Only five miles separate Squirrel Hill and Braddock.

But over the past six weeks, high school boys at Hillel Academy in Squirrel Hill have been learning just how far that distance is.

They took a walking tour of Braddock, wrote down their observations, researched the community, drew up a list of ideas and then yesterday met with Braddock Mayor John Fetterman at their school.

Before starting the project, some of them had never heard of Braddock, which the mayor called the poorest community in Allegheny County. Squirrel Hill is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city.

From his observations, junior Daniel Sax of Squirrel Hill wrote, "A lot of times we forget about places like Braddock, places that may have looked like Squirrel Hill but don't anymore."

Junior Ben Kohane, of Squirrel Hill, said the study gave an "overall sense of how something can be so close to Squirrel Hill and be on the other side of the spectrum."

Junior Asher Sohnen, of Squirrel Hill, said, "I knew Pittsburgh had moved on from the steel industry. It seems like Braddock got left behind."

Mr. Fetterman told them he doesn't think the business district in Braddock -- once thriving in a community where the population has dwindled from about 20,000 to about 3,000 -- will look like Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill in his lifetime.

But he said that people have a right to live in a safe and improving community.

The students at the small high school -- Hillel has 21 boys enrolled in the high school located at Congregation Beth Shalom -- drew up ideas for rebuilding Braddock, with one team of students chosen to present their 10 ideas.

"I think they did a great job," said Mr. Fetterman.

Some of the ideas already are being done, and some aren't possible at this point, the mayor said.

Mr. Fetterman has been working on the first idea -- persuade UPMC Braddock to stay -- so far without success.

He also said Braddock is working on green ideas, including buying LED traffic signals.

He said Braddock has renovated about a half-dozen houses, is planning a youth center, is improving culture by adding an art gallery and is working on more sports by creating a basketball league.

Less likely is a student idea to reduce taxes for businesses and homes. Mr. Fetterman said that's particularly unlikely with UPMC Braddock leaving, creating an $80,000 hole in the budget.

Nor does the mayor think it would be likely to develop docks and a marina, saying there isn't enough suitable and available space on the riverfront.

He also thought it was unlikely Braddock would attract chain stores, such as Kmart and Walmart, with tax breaks and free property. Mr. Fetterman noted there already is a Walmart in North Versailles.

But Mr. Fetterman said he would love to attract a restaurant, such as a Subway, because Braddock doesn't have a restaurant. He said it also will lack an ATM once the hospital leaves.

Mr. Fetterman encouraged the students to get involved in their own passions -- their own Braddock -- whatever that might be.

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