days late clearing their sidewalk after 11.2 inches of snow
days to clear the sidewalk
finally cleared after public pressure
The Village of Shadyside in Pittsburgh took 11 days to clear their Penn Ave sidewalk.
After the January 2026 snowstorm, the Village of Shadyside Community Association plowed their private gated streets but left the public sidewalk impassable for over a week — forcing pedestrians, wheelchair users, the elderly, and parents with strollers into traffic on Penn Avenue. They only cleared it on February 5th after we reached out publicly.
See For Yourself
Village of Shadyside: Inside the Gates vs. Outside
The Village of Shadyside Pittsburgh community plowed their private interior streets for residents. The public sidewalk on Penn Avenue? Left buried under 11.2 inches of snow for over a week.
Penn Avenue — Impassable
Frozen slush and ice chunks forcing pedestrians into the street. 9+ days after the storm.
Private Streets — Spotless
Through the iron gate: plowed roads, clear driveways. They have the resources. They made a choice.
Photos taken February 3, 2026 — 10 days after the snowstorm.
What's Going On
Village of Shadyside Snow Removal Failure
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, a major winter storm dropped 11.2 inches of snow on Pittsburgh — one of the biggest snowfalls in recent years. The snow stopped by late Sunday night.
Pittsburgh City Code §419.03 requires property owners to clear adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops. That deadline passed on Monday, January 26.
The Village of Shadyside Community Association — a gated community of 84 townhomes and 41 condominiums at 100 Denniston Street — owns property that borders Penn Avenue. The community faces inward, with the Penn Ave sidewalk running along their outer wall. Their own Reference Guide states that the Association is responsible for snow and ice removal on common areas, including sidewalks.
It took 11 days and public pressure before the Village of Shadyside finally cleared their Penn Avenue sidewalk on February 5th, 2026.
Timeline
Jan 25, 2026
Major snowstorm hits Pittsburgh
11.2 inches of snow falls across the region. Storm ends late Sunday night.
Jan 26, 2026
24-hour removal deadline passes
Per Pittsburgh City Code §419.03, sidewalks should have been cleared by this point.
Jan 27 – Feb 4
Sidewalk remained uncleared for 10 days
10 days past the 24-hour requirement. Pedestrians were forced to navigate around the obstruction, often walking in the street.
Feb 3, 2026
311 complaint filed with City of Pittsburgh
A formal complaint was submitted through Pittsburgh's 311 system citing the uncleared sidewalk and City Code §419.03.
Feb 3, 2026
Email sent to the Association — no response
A message was sent through the Village of Shadyside's contact page requesting the sidewalk be cleared. No reply received.
Feb 3, 2026
Phone call attempted — voicemail full
Called the Village of Shadyside at 12:00 PM. The phone rang extensively before going to a recording stating 'memory is full.' Unable to even leave a message.
Feb 5, 2026
Sidewalk finally cleared — after public pressure
11 days after the storm and 10 days past the legal deadline, the Village of Shadyside finally cleared their Penn Avenue sidewalk. This only happened after our outreach and public documentation of their failure.
The Rules
What's Required
Pittsburgh City Code §419.03
Removal of Snow and Ice
“Every tenant, occupant or owner having the care or charge of any land or building fronting on any street in the city, where there is a sidewalk paved with concrete, brick, stone or other material shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after the fall of any snow or sleet, or the accumulation of ice caused by freezing rainfall, cause the same to be removed from the sidewalk.”
Non-compliance can result in a $200 fine per the City of Pittsburgh 311 guidelines.
The Association's Own Guidelines
Village of Shadyside Reference Guide
The Village of Shadyside's own Reference Guide — published by their former property management company — is clear about who handles snow removal:
“The Community Association is responsible for snow and ice [removal].”
This means it's the Association's job — not the individual homeowners'. The responsibility is clearly defined in their own documents.
Accountability
We've Tried Reaching Them
Multiple attempts have been made to contact the Village of Shadyside about this issue. Every avenue has been met with silence.
Email — No Response
February 3, 2026
A message was sent through the Association's official contact page explaining the situation and requesting the sidewalk be cleared. No acknowledgment or reply has been received.
Phone Call — Voicemail Full
February 3, 2026 · 12:00 PM
Called the Village of Shadyside directly. The phone rang for an extended period before going to a recording that stated “memory is full.” It was not possible to leave a voicemail. Their phone system is apparently so neglected that it can't even accept messages.
311 Complaint Filed
February 3, 2026
A formal complaint was submitted to the City of Pittsburgh through the 311 system, citing the uncleared sidewalk at 100 Denniston Street / Penn Avenue and the violation of City Code §419.03.
Three contact attempts. Zero responses. The sidewalk was finally cleared on February 5th — but only after public documentation of their failure.
The People
Who This Affects
Penn Avenue is one of the most-walked corridors in Pittsburgh's East End. When a stretch of sidewalk is impassable, people don't stop walking — they walk in the street instead. For some, even that isn't an option.
Wheelchair Users
An uncleared sidewalk isn't an inconvenience — it's a complete barrier. There is no workaround.
Elderly Neighbors
Falls on ice are one of the leading causes of serious injury in older adults. Packed snow and ice are especially dangerous.
Parents & Caregivers
You can't push a stroller through compacted snow. Parents are left choosing between the street or staying home.
Everyday Pedestrians
Everyone who walks this stretch — commuters, dog walkers, neighbors — is forced to navigate around the obstruction.
Get Involved
What You Can Do
Report It to the City
File a report through Pittsburgh's 311 system. Reference the address (100 Denniston Street / Penn Avenue frontage) and cite City Code §419.03. The more reports filed, the more likely the city takes notice.
File a 311 Report →Contact the Association Directly
Let the Village of Shadyside Community Association know that their neighbors have noticed and that this matters. A polite but firm message goes a long way.
Go to Their Contact Page →Share This Page
Community accountability works. Share this page with neighbors, on social media, or in local Pittsburgh community groups. The sidewalk gets cleared when people pay attention.
Property Details
About the Village of Shadyside Pittsburgh
The Village of Shadyside is a gated residential community in Pittsburgh's East End — nine landscaped acres with a private clubhouse, pool, playground, and a staffed guardhouse. Homes in the community are valued between $500,000 and $800,000. The Association employs a professional property management company and a site superintendent.
The community faces inward. The Penn Avenue sidewalk runs along their outer boundary wall — it's the public's path, not the one residents see from inside the gates. But it's still their responsibility.
Address
100 Denniston Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Type
Gated residential community (HOA)
Size
84 townhomes + 41 condos · 9 acres
Amenities
Clubhouse · Pool · Playground · Guardhouse
Management
Unknown (RJC Management confirmed they left in 2021)
Home Values
$500K – $800K+
Website
villageofshadyside.comContact
Contact Page →Not the First Time
A Pattern, Not an Accident
This isn't an isolated incident. Neighbors and pedestrians along Penn Avenue report that the Village of Shadyside Community Association has a history of neglecting their public sidewalk after storms — while consistently maintaining their private interior streets.
The pattern is clear: when snow falls, the Association's private streets get plowed promptly. The public sidewalk on Penn Avenue — the one that wheelchair users, elderly neighbors, parents with strollers, and everyday pedestrians depend on — gets ignored.
This isn't a one-time oversight. It's a choice they keep making.
Documented Incidents
January 25, 2026 — 11.2" snowstorm
Penn Avenue sidewalk left uncleared for 11 days (10 days past the legal deadline). Private streets cleared within 24 hours. Documented with photos, 311 complaint filed, multiple contact attempts met with silence. Finally cleared February 5th only after public pressure.
We are actively collecting reports of past incidents from neighbors. If you've experienced or witnessed this pattern before, please contact us.
Historical Record
We're Keeping Track
This site serves as a permanent public record. The January 2026 incident has been documented, and we will continue to monitor and document the Village of Shadyside's response — or lack thereof — to every future winter weather event in Pittsburgh.
Every Storm
We'll check the Penn Ave sidewalk after every significant snowfall and document the result.
Photo Evidence
Time-stamped photos comparing private streets vs. the public sidewalk — every time.
Public Record
A growing record that anyone — neighbors, buyers, reporters, city officials — can reference.
Have a tip or photos from a past storm? Reach out →
Media Inquiries & Tips
Reporters, city officials, neighbors, or the Village of Shadyside itself — we welcome all communication.
Contact Us →