Community Data Project

1
SQUIRREL HILL Our Business District Today
. . . littles shoes
the JCC
eyetique
squirrel cage
penzys spices
forward lanes
jerrys records
the manor
mineos pizza
bangkok balcony . . .
2
Survey Area

• Forbes Avenue
• Murray to Denniston
• Murray Avenue
• Forbes to Forward

3
What kind of questions did we ask?

• What are the conditions of our buildings
  sidewalks?
• What kind of businesses do we have? Are they
  currently occupied?
• What is our parking situation?
• How many street trees, trashcans, bus stops, bike
  racks in our business district?

4
Why we asked in the first place

• To take stock of what our business district looks
  likes today
• To begin a community-wide conversation about what
  the data means and how it can help us in planning
  for tomorrow . . .

5
What do we look like today?
6
Were pretty.

• Data observations
• Overall site conditions are rated above average
  2 on a 1 (perfect) to 5 (poor) scale
• Lots of street trees shade the Forbes promenade

7
Were pretty.

• Data observations
• Overall site conditions are rated above average
  2.2 on a 1 (perfect) to 5 (poor) scale
• Lots of street trees shade the Forbes promenade
• Can we improve?
• What is the issue with the dark pink
  (worst-rated) sidewalks?
• Should we consider adding some green to the
  Murray district to enhance the pedestrian
  experience?

8
Were pretty occupied.

• At 7, our business vacancy rate is nice low.
• By far, the majority (93) of our storefronts are
  occupied.
• Heres how we stack up to other local commercial
  districts

9
Business Mix
Comparing Squirrel Hill to other neighborhood
commercial districts
10
We have a nice mix.

• Data observations
• A well-balanced mix of uses
• Restaurants and retail can support office crowd
  and vice versa
• VERY low vacancy

11
We have a nice mix.

• Data observations
• A well-balanced mix of uses
• Restaurants and retail can support office crowd
  and vice versa
• VERY low vacancy
• Can we improve?
• We look great! How can we keep the businesses
  we have? By increasing neighborhood amenities?
  By identifying our niche marketing it?

12
Were unique.

• A vibrant, urban, international flavor to the
  community its businesses
• Find the World in Squirrel Hill!

13
Were unique.

• A vibrant, urban, international flavor to the
  community its businesses
• Find the World in Squirrel Hill!
• More yummy ice cream joints than any other
  district in Pittsburgh!
• Forbes Avenue as Ice Cream Alley?

14
The business district is strong.
How can the community help to keep it that way?

• Celebrate
• The neighborhood
• Participate
• In the community
• Propagate
• The success