Monthly Archives for August 2018


Camilla Cook – Tree Inventory Update #7

Today, I surveyed Block 14 and inventoried a total of nine trees – which were a mix of Pyrus calleryana (Callery pear), Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum), and Ulmus rubra (Slippery Elm). The only significant issues present with these trees were that the majority of the P. calleryana’s had some dead or missing branches, some leaf discoloration, […]


Camilla Cook: Tree Inventory Update #6

On August 7 and 9, I completed Blocks 1, 11, and 12 – finishing the Business and Institutional Core Cluster! On the small portion of Block 1 (Hamilton Avenue), I identified Catalpa speciosa (Northern Catalpa). On Block 11, there were Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood), Taxodium distichum (Baldcypress), Tilia cordata (Littlelead Linden), and Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum), as […]


Morgan Block: Conducting Property Surveys in West Homewood

At Operation Better Block, we are continuously conducting property surveys throughout the rest of the summer. According to our survey map, many of the homes surveyed are owned by either the City of Pittsburgh or the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which is an interesting find for anyone thinking about the future of Homewood. A stark contrast […]


Camilla Cook: Tree Inventory Update #5

Yesterday, I completed Block 9 and almost Block 10. Even though I didn’t complete my targeted goal for the day (I was in South Homewood from 7:45 am till noon), I had some insightful and wonderful conversations with several residents that were worthy of my time. On Block 9.3 at 7800 Susquehanna Street, there is […]