Protesters march against gentrification at former site of Penn Plaza
A group of about 20 people Saturday in East Liberty rallied against gentrification at the former Penn Plaza site then marched for several blocks — stopping temporarily to protest in front of a home of a member of the city planning commission.
The rally, organized by Serve the People - Pittsburgh, was held as the planning commission is set to vote Tuesday on LG Realty’s plans to build a development of offices and retail called Pennley Park at the now-vacant site of the former apartment complex.
Pennley Park and LG Realty displaced more than 200 residents from the former Penn Plaza apartment complex to clear the way for the redevelopment.
The group called on people “to direct their anger and righteous rebellion” over the development plans at “certain concrete enemies,” including the planning
commission, the realty company and Mayor Bill Peduto.
“The planning commission first voted down LG’s original plan to build luxury apartments and a Whole Foods on the site — a disgustingly blatant move to gentrify East Liberty,” Serve the People said in a Facebook post. “After months of negotiations and no doubt closed door back room deals with Peduto’s office and community development corporations like the Bloomfield Garfield Corp. and East Liberty Development, Inc., the process passed first approval for their new plan.”
Representatives from Serve the People declined comment at the rally.
Donnie Parker, 51, of East Liberty, a former resident of Penn Plaza, said he joined the protest because he was upset with the city and developer.
“They just took it down and told everybody they have to move,” he said.
Mr. Parker, who has been staying with a friend since he was forced out, said he’s still not sure when or where he’s going to find a more permanant residence.
“This was on everybody’s mind — where are we going?” he said.
The protest began at the intersection of Penn and Negley avenues, where the group held up signs as several people spoke out against gentification.
The group then marched on Penn Avenue, turned onto Roup Avenue, and eventually stopped in front of the home of Becky Mingo, a city planning commissioner.
Standing on the sidewalk in front of the home, the group chanted “Shame on Becky” and called on Ms. Mingo to come out and address them. One person then went onto the front porch of the home and taped a note to the door that listed several demands: Vote no on LG’s plan; call on other commissioners to vote no; and apologize publicly for approving the first round of LG’s plan.
Ms. Mingo did not appear, but some neighbors — clearly disturbed by the protesters’ presence — came outside.
Ms. Mingo “works really hard for all the things they care about,” Friendship resident Eileen Kraus-Dobratz said of the protesters. “So they’re really misidentifying the target.”
Pittsburgh police had not been following the protest, but they responded to Ms. Mingo’s home. Officers told group members that they were free to protest in front of Ms. Mingo’s home as long as they did not go onto her property.
The group moved away and split up soon after police arrived.
A police spokesman said no arrests were made and no property damage was reported.
Ms. Mingo could not be reached Saturday evening.
Christine Mondor, chairwoman of the planning commission, was unaware of the rally in front of Ms. Mingo’s house and said she hoped that the meeting scheduled for Tuesday remains “civil.” Citing commission policy, she declined comment on the Pennley Park development.
Representatives for the mayor’s office and LG Realty could not be reached Saturday.