Trip #3 Nimick Place, East Hills, Pittsburgh took place on June 3, 2017, and was published on July 10, 2017.
I’ve come to a place where something was supposed to be but didn’t become. A street sign without a street. A lit porch light on a boarded-up house. Something that was but isn’t any longer. The outside view is orderly, peaceful almost but it’s unnaturally quiet, and it sets me on edge. The groundhog I scared with my noisy approach is sensing me from the overgrowth – maybe not by sight but by sound, by smell. I’m missing something, and I don’t know what it is. I think I want the answers, but I’m too afraid to hear the truth right now. I leave, looking back as I go.
Field Notes: This set was right down the road from Trip #2. Shorter, but a bit more isolated. Found a “street” – Athens Street – that was all grown over with grass. The street sign remained though! I wanted to be comfortable here, but I wasn’t. Not sure why.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
