COURT REDEDICATED
Some in community unhappy with name
But some residents of Larimer are not happy with the basketball facility’s new name.
At the corner of Larimer Avenue and Shetland Street, where the Costa Brothers store stood for a century, public officials on Thursday dedicated a refurbished basketball court as “Costa Court” — named after the Italian immigrant family that produced a line of local government workers and elected officials.
“A hundred years ago, my grandfather migrated to this country and lived in that house right over there,” said Guy Costa, retired city chief of operations. He pointed to various properties on Shetland: “That vacant lot is where we lived for a number of years growing up in the Larimer Avenue neighborhood. And behind us was a retail and apartment [building], where my dad and his uncles for years had a grocery store … one of many markets here on Larimer Avenue. That’s where I had my first job selling Christmas trees at $3 apiece.”
Mr. Costa’s brother, state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, stood holding the arm of their mother, Louise Costa, 89.
But not all attendees were pleased with the naming.
“It seems more practical and realistic to name a basketball court after someone who played basketball,” said Betty Lane, 81, of Larimer, referring to Larimer native and former Harlem Globetrotter Tyrone “Moon” Howard.
Mr. Howard, who died in 2013 at age 47, played college basketball for Eastern Kentucky and eventually went on to the traveling exhibition team. According to the online petition website MoveOn.org, a petition to name a basketball court on Larimer Avenue after Mr. Howard garnered 550 signatures in 2015 and 2016 and was “to be delivered to City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess.”
“I don’t have a problem with the Costas,” said Donna Jackson, chair of the Larimer Consensus Group.
“The Costas have been very good to us, but it would have been nice for us, since we are the recognized community group, [to be contacted] when something is going to be named.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Lincoln-Lemington, and
city Councilman Burgess, who both represent the neighborhood.
“I want to salute the Costa family for their years of community service and dedication to Pittsburgh and Allegheny County … and I know how they love Larimer, so today we’re going to dedicate [the court],” Mr. Gainey said from the podium. “What we don’t want is to allow anything to divide us in regard to the redevelopment of Larimer.” He pledged to work with Jay Costa, the mayor and Mr. Burgess on behalf of the community.
Mr. Gainey and Mr. Peduto walked along Larimer Avenue after the ceremony to look at other city-owned property. The neighborhood’s population plummeted in the late 20th century, and several sections arenow plagued by blight.
“There’s a lot of history in this neighborhood,” Mr. Peduto said after the event. “This one spot was where the Costa Brothers store was, and we wanted to be able to recognize [that]. … But here’s the thing: We have a lot of property in this very block.”
Mr. Peduto said he’s made a commitment to use capital funds to dedicate other assets in the community to individuals who have made an impacton the neighborhood.
“We also have the opportunity to potentially look at building another court, or even a third, and create a place where tournaments can be played and a lot of activity can occur in an area right now that’s just vacant lots,” he said.