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A Bold New Vision for Oakland

The following letter was sent March 17, 2022
By Carlino Giampolo

Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC)
Board of Directors

Re: A Bold New Vision for Oakland

The Oakland Crossings project, like the Mon-Oakland Connector project, started from a process of moral turpitude. Such an immoral, unethical, and unjust process, regardless of how it might be amended, will only create future destruction for Oakland, and pain and suffering for the residents whom the project impacts.

In seeking initial approval for this project, Walnut Capital and former Mayor William Peduto admitted in media interviews that Oakland is a student community. In resolving a problem, the first step is admitting the problem exists. Neither the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) nor others can deny the tragic fact that the once-thriving residential community of Oakland is now a student community.

It is most ironic that the very entities that created this tragic problem, mainly the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and their developer partners, are now saying to OPDC: Let us show you how to rebuild your community.

That unprecedented arrogance indicates not only a total lack of respect for OPDC, but a certain confidence that giving limited concessions to OPDC will result in the organization's approval of the project.

This lack of respect for OPDC is also shown by the Oakland Business Improvement District. They have now expanded their sphere of influence into the residential neighborhood to give greater support for this project. However, years ago when they were asked to help with the cleanup of the litter problem in the residential neighborhood, they refused to give support, stating that it was beyond their business district boundaries. These two actions clearly indicate that they value economic profit for their members over the dignity of our residential community.

You have a strong ally in Mayor Ed Gainey. His administration and Walnut Capital have proposed an updated version of the Oakland Crossings project based on what his administrators sincerely believed OPDC wants. However, I hope this version is not what OPDC wants.

Instead, here are suggestions of a bold new vision for Oakland:

1. OPDC must declare a moratorium on all new construction projects in Oakland over $50,000. Projects greater than that amount must be initiated by a community organization and approved by all Oakland organizations. This action will prevent smaller developers from building townhouses on Dawson Street, Parkview Avenue, Frazier Street, Boundary Street, or any other street in Oakland, as well as curtail the uncontrolled expansion of the universities and their developer partners.

2. OPDC must unite with other Oakland organizations, the mayor, and his administrators in demanding hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University for their severe impact on their host community. This will provide financial resources for the community that far exceed anything the Oakland Crossings project could ever provide.

3. OPDC must make known to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University that they must downsize in Oakland. Dormitories must be turned into residential housing backed by Housing Choice Vouchers that are provided by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. This will result in more equitable housing opportunities for residents, rather than the meager amounts proposed in the updated version of the Oakland Crossings project.

4. OPDC must retain legal resources to implement these suggestions, and other suggestions made by Oakland organizations, to protect and preserve the Oakland residential community.

My grandparents' generation trusted the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University when it welcomed them into the community at the start of the last century. They believed the universities would be good for the community. They never realized their beloved residential community would be decimated and turned into a student community.

The above four suggestions necessitate actions from OPDC that go beyond anything that has ever been done before. Those actions will first require from the leadership a new system of beliefs and attitudes, thoughts and feelings, choices and decisions, desire, imagination, and expectation.

Oakland Planning and Development Corporation is at a defining moment in its history as whether it will approve the Oakland Crossings project. You are strongly urged to create a new beginning for Oakland, and to never again allow outsiders to dictate our community's destiny.