A(n internal) Framework to Advance Deconstruction Policies in Pittsburgh, PA

14 Letters of D-E-C-O-N-S-T-R-U-C-T-I-O-N

D - Develop templates for Deconstruction Feasibility Assessment, Materials Management Plan &

Materials Destination Report for use in City contracts and projects

• So many templates to copy from and customize!

o Seattle, DC, Baltimore, URA, and Tri-COG Land Bank (Deconstruction SharePoint folder)

o EPA On the Road to Reuse: Residential Bid Specification Development Tool

o HUD deconstruction feasibility report

E - Explore existing government roles and regulations

• Confirm internal roles (see Figure 1 - City entities and local agencies involved in construction,

deconstruction, and/or demolition)

• Improve coordination across city departments and government agencies

C - Create a Deconstruction Pilot Program

• Select city-owned abandoned homes to test deconstruction

o Phase 1 - Assess Deconstruction Feasibility for potential candidates

o Phase 2 - Review equity - Potential candidates

▪ (see Figure 2 - City-owned condemned properties and Avenues of Hope)

• Look to 26 other cities with government-sponsored deconstruction

• Learn from recent projects in and near Pittsburgh (see Figure 3 - Recent Pittsburgh deconstruction

projects)

O – Oversee new deconstruction initiatives

• Office of the Mayor can coordinate internally until funded/ full-time staff or AmeriCorps VISTA (applied

for 4/15)

o Planner app task tracking

• Build on the work of the Deconstruction Working Group

o Deconstruction SharePoint with memos and notes and research archive

• Work with I&P to create a dashboard view of city-owned abandoned homes in context of Avenues of

Hope and CDBG-eligible – draft charter of roles & responsibilities

• Institutionalize good housekeeping checklist for City board-up processes, include Deconstruction

Feasibility Assessment in that

o Attach Deconstruction Feasibility Assessments and asbestos surveys to internal parcel records as

performed

• Increase supply & demand for used building materials through City purchasing and contracts

• Contribute to and promote business directories for local recycling and reuse facilities

o Memo proposal for a comprehensive and dynamic directory

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• Align/ bolster deconstruction goals with existing city plans

o Pittsburgh’s Roadmap to Zero Waste (p. 17) – establish vendor partners for all materials.

o Pittsburgh Climate Action 3.0 Plan

o UN Sustainable Development Goals and how they relate to deconstruction

o PreservePGH

▪ 2.2-B+: Explore policy incentives that encourage […] deconstruction and salvage program

N - Nominate other City-owned properties for future Deconstruction Program

S - Spread the word to neighbors, Permits, Licenses, & Inspections customers, and the general public

• Use spring 2021 Pitt Projects in Marketing deconstruction education/ outreach campaign to meet

people where they are across many mediums

• Provide education to captive audiences – PLI customers, neighbors of abandoned homes, contractors

• Seek out neighbors of abandoned homes as consultants

• Create webpage and then EngagePGH page → https://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/deconstruction

T - Trust the experts in setting deconstruction policies

• Initiate a Deconstruction Action Council before enacting any public requirements, look to model

o Bay Area Deconstruction Working Group

o San Antonio Deconstruction Think Tank

R - Raise funds for pilot, trainings, outreach, oversight, and more

• First define costs (a start)

U - Use salvage & deconstruction to preserve neighborhood character

C - Connect improved public health and wellbeing to using deconstruction instead of demolition

✔️ Asbestos Testing - regulated before beginning demolition activities

❌ Lead testing – not currently regulated for demolition activities

• Coordinate City and County jurisdiction and responsibility

• Encourage County to offer technical assistance for lead containment/ dust management plans with

suppression techniques such as those issued by the Oregon Health Authority or Vancouver

WorkSafeBC, and recommended by the University of Pittsburgh’s Lead-Safe Demolition Report

T - Time community control of next use for vacant lot

• Give first right of next use of lot to adjacent neighbors, queue up process before project start

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• Thwart unwanted investment or gentrification (see Figure 4 - Potential positive neighborhood

functions)

I - Incentivize participation in building trades and deconstruction certifications

• Support create workforce development opportunities for other contractors people in and not already in

the building trades (Construction Junction to start)

• Integrate deconstruction education into existing curricula[e]

• Advertise City bid opportunities through workforce development programs

o Encourage participation by minority deconstruction businesses as primes or sub-

contractors. Office of Management & Budget

• Connect businesses and non-profits to grants or resources to incorporate waste reduction and recycling

in their operations on their own

O - Open policy parameters to use deconstruction to take down privately-owned, dead-end

abandoned homes

N – Numerate and publicize success, and explore further considerations

• Keep good data on all parts of this, especially neighborhood engagement and tonnages of

Construction & Demolition materials recycled

• Learn all the lessons

• Expand to County and State to replicate successes and advocate for State and Federal support of

municipal deconstruction efforts

Figure Library and exhaustive deconstruction research bibliography→

Figure 1 - City entities and local agencies involved in construction, deconstruction, and/or demolition .................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2 - City-owned condemned properties and Avenues of Hope ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 3 - Recent Pittsburgh deconstruction projects.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 4 - Potential positive neighborhood functions ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Page 4 of 13

Figure 1 - City entities and local agencies involved in construction, deconstruction, and/or demolition

City of Pittsburgh

Department of Permits,

Licenses, & Inspections (PLI)

Licensing & Administration Jurisdiction set by

• Pittsburgh City Code Title Ten: Building

o includes Title Seven: Business

Licensing

Locally adopts see 16State Labor & Industry)

• Uniform Construction Code

• International Building Code

• International Property Maintenance

code (2015)

Enforces all building, property, maintenance,

fire prevention, and licensing codes

Issues General Contractor licenses

Operations Maintains electronic database of [adjective]

records

Inspects and condemns unsafe and structurally

unsound buildings

Monitors condemned properties for

improvement or demolition,

ordering buildings uninhabitable*

Contracts for demolition of condemned

buildings

Inspects buildings for code and permit

compliance

Construction Accepts and reviews applications for

construction and demolition permit

Issues construction and demolition permits

Department of City Planning Strategic Planning Develops neighborhood master plans relating

to real property, including parks, riverfronts,

greenways, and other public spaces

Community Affairs Receives and addresses quality-of-life concerns

with neighbors and community groups,

including maintenance for abandoned

buildings

Sustainability & Resilience Leads integration of sustainability into city

operations and policies

Runs Adopt-a-lot program

Zoning & Development

Review

Reviews all permits for compliance with

Pittsburgh Zoning Code and all regulations

pertaining to the construction, alteration,

repair, use occupancy, and demolition of

buildings or structures,

Page 5 of 13

including environmental performance

standards

And Title Ten; Building – Chapter § 1001.07

Acts on received approvals for new

development per recommendations by

independent Planning Commission reviewing

body

Department of Public Works Facilities Maintenance,

Architecture, & Construction

Divisions

Prepares construction bid documents

Performs infrastructure assessment of assets

Audits and Inspects for project close-out

Maintains and performs work orders on over

300 facilities

Fulfills board-up requests on City-owned

property

Bureau of Environmental

Services – Refuse & Recycling

Divisions

Collects municipal solid waste (Construction &

Demolition waste prohibited) to drive bring to

two landfills [xx] miles roundtrip (Roadmap to

Zero Waste #)

Administration Purchases commodities and procures services

Oversees City contracts for dumpsters/roll-off

container services

Implements and manages projects and

programs; coordinates DPW’s response to

stakeholders.

Department of Mobility &

Infrastructure

Oversees rights-of-way in accordance

Chapter 1003.21 Transportation of Material

Office of Management &

Budget

Business Equity Recruits and promotes Minority, Women, and

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWDBE)s

for City contracting opportunities

Procurement Organizes and directs procurement process

and competitive solicitations

Grants and Special Revenue Pursues, secures, and administers grants from

federal, state, county, corporate, and

foundation partners

Community Development

Block Grant (CDBG) Program

Utilizes CDBG funding from the United States

Department of Housing & Urban Development

(HUD) to improve housing conditions

Department of Innovation &

Performance (I&P)

311 Accepts service requests and opens tickets for

abandoned property maintenance including

board-ups and tree care, from citizen

consultants

Serves as hub for City information

Data services Uses data and mapping to provide tools to

improve decision making

Manages new City-owned property next use

dashboard

Page 6 of 13

Department of Finance Real Estate Division Receives notices of violation from PLI for-City-

owned property

Creates board-up request work orders to send

to DPW - Construction Division

Creates tree maintenance work orders to send

to DPW – Forestry

Maintains third-party contract(s) for

overgrowth/ debris maintenance of City-owned

property

Reviews draft demolition address list for

conflicts of active sale

Oversees the sale of City-owned property

Oversees all collection and billing of taxes

Processes tax assessment appeals

Department of Law Reviews all City contracts

Consults on legislative additions and

amendments

City Controller Engineering Inspects project sites before invoice payment

per contract

Conducts Performance Audits of City

Departments and authorities to ensure that

program goals and objectives are being met,

test compliance with applicable laws, and to

make constructive recommendations for

improvement

City Council Comprised of nine district representatives with

~33k people

Reviews and approves all legislative additions

and amendments

Enacts policy

Reviews and approves contracts in amounts

greater than $5,000.00

Consults and approves Annual Operating &

Capital Budgets

Mayor Provide leadership and strategic direction to all

aspects of City government

Develop and implement policy reflective of

community goals

Sworn to ensure a responsible city that meets

all its citizens’ needs

Tasked with aggressive actions toward

achieving the goals of the Preamble to the

Home Rule Charter of Pittsburgh’s Code of

Ordinances

“[…] dignified housing, useful employment,

pure air and water, efficient transportation [sic]

excellent education, health, safety, recreation

Page 7 of 13

and culture, and the other conditions

conducive to human growth.”

Allegheny County

Allegheny County Health

Department (ACHD)

Requires and tracks Elevated Blood Lead Levels

(ELBLL) for lead poisoning of children. In 2019,

198 children under the age of six in the City of

Pittsburgh were newly identified with a

confirmed Elevated Blood Lead Level of over

5 μg/dL, the threshold set by the Center for

Disease Control (CDC) to identify children

exposed to lead

Encourages lead testing in homes and

promotes prevention of lead-based paint and

dust

Contract with Lead Hazard Control Services to

remediate health and safety hazards in

residential units (owner-occupied and rented)

Require asbestos inspection for all structures

slated for demolition

Provide asbestos inspection services

Improve the County’s housing stock and

strengthen residential neighborhoods

Produces an Environmental Justice

Report with 8 community-identified metrics of

community health (2019)

Housing and Community

Environment

Reduce public health risks related to housing

Enforce regulations

Work cooperatively with other agencies

Air Quality Program Identify and remedy

Oversee asbestos abatement to reduce public

exposure

Receives asbestos abatement applications

Issues asbestos permits

Safe & Healthy Homes

Program

Provides healthy home inspection for privately-

owned buildings

Department of Human

Services

Health indicators social

Senior centers

Office of Property

Assessments

Valuates cost of real property

Maintains and publishes records of property

ownership

Allegheny County Economic

Development

Administers the Act 152 (2016) program to

exclusively fund demolition of blighted

structures

Gaming and Economic Development Fund

(GEDF)

Community Infrastructure Tourism Fund

Page 8 of 13

Redevelopment Authority of

Allegheny County (RAAC)

Delivers Allegheny County Vacant Property

Recovery Program (VPRP) accepts proposals for

rehabilitation or demolition of blighted

structures meeting location and tax

delinquency and criteria

Legislative County Council Comprised of 13 district and 2 at-large

representatives, unpaid

Executive County Executive Allegheny County’s Lead Taskforce

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Department of Labor &

Industry

Bureau of Labor Law

Compliance

Created regional workforce development plan

from the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity

Act

Publishes directory of certified asbestos

abatement companies (15 companies in

Pittsburgh region)

Establishes and enforces laws and safety

standards in the workplace, including

compliance with

• Occupational Safety & Health

Administration (OSHA)

• Building, Construction, and Fire Code

• Pennsylvania Uniform Construction

Code

• International Energy Conservation

Code

• International Fire Code

• International Performance Code for

Buildings and Facilities

Bureau of Occupational and

Industrial Safety

Administers and enforces the

• Uniform Construction Code (UCC)

• Asbestos Occupations Accreditation

and Certification Act

• the Lead Certification Act

Department of General

Services

GreenGov Council Established Exec Order 2019-01 Pennsylvania’s

climate goals 26 % reduction of net

greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 2025

Public Works Bureau Responsible for the coordination and oversight

of all non-highway capital construction projects

for the Commonwealth

Procurement Bureau Annual budget to purchase building materials

Page 9 of 13

Department of Community &

Economic Development

(DCED)

Created PA Blight Library with the Housing

Alliance

Grant funding opportunities

Department of Environmental

Protection

(DEP)

Southwest region Protects Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water

from pollution to provide for the health and

safety of its citizens through a cleaner

environment

Issues air emissions and quality reports

Receives and inspects environmental

complaints

Awards grants to organizations and cities for

waste and recycling management, reducing air

and water pollution, environmental education,

and clean energy development

Legislative State Senators Potential for legislation that advances

deconstruction efforts through policy,

programming, or funding.

State Representatives Potential for legislation that advances

deconstruction efforts through policy,

programming, or funding.

Executive Governor Protects clean air, clean water, and public

health

Federal

United States Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA)

National Service Center for

Environmental Publications

Enforcement and Compliance

Division

Enforces compliance with Clean Air Act (1970)

and Clean Water Act (1972)

Sets National Emissions Standards for

Hazardous Air Pollutants

Manages research programs on waste and

materials management on waste and materials

management, issues policy and guidance

Publishes guides and literature on

deconstruction

Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) Lead

exposure reduction and Asbestos Hazard

Emergency Response

Pittsburgh is inside Region 3 – Mid-Atlantic

Office of Environmental

Justice

Environmental Justice Action Agenda to meet

Strategic Plan

Publishes annual Progress Report (2020)

United States Department of

Health & Human Services

National Institutes of Health

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

Funds biomedical research to improve public

health by promoting treatment and

prevention

Poison control central

Page 10 of 13

United States Department of

Housing & Urban

Development (HUD)

Publishes research on creative approaches for

housing development and teardowns, including

studies on feasibility of deconstruction

Distributes Community Development Block

Grant (CDBG) funding

United States Department of

Labor

Administrates Occupational Safety & Health

Administration (OSHA) reporting and

requirements

United States Department of

the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Accepts documentation of qualified appraisals

Pub 561 – Determining Value of Donated

Property

Pub 526 – Charitable Contributions

United States Senators Potential for legislation that advances

deconstruction efforts through policy,

programming, or funding.

United States Congress Potential for legislation that advances

deconstruction efforts through policy,

programming, or funding.

Adjacent

Magisterial District Judicial

Courts

13 Magisterial District Judges with jurisdiction

by ward

Urban Redevelopment

Authority (URA) of Pittsburgh

• Owns 1,675 properties

• Demolishes structures on occasion,

such as the Former Homewood School, via

deconstruction (see Figure 6 - Recent

Pittsburgh deconstruction projects)

• Operates the LandCare property

maintenance incubator for small

businesses

• Offers

o a variety of gap financing

products and expert services to help

business expansion

o financing programs for home

purchasing and rehabilitation

o financial assistance from

internal resources and State and

Federal partners

o Pittsburgh Housing Construction

Fund financing to non-profit and

for-profit developers for the

substantial rehabilitation or new

construction of for-sale housing

Page 11 of 13

Pittsburgh Public Schools

Housing Authority of the City

of Pittsburgh (HACP)

Owns and maintains facilities and property

One of 3Taxing Bodies

Figure 2 - City-owned condemned properties and Avenues of Hope

Figure 3 - Recent Pittsburgh deconstruction projects

Some recent deconstruction projects in and near

Pittsburgh

Former Homewood School

Demolition (2019) Pittsburgh, PA

Urban Redevelopment

Authority, Landforce,

Construction Junction

Transformazium (2010) Braddock, PA Construction Junction

Tri-COG Land Bank "Lead Safer" demolition -

(2019) Millvale

Tri-Cog Land Bank

PNC Financial Services Group

headquarters (2012) Pittsburgh, PA

Construction Junction

Carnegie Mellon - Solar House (2018) Pittsburgh, PA Construction

Junction, Auberle, Landforce

UPMC Presbyterian South Tower (xx) Pittsburgh, PA Construction Junction

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Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens Barn (2018) Oakdale, PA Construction Junction

United Mine Workers simulated coal mine (2020) Ruff

Creek, PA

Construction Junction, United

Mine Workers of America, South

Hilltop Men’s Group

Carnegie Mellon University - Scaife Hall – CMU (2019)

Pittsburgh, PA

Construction Junction

University of Pittsburgh – Scaife Hall (2019-2020)

Pittsburgh, PA

Landforce

Action Housing – Pgh Theological Apts - (2020)

Pittsburgh, PA

Construction

Junction, Landforce

Watson Institute - (2019) Sewickley, PA Construction Junction

Michael Baker House - (2019) Beaver, PA Construction Junction

St Basil’s School  (2019) Pittsburgh, PA Construction Junction

St Basil’s Rectory (2019) Pittsburgh, PA Construction Junction

Mary S. Brown Church (2018-2019) Pittsburgh, PA Construction Junction

Figure 4 - Potential positive neighborhood functions

Positive Neighborhood Function   Description

Adopt-a-Lot vegetable, herb, native flower, garden or orchard or playground or pumpkin patch or sunflower phase

Soil testing food desert Feed PGH plan food desert– strict soil level requirement

Department of City Planning 

Adopt-a-Lot non-edible garden or passive greenspaces or pathways, mini-park, greenway expansion, native seedling tree grove, art installation

Plant trees or create walking paths Mobility connectivity goals Mayor goal of all resident 10-minute walk access to greenspace Proximity to greenspace improves mental health and mood

Department of City Planning  Department of Mobility & Infrastructure Department of Public Works Department of Finance non-profit partners

Sale to adjacent neighbor through City Side yard Purchase Program Sale to Community Development Corporation (CDC)

Stabilization Localize control of land Tax and lien forgiveness to make attractive to require

Department of Finance, Land Bank  

Page 13 of 13

Sale to Community Land Trust Sale to Land Bank  

Green infrastructure/ stormwater controls 

 Pinpoint solutions Department of City Planning, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority

Stewardship agreement with local greenspace or permaculture org 

Leverage partnerships for lot maintenance

Community Development Corporations (CDCs), greenspace and permaculture organizations e.g. Grounded, Grow Pittsburgh, Black Urban Gardeners (BUGS),  

New housing construction  Consideration for affordability Design for deconstruction Deconstruct to a foundation, connect to new

Housing Needs Assessment, Housing Opportunity Trust Fund