Trip #690 Lodge Street, Overbrook, Pittsburgh took place on February 2, 2022, and was published on February 7, 2022.
This corner flight is a mere block away from the one I shared on Friday, but it’s decades older, likely constructed in the late 1940s along with many of the other stairs in Overbrook. The concrete is crumbling, its railing bent and battered, and the guardrail designed to protect it has seen much better days. One might wonder why these stairs weren’t given a “facelift” when construction took place just a stone’s throw away. Why does Odette Street have new sidewalks, steps, and curb cuts while Lodge Street’s infrastructure is decidedly less accessible and sparkly? While *I* might think that sprucing up ALL of the Ivyglen Street corridor is a good idea, I’m not the one setting budgets, awarding contracts, and writing the checks. In reality, our neighborhoods will always have Odette Streets and Lodge Streets. If you live on a street that resembles the former, remember to appreciate what you have, and don’t forget to show support for neighbors a few streets over who might love to have the same. Together we rise.
Field Notes: This corner flight is one block away from a new set of city steps on Odette Street (See Bonus 4). Unlike Odette, this one has an original railing this has seen better days. All too often railings of sidewalk steps get backed into or hit by vehicles, delivery trucks, and DPW trash trucks. Even the guard rail that was placed just beyond has received a fair share of hard knocks! For this visit, the old Spectra decided to spit out a print – it’s pretty destroyed, but fits well with this setting.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
