Catching up in Hazlewood

I am kind of updating in reverse so forgive me. I did Hazlewood and Greenfield yesterday. In particular was Gladstone street. I have been wanting to find these steps for ages and keep planning a trip out there and never end up making it. Well I finally did, thank god. Hazlewood is a very historic neighborhood full of history and old things that are...historic. It's also a bit abandoned. But it has the oldest library is Pittsburgh (which is closed) and the oldest house in Pittsburgh (which is shuttered up and creepy)

This is the John Woods house. It was built in 1792 and is an important asset to our rich history, which is why we neglect it, because we're Americans. So I started in Greenfield and hiked up and over Gladstone street. The steps start by gently cresting the hill and then follow a flat sidewalk for a ways past a lily pond (aka drainage problem) then zigs once, descends, zags once, and descends into a lovely knoll of well kept homes and a great looking urban garden.

The top of the hill is Greenfield, the bottom is Hazlewood. Greenfield is stable, beautiful, safe. Hazlewood is decaying, forgotten, and crime ridden. So sad. Its location is absolutely perfect for revitalization. Midway between downtown and Homestead on the flourishing technology corridor, right next to the Three Rivers Heritage trail and right across the bridge from the Southside. Why is this neighborhood so neglected?

Tullymet Street There are signs of life in Hazelwood however. The Young Preservationist Association of Pittsburgh are looking to re-purpose the Carnegie Library currently and urban farming has also really taken a foothold. Perhaps if enough interest is garnered, we will see this place turn around.