THESIS V1 by Nickie Cheung

EXPLORING VACANCY Discovering the Multiplicity of Space in Wilkinsburg, PA

Special thanks to my advisors! You all provided the insight and critical feedback necessary to keep this project on track! Mary-Lou Arscott

Stefan Gruber

Christine Mondor

Valentina Vavasis

With an especially huge shoutout to an excellent collaborator, local expert, and friend. Without your contribution, this project would not have been possible. Thank you!

Clif McGill

EXPLORING VACANCY Discovering the Multiplicity of Space in Wilkinsburg, PA

Introduction

Interpreting Space

Being in the Burg

Building A New Narrative

Bibliography

Theoretical Framework

Walking to Inform Transposing Experiences Conversations in Place

Initiating Conversations Designing Walks to Talk

SECTION A

INTRO-

DUCTION

Given two men with similar desires, if one achieves all the desires that the other achieves, and also others, he has more power than the other. from Bertrand Russel: Power: A New Social Analysis, 1938

INTRODUCTION

SETTING UP THE PROJECT

Design has viewed progress as a process of betterment, a systematic approach to creating more functionally successful objects. With racial tensions culminating in numerous counts of aggressive outbursts toward Black citizens. To distract themselves from the bloodshed and violence around the world, people flock to neighborhood coffeeshops and teahouses, finding salvation behind political blogging or a particularly charged retweet. The voices crying out after persecution for what seems to just be, breathing, are being drowned out by advertisement campaigns for the newest iPhone and the savory reintroduction of the McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce. Too often, however, we look across the national borders to find examples of social disparity, but the current American situation has left victims of inequality just a short bus ride away. The hegemony that once dominated professional discourse is destined to fall to a rising class of mission-oriented individuals, determined to make a change in the world, and will only be quelled once their companies introduce the word “human” into their mission statements. Amidst this mayhem, is this project. In this book is a documentation of a process to challenge the previous paragraph in its entirety through an open-ended exploration of architecture’s potential. From the onset, the aim of the project was to develop a methodology to approach people from a characteristically distinctive background than a designer. Inspired by architects famous for architecture with meaningful social impact, the initial approach was to research the informal networks of Mexico City. Quickly deterred by the project advisors, the project became significantly more local, investigating the meaning of space in an area only 20 minutes from Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall. In order to truly experience a place, the project revealed an extremely slow process, with consistent routine interactions in the place. Thus, Wilkinsburg, and all its wonderful citizens, became the educators that would provide the foundation for an alternative mode of practice. One that values an emotional attachment to place more than any economic price tag. An architectural design process that fundamentally questions the traditional role of the architect. A process by which people are empowered to become agents of change in their own right. Design can be used to start conversations; successful design does not set out to complete the conversation. They imply the production of space rather than the creation of space, and are not the solution, but the proposition.

INTRODUCTION

Eugene Richards. Americans We. 1994.

“George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge and Plants on Lincoln Highway, East Pittsburgh, PA.” 1934.

INTRODUCTION

PRESENTING WILKINSBURG

Prior to the national desegregation of public space, Wilkinsburg, a suburb adjacent to the City of Pittsburgh, was predominantly inhabited by White middle-class residents. Initially, the racial integration of Wilkinsburg was unproblematic, but self-serving politics and discrimination of Black residents bred a resentful social environment. A massive influx of lowincome Black residents in newly constructed public housing projects in the Borough increased the social presence of the Black community in the area, causing many White residents of Wilkinsburg to move to suburbs further from Pittsburgh, different cities in Pennsylvania, or completely different states altogether. The declining overall regional population level paired with the increasing amount of lowerincome households in the Borough contributed to the economic decline of the Borough, reducing funds for the provision of municipal services. Meanwhile, criminal activity, drug abuse, and abandonment of properties continually increased between 1980 and 1995, fueling a mutual disdain between residents and the police. Gang activity bred a hostile environment in Wilkinsburg, culminating in gang-affiliated violence and disputes over turf. Since then, Wilkinsburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population continued to decline and the, once vibrant, business district in the community lost tenants. Through 2010, the business district was largely vacant. Empty storefronts fell into disrepair, and buildings were crumbling as owners could not afford to maintain the buildings any longer. Today, the Borough of Wilkinsburg is on the precipice of rapid change in the community once more. The Boroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s racial, economic, and educational diversity poses a challenge to the community leaders to bridge the differences and attempt a consensus for the community identity. Thus far, concentrations of wealth have also been concentrations of interest, the neighborhoods in Wilkinsburg that are predominantly occupied by affluent White residents are being intensively studied, and other neighborhoods that are largely Black low-income residents have been slowly losing community amenities. Down Penn Ave sits the Bakery Square apartment complex, long critiqued for displacing the similarly struggling community that once lived there. As more attention is being drawn to Wilkinsburg with a Transit-Oriented Design study being completed for the Martin Luther King Busway and the revitalization of the Wilkinsburg Train Station Wilkinsburg, self-elected organizations that claim to be democratic in their representation lead the community as it prepares to welcome new businesses and residents.

INTRODUCTION

ETHICAL GUIDELINES The topic being addressed here is a difficult topic, especially due to the fact that the project interfaces directly with the community members of Wilkinsburg on a personal level of engagement. In order to effectively and constructively learn about the community, designers should keep the following list of ethics in mind as they navigate conversations with various community members, different community organizations, and elected officials of Wilkinsburg.

Be specific, be objective, be flexible. This is a difficult topic to talk about. The tones of conversations carries racial and economic undertones, as well as political notions and philosophical principles. All of these topics are personal and contain many subjectively defined buzzwords that unclearly define intent. By using language and terms that are clearly defined for the designer, it is easier to engage in conversations and explain terms and definitions to others. However, any definition made by the designer results from assumptions from the designer alone. These assumptions are open to being challenged and clarified by people who speak from experience and fact rather than from a place of theoretical investigation.

The designer is always a student of the community. While the designer is by no means an expert in the field, they are also not an expert in the community. Rather, they are the recipient and container of many different snippets of expertise from residents who are experts of their blocks. By constantly operating completely transparently and openly with community members, the designer avoids creating a false persona when talking about the project with people outside of the community.

Feedback in the form of conversation. A student must actively seek feedback by asking questions of the community in order to initiate and continue conversations. Without sincerity in both listening and contributing, the student project is ultimately designed in a vacuum. To actively seek feedback invites more individuals who may or may not have had the opportunity to engage in conversation about the space around them. Conversation builds trust between all parties involved and introduces multiple voices in determining how to move forward in design. Conversation is an essential ingredient of robust community engagement, which aims to create lasting participation and continued civic engagement in the reproduction of space.

INTRODUCTION

Inching is acceptable. Inching, is the process of moving an inch a day. While this is not the ideal speed of a project flow in a professional setting, a community needs time to adjust and move forward with the designer. While it is possible to build trust quickly and effectively, it is more important to engage the community in the process of design than it is to move quickly through the project. The designer is required to recognize that this process is a humble process, and while it is the designer’s project, it is intended to be for the people.

Don’t commit to being an expert. In order to ensure that the designer is not acting completely independent of the community, transparency is necessary as far as the capabilities of the designer. While there are always more things that come up regarding the designer’s work, it is important to recognize that the designer is still human, and will make mistakes. Residents will also definitely approach the designer with ideas and desires that are outside of the expertise of the designer’s abilities (especially since the designer creating this project is still a student). In the event that this were to occur, the designer must admit to being a student and can propose ideas and alternates, and can assure that they will try their best, without promising a specific outcome.

Time is expensive. Time is a luxury of those with access to resources. Resources typically cost money. Money, is not easily accessible to all. Time is a shared resource. Something that everybody in the world has, but not everybody has in excess.

Be as honest as possible. Self-explanatory, no?

INTERSPACE

SECTION B

PRETING

When we wonder what lies on the other side of the mountain range or ocean, our imagination constructs mythical geographies that may bear little or no relationship to reality. from Yi-Fu Tuan: Space and Place, 1977

INTERPRETING SPACE

KEY TERMS

Vacancy

Occupancy

Identity

Power

is the inability to identify presence on seemingly unclaimed space. It is a social construction that architects typically avoid addressing, largely because architecture has traditionally been motivated by a paying client rather than the public.

is the manifestation that a space possesses a purpose, human or inhuman. It can be an imagined use or it can be an observed behavior.

is the expression of beliefs through oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decisions, actions, and spatial practices that leads to a summarized outward projection of the entity.

is the ability to act upon thoughts and decisions. Those with greater access to resources instill them with more power, however every individual retains the power to say no.

INTERPRETING SPACE

Territoriality

(Social) Space

Engagement

Collaboration

is the act of implying ownership through spatial practices that are legible whether the occupant is physically inhabiting the space or not.

is the constructed relationship between a setting, an object, or a person and the acting agent. Through repeated engagements or intensity of engagement, a type of space is formed around the â&#x20AC;&#x153;hereand-nowâ&#x20AC;?.

is an interaction between two parties. These can be digital, personal, or indirect, however engagement requires multiple parties and cannot be completed in isolation.

is the continuous building of a relationship between two parties that are contributing their individual expertise to the success of the relationship.

INTERPRETING SPACE

ELEMENTS OF SPACE

Starting with Henri Lefebvre’s redefining of space as social, space was reinterpreted as being comprised of the relationships in the setting that they operate within. Further specificity of space is the ephemeral experience of time. Doreen Massey introduces place to be known as “the throwntogetherness, the unavoidable challenge of negotiating a here-and-now…; and a negotiation which must take place within and between both human and nonhuman.” From these elements, emerges the concept of narrative, which is the reading and interpretation of these elements that allow for the reproduction of space and place. The daily coming and goings of people in a city. Examined over prolonged sitting and interacting with people, Wilkinsburg residents do as all small-town residents will do. Friends laugh and chat about their cousin’s sister’s new puppy, and strangers walk by with a quick greeting accompanied by furtive eyes that dart to the ground. A simple day-to-day routine could be composed of ordinary activities like brushing teeth, cooking breakfast, buying groceries, participating in the lottery, and bussing to the city. The series of spaces that ordinary life occurs in are constructed by the hegemonic forces of politics, social norm, and commerce, but the life imbued in these spaces can only be constructed by the activity within them. Constantly subject to unexpected change, routines create patterns of life in society and large group structures. The production of space is not an isolated experience to be consumed in a specific manner, rather it is a product of the users and allows users to connect to the community outside.1 As a result of the fact that architects are rarely the occupants of the spaces they design, architecture must reflect the values and desires of the individuals that will inhabit those spaces. Where these values are not expressed, users are free to adapt and change spaces as they please, even when legally they are barred from doing so.2 Even in formal settings, informal spatial practices dictate the adaptation and livelihood of architectural space.

1 2

Nick Wates & Charles Knevitt, Community Architecture: How People Are Creating Their Own Environment Alfredo Brillembourg & Hubert Klumpner, Torre David: Informal Vertical Communities

INTERPRETING SPACE

“Views of Wilkinsburg.” 1923.

INTERPRETING SPACE

BREAKING INTO THE BARRIER

Over the years, the Black population continued to increase and the White population decreased at an even more drastic rate than those able to move in. As such, the neighborhood space was constructed by an entirely different culture. The Wilkinsburg that once was predominantly White middle-class workers, was now predominantly Black and low-income workers, with an ever-growing poverty rate. Combined with the society that once shunned the desegregation politics, and a lack of resources provided to the newer, low-income residents that moved in, Wilkinsburg underwent a brand new form of transformation. As a place is only constructed through repeated interactions, the White population that migrated out of Wilkinsburg in search of “better” and “safer” neighborhoods was leaving out of fear. Out of fear, many failed to engage the incoming population, and rather than welcoming them, they were attempting to advised to “assimilate into our culture”. Thus began the construction of a mythical place, both for the residents that were incoming, as well as for the residents that were outgoing. Mythical places are the extensions of our perception of space beyond our actual understanding. The mythical place is constructed through the imaginary disconnect between the physical and the mental construction of space. Used previously to describe places beyond the reach of mankind, the mythical place, as used by Yi-Fu Tuan, is “when we wonder what lies on the other side of the mountain range or ocean, our imagination constructs mythical geographies that may bear little or no relationship to reality. Worlds of fantasy have been built on meager knowledge and much yearning”. In the instance of Wilkinsburg, the fear of criminal activity associated with Wilkinsburg constructed a new identity that lead to the transformation of Wilkinsburg from a place to a mythical place. The mythical place existed in the minds of the transient population, but the space beyond the mountain of fear was a rich social space constructed by the residents that still lived there.

INTERPRETING SPACE

OUTSIDE INSIDE 21

BEING IN THE SECTION C

BURG You are not a profession that has distinguished itself by your social and civic contributions to the cause of civil rights... You are most distinguished by your thunderous silence and your complete irrelevance. from Whitney Young: Keynote Speech for the AIA National Convention of 1968

BEING IN THE BURG

A series of analytical spatial reflections on articulations of ownership that dot the landscape of Wilkinsburg, PA. Walking, as described by Michel de Certeau, is the reclamation of power from the institutional powers that develop building and construction strategies to produce the space that we inhabit. As such, the decision to design for the vehicular traffic in the community is the product of an institution favoring specific modes of engagement, and in the case of Wilkinsburg, contribute to the ultimate deterioration over time of a place that was once teeming with life. Sixteenth century European nomads were seen as socially detrimental and indicative of a placeless population, posing a threat to those situated in place. But the rise of the merchant-class in feudal Europe challenged the connection between immorality and placelessness, mobility became associated with newfound freedom. Freedom became synonymous with mobility. Mobility, became the trademark of the modern human. WALK 10.17.2017 61A ARRIVE 71C DEPART PATH B.-E.

2:09P - 6:04P

DIST.

7.44 MILES

DURN. CLIMB

3:55:37 815 FT

BATT.

PAUL

KENTON

WHERE?

SHEILA

BEING IN THE BURG WALK 10.18.2017 67 ARRIVE 61A DEPART PATH B.-E.

5:33P - 6:39P

DIST.

0.83 MILES

DURN. CLIMB

1:06:20 29 FT

0.2m

0.4m

0.6m

0.8m

BATT.

JOSLYN TRICIA

JENNY

WALK 10.23.2017 61A ARRIVE 79 â&#x2020;&#x2019; 82 DEPART PATH B.-E.

2:15P - 4:31P

DIST.

3.72 MILES

DURN. CLIMB

2:15:54 358 FT T&L

BATT.

JAMES

JOSH

DONNA

AARON

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

Wilkinsburg is so odd, they make you pay parking tickets in-person. But in a way it makes paying my dues fun! I always seem to run into somebody I know there, and I never leave the building without a book from the library. - Katie, 12 Dec 2017

BEING IN THE BURG

Every community has a central hub of civic life. Serendipitously, Wilkinsburg joins the civic chambers, municipal chores, and social center into a single location. Storage Unit

Somebody is doing some construction work around here.

United States Flag The flag summons a feeling of civic pride and national sensibility.

Metered Parking Suggests temporary occupancy with owner within the vicinity.

Building Sign

A descriptive physical cue to symbolize the represented area.

Pedestrian

Your simple presence claims ownership and control of the territory within arms reach!

Security Camera

Surprise! Video recordings imply an omnipresent controller.

Cultural Relic

A remnant of a time when nuclear fallout shelters were in-high demand.

Police Vehicle

The police car implies a legal enforcer or public servant nearby.

Historic Monument An abstracted representation of what used to be reality.

BEING IN THE BURG

The daily chores involving trash can be re-interpreted as forms of exchange between people with different needs. Its contents reveal great insight on a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s private life, and can take on a life of its own.

Caution!

A warning to all those who enter that there is (or was) something up ahead.

Recycling Bin

An open invitation to promote a healthier environment?

Weighting Brick

To keep the critters out, and the trash in, the weighting brick maintains civility in the urban environment.

Trash Can

Private waste from the residents nearby indicates that there are, indeed, residents nearby.

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

The biggest problem in Wilkinsburg is the raccoons. They get in everything, they get in the trash if you leave it out too long. - Tricia, 18 Oct 2017

LOCATION:

Nobody ever sits with me, thank you. You’re a good child, good child... God’s hand is upon your shoulder. - Joslyn, 18 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG

Awning

Rainy days, snowy days, the awning extends your household into the public realm.

House Number

Something to use as a reference for your location.

Snow Shovel

A hint to what types of weather may await the household in the winter.

Hidden Trash Can Either it is not trash day, somebody forgot it was, or they are not home.

Cat Food

An all you can eat buffet for cats (and any other animal) to eat while supplies last.

Cat

Wary of all, ran away immediately.

Food for cats. But, food for thought â&#x20AC;&#x201D; why do we not leave food out for humans?

Identity formation through representation is transient and subject to constant update as new activities are performed in the place. The representation of a place is uncontrollable by the society that resides within it, and can lead to the misrepresentation of the character of the place. By misrepresenting a place, interest from individuals outside decreases and experiences within decrease, thus decreasing the overall identity of the place. However, misrepresentation can extend into the misrepresentation of groups of people.

BEING IN THE BURG

Slow Down Sign A reasonably lasting articulation of a local desire for safe neighborhoods.

Residential Parking The vehicle of choice by a nearby resident or a convenient location to leave your car while visiting.

Fire Hydrant

The direct manifestation of a municipal desire to maintain safety within areas.

Shopping Cart

Maybe somebody needed to get something big to their home? Could make for a great laundry basket!

Decontextualized objects create the most interesting opportunity for reconceptualizing space.

BEING IN THE BURG

LOCATION:

What do you care, you’re still getting paid aren’t you? My friend here just agreed to buy this stuff, so ring it up. - Dain, 28 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG

Does space allow for a freedom of interpretation? Or is it merely a reflection of our opinions on the spatial practices of our companions in space? Everyday we have imaginary conversations with the objects that share the space we occupy. These conversations are typically expressed through emotions and feelings rather than through words and sentences. If questioned about these emotions, some of us may be able to articulate our thoughts clearly through speech, but others may say statements like “I don’t know why, I just do.” But it is through these ordinary opinions about objects that memories of places are formed.

Overgrown Fence A highly visible marker of a desire to maintain an interior/exterior relationship.

Hanging Trash

An attempt to satisfy a critical need for public garbage bins, or simply laziness.

Litter!

Assortment of objects and containers that are no longer useful due to their missing contents.

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as much of a hood back then. It was a beautiful city, man. Just beautiful. - Norm, 23 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

The city came through and boarded up this place so when the bosses drive through, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get scared or nothing. Instead of the red brick they see the colorful panels that they put on. - T & L, 23 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG

How do you adapt to a place designed specifically for people that ran away when you moved in?

Outdoor Pergola

A great way to spend time outside without being burned by the sun.

Church

These were once the central hub for community gathering, but many sit abandoned today.

Community Brand

Who came up with this? Does everybody like it? And why are the signs only in the business district?

Trimmed Hedges

The crisp edges of these hedges are not natural to the small bush. Somebody must have cut that.

Material Change

Despite being an amazing aesthetic relief from the relentless tar pavement, the old bricks cause people flat tires and headaches on a regular basis.

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

All these places used to be that ugly red brick right there, and then they covered the homes with colorful panels so they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t scare people like you away. - T & L, 23 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG

The front of our homes double as insight into our private lives.

New Windows

Hopefully they chose stronger insulated windows to protect from the winter.

#1 Fan

The front of your house can double as a great platform to show your support!

Attention

When do you think they are open for business? How much do they charge?

Lawn Decoration Beautify the front lawn, so that nobody else can â&#x20AC;&#x153;beautifyâ&#x20AC;? it for you.

Driveway Parking

What a relief! No need to park on the street anymore.

BEING IN THE BURG

Without explicit reason to interact or intervene, the condition of our environment becomes white noise as we mill through our daily routine. The daily coming and goings of people in a city. Examined over prolonged sitting and interacting with people, Wilkinsburg residents do as all small-town residents will do. Friends laugh and chat about their cousinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new puppy, and strangers walk by with a quick greeting accompanied by furtive eyes that dart to the ground. A simple day-today routine could be composed of ordinary activities like brushing teeth, cooking breakfast, buying groceries, participating in the lottery, and bussing to the city (find source). The series of spaces that ordinary life occurs in are constructed by the hegemonic forces of politics, social norm, and commerce, but the life imbued in these spaces can only be constructed by the activity within them. Constantly subject to unexpected change, routines create patterns of life in society and large group structures.

2x6 Support

Somebody is trying to make sure that this roof doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t collapse.

Potted Plant

The pot and plant sapling imply that the presence of a regular plant tender.

ADT Security

Beware intruder! This premise is protected by a low monthly payment plan!

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

You know, they used to keep it so nice — we had beautiful trees and everything. This house over here [gestures to a house nearby] the people died and uh they couldn’t even sell it. They couldn’t sell it. - Kenton, 17 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

BEING IN THE BURG

Maintaining a place is almost as difficult as making it the first time.

Broken Glass

Was it a storm, or was this done intentionally?

Brick Detail

A subtle offset to show craftsmanship of the builder, and to show wealth of the owner.

Wood Ornament

A relic of a previous life, these ornaments may have once been a source of pride for the homeowners.

Trash Overflow

Seems like somebody made an attempt to clean, but gave up after a little while.

Makeshift Lock

Somebody really wants to keep people out.

Padlock

The most secure way to keep people out.

BEING IN THE BURG

Monuments project the civic attitude of the community, but what happens if the monument loses meaning? Is a longstanding social connection able to overpower the meaning behind the monument? When we look at the environment around us, we identify various instances that are relatable to our individual experiences. We project our imagination beyond the physical barriers that block our eyesight from taking our consciousness to those spaces. We create mythical places within our minds and determine if the number of steps required to transfer from our current location to physically occupying these spaces. Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History

Politically charged by the content, the erectors of the Lincoln Memorial must certainly be proud to have brought such a great president to Wilkinsburg

Speed Limit

A suggestion for the vehicular speed to safely survive the sharp turn ahead.

Yellow School Bus

There must be a school nearby, I wonder where the next drop-off is?

USA Stick Flag

Easily replaceable, but the small flags indicates that somebody is consciously maintaining the space.

Stone Bench

An uncomfortable invitation to take a seat and enjoy the noisy traffic!

Trailhead

Because everybody gets lost!

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

Pittsburgh sucks. I want to move to New York. - Aaron, 17 Oct 2017

BEING IN THE BURG

Our homes can become platforms to push new ideas into the public without having to actually distribute paper flyers.

Stop Shooting <3

The front of the house can be a great way to spread some love and connect with strangers.

Security Sign

Strangers beware! This house is protected by an institutional entity specifically paid to provide protection to the house!

Front Awning

A structure to shelter from the rain or sun, but only if you have a message or a private invitation.

Trimmed Hedges

What better way to show nature whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boss and demonstrate the attention to detail of the owner within.

Lamp Post

A great way to provide light and safety to the front sidewalk at night. What a caring resident.

Driveway Car

Guess whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home? Given the time of day, though, the car might mean that the homeowners are away.

BEING IN THE BURG LOCATION:

BEING IN THE BURG

Backyards and Frontyards serve very different purposes, but how do you decide if your front yard should be your backyard, or vice versa? Ladder

Somebody either has a lot of really tall drawers, or is comfortable working at high elevations.

DIY Awning

All you need is a bit of tiling and a understructure and you, too, can have a homemade shelter from the sun.

Beware of Dog! Dogs can be ferocious and friendly, but are universally seen as guardians of the home.

BBQ Grill

This resident likes to make their own food. Call up the grill master and maybe theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll invite you to a backyard gathering.

Clothesline

When the weatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice, why not save some energy and hang dry your clothes! Keeps you active and makes a great colorful addition to the neighborhood!

Wooden Fence

To keep the dog in, and definitely to keep you out.

BEING IN THE BURG

Much of the interpersonal communication conducted today is performed through a secondary device. Can a return to personal listening support the revitalization of a place? The advent of the automobile allowed individuals to live further from their workplace in the city and motivated increased mobility through neighborhoods. Thus, the construction of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;placeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is untethered from the physical occupation and footpath wanderings of a space and can be formed as a result of repeated interaction through the windows of a car. However, using automobiles as a mode of the production of space favors transient relationships and efficiency in mobility as a mode of relocating from point A to point B. The journey becomes obsolete and is relegated to background static rather than forefronted place. The social engagements between residents, business owners, and vehicular traffic are limited to the raucous, dangerous pedestrian crosswalks and parking meters.

FEMALE

MALE

WILKINSBURG RESIDENT

BEING IN THE BURG KIM @ CARNEGIE MELLON

ELIJAH H @ EVOLVEEA

MARKIE M @ NANCY’S DINER

JERRY G @ POLLINATOR GARDEN MEETING

DAVE S @ CARNEGIE MELLON

SHEILA @ FRONT PORCH OFF FRANKLIN AVE

BEVERLY G @ FREESTORE WILKINSBURG

JOSH R @ WILKINSBURG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

CLIF M @ WILKINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

KENTON @ FRONT PORCH OFF FRANKLIN AVE

DEB @ FREESTORE WILKINSBURG

CHRIS D @ ABANDONED LOT WORKSHOP

SABRINA W @ 923 HILL AVE

DEE B @ COMMUNITY FORGE

BOBBI @ FREESTORE WILKINSBURG

LINDA A @ WILKINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

CHRIS W @ 923 HILL AVE

T @ FRONT PORCH OF EAST HILLS HOUSING

DONNA A @ CENTER AND SOUTH INTERSECTION

OPHELIA C @ WILKINSBURG POLICE STATION

RAYMOND @ LYFT TO PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

GABI H @ 923 HILL AVE

L @ FRONT PORCH OF EAST HILLS HOUSING

TRICIA @ AA NAIL SPA

GANGADHARAN @ UBER TO WILKINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

VALENTINA V @ CARNEGIE MELLON

DAIN @ GROCERY STORE

JENNY @ AA NAIL SPA

JAY @ UBER TO WILKINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

MARIAN A @ CARNEGIE MELLON

NICK R @ COMMUNITY FORGE

PAUL @ OUTSIDE CVS

SUSAN @ UBER TO WILKINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

CHRISTINE M @ CARNEGIE MELLON

MIKE J @ WILKINSBURG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

AARON @ DELL WAY AND PENN AVE INTERSECTION

BARISTA @ ADDA COFFEE

JOSLYN @ STEPS OFF PENN AVE

NORM @ NANCY’S DINER

LYNETTE @ COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING

BEING IN THE BURG

EXPLOITING NAÏVETÉ The social construction of space demands operation within a specific setting. In the event that one individual is able to gain control of somebody else’s lack of knowledge of place. As an outsider, everyday practices are unclear leaving the individual exposed to missed knowledge and modes of exploitation by somebody assumed as a navigator of the space.

The outsider stepped into the store after being cleared by the bodyman at the door and was immediately thrust into an unfamiliar setting. The shelves were lined with prepackaged foods and a line blocked his way as his navigator grabbed items in quantity. Not only was the outsider exposed by by obvious differences, the outsider was incapable of entering into the place that had been previously constructed. Empowering the navigator through subservience, the outsider lacks awareness of potential motive and frequency of the space they have entered. Only through cues from bystanders in the setting is the full narrative revealed. The outsider is being exploited. The navigator, henceforth known as a predator, has managed to prey on the outsider’s to satisfy his needs. The bystanders watch as the social space deconstructs and fades as the predator recognizes the outsider’s awareness. Without the everyday spatial routine in the place, the outsider is only able to walk away from the space with gained perspective of potential predators in spaces.

BEING IN THE BURG

APPEALING TO HUMANITY The fundamental question of using appeals to humanity to create social space is what the limit of a strangerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willingness to relate with another person is. The appealer is at the mercy of the interim, and while human respect is a universal right (in my opinion), it tends to be forgone when individuals feel superior than the appealer, or feel as if the appealer is somehow unworthy of humanity.

The outsider stepped off the bus and into the sidewalk, fumbling for headphones and their jacket. A fellow walker travelling the opposite direction passes by. They greet with a slight nod and the outsider ventures through the drive-thru ATM slot made for convenient vehicular traffic. As they round the first set of buildings past the bank parking lot, they enter into the territory of the appealer. For some reason, the appealer, who was otherwise silent, was compelled to ask for change to finish laundry. The laundromat was nowhere nearby, and no clothes save for the shirt and pants that covered the appealer was to be seen. The outsider becomes the interim as they are grabbed and motioned to sit down after giving three quarters buried in their pocket. The darkness of the space against the sharp sunlight draws out the weariness on the appealers face. Their face became a mountainous terrain, with clear ponds in the shape of eyes. Upon sitting, the interim has now been captured by the appealer, subject to the will and desire (to an extent) of the appealerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. There is little more that the interim can offer to the appealer as they have few other material goods to exchange, so instead, the interim listens. As a narrative capturing the struggles that the appealer has endured emerges between the gaps in their smile, the appealer is invigorated with a sense of joy. They greet the various characters that pass by, whether they have existing relationships or not. Finally, the appealer releases the interim and allows them to return on their journey to someplace, for some time. Upon return, the interim is unable to find the appealer once again, and the elusiveness of the place emerges from the memory of the engagement.

BEING IN THE BURG

MINDING THE GAP The socially conscious volunteer in public service attempts to engage a distressed public in nonofficial formats to offer supportive services. Participating in any capacity is useful to the public but varying levels of commitment and attitude introduces opportunity for greater impact. A volunteer can provide many services to the public, but the volunteer must be willing to support in any capacity needed.

As the volunteer rushes through the door of the volunteering locations, they are eyed by three fellow volunteers, clearly more cognizant of the social practice of the space. After identifying themself as a participating volunteer, the fellow volunteers approve the new volunteerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willingness to contribute and helps the new volunteer navigate the routine. The contribution today will be to assess if the individual is compliant with the rules of the public offering. The space lacks a formal social hierarchy among volunteers, but the hierarchy is absolutely present in the space. The position served by the new volunteer is monitored by a fellow volunteer, one who is typically more assertive in their adherence to the rules of the place. Next, was the volunteer who guards the door and greeted shoppers as they were granted entry. The negotiation of demonstrated need to goods available is guarded intensely by the instantiated lead volunteer. The nurturing firmness that the other volunteers approached the service provided a framework for civility within the space, despite the inhumanity with which the space was constructed to address. For the new volunteer, finding the threshold between firm and harsh required the influence of the veteran volunteer beside them. Maintaining objectivity and providing as much opportunity for the shopper to decide between goods served as the main method to negotiate difficult conversations, and on rare occasions, the shopper was not actually charged for the good.

BEING IN THE BURG

EXPORTING SKILLS In this setting, the participants are exchanging skills to mutually benefit one another. As a form of exchange, a common good emerges from the engagement and produces a space that both entities invest in. This can help both parties move beyond the normative worldview and help create a shared worldview between the two invested participants.

Extending from a previous engagement, the social space constructed between the participant acts as an exporter of skill, but seeking to construct a nuanced social space unique between the two individuals. Skills can range from personal networks to technical know-how, but the crucial element of the engagement is that both entities find value in the relationship. The skill that the exporter could provide was exchanged with a willingness to help the exporter engage in the public, invited the exporter from a state of otherness, to a microstep into the place. The various public spheres that the fellow exporter was connected to helped construct a new identity of the situated place, allowing the exporter to discover more about a place than possible when research is done in isolation. Engaging the larger public with the support of a fellow exporter empowered the exporter to pose and challenge the normative routines of the place. The exporter was also able to build a new network of individuals that were challenging the normative production of space. The fellow exporter was also able to impress their own instincts into the narrative crafted by the exporter. Without an existing relationship, neither party is willing to engage in any deeper layer of connection, but over time, familiarity and the practice of engagement provides a framework for the relationship to continually evolve.

BEING IN THE BURG

OBSERVING Engagement can manifest simply through being present in the here and now of a place. From observation, an individual engages the spatial routine of the place by watching it unfold. Their contribution to the spatial practice affects the routine minimally, but observation forces the observer to slow down and remain in place.

The everyday routines unfold in place as the observer sits and sketches. Five busses open their door for the observer, and five times, the observer thanks the driver politely and says, “no, thank you!” The observer sketches in place and sees a few office workers come out of their building, chatting about the topics of the day. The main show begins, though, when a stander next to the observer walks up to a car at a red light and knocks on the glass. “Heyyyyyy” yells the stander, “where have you been?” The driver leans over the console and chats with the stander on the sidewalk through an entire light. Then they realize that the lights have changed and collectively decide to cut the conversation short. The observer returns to the identity-crested bench, and sits. A few elementary schoolers walk by as the observer continues sitting. They playfully joke with one another and create a social space exclusive to the two of them, no one else in the world existed. Fast forward to another moment where the observer returns, this time the observers sits in a room in the civic building. There are other community members around the table and the members are gathering to discuss pollinator gardening in the place. As the members present in the meeting joke with one another, the observer is lucky to have a navigator to their left, guiding them through the various unknown individuals being mentioned in conversation.

BEING IN THE BURG

MEETING THE NEIGHBORS Through meeting those sharing the setting, the participant constructs the here and now of the place. Rather than rummaging through media portrayals and engage various public groups to construct a narrative, a newcomerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighbors are their greatest source of local knowledge. The engagement begins at a point of acknowledgement, but extends into familiarity with communities in place.

Being a neighbor is not necessitated by the requirement of proof of residence in the neighborhood, rather, it is to practice the habit of creating a general positive aura around the place. Engagement can begin with a simple nod on the way into the car, or a smile as the neighbor passes another neighbor. In this way, the neighbor extends into conversations that are outside the boundaries of the typical residential district. The neighbor is a result of positivity from the individuals who are interested in being active community members. The crossing guard is a key example of this type of member. Typically, crossing guards become ingrained in the fabric of the society and can strongly influence the social production of space. The positivity and energy that can emerge from a smile while crossing the street radically shifts the narrative of the place, creating and summoning positive energy into the space. Neighbors will frequent this crossing guard simply for the fact of tasting the positive energy emanating from their radiant smile. It is from this attitude that the neighborhood block watch groups form. The collective spirit to create a neighborly atmosphere engages the everyday spatial praxis that contributes to the formation of a community identity. The collective contributions, ranging from microcontributions to massive investments, amount to a sense of civic pride and community atmosphere. The neighbor will feel the presence of their community in a successful place, and the people will feel the presence of the neighbor.

BEING IN THE BURG

CONVERSATION WITH SHEILA Seeing the large Community Forge banner outside what seemed to be an abandoned school led me to wonder what exactly was going on in the building. I briefly considered knocking on the door and walking into the building when a dog ran over to me. I heard its owner yelling its name across the street and decided to move closer so the dog might follow.

Hi there! I was just wondering what Community Forge was. It’s a community center that’s opening up but not open yet. Have you lived here for a while? Yeah, I’ve been here for a while. How long, may I ask? Oh, about 30 years. Has it changed over the years? Oh definitely. What was it like before? Busy. The school was bustling, there were small little businesses going on. There wasn’t a store, you know, but there was a little grocery market. You know, it was a busy place. Wow that’s amazing You’re recording me I see. Oh yeah! Sorry, oh, I’ve been recording for the past 2 hours and I didn’t think I’d actually end up talking to anyone and I kinda forgot. I can stop if you want! Why are you doing that though? I’m a student at Carnegie Mellon University doing a thesis project in Wilkinsburg. I mean it’s ok, but it [WIlkinsburg] has changed and and I hope it change again, to the better. What do you think that’ll look like? Oh my I don’t know I have no clue. All of that [motions across the street to the playground] has changed That wall over there, the one with the mural, that used to be this great big tree I mean this tree It was Old and they took it down [motions to a set of trees] Those trees weren’t there it was a playground divided by different fences You know the kids do different activities so it was divided by different fences. That’s always been the little playground for the little 58

kids that’s no longer there. It’s just that that school is over 100 and something years old and

BEING IN THE BURG the lady who gave me information, they just tore her house down she was 106 when she died. That used to be a frog pond when she was a little girl and there are little stories written in the stone over there. Wow that’s amazing. Do you live here alone or with your family? Um I have family but I live here. So what was it like when you first moved in here? Um there were houses and all those fences It was a black and white community um but it was older white people so you know they were either dying off or moving out you know it was okay like i said my neighbor was 106 when she left and I had a neighbor john well one house up john he and his wife lived there and she passed and then he didn’t stay long after she passed um like I said it’s just changed you know there were more white families then black

“Busy. The school was bustling, there were small little businesses going on. There wasn’t a store, but there was a little grocery market.”

and then black ones would move in when they [the white families] died off and left Do you know your neighbors in the area? Yeah a lot of them a lot of them from this end [points to her right] down [continues to her left] all the way Are you active in reaching out to them? I’m getting to know these neighbors [motions toward the Johnson School Community Forge] they’re the new ones. What are they like? What’s the mission statement?

Um, it’s a group of young entrepeneurs, from outside, and um they have a dream and I’d like to see it come true you know. On that note, um I have to run. Yeah of course, would you mind if I leave my name and number with you? I mean it’s like yeah I’ll be here. Yeah and that’s what I want to get to know because looking at just the city data Wilkinsburg gets a really bad rep you know? ------ do you have thoughts on that? Yeah, I was here when the gangs were and I used to see you know gangs jump kids it was crazy yeah yeah.

BEING IN THE BURG

CONVERSATION WITH KENTON As I wandered around Wilkinsburg, I happened upon an older woman slowly making her way down her steps with a large trash bag. In two minutes, she seemed to only move three steps further in the large staircase separating her porch from the street. Seeing her struggling from afar, I decided to move within earshot and see if I could offer any assistance.

Oh, can I help you with that? Yes, please. Do you want me to put it at the bottom? Right there. Here? Yeah right there, thank you. Of course! Have you lived here for a while? Oh, forty five years. Really? Wow, has it changed a lot? Hmm? Has the neighborhood change? This is 1408 Franklin Franklin Avenue. Has it changed over the past forty years? Oh, Lord yes! It’s terrible over here now, you know they used to keep it so nice we had beautiful trees and everything. You know this house over here [gestures to a house nearby] the people died and uh they couldn’t even sell it. They couldn’t sell it. Really? I’m a student at Carnegie Mellon and I’m working on a project in the area. You know I used to work as a cook at a fraternity house over there Oh really, which fraternity? 1051 Morewood. Yeah I just looked at some of the boys now, and they, you know, they still keep in touch some of them got married and everything and it’s always really nice you know. I love them and they love me! Yeah that’s really cool Yeah, I had 47 of them. 60

Do you have any kids of your own?

BEING IN THE BURG No, I just have my boys, you know, I call them my boys. Yeah, that’s amazing. So is this your first year there? No, this is actually my last year now. Oh okay, yeah that must mean you like it there. [scoffs] I mean I’m more or less stuck with it

“They used to keep it so nice, we had beautiful trees and everything.”

now. yeah what fraternity are you in? I’m in Sigma Phi Epsilon. Oh yeah I know that one, that was just up the street you know, there was 1055 and 1057. We moved one time you know there was this boy and they used to throw these parties and he

overdrank and yeah we had to move but you know we made it. We didn’t have no guests, no, nobody coming in. So what do you do now? Ha! I don’t do anything now except sit around and watch television! Wow, that’s the life! Yeah, that’s the life for me. Yeah, it’s comfortable! Well, that’s nice that you’re still there and you be careful over there, you know I know you guys have your hell weeks and then you drink and have beers and all that gin! Be careful how you drink. [laughs] Yeah I’ll make sure to be careful, sorry what’s your name? Kenton. And since you’re coming over here, come over to see me sometime! Ok, Nickie [starts heading up] nice to meet you Nice to meet you too, have a good day! Yeah, of course, and thanks for putting the rubbish out! No problem! Take care and have a good day! Alright! You too!

BEING IN THE BURG

CONVERSATION WITH T AND L After walking for four hours in the rain, I had no idea where in Wilkinsburg I was. Finding myself with little direction and resisting the urge to use Google Maps, I decided to call out to a pair of men who were talking on their porch. Without hesitation, they offered help and guidance, and even shared some of their life lessons with me.

Is this considered Wilkinsburg? T & L: 15122! 15122! What does that mean? T: I mean the zip code says it is, but this here is East Hills, not Wilkinsburg. East Hills is its own community, but we use the same slang as Wilkinsburg, but we’re not Wilkinsburg. You can’t walk around Wilkinsburg without getting bothered.

“When the other Black folk see you’ve made it, then they want what you got. They envy you.”

So East Hills is officially Wilkinsburg, but it’s its own neighborhood? T: Yeah, sorta. This here used to be the Wilkinsburg cemetery, and then they turned it into a community. A community so people could live here. So what are you doing over here? I’m just trying to get a better feel for Wilkinsburg and the area. I’m a student at Carnegie Mellon and I’ve focused my project on Wilkinburg. T: You know if more people like you were over here -- (N: visiting or living?) visiting -- You know east hills would be very different. They’d want to make it even better and have more things so they can impress people like you, make you think that East Hills ain’t all that bad, because it ain’t! We don’t really see people like you too often, sometimes we’ll see a Caucasian run through, and we know they’re one of the bosses. I can tell you’re not like them though. L: You know the city came through and boarded up this place so when the bosses drive through, they don’t get scared or nothing. Instead of the red brick they see the colorful panels that they put on. These used to be the same as those red bricks over there. All these 62

places used to be that ugly red brick right there, and then they covered the homes with

BEING IN THE BURG colorful panels so they don’t scare people like you away. Oh wow, yeah, you can even see the brick behind the gutter pipe over there. So do you guys hang out out here a lot? Seems pretty comfortable, you can see the whole place and chill. T: Yeah, we’re out here just tryna relax and hang out, minding our own business and doing our thing. It’s our right to, you know? We have the right to hang out here and drink a beer. We can, and we do. You know, we vent about life, talk about different things going on, it’s all just relaxing just because this is our time and we don’t usually get that much time to ourselves between working and our families. We’re hardworking individuals, we both work really hard and it’s tough because when other black folk see you’ve made it then they want what you got. They envy you. They try and take it from you. That’s the problem with the community center out here. It just isn’t the same because it’s all black employees. They’ll take from your stuff and they’ll take what they want from the kids. That’s why we need more employees. People that won’t take from us or steal, just people who will do their job and help the community. What do these employees look like? T: They sorta look like you! Young kids who got some money but not a whole lot. Just people who go about their day. And then we need the bosses, like the Caucasians that run through here, they’re the bosses. They’re the ones who keep East Hills the way it is. Without them East Hills wouldn’t be the same as it is now. It would be different. See we’re just out here relaxing. Smoking some marijuana and drinking a beer because

“Kids in the hood think you’re a police informant because you’re wearing a cap that ain’t got charge and got a nice north face on, so you’re from some money.”

we can, you know? We’re just doing it because it’s our right. We don’t have no guns, or weapons, telling you to cop up, nah. That’s dope, respectable stuff dude. T: Yeah, we’ve been trying to do positive change stuff around here but people don’t like the way they look —

BEING IN THE BURG

CONVERSATION WITH T AND L (CONTINUED) L: Yeah, they think we’re in gangs just because we got tattoos on our eyes, y’know? T: So we’re getting our tattoos removed, you know L’s getting his 5150 tattoo removed so people don’t think he’s in a gang. Really, wow. What do your tattoos mean? L: 5150 means peace and love. T: The “t” stands for trust in others, and trust in the people around you. Trust in my family and trust that it’ll all end up alright. (T also has a tattoo of the phrase, born rich across the back of his left hand) “Born rich” doesn’t mean that I was born wealthy, y’know, it means that we were all born rich with emotion and complexity. Everybody has an inner richness that they carry within them. That one’s to remind me that we’re all born rich. Wow, that’s really amazing. I really respect that and I think I try and follow that motto throughout my life too. It’s hard to find people that really vibe with that. T: Yeah man, and we’re different than most of the people from Wilkinsburg, especially the younger ones. You wouldn’t be able to talk to them like we’re talking, y’know. They’d think you’re a police informant or somethin’, that you’re just looking to snitch on them. Why would people think I’m a police informant? T: Kids in the hood think you’re a police informant because you’re wearing a cap that ain’t got charge and got a nice north face on so you’re from some money. You know,

“We need the bosses, like the Caucasians that run through here, they’re the bosses. They’re the ones who keep East Hills the way it is.”

people will give you a hard time because they’re tryna see what you got. They’ll ask you if you’re tryna cop up just to see what you do. Cop up is when they wanna know what you got. See you’re over here copping flix and people think that you’re over here informing. 64

BEING IN THE BURG How’d you know that I wasn’t an informant? T: We ain’t got nothin, and if you’re out here in the rain taking flix, shit, I guess we trusted you. Yeah, that makes sense. I’m curious, what’s a hood in your own terms? T: A hood is just another word for a community. It’s just a place where people getting by, and they’re doing their thing. It’s where there’s a grocery store, a market, maybe a diner. Guess a school would be good too. Hm, so where all all these things in the East Hills? Are they nearby? T: Man, East Hills has nothing, we ain’t got nothing. The school nearby? They’ll charge $1500 a month. (N: That’s absurd!) Yeah! And they don’t care because it’s a good school. It’s a good school and they know it. This place is different than the heart of Wilkinsburg. I grew up in the heart of Wilkinsburg, and man. East Hills sure is different. So where is the “heart of Wilkinsburg”? T & L: Penn Ave. T: You know near where all the restaurants and things are? Yeah, around that area. That’s the heart. Kids rolling through Penn Ave looking to get their stripe, looking to say they killed so-and-so, you know what I mean? It isn’t the same as up here, people are just minding their own business up here. It’s different.

BEING IN THE BURG

CONVERSATION WITH NORM While sitting at the breakfast bar chatting with the waitress from Nancy’s Diner, I happened to start conversation with a gentleman awaiting his take-out order. It seemed to take almost all of his energy to remain upright in the backless barstool.

Long morning? Yeah, about to get back to bed. I run a cleaning service, y’know. Banks, hospitals, offices, kind of a jack of all trades. Are you from Wilkinsburg? Nah, I live in Penn Hills. But I grew up in Wilkinsburg, so that’s what brought me here. One of my clients is the First National Bank.

“It wasn’t as much of a hood back then. It was a beautiful city, man. Just beautiful.”

You live around here? Nah, I’m a student at Carnegie Mellon, I’m working on a project in Wilkinsburg looking at the history of the place and the vacant lots around the area. I’m trying to rethink the lots to connect the history, the people, and the place. So when did you start the business? About 2 years ago. What’d you do before that? Healing. Bruises and nicks from the military take some time y’know? Dang, you were in the military? That’s really cool. When did you serve? Gulf war. A little bit into the Brown War but mostly Gulf War. Started in 91. Did a lot change here when you left for the military? Yeah, it used to be much more family-oriented. It wasn’t as much of a hood back then. It was a beautiful city, man. Just beautiful. What was it like growing up here? It was so different, man. (Less phones right?) yeah [laughs] ... kids would play catch outside, running around, people would be out too. It was fun. It was great, man. 66

If you could go back, would you do things differently?

BEING IN THE BURG Yeah, I would’ve listened to my dad. I would’ve gone to college and not made the mistakes I did. Probably wouldn’t have gone to the military. Were you close to your unit? Let me put it this way.. people trusted me over there. White boy from Louisiana who’s never even seen a brutha before joining the military became more trustworthy than most of my friends back home. I went to war for my friends, I stayed because they trusted me and being trusted over there was better than coming back to a miserable life and an untrustworthy wife. Dam, that’s powerful. [food comes out] alright well I’ll let you get some rest, hope to see you around, man! Oh I’m sure you will, I’ll be around.

SECTION D

BUILDNARR-

ING NEW ATIVES When we wonder what lies on the other side of the mountain range or ocean, our imagination constructs mythical geographies that may bear little or no relationship to reality. from Yi-Fu Tuan: Space and Place, 1977

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

DRAWINGS ARE TOOLS, NOT ARTIFACTS

The Wilkinsburg that once was predominantly White middle-class workers, are now predominantly Black and lower income residents, with an ever-growing poverty rate. Combined with the society that once shunned the desegregation politics, and a lack of resources provided to the newer, newcomers to Wilkinsburg are faced with a difficult challenge to overcome social barriers installed more than fifty years ago. The White population that left Wilkinsburg in search of “better” and “safer” neighborhoods left out of fear, and it is out of fear for of displacement and gentrification that the current population resists development. It is a preconceived notion of fear that drives outsiders away from the area, and it is fear of being unable to provide a meal the following day that motivates desperate actions. Unsurprisingly, architects have remained largely silent in finding solutions or methods to address these underlying social issues. Thus, in an attempt to use architectural methods to bridge the social inequality resulting from individuals with differing levels of access to resources, drawings of familiar spaces were used to begin conversations about the use of space. By providing a degree of recognizability in the drawn objects, the viewer is able to quickly provide reactions, allowing designers to gauge interest and potentially inquire about deeper reasons for comments from viewers. Drawings could also potentially be used as educational tools, where a combination of diagrams, spatial representations, and conversation can potentially invite new understandings of how objects claim space. The fundamental barrier to the drawings lay in the failure of the drawings to represent an iterative process. Rather, the drawings appear finite and complete. Polished to such an extent that they have become artifacts rather than tools, with the key difference being that an artifact is too precious to use.

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

Planting flowers is great but I’d love to see Wilkinsburg transform into a wildlife reserve. Clif McGill

PRESENCE

FLOWERS

I’ve always imagined chess boards like the ones integrated into the tables in Market Square! Clif M

ANIMAL HOUSE

PERFORMANCE

RECREATION

There is a lot of talk about an artist coming to town and re-imagining abandoned churches! Clif M

RELAX

NOT YOURS

I remember romping around the forests in the East Hills when I was young. It’d be amazing to have spaces like that again. Clif M

Gazebos are a great way to invite the public into the space and to feel sheltered! Clif M

GAZEBO

COMPANIONSHIP

IMMERSED

GATHERING

SCULPTURE

SOLAR POWA

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

SERVICE

BIOSWALE

Wilkinsburg church communities often attract attendees from out-of-town leaving them disconnected from the community they hold service in.

RAIN GARDEN

URBAN FARM

RELIGION

I saw temporary hammocks in Frick Park and it was so exciting to see the colorful additions! Clif M

I would love to see more wildlife inhabitable space in Wilkinsburg! Clif M

HAMMOCK

MARKET

BIRD HOUSE

One of my fellow gardeners placed a bench on the edge of their garden to invite people to sit while they wait for the bus! Clif McGill

MOWED

SUPPORT

PICNIC

The community garden I tend to has a United States flag to instill a sense of civic pride. Clif M

PRIDE

POTTY BREAK

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

DESIGNING WALKS Congestion and inefficiency contributed to the labelling of residents in stagnant places as diseased, however, it was the fear of urban crime that contributed to the construction of Wilkinsburg as a mythical place. Negative associations of the urban underclass are not new conceptions, however. The working class that remained in cities following White flight were regarded as dirty, unkempt, and uneducated. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cityâ&#x20AC;? became a generalized place of danger and crime, where buildings were unsafe and people were even less safe. Thus, finding common ground was critical to the model posed here. As an almost universal mode of transportation, walking is used in this project to share an experience with someone. Then, the conversation is further shared through the re-interpretation and drawing of moments in space.

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

DISCOVERING THE SITE

1 SITE 1: 923 Hill Ave 2 SITE 2: 912 Hill Ave 3 TO PENN AVE. 1

HOMEOWNER ABANDONED

FOU

NTA

WAY

T L S

COA

HIL

L A VE

T L S

MIL

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

SITE AS ENTRANCE

1 SITE 1: 923 Hill Ave 2 SITE 2: 912 Hill Ave 3 TO PENN AVE. HOMEOWNER ABANDONED

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

SITE AS WALKING DESTINATION

1 SITE 1: 923 Hill Ave 2 SITE 2: 912 Hill Ave 3 TO PENN AVE. OCCUPIED ABANDONED

BUILDING NEW NARRATIVES

WALKING WITHOUT GOING SOMEWHERE

The advent of the automobile allowed individuals to live further from their workplace in the city and motivated increased mobility through neighborhoods. Thus, the construction of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;placeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is untethered from the physical occupation and footpath wanderings of a space and can be formed as a result of repeated interaction through the windows of a car. However, using automobiles as a mode of the production of space favors transient relationships and efficiency in mobility as a mode of relocating from point A to point B. The journey becomes obsolete and is relegated to background static rather than forefronted place. The social engagements between residents, business owners, and vehicular traffic are limited to the raucous, dangerous pedestrian crosswalks and parking meters. By walking with people and talking through space, the intent was to build a narrative together. Despite being highly intimate and very unique, this process can be multiplied into a thousand walks, with each walk raising a new set of issues. Space, like these walks, is constantly shifting. Thus to capture it as a static construction is futile. By walking through, space is employed as the medium for conversation, and all of the architectural theory on space becomes experiential. Gentrification looms over the horizon of Wilkinsburg as school closings and slow transformation of vacant lots reduce the historically prohibitive millage rate of the community. The residents that have contributed to the construction of the in-vulnerable place are now challenged to maintain their stake in place and face increasing difficulty as organized institutions delegate more strategic influence to themselves as the arbiters of public space. However, I believe by humanizing space and transforming them into memories rather than abstract geometries, the community will be able to participate in the process of change.

SECTION E

BIBLIO-

GRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

WORKS REFERENCED Auge, Marc. From Places to Non-Places: Introduction to an Anthropology of Supermodernity, 1995. Print. Bauman, John F. and Muller, Edward K. Before Renaissance: Planning in Pittsburgh, 1889-1943. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2006. Certeau, Michel . The Practice of Everyday Life. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. Print. Chase, John, Margaret Crawford, and John Kaliski. Everyday Urbanism: Featuring John Chase. New York, N.Y: Monacelli Press, 1999. Print. Cresswell, Timothy. “The Production of Mobilities: An Interpretive Framework.” On the Move. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2012. Committee of National Urban Policy. Critical Issues for National Urban Policy: A Reconnaissance and Agenda for Further Study, 1982. Print. Demby, Gene & Meraji, Shereen. “The Passing Of A ‘Failing’ School.” NPR, October 11, 2017. Audio. Dewey, John. The Public and Its Problems. New York: H. Holt and Company, 1927. Print. Eugene, Richards. Americans We. New York: Aperture Foundation, Inc, 1994. Print. Fezer J., Schmitz M. (2012) Design Is Invisible (1980). In: Fezer J., Schmitz M. (eds) Lucius Burckhardt Writings. Rethinking Man-made Environments. Springer, Vienna. Flower, Linda. “Intercultural knowledge building: The literate action of a community think tank.” Writing Selves/Writing Societies, 2003, pp. 239-279. Flower, Linda. “Difference-Driven Inquiry: A Working Theory of Local Public Deliberation.” Rhetoric Society Quarterly, vol. 46, 2016, pp. 1-23. 10.1080/02773945.2016.1194451. Freeman, Lance. There Goes the ‘hood: Views of Gentrification from the Ground Up. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2006. Print. Fraser, Nancy. “Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy.” Social Text 25/26 (1990): 56-80. Print. Higgins, Lorraine D., and Lisa D. Brush. “Personal Experience Narrative and Public Debate: Writing the Wrongs of Welfare.” College Composition and Communication, vol. 57, no. 4, 2006, pp. 694–729. JSTOR. Langegger, Sig. Rights to Public Space: Law, Culture, and Gentrification in the American West. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017. Print. Lubove, Roy. Twentieth-Century Pittsburgh Vol. 1 Government, Business, and Environmental Change. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1969. Habermas, Jürgen. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. (1989) Print. Habraken, N J, and Jonathan Teicher. The Structure of the Ordinary: Form and Control in the Built Environment. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1998. Print. Hamdi, Nabeel. Small Change: About the Art of Practice and the Limits of Planning in Cities. London: Earthscan, 2004. Print. Hauser, Gerard A. Vernacular Voices: The Rhetoric of Publics and Public Spheres. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1999. Print. Heidegger, M. Building Dwelling Thinking. Poetry, Language, Thought. New York: Haper Colophon Books, 1971. Print. Hughes, Mark A. Dirt Into Dollars: Converting Vacant Land into Valuable Development. Brookings, June 1, 2000.

102

BIBLIOGRAPHY Jacobs, Jane. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, 1961. Print. Kerr, Minnie M. & Smith, James G. & Liggett, Carr. A Brief History of Wilkinsburg 1896-1946 From Wilderness to Modern City, 1946. Print. Kunstler, James H. “The Ghastly Tragedy of the Suburbs.” TED. Feb 2004. Lecture. Lefebvre, Henri. The Production of Space. Oxford, OX, UK: Blackwell, 1991. Print. Levy, Eugene. “High Bridge, Low Bridge.” Places, 8. 4 (1993): 12-19. Print. Lydon, Mike & Garcia, Anthony. Tactical urbanism: Short-term action for long-term change. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2015. Print. Lynch, Kevin. The Image of the City. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. (1960) Print. Macek, Steve. Urban Nightmares: The Media, the Right, and the Moral Panic over the City. NED - New edition ed., University of Minnesota Press, 2006. Print. Massey, Doreen B. Space, Place, and Gender. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1994. Print. Massey, Douglas S, and Nancy A. Denton. American Apartheid: Segregation and the Making of the Underclass. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1993. Print. Oswalt P., Overmeeyer K., Misselwitz P., Urban Catalyst: The Power of Temporary Use. Germany: DOM Publishers, 2013. Print. Pattillo, Mary E. Black Picket Fences: Privilege and Peril Among the Black Middle Class. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999. Print. Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association. Summary Report of the Master Plan Prepared for the Borough of Wilkinsburg, 1959. Print. Powell, J.R.J.; Hardaway, P. Recommendations for Assuring Robust Civic Engagement & Equity in Detroit’s Shrinking City Planning Effort. Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES) and The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity; Ohio State University: Columbus, OH, USA, 2010. Roberts-Miller, Patricia. Deliberate Conflict: Argument, Political Theory, and Composition Classes. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2007. Print. Russell, Bertrand. Power: A New Social Analysis. London: Routledge, 1938. Print. Russel, Jim. “PEOPLE ARE DISTRESSED, NOT COMMUNITIES.” Pacific Standard Mar 4 2004. Web. Sack, Robert D. “Human Territoriality: A Theory.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers, vol. 73, no. 1, 1983, pp. 55–74. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2569346. Tuan, Yi-fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1977. Print. Wilkinsburg Historical Society. Images of America: Wilkinsburg. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2007. Print.

103

BIBLIOGRAPHY

thank you!

104