Borland Green
Program Area: ReClaim
Topic: Biofuel, Community Engagement, Vacant Land, Youth
Year: 2011
Neighborhood: East Liberty
News/Press Coverage
Borland Green Ecovillage: a grand co-housing plan in East Liberty Pittsburgh Post Gazette | August 15, 2011
Seven brown-brick rowhouses on Black Street behind Peabody High School had been in the process of falling apart when East Liberty Development Inc. bought them out of foreclosure last year. Since then, the agency has assembled eight more residences on the blocks within Borland, Black and Beatty streets as part… [read more].
GTECH’s first community-based project has transformed into a model for community gathering space. Located in East Liberty at the intersection of Black Street and Beatty Street, the project started on the site of old row homes that were demolished. After removing tons of rubble, tilling the soil, adding compost, planting both canola and sunflowers and installing fence, the site was ready for a more intense project.
In 2011, with community input from nearby East Liberty residents and from the Borland Cooperative, the site transformed into a permaculture garden and community space through the collaboration of Borland Co-Housers, East Liberty Development, Inc., Pashtek Associates, Pittsburgh Permaculture and SEEDS. This space is now completely managed by local residents. GTECH is excited to see how it continues to flourish in the future. This project is a wonderful example of how temporary strategies can activate further community involvement in improving the condition of vacant land.
Support Funding
This project was made possible by The Sprout Fund, Heinz Endowments, and the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh.
Special Thanks
Thanks to Borland Co-Housers, East Liberty Development, Inc., Pashtek Associates, Pittsburgh Permaculture and SEEDS for working together to create this project.
