A Long Walk part… Hey Now!
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Butler Street in Pittsburgh, which your humble narrator recently scuttled down. This post is the third part of a longer travelogue. Scroll back a couple of posts for the beginning, or you can just jump in here. All are welcome at Newtown Pentacle, as nothing matters and nobody cares – after all.
I should mention that the Newtown Pentacle time warp continues to swirl. I’ve intentionally cut the lead time down a bit, by largely goofing off in September, but these images were captured on the 14th of September, and the posts they are embedded in should be arriving in your inboxes during the first week of November if I’ve got my scheduling correct.
This section of Butler Street enters into a neighborhood called ‘Lawrenceville,’ which is where the gentrification furnaces burn most brightly in Pittsburgh. An infusion of ‘tech’ investments in the area has brought a new population to Lawrenceville in the 21st century – a group referred to locally as ‘the tech Bro’s.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Me? I’m of course focused on what used to be here, since the past is usually far more interesting and less worthy of an argument than the present is. On the register of ‘historic places’ is the former Hunter Saw & Machine Company’s 4 building complex. Caught my eye.
Now, I’m told by the locals that Lawrenceville used to be considered a dangerous and quite ‘crimey’ area, and was one of Pittsburgh’s ‘hoods.’
The gentrification hammers began to fall here sometime around the start of the 21st century, sort of analogous to the same real estate driven process that played out in North Brooklyn and Long Island City back in New York during that same interval.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve learned to identify where gentrification zones begin in the various Pittsburgh neighborhoods – and it’s right where you see a royal blue painted house with odd exterior modifications sticking out, right in the middle of a block of row houses. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be offering more real world proof of this observably ‘gentrification blue’ theory of mine.
It was right about here that I decided to abandon Butler Street for a spell, as I had walked the following section during an ‘Open Streets’ event just a few weeks prior. I headed vaguely northwards, towards the river.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A quick bit of gazing into Google Maps and at my compass ensued, just to confirm that I was heading towards where I thought I was going. Given my recent proclivity for walking in the opposite direction of where I intended to go, it’s best to double check. Had to make this a habit.
Yup, I was fixing to head off in the wrong direction, again.
After ascertaining the correct path, once more did I begin sloshing forward, like some sort of antagonistic jelly carrying a camera.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a section of Lawrenceville which is still quite industrial, and… there happens to be an active set of rail tracks back there… so…
Big skies. You also get ‘big sky’ in industrial zones.
Honestly, wasn’t expecting to see a train back here, but…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now!
Here comes Allegheny Valley RR #4001!
More on all that tomorrow.
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
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