Category Archive: Historic Properties
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Landmarks Community Capital Corporation and URA Invest $1,135,000 in East Liberty
PHLF News
January 23, 2008On January 24th at 10:00 a.m., United States Representative Mike Doyle, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, State Senator Jim Ferlo, State Representative Joe Preston, Mark Meiser from the Denver-based MEIZ Development Company, LLC (MEIZ) and the community will meet at the YMCA Building, 120 Whitfield Street, to celebrate a $1,135,000 investment in East Liberty made by Landmarks Community Capital Corporation (LCCC) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to East Liberty Development Incorporated (ELDI).
LCCC is a newly created non-profit subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) with a mission to provide investment capital, development expertise and pre- and post-technical assistance to low- and moderate-income communities during the early stages of development. Within eight weeks of its inception, LCCC made its first loan from its Urban Economic Loan Fund for $885,000 to ELDI. Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of LCCC, stated “this loan represents the largest single loan ever made by PHLF or LCCC to a community-based organization and follows our mission of being a first-in, first-out financing organization for holistic community revitalization in urban cores throughout the region.”
ELDI will use the funds to rehabilitate two historically significant, but dilapidated Queen Anne style homes (c. 1892) located at 5809-15 Rippey Street and to acquire and rehabilitate the YMCA building (c. 1908) located in downtown East Liberty. The Rippey
Street houses will be converted into eight market-rate condominiums to satisfy the demand for affordable housing in East Liberty.
ELDI has partnered with MEIZ to convert the YMCA building into market-rate condominiums with retail space on the first floor. Mark Meiser, Principal of MEIZ, said, the YMCA “is a historic building perfectly positioned for cutting-edge, mixed-use development in East Liberty. MEIZ thrives on the challenges of reclaiming old buildings that are significant to a neighborhood, but need to be updated to meet today’s vibrant lifestyle. It’s also great to work in cities where organizations like LCCC and the URA support urban core development, a needed component for regenerative revitalization.” “A basic tenant of sustainability is appreciating the built environment,” said Senator Jim Ferlo. “ELDI and MEIZ are to be commended for thinking creatively about how to preserve and protect an historically notable building with an adaptive reuse that addresses the critical need for housing in a resurgent East Liberty core.”
A portion of LCCC’s loan was used to acquire the YMCA property, and the URA also committed $250,000 to the project. Maelene Myers, Executive Director of ELDI said, “These will be the first market-rate condominiums in our downtown core and will be a key part of the redevelopment of East Liberty’s town square. ELDI is grateful to LCCC and the URA for their support.”
Both the Rippey Street and YMCA rehabilitations are important to the revitalization of East Liberty as a whole. “The revitalization of East Liberty will have a beneficial effect on the region, particularly with the synergistic approach to collaborative revitalization that ELDI uses, which I believe is an essential component for effective urban neighborhood revival,” stated Congressman Doyle.
“By replacing blight with new development and jobs, ELDI is leading the transformation of East Liberty,” Mayor Luke Ravensthal said.Representative Joe Preston stated, “True urban revitalization begins with the integration of mixed-income families, thriving businesses and committed residents, which are all part of the re-birth of East Liberty and is sure to occur with the dedication of ELDI and the commitment and support of LCCC and the URA.”
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Landmarks lends $885K for East Liberty project
By Ron DaParma
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 24, 2008An East Liberty project has received an $885,000 boost from a nonprofit corporation formed last year by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to spark community revitalization.
The loan, the first announced by the Landmarks Community Capital Corp. Urban Economic Loan Fund, is helping the East Liberty Development Corp. rehabilitate two historic homes on Rippey Street and revitalize the former YMCA building on Whitfield Street.
It has been combined with a $250,000 investment by the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority to help bring a blend of condominiums and retail space to the neighborhood.
“The loan follows our mission of being a first-in, first-out financing organization for holistic community revitalization,” said Howard B. Slaughter Jr., CEO of Landmarks Community Capital, on Wednesday.
The loan is the largest made by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to a community organization, Slaughter said.
The East Liberty Development Corp. is using $135,000 to rehabilitate the two Queen Anne style houses at 5809-15 Rippey St. — described as “historically significant, but dilapidated” — and convert them into eight market-rate condos. The work is under way on the $1.4 million project.
In addition, Landmarks Community Capital is partnering with Meiz Development Co. of Denver to develop 10,000 square feet of street-level retail space and about 30 to 35 market-rate condominiums on the upper floors of the five-story YMCA building. The remaining $750,000 will be used to acquire the property.
“These will be the first market-rate condominiums in our downtown core and will be a key part of the redevelopment of East Liberty’s town square,” said Maelene Myers, executive director of East Liberty Development.
When Landmarks Community Capital started operations late last year, Slaughter said he hoped to raise $10 million to $15 million to invest in community development and revitalization projects in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
In its first year, Slaughter said he hopes to fund at least four or five projects ranging from $25,000 to $1 million. “We’re on track” to make that number of investments, he said.
Ron DaParma can be reached at rdaparma@tribweb.com or 412-320-7907.
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East Liberty YMCA building being converted into condos – Part of goal to build 1,000 housing units in city neighborhood
Thursday, January 24, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe YMCA building and four old dilapidated townhouses in East Liberty could get a new life as condominiums with the help of $1.1 million in funding, most of it from a subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and other officials will hold a news conference this morning to acknowledge the $885,000 loan awarded by the Landmarks Community Capital Corp. to help finance the projects. The city Urban Redevelopment Authority is supplying $250,000 toward the YMCA project.
The $885,000 loan is the first awarded by nonprofit Landmarks Community, which came into existence about three months ago, and is the largest loan ever made by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to a community-based organization.
“It’s a smart investment on our part, working with a great organization that’s committed to making positive changes in the East Liberty core,” said Dr. Howard B. Slaughter Jr., Landmarks Community chief executive officer.
East Liberty Development Inc. has teamed with Denver-based MEIZ Development Co. to convert the vacant YMCA building at 120 Whitfield St. into 30 to 35 market rate condominiums plus ground-level retail and community space.
The $7 million project is part of a town square concept built around the East Liberty Presbyterian Church and the Carnegie Library.
“This is the first market rate housing to happen in the core. We’re really excited to save an old building and to breath new life into it,” said Ernie Hogan, East Liberty Development deputy director.
With the help of the Landmarks Community loan, ELDI already has acquired the YMCA building for a little more than $600,000. It and MEIZ hope to begin the development either this fall or in spring 2009.
The condos, which would range in size from 700 square feet to 1,500 square feet, would start at $185,000. The YMCA building was built in 1908 and at one time was a major activity center for the neighborhood.
On Rippey Street, the historically significant Queen Anne-style houses date to 1892. They have fallen into disrepair in recent years.
ELDI already has started rehab work on the properties. It intends to convert the houses into eight market rate condos, each with 1,500 square feet and a sales price of about $149,000.
It hopes to start construction of the units this summer and have them available for sale next year. The rehab is expected to cost about $1.4 million, with help from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the URA as well as Landmarks Community.
“These are very wonderful historical homes that are going to be converted,” Mr. Slaughter said.
Mr. Hogan said the project is part of a commitment to the community to build 1,000 units of housing in the neighborhood. To date, 427 units have been completed.
“This is just continuing on that promise,” he said.
Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First published on January 24, 2008 at 12:00 am -
YMCA-to-condo revamp gets boost
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
by Ben Semmes
Pittsburgh Business Times
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/Two planned East Liberty residential projects got a boost Wednesday with the announcement of a $1.135 million investment in the once struggling neighborhood.
The money, from the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and Landmarks Community Capital Corp., will go to fund the conversion of East Liberty’s former YMCA into condos and the rehabilitation of two distressed homes in the 5800 block of Rippey St.
East Liberty Development Inc. is overseeing both projects.
ELDI has been working with Denver-based MEIZ Development Co. to convert the former YMCA building into market-rate condominiums with first-floor retail at 120 Whitfield St.
ELDI purchased the property for $686,000 from the Center for Entrepreneurial Development Inc. last December, according to records filed with the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate.
The two Queen Anne style homes on Rippey Street will be converted into eight market-rate condominiums.
bsemmes@bizjournals.com | (412) 208-3829
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Condos planned for old East Liberty YMCA
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteA subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will provide $885,000 to an East Liberty agency to help convert the YMCA building and two houses into condominiums.
The loan from the Landmarks Community Capital Corp. will be part of a $1.1 million investment into the two projects, which are being advanced by East Liberty Development Inc. The city Urban Redevelopment Authority also has committed $250,000 to the work.
ELDI is working with MEIZ Development Co. LLC of Denver to convert the YMCA building into market-rate condos with retail on the first floor. Part of the Landmarks Community loan will be used to acquire the the YMCA Building. The $250,000 from the URA also will be used for that project.
The rest of the money will be used to rehabilitate two Queen Anne style houses dating to 1892 and located on Rippey Street into eight market rate condos. The houses are considered to be historically significant but are dilapidated.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and representatives from the various agencies will hold an event in East Liberty tomorrow to discuss the projects.
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Signs of past life
By Adam Brandolph
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, January 15, 2008Look up.
Faded advertisements flake off the sides of exposed brick buildings throughout the city. Remnants of a bygone era, these markers tell the story of our city’s rich history.
From companies like Otto Milk, formerly in the Strip District, to the German National Bank on Liberty Avenue, Downtown, and leisure activities like Penn Bowling Lanes, these reminders preserve a piece of how Pittsburghers used to live.
The ads often are pointed out to people on the public walking tours offered by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, executive director Louise Sturgess said. “These snapshots of history are wonderful,” Sturgess said.
But why do these signs remain after so many years? Even the Cathedral of Learning was cleaned last year.
“These signs remain because some building owners have no reason to remove them and are content to let them age along with the building,” Sturgess said. “The signs bring a layer of Pittsburgh history to life, and once you notice them, they are great conversation pieces, especially when you are with a Pittsburgher who remembers the business or product featured in the sign.”
While some signs are beaten and battered, the ones that grace the sides of Joe Mama’s, Uncle Sam’s and Fuel & Fuddle restaurants on Oakland Avenue in Oakland are comparatively new and shiny.
The sides of the stores feature three vintage-looking wall advertisements for Coca-Cola, despite none of them being more than 15 years-old, according to Michael Hanley, co-owner of all three stores.
Hanley said the themes of the restaurants are kind of old-school, so the handpainted ads make sense. “Coke adds to the timelessness,” he said, “and an older aesthetic helps convey our message.”
Adam Brandolph can be reached at abrandolph@tribweb.com or 412-320-7936
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A future built on Tarentum’s past
By Tom Yerace,
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Thursday, January 10, 2008Holding on to some of the borough’s past to help it move into the future will be the subject of a public workshop on Jan. 16.The Key Issue Workshop concerning architecture and design in the business district, including the preservation of historic buildings, will be discussed.
It is the first of three workshops held in conjunction with the Allegheny Together program established by Allegheny County.
“This is for the Allegheny Together program, which is basically focused on revitalizing the downtown business district, but they want the whole community’s input on what it would like to see,” said Tarentum Manager Bill Rossey. “They just want some feedback here.”
The program — in which Tarentum is one of only four pilot communities — complements a broader revitalization effort that the borough has started.
Rossey said this workshop should be of particular interest to residents who believe in preserving the borough’s history through its buildings.
“We’ve lost too many valuable buildings already that can’t be replaced, and I wouldn’t want to lose any more,” Rossey said.
The workshop will be conducted by Town Center Associates, a consulting firm working through a contract with the county, and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
“This program is focused purely on central business district revitalization,” said Mark Peluso, Town Center’s executive director. “Any planning activities that are going on related to the downtown come into play.”
Peluso said this workshop and two more that will follow, are designed to encourage input about how the community feels on key issues related to the downtown business district. He said the program is basically meant to provide a long-term commitment and a long-term strategy in reviving such districts.
“This is a very difficult issue for our communities that have experienced an economic downturn in downtown business districts,” Peluso said. “It’s really a pretty exciting opportunity for Tarentum to be connected to this.
“It’s a really rare opportunity. Most towns have to wrestle around for years to get the kind of support needed to get this kind of effort under way.”
Part of that support is input from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
“We are putting a lot of time and effort into Tarentum, and the reason is simple: we think there is a solid foundation already in place,” said Ethan Raup, a foundation representative. “The historic fabric is strong.”
“The connection to the river and the riverfront park is strong. These are things that a lot of towns would love to have.”
He said Tarentum seems to have people in the business community and local government who are committed to making an investment in the revitalization effort.
Raup estimates that Tarentum has 20 to 25 buildings in the business district that display historic architecture that should be preserved. He said it is an important aspect in keeping the downtown districts economically viable now and into the future.
“The way these older downtowns compete is to offer quality services, small mom-and-pop stores that care about details and offer an overall experience such that you want to be there,” he said. “The quality of the architecture is as important as anything to that whole overall experience.”
“I think that differentiates from going to Pittsburgh Mills for example,” Raup added. “The architecture is part of the experience. The people living in the upper floors bring a vitality to the town that you won’t find in business parks.”
Rossey said he hopes that residents demonstrate their commitment to the county, by turning out in force to participate in the workshop.
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Historic-church projects task foundation
By Jeremy Boren
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 29, 2007A growing number of historic churches in Allegheny County rotted by leaky roofs or even ransacked by thieves are seeking cash from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to jump-start expensive renovation efforts.
Since 1997, the foundation has given more than $600,000 to 94 congregations to fix cracked stained-glass windows and to replace crumbling brick. Thirty-five churches — the most ever in a single year — requested $290,000 worth of repairs for 2008.
Members of many aging congregations will be forced to look for help elsewhere next year — only about $87,000 will be available when the foundation’s Historic Religious Properties Committee decides how to distribute the money in mid-January, said Carole Malakoff, the program’s coordinator.
“This church is something worth preserving. It’s a yellow-brick building with a red door, and it had beautiful stained-glass windows, light fixtures and cherry wood inside,” said the Rev. Rosemary Seals, co-pastor of Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ on Lillie Avenue in Braddock.
In July, thieves stole 14 brass light fixtures, valued at $1,000 apiece, and three stained-glass windows from the 500-person sanctuary of the century-old church.
Water comes in through a shoddy roof, spurring mold growth.The condition has kept the 40 to 50 regular members from attending services there since July, said Seals, 74, of the Hill District.
Seals said she hopes the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will give $10,000, the largest award available, to help her with repairs, which are expected to cost up to $51,000.
The Rev. John Paul Chaney, 54, of Bloomfield, has asked for the same amount of money to begin a much larger $1 million to $1.5 million restoration of the roof, windows and mold-encrusted walls of the former Fourth United Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield.
“It’s perfectly located,” Chaney said of the 112-year-old Richardsonian Romanesque stone church at the corner of South Pacific and Friendship avenues.
The church is convenient to Bloomfield, Friendship and Shadyside residents.
“The stone itself is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know what it would cost for somebody to build a church like this today,” Chaney said.
The church hasn’t been used in almost two years, when the roof began to leak and no money was available to fix it, he said.
It was renamed Pacific Sanctuary Church in September, when Chaney’s nonprofit Earthen Vessels Outreach Program, an Episcopal Church affiliate, bought it.
Chaney said he hopes to make the church into a sanctuary for regular services and a meeting place, akin to The Union Project in Highland Park.
“Our prime goal now is to raise a lot of money so we can give to a lot of churches,” said Malakoff, adding that Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation requires churches to be at least 50 years old, located in Allegheny County and can match the grant awards.
“It’s not only that many churches need stained-glass windows, it’s the fact that the church in many communities is the center of activity, not only for religious purposes but also social services,” said Malakoff, the program’s director. “That needs to be preserved.”
Jeremy Boren can be reached at jboren@tribweb.com or 412-765-2312.