Category Archive: Historic Properties
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PHLF Main Street Program Expands
By Ethan Raup
Manager, Community Revitalization ProgramsThe PHLF Main Street revitalization program expanded this spring into Armstrong County with a partnership with the Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo Group (FLAG) and with funding obtained by Sen. Jim Ferlo. PHLF is working with FLAG to submit their state main street application in August. If accepted, FLAG would be the first regional main street program in western Pennsylvania.
Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo are small towns with traditional main street business districts that are within 10 miles of each other along the Kiskimenitas and Allegheny Rivers. Alone, each town is too small to qualify as a state main street. So leaders in these towns decided to join together to pursue the state’s regional main street designation.
PHLF’s work includes staffing FLAG’s Board and its four committees – Promotions, Design, Organization and Economic Restructuring. We are developing an aggressive five year work plan that builds on local assets and addresses challenges head-on. We are also taking early implementation steps wherever possible. That includes a study to explore restoring and returning the former Leechburg Hotel building to its original use.
With direct access to the Kiski River, a picturesque surrounding countryside, abundant trail connections and traditional towns that are still largely intact, the FLAG communities have a real opportunity to develop into a regional destination. The Leechburg Hotel could be key to this effort. And it dovetails nicely with PHLF’s work on the historic main street in Vandergrift, which is just across the Kiski river in Westmoreland County.
The FLAG effort began two years ago with the help of Sen. Ferlo, who has been a strong advocate for FLAG and this revitalization effort. We are optimistic that FLAG will receive its Main Street designation later this year. PHLF anticipates working hand in hand with FLAG in 2009 and beyond to help breathe new life into each town.
With the FLAG communities, PHLF is now active in 8 main street revitalization efforts across southwestern Pennsylvania, including Stowe, Swissvale, Tarentum, Elizabeth and Vandergrift. In each of these towns, PHLF is drawing upon our depth of experience and expertise to find a path forward that we believe will lead to a sustained revitalization.
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Federal North Postponed
The Urban Redevelopment Authority selected PHLF to lead the planning and possibly serve as the developer of the Federal North block, which consists of the Garden Theatre, Masonic Hall, Bradbury Apartments and miscellaneous other historic buildings in the North Side.
The North Side neighborhoods asked that a full-fledged community process be undertaken to establish priorities for the entire North Side and to make recommendations for the Federal North project. PHLF recommended that the process go forward and that Federal North studies be delayed until that is completed.
The current state of the financial and leasing markets is such that the delay will be opportune. The URA has agreed with the postponement with the provision that it may begin some restoration work to open a community office in one of the Federal North buildings.
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In Vandergrift, Transforming the Vision Into Reality
PHLF has been working in partnership with the Vandergrift Improvement Program (VIP) for over three years now to realize an ambitious vision for bringing new life and vitality back to Vandergrift’s historic downtown. We have worked with the VIP to really focus on taking steps to start to change the underlying economics of the main street. This has included a focus on bringing buildings back into productive service and working to retain and recruit businesses that will give customers more reason to come back.
After a lot of hard work, that vision is now starting to take shape. Work is currently underway to restore 143 Grant Avenue. Most of the brick facade has been removed, cleaned and reconstructed. The plywood that had covered much of the original storefront has been stripped off to reveal the original transom windows, which will be restored.
“It’s really nice to see that some of the seeds we’ve planted are now starting to bear fruit,” said Meade Jack, President of the VIP Board of Directors. “This is an exciting time for us. We appreciate our partnership with PHLF. It’s been a lot of hard work, but we’re making real progress. And this is just the beginning.”
Jack expressed confidence that the VIP will continue to make progress restoring other key properties in the heart of downtown. “We care about this place. It’s not just downtown, it’s at the core of who we are. We know it won’t come back exactly as it was. And will take patience and a lot more hard work. But we believe we’re on track an heading in the right direction. Downtown is coming back.”
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Downtown Concerts to be held at Historic Churches
The Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra’s Bach Lunch Concerts Summer Series will be conducted at two historic downtown Pittsburgh churches.
Featured June 17 will be the Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra Strings at Smithfield United Church of Christ.
On July 22, Gretchen van Hoesen (harp) and Jim Gorton (oboe) will perform at First Lutheran Church.
Finally, August 12, Sean Jones (trumpet) will also perform at First Lutheran Church.
For more information regarding times and cost, please contact pgh.bachs.lunch@gmail.com or call 412-736-3678.
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Easement Policy Revised
Landmarks recently revised its Easement Policy in accordance with the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices, as recommended by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Standards and Practices are “ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust.”
Landmarks holds easements on a variety of historic properties throughout western Pennsylvania including single family homes in the Mexican War Streets, historic farms in Greene and Washington County, the Heinz Lofts, Armstrong Cork and the recently restored Bedford Springs Resort to name a few.
Preservation easements are recorded land use agreements in which a property owner voluntarily places restrictions on the building and/or land that maintain the historic or architectural significance of the property. Preservation easements, therefore, are an important historic preservation tool because they preserve historic buildings in perpetuity. Donors of preservation easements may also qualify for a federal charitable contribution deduction.
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New Pittsburgh Website Features 25 Downtown Landmarks
Click below to explore an interactive website that plays off Landmarks’ most popular downtown walking tour for students. There’s plenty of information, animation, fun facts, and material for adults too.
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Natrona Bank Building Purchased
Landmarks has obtained a charitable bargain sale gift of the Natrona Heights Bank Building for the Natrona Comes Together Association (NCTA) from North Carolina resident Terry Wien.
The century-old building is the focal point of a restoration project being underwritten through the efforts of State Senator Jim Ferlo and is being carried out by NCTA and PHLF.
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Passionate engineer saved Duquesne Incline Dies
By Karen Zapf
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, June 9, 2008For David Miller, an unexpected drive to work from his Mt. Washington home led to his campaign to save a Pittsburgh transportation landmark.
David H. Miller of Upper St. Clair, formerly of Mt. Washington, died Saturday, June 7, 2008. He was known for his campaign to save the Duquesne Incline. - submitted
One day after Thanksgiving 1962, Mr. Miller returned home shortly after leaving for his Gateway Center office and announced he would have to drive because the Duquesne Incline was shut down, recalled his wife, Ruth Miller. That incident triggered an interest in the incline and its viability that became a passion for the rest of his life, she said.
David H. Miller of Upper St. Clair, formerly of Mt. Washington, died Saturday, June 7, 2008, in the health center in the Friendship Village of the South Hills retirement community in Upper St. Clair. He was 87.
His efforts got the Incline back in operation, Ruth Miller said.
Mr. Miller and his wife founded the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline, the nonprofit organization that owns the incline and has kept it going since July 1963. Mr. Miller was president of the organization until September, when he began experiencing health problems, Mrs. Miller said.Mrs. Miller said her husband was passionate about reviving the Duquesne Incline because it was an important mode of transportation for many people who lived in the Duquesne Heights section of Mt. Washington. The incline rises 400 feet in its 793-foot span, carrying passengers between the top of Mt. Washington and West Carson Street. The organization’s Web site says that when the incline opened in 1877, the “funicular railway” was one of four inclined planes carrying passengers and freight to the residential area that had spread along the top of what originally was known as “Coal Hill.”
The incline uses two original 1877 cable cars, each holding up to 25 passengers.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller became involved with the incline in 1962 when the former owner, the Duquesne Inclined Plane Co., had shut it down. Mrs. Miller said the incline needed expensive repairs including new sheaves or grooved pulleys.
“It was terribly inconvenient for the Heights,” Mrs. Miller said. “We went door-to-door in the community and raised nearly $20,000 (for the repairs).”
Jim Presken, chief operating officer of the society, said Mr. Miller’s many years of community service inspired him to become involved in volunteer work. The two met through a mutual friend who works on the incline.
Mr. Miller’s other areas of civic involvement included serving on the board of the Pittsburgh Public Parking Authority and the Historic Review Commission.
“I never volunteered before meeting Mr. Miller,” said Presken, 55, of Mt. Oliver. “But I saw his tireless commitment, and he inspired me.”
Presken said he sees his mission as keeping the Duquesne Incline going in Mr. Miller’s honor.
Mrs. Miller described her husband as a quiet man and “very deliberate, as befits an engineer.”
The couple enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, particularly England, throughout their 63-year marriage.
Mr. Miller was raised on Mt. Washington and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1942 with a degree in civil engineering. He enlisted in the Navy’s civil engineering corps and helped build air fields in the South Pacific Islands during World War II.
Ruth Furman and David Miller met in grade school and were married in 1945. Mr. Miller joined the engineering department at Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., where he worked until his retirement in 1985, his wife said.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Miller is survived by a nephew, a niece, and five great-nieces and great-nephews.
Friends will be received from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Brusco-Falvo Funeral Home, 214 Virginia Ave., Mt. Washington. Graveside services will be private.
Karen Zapf can be reached at kzapf@tribweb.com or 412-380-8522.
