In a high-stakes game of "king of the hill," Mayor Tom Murphy is facing off against the University of Pittsburgh, with time working against him



The mayor is pushing a $49 million plan crafted by Boston-based developer Beacon/Corcoran Jennison to build 200 homes and renovate a community center in the partially revitalized Oak Hill neighborhood, once a public housing slum. Thomas Murphy, Jr., Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, PA , served as a Peace Corps Volunteers in Paraguay in the 1970's.

In a high-stakes game of "king of the hill," Mayor Tom Murphy is facing off against the University of Pittsburgh, with time working against him

Murphy, Pitt battle for Oak Hill
Mayor wants to build 200 homes at one-time slum; university wants to use 15-acre site for sports complex

Wednesday, August 03, 2005
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In a high-stakes game of "king of the hill," Mayor Tom Murphy is facing off against the University of Pittsburgh, with time working against him.

[Excerpt].

The mayor is pushing a $49 million plan crafted by Boston-based developer Beacon/Corcoran Jennison to build 200 homes and renovate a community center in the partially revitalized Oak Hill neighborhood, once a public housing slum.

But Pitt wants the 15-acre site for athletic facilities, and is currently outbidding the Murphy-backed developer.

"I've always felt a deep emotional and personal commitment to the tenants to complete this," Murphy said yesterday, as he drove through the 639 homes built in the first phase of Oak Hill, completed in 2003.

"I believe there's a legal commitment to build this development out," he added, since the developer signed on for a full redevelopment.

The university's plan "provides much-needed funding to the [Pittsburgh] Housing Authority," which currently owns the land, countered Robert HIll, Pitt's vice chancellor for public affairs. "The [developer's] financing plan is not a good deal for the city of Pittsburgh, not a good deal for the residents and leaves people wondering why the city is fast-tracking a plan the city can't afford."

Beacon/Corcoran Jennison's financing plan includes $8 million in tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, said Miles Byrne, the developer's Oak Hill project director.

Applications to the agency, including complete budgets, are due in October, Byrne said. If that deadline is missed, the next deadline is in the spring, he added, when some people "aren't going to be at the table."

Murphy, for instance, leaves office at year's end.

"If we don't get a tax credit application in by October, this deal is in big trouble," said Byrne.

When this story was posted in August 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

---

---

Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is rising opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" Latest: RPCV Chris Matthews to discuss the issue on Hardball tonight.

---

Top Stories: August 1, 2005 Paul E. Tsongas Public Service Award unveiled 21 July Charlie Peters writes book on Wendell Willkie 25 July Protests against Peace Corps in Bangladesh 30 July Christopher R. Hill leads talks with North Korea 29 July Chris Shays blocks senator's plan to reopen bases 29 July Dr. Joann LaPerla-Morales leads Middlesex College 28 July Jacob Mundy supports struggle in Western Sahara 28 July Paul Theroux blames big oil for ‘catastrophe’ in Ecuador 28 July Bruce Wilkinson has called Africa home for 17 years 25 July Taylor Hackford producing "E-Ring" for tv 25 July Robert Haas to retire as head of Levi Strauss 24 July Brent Lynn turned Janus Overseas Fund around 24 July James Rupert says Musharraf walks tightrope in Pakistan 23 July Thomas O. Mann describes Carp Fishing in France 22 July Rob Quigley receives Maybeck Award in Architecture 22 July Blackwill says visit by India PM a 'historical breakthrough' 21 July NPCA studies membership structure 21 July Mark Lenzi says Poles deserve the West's support 20 July Mark Gearan weighs in on Bush's Supreme Court pick 20 July Ofelia Miramontes championed bilingual education 18 July Hank Stelzer supports school for blind in Lesotho 16 July

---

Special Events for RPCVs RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 See RPCV Musical "Doing Good" in CA through Sept RPCV Film Festival in DC in October

---

July 17, 2005: This Week's Top Stories C. Payne Lucas writes "Can we win the war on HIV/Aids?" 11 July Director Vasquez hints at expansion in Bangladesh 17 July Why didn't I spend my life helping others? 17 July John Beasley returns to the islands of Micronesia 17 July Jennifer Field to study glacier melting 17 July Tucker McCravy works with Serendib in Sri Lanka 17 July David Vick writes "Waging civilized warfare" 16 July Tom Petri says Nelson helped to promote civility 16 July Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Mongolia 15 July John Bridgeland writes "An example for Boomers" 15 July Robert Blackwill says India and US have a great future 15 July Peace Corps debuts new internet recruitment tool 14 July Eight New Country Directors Appointed 13 July Shelton Johnson Honored for Buffalo Soldier program 13 July Bill Lorenz leads trek for Sudanese refugees 12 July Emilie Pryor says Peace Corps ignores Lariam problems 12 July DDN is Award Finalist for reporting on PC Safety 11 July Randy Lewis to hire 200 people with cognitive disabilities 10 July Maryland needs people like Tom Lewis 10 July Dan DeWayne puts on music festival 10 July

---

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

Read the stories and leave your comments.