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Land & Power

Ep. 1: 'We Don't Do Business This Way.'

By Margaret J. Krauss

Published November 16, 2020 at 2:56 AM EST

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Bob Jamison sat on the Penn Plaza Tenants Council and, along with Gail Williams, helped negotiate the future of the buildings with the city and the developer.

Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA

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Bob Jamison sat on the Penn Plaza Tenants Council and, along with Gail Williams, helped negotiate the future of the buildings with the city and the developer.

Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA

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When Gail Williams heard the Penn Plaza Apartments would close she leapt into action. Her efforts helped lead to a negotiation between residents, the developer, and the City of Pittsburgh.

Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA

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When Gail Williams heard the Penn Plaza Apartments would close she leapt into action. Her efforts helped lead to a negotiation between residents, the developer, and the City of Pittsburgh.

Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA

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An aerial view of Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood, circa June 1971, looking south. The East Liberty Presbyterian Church between Highland Avenue and Whitfield Street is visible in the foreground.

Melvin Seidenberg Photographs / Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center

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An aerial view of Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood, circa June 1971, looking south. The East Liberty Presbyterian Church between Highland Avenue and Whitfield Street is visible in the foreground.

Melvin Seidenberg Photographs / Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center

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East Liberty's Penn Plaza apartments.

Sarah Schneider / 90.5 WESA

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East Liberty's Penn Plaza apartments.

Sarah Schneider / 90.5 WESA

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The location of the former Penn Plaza apartments after demolition.

Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA

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The location of the former Penn Plaza apartments after demolition.

Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA

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An aerial view of the East Liberty pedestrian mall and surrounding buildings.

Melvin Seidenberg Photographs / Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center

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An aerial view of the East Liberty pedestrian mall and surrounding buildings.

Melvin Seidenberg Photographs / Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center

In episode one of Land & Power, we meet Bob Jamison and Gail Williams, two residents of the Penn Plaza Apartments in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They react very differently to the news that they and 200 of their neighbors will have to leave their homes to make way for new development.

Bob and Gail join forces to fight for their homes; chances of success seem slim.

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Land & Power Land & Power Penn Plaza

Margaret J. Krauss

See stories by Margaret J. Krauss

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