A public hearing over Pittsburgh’s proposed annexation of Wilkinsburg was about to end on Thursday when a borough resident hurried through the door, delivering the night’s most passionate argument against the merger.
“This is not popular,” said Renee Donley, of Wilkinsburg, addressing two members of Pittsburgh City Council and a small gathering of neighbors. “If you end up putting it on the ballot, it is in fact going to fail.”
City Council’s vote on whether to annex the 15,000 resident borough of was tabled until next year after members rejected it in February, saying they needed more information on the plan that would join the East End community with the city of Pittsburgh.
Thursday’s hearing at a North Side community center was the third in a series of information sessions open to the public.
Those in favor of the merger say it would lower property taxes for Wilkinsburg residents while adding tax revenue for Pittsburgh and a boost to its population.
But those opposed, like Ms. Donley, are wary of gentrification and rising housing costs that could result from real estate developers hungry to revitalize the area.
“This is about bankers and developers who will make a fortune if they continue the East Liberty and Bakery Square development into Wilkinsburg,” Ms. Donley said, “but Wilkinsburg doesn’t want this.”
