's plan also involves the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking the Isaly's and Quality Inn sites, a new park at the Isaly's, which it might seek to swap with the city for Zulema Park, and the creation of a new pedestrian plaza on Zulema.

The developer has said the proposal is in keeping with the neighborhood's goals for the grocery, nonstudent housing near jobs, more green space, and a bridge over the boulevard.

Listing those very same desires, Mr. Gilman said the mayor supports the proposal.

"This is a unique opportunity to see that vision come to life," he said.

Information about the Walnut Capital public meetings and the Oakland Crossings proposal can be found at https://www.oaklandcrossingspgh.com.

Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.

First Published September 22, 2021, 1:36pm

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2021/09/22/Walnut-Capital-Oakland-Planning-and-Development-University-of-Pittsburgh-Halket-Boulevard-of-the-Allies-Bill-peduto-Isaly-s-Quality-Inn/stories/202109220161