Trip #447 Clairhaven Street, Crafton Heights, Pittsburgh took place on May 17, 2020, and was published on June 8, 2020.
“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” is one of the most famous lines from The Wizard of Oz. Like Toto revealing a hidden secret, I, too, discovered that the outward appearance of the Clairhaven Street stairs doesn’t match up with reality. This wooden flight appears idyllic on the surface, but when you draw back the curtain, a hot mess comes jumping out, leaving you surprised and a bit bewildered. The remains of the original concrete flight are the first things you see, and you quickly realize the newer, wooden flight was built around them. The result is a cross between an open burial plot and a DIY landscaping project gone wrong. As I peer down the rest of the flight, I see lopsided fun-house style steps caving into the hillside. The soil is being washed away during each rainstorm, and with it, safe access to the two stair-bound houses. We place great stock in the expression “there’s no place like home,” but what happens when going to and from it becomes treacherous? It’s a problem the great and powerful wizards need to solve soon.
Field Notes: This flight leads to two “orphan houses” both of which have better access at the top. However, the top portion eroded due to water run-off and needed to be replaced by a wooden flight. Must be tough in the winter!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
Like watching videos? Check out PCTV21’s 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh YouTube channel. Hosted by author and journalist Rossilynne Culgan, there’s even an episode where she interviews me about City Steps. When you want to start planning warm-weather excursions, this series will do you right.
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.
