Pittsburgh Neighborhood Unveils the 'Mother of All Vision Plans'

Unveiled at an event held last week at the University of Pittsburgh, "Oakland 2025: A vision for sustainable living and mobility" is the culmination of a process that involved a laundry list of institutional, community, and governmental partners.

1 minute read

November 6, 2012, 1:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Home to historic districts, universities, health care facilities, and cultural venues, Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood is truly ‘a city within a city'; which made developing a long-term comprehensive plan with the participation of a diverse set of partners all the more difficult.

"It's a monster," said Wanda Wilson, executive director of the Oakland
Planning and Development Corp. "I think the thing that's going to help
[with implementation] is that we have these partnerships in place -- not
that it's going to be a piece of cake."

According to Diana Nelson Jones, "[p]riorities include an Oakland bus loop; better pedestrian navigation and
bicycle infrastructure; hillside restoration and other greening
efforts; more attractive gateways into Oakland; the return of the
Oakland Code Enforcement Task Force -- a resident-based network renamed
Oakwatch -- and better town-and-gown relations with outreach and
reclamation of student rentals in residential neighborhoods."

"Unlike most neighborhood-specific plans, Oakland's is likely to have
regional implications, especially as transportation goals are
implemented," says Jones.

"Obviously, as the third-largest employment center in the state, with
cultural institutions that serve the region, Oakland has to plan with
that in mind," said Jonathan Kline, co-principal at Studio for Spatial Practice. "At the same time, he said, there is a
certain parochial feel to each of Oakland's neighborhoods."

Monday, November 5, 2012 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Regeneration of contaminated industrial land used for waste dumping, West Midlands, UK, 2006 .

EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites

The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.

May 18 - Environmental Protection

Archway made of bikes in Knoxville, Tennessee over Tennessee River.

Knoxville Dedicates $1M to New Greenway

The proposed greenway would run along North Broadway and connect to 125 miles of existing trails.

May 18 - WATE

25mph speed limit sign with digital "Your Speed" sign below it.

Philadelphia Launches ‘Speed Slots’ Traffic Calming Pilot

The project focuses on a 1.4-mile stretch of Lincoln Drive where cars frequently drive above the posted speed limit.

May 18 - WHYY