Forest Hills Forward: Breaking Bread Community Dinner

Funded by Keystone Communities Program by the Pennsylvania

Department of Community & Economic Development

WELCOME!

Senator Costa

How long have you lived in Forest Hills?

Have you ever been to…?

We love Forest Hills!

Our vision is an increasingly vibrant and prosperous Forest Hills.

FOLLOW US @fhcommunityalliance

→

2000 Forest Hills CDC

Created

2019 Borough of Forest Hills

Comprehensive Plan

Updated by the FH Borough Council & Planning Commission

Forest Hills CDC Re-established

2020 Forest Hills CDC

It’s nice to meet you!

Board of Directors

Jackie Dempsey

President Maureen Ryan

Vice President

Aaron Wassenaar

Treasurer

Jay Costa

Board Member

Patty DeMarco

Board Member

Mike Kelly

Board Member

Gretchen Mendoza

Board Member

Frank Porco

Board Member

We create opportunities for community development initiatives that realize the interests of those who live, work, and invest in Forest Hills.

Why are we here? To enhance SENSE OF PLACE, in every corner of the Borough.

Why are we here? To enhance SENSE OF PLACE, in every corner of the Borough.

Why are we here? To build on a CULTURE of SUSTAINABILITY and a HISTORY of INNOVATION.

Why are we here? To build on a CULTURE of SUSTAINABILITY and a HISTORY of INNOVATION.

Why are we here? To build on a CULTURE of SUSTAINABILITY and a HISTORY of INNOVATION.

Why are we here? To honor COMMUNITY & PARTNERSHIPS.

Why are we here? To transform the local ECONOMY.

Why are we here? To transform the local ECONOMY.

What is FHCA working on? Making Change, with the Community

What is FHCA working on?

Westinghouse

Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund (GEDTF)

Fall 2024 (subject to change)

LEARN, SHARE, & IMAGINE

the future of our community

→ Thank You to the FHF Committee!

Susan Englert

Gail Harper

Leon Harper

Lauren Heidingsfelder

Jose Muniain

Nick Smerker

Sarah Williams

Michele Woltshock

Christine Mondor, Anna Rosenblum, & Mae Catino

Hello!

evolve environment architecture is a multidisciplinary practice situated at the intersection of sustainability and the built environment.

We look through three lenses of sustainability: people, process, and place.

RESILIENCY GROSVENOR REPORT

the ability of a city to avoid or bounce back from an adverse event

comes from the interplay of vulnerability and adaptive capacity

climate environment

resources

infrastructure community

governance institutions

technical capacity planning systems

funding structures

RESILIENCY GROSVENOR REPORT

the ability of a city to avoid or bounce back from an adverse event

comes from the interplay of vulnerability and adaptive capacity

climate environment

resources

infrastructure community

governance institutions

technical capacity planning systems

funding structures

Communities face a growing range of adversities and challenges in the 21st century.

RESILIENCE is what helps communities adapt and transform in the face of those challenges, helping them to prepare for both the expected and the unexpected.

the capacity to learn and adjust within the current system

RESILIENCY ADAPTABILITY

the capacity to learn and adjust within the current system

ADAPTABILITY RESILIENCY ADAPTABILITY

the capacity to create a new system if the existing system is unworkable

RESILIENCY TRANSFORMABILITY

the capacity to learn and adjust within the current system

RESILIENCY TRANSFORMABILITY

TRANSFORMABILITY

TRANSFORMABILITY REQUIRES INNOVATION

TRANSFORMABILITY REQUIRES INNOVATION

WE’RE MOVING

Image: Atomic Heritage Foundation

WHAT IS

INNOVATION?

Shifting mindsets through a creative new idea, method, or device.

We can innovate…

Policies

Chicken coops

Technologies

Streetscape designs

Business diversity

Boulevards

Jobs

Less traffic

Cultural identity

Development projects

This spring, we are coming together to LEARN, SHARE, AND IMAGINE the future of our community with sustainability, resilience, and innovation at the forefront

We’re going to think about the hardware or physical systems of places, as well as the software of social and cultural resiliency.

We’re going to imagine improved places and systems that address equity and the environment.

We’re going to explore:

We’re going to give intentional thought to…

We’re going to work together to increase our impact…

We’re going to amplify existing efforts…

Outcomes of this process Community vision for the future

Action plans for each quality of life area

Catalytic projects

COMMUNITY STORIES

evolveEA & New Sun Rising

We’re going to learn from other communities who have given intentional thought to sustainability, resilience, and innovation

Millvale EcoDistrict

Flipped liabilities into assets and has become a model of equity-centered community development

Millvale EcoDistrict

Drives innovation

through grassroots and catalytic projects that achieve sustainable development priorities

Over $8.5 million awarded for implementation

67,000 meals provided to increase healthy food access annually

Solar Energy

Workforce Program

Solar installer training, certification, and apprenticeships; Teen Solar Fellowship.

Climate Action Plan

80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050

97,024 kwh of renewable energy produced annually

Girty’s Woods

155 acres Of permanently protected woodlands

Etna EcoDistrict

Brought residents and the Borough together to set ambitious goals, create real change, and achieve national recognition

Etna EcoPark

Designed, built, and enjoyed by neighbors.

Sharpsburg EcoDistrict

Proactive approach guiding, instead of reacting to, development scenarios

Energy investments

Braddock, East Pittsburgh, & North Braddock

Leveraged municipal partnerships to implement projects and strengthen business, institutional, and grassroots capacity.

Braddock, East Pittsburgh, & North Braddock

Leveraged core municipal partnerships

to implement projects and strengthen business, institutional, and grassroots capacity.

EXISTING FOREST HILLS INITIATIVES

Your Neighbors!

Borough Council Transportation Initiatives

Angelo Baiocchi, Chair, Public Safety

Library Programming

Erin Pierce

Environmental Advisory Council

Realizing Sustainable Home Ownership

Tom Pike

Turtle Creek Watershed & Airshed Communities

FOREST HILLS MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

NetZero Energy-Planningand Execution

PatriciaM.DeMarco ForestHillsCommunity Alliance

January24,2024

Borough Building & Climate Action Plan

Patricia DeMarco

NetZeroEnergy:

Net Zero Average Annual Performance

Thebuildinguseselectricityfrom theDLCgridwhenrequirements exceedSolarPVoutput

Solargenerationexceeds buildingenergyuseonannual basis

NextSteps:

ANetZero Emissionsgoalforall BoroughBuildings

• GuaranteedEnergySavings ContractwithSiemensIndustry, Inc.SmartInfrastructure

• (UnderPAGuaranteedEnergySavingsAct 62 Pa C.S. §3751)

• SolaronFourmorelocations 875kWPVtotal!

• ANetZeroEnergyBorough Operations! Siemens

Next Steps & Activities

PASSPORTS

MAP STATION

Where are the community assets and special places in Forest Hills?

Place a sticker on the map that best reflects the theme of the place.

Use a post it note to tell us more.

QUESTION STATION

What is ONE WORD that describes Forest Hills?

What CHALLENGES is Forest Hills facing?

What would you like to LEARN MORE about during this series?

Write your thoughts on a post-it note and stick it on the wall!

Friendly! Green

How to save money on my energy bills!

How many food businesses are there in fh?