Politics & Government

Forest Hills & Wilkinsburg Officials to Meet About Sherwood Road Traffic, Noise

Many residents in the Sherwood neighborhood are unhappy about noise and traffic coming from a Hosanna House facility.

Forest Hills and Wilkinsburg officials are expected to meet with representatives of Hosanna House International to discuss some noise and traffic issues stemming from the Sherwood Event Center.

The meeting, which is an attempt to address the concerns of unhappy residents in Forest Hills' Sherwood Road neighborhood, is scheduled for Thursday, May 16. A representative of the neighborhood also will attend the closed meeting.

The Sherwood Event Center, located at the end of Sherwood Road, is technically located in Wilkinsburg Borough. However, there only is one way to get there, and that's on Sherwood Road in Forest Hills.

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Many neighborhood residents have flooded council chambers in recent months to discuss problems with traffic, speeding, noise and litter coming from the event center. The center also has been undergoing renovations.

Resident Jim Reed, who will be attending the meeting, said he has a petition with signatures from 40 neighbors asking for construction at the event center to stop.

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Councilman Steve Karas and solicitor Stephen Korbel said Forest Hills officials have no authority to stop construction.

"We can't shut the place down or put a concrete barrier at the end of the road." Karas said. "We need to work with them."

Councilwoman Devon Wood said she's worried Sherwood Road can't support the increased traffic on the road. Wood also expressed concern that the property is not being used as a nonprofit and some advertisements say it's located in Forest Hills.

Resident Michelle Amato agreed.

"The street is narrow," she said. "It can't tolerate this type of traffic."

Residents suggested that officials propose creating an access road in Wilkinsburg for the event center. Councilman Mike Belmonte said it has been discussed.

Karas said officials will recap the meeting at the council committee meeting June 6.

"We'll try to do the best we can," he said.

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