Category Archive: Neighborhood Development
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A Start-up Grant Given to Begin Revitalization Work in Three Armstrong Communities: Freeport, Leechburg, and Apollo.
Armstrong County – April 12, 2007 – A start-up grant to fund initial work for a joint main streets project for Freeport, Leechburg, Apollo, was announced today by National City Bank as part of its community revitalization program. The grant was made to Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.Senator Jim Ferlo initiated the program for the three communities.
“As the elected State Senator who represents many small town communities in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties, I have helped to lead efforts to re-invigorate their Main Streets based on principles of preservation, sustainability, and empowerment. The Vandergrift Improvement Program (VIP) is now in their second year of formal state recognition as a Main Street community and I am proud and supportive of efforts by Freeport, Leechburg, and Apollo stakeholders who envision a multiple Main Street approach in these Armstrong county municipalities. National City and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation are to be commended for their financial support and leadership in the re-building of these wonderful communities,” said State Senator Jim Ferlo.
Mitch McFeely, branch manager for National City’s Freeport branch, said “Our bank has been serving individuals and families in the Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo region for more than a century and a half. This our hometown, where our employees reside, work, raise their families and volunteer with the organizations that make this a special place to live. We are proud to support the business, municipal and community leaders who have established the F.L.A.G. program, with a seed grant of $7,500 to implement a Pennsylvania Main Street Program. The Main Street Program will strengthen our existing retail corridors and significantly improve the vibrancy and quality of life in these neighborhoods. At National City, we are fond of saying that taking care of our communities is not just the right thing to do, it is the best thing we do.”
Freeport Leechburg Apollo Group Inc. was recently incorporated as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation on 3/19/2007. The multi-municipal organization is in the initial stages of creating a five-year multi-municipal economic revitalization plan. Developing such a plan is one of the application requirements to enroll the group in Pennsylvania’s Main Street program. If approved for the Main Street program, FLAG and its participant communities will have the ability to leverage over $295,000 in state grants through the Department of Community & Economic Development. National’s City’s $7500 seed grant will provide initial funding for the organization, enabling them to hire a consultant to conduct public “Visioning” sessions in each community.
FLAG Board officers include: President, Mary Bowlin (Freeport); Vice President, Bill Charlesworth (Apollo); Treasurer, Chuck Pascal(Leechburg); and Secretary, Jim Seagriff Jr. (Freeport).
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation actively creates and manages Main Street and Elm Street programs for the revitalization of Western Pennsylvania Communities. The Foundation initiated the Carson Street Program in 1969, which became a successful national prototype Main Street Program through four decades.
Currently PHLF is managing a relatively new Main Street Program in nearby Vandergrift, PA. “We would like to see these communities in this area work on their significant individual architectural and business resources to attract new businesses and to work together so as to leverage the area as an attractive one in which to visit and shop in variety of interested small business districts,” said Arthur Ziegler, President.
Shaun Yurcaba, who heads the Vandergrift Program for the Vandergrift Improvement Program for PHLF said, “I am really looking forward to working with these communities to magnify our individual results through cooperative activities.” “We are very grateful to National City for this faith in the efforts that Senator Ferlo has launched.”
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Historic designation sought for Turtle Creek school
By Daveen Rae Kurutz
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, April 2, 2007Peter Rubash has a vested interest in Turtle Creek High School.
His grandfather helped dig the foundation for the building, now known as East Junior High School, 90 years ago, and most of his family graduated from the school.“It’s a grand old building, very charming,” said Rubash, 47, of Churchill. “It clearly has historical significance.”
The Woodland Hills School District facility has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places amid controversy over whether to keep the school open.
The district, which has undergone several evaluations on whether to consolidate schools, voted in March to begin the process of closing East Junior High School, citing the building’s age and declining enrollment.
“We’re very proud and happy for the Turtle Creek community to have a resource such as this,” Woodland Hills Superintendent Roslynne Wilson said. “We all feel extremely lucky to live in an area so rich in history.”For a structure to be added to the registry, it must meet three criteria:
* It must be at least 50 years old.
* It should be associated with events of local or state historical significance.
* It must embody a type or school of architecture.
East Junior High School meets all of these criteria easily, said Jill Henkel, who advocated its addition to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Bureau for Historic Preservation.
The building, which reflects the classical revival style of architecture, is visible from any point in the borough, she said.
“East Junior High School has really become the central point of the town,” said Henkel, 46, of Turtle Creek. “Sometimes, you have to save something just because it’s worth saving, for a pure, unselfish reason.”
Two representatives from the school district, Wilson and school board president Cynthia Lowery, attended a March meeting with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Bureau for Historic Preservation. While Wilson did not address the committee, Lowery spoke against including the school on the registry. She said she spoke as a resident, not as president of the board.
“We went there to find out what was going on,” Lowery said. “I decided to speak. I spoke for myself.”
Wilson said that putting the school on the registry would not restrict what the district could do with the building.
Adding the school to any list of historic buildings is only a first step, Rubash said.
“It doesn’t really mean anything unless we have added funding because of it. Just because it’s named to the registry doesn’t mean it will be saved,” Rubash said. “That building needs a lot of love, and a lot of help.”
Daveen Rae Kurutz can be reached at dkurutz@tribweb.com or 412-380-5627.
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Mexican War Streets May Grow
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Thursday, March 29, 2007The Mexican War Streets Society next month will present its proposal to expand the historic boundaries of the Central North Side district.
The society submitted its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places late last year and awaits a decision by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Historic Preservation. The upcoming public meetings are part of the nomination process, said Greg Mucha, a board member of the society.
The state bureau manages the National Register of Historic Places for Pennsylvania, which has recognized the Mexican War Streets since 1975. It has been a city historic district since 1972.
Expanded federal recognition would not effect the boundaries the city recognizes.
The Mexican War streets, whose original developer fought in the Mexican War and names streets after battles and genderals, now extend one block north from North Avenue o North Taylor Avenue, and four blocks west to east from Buena Vista Street to the west side of Sherman Avenue. The proposed expansion would go north to Armandale Street and include part of Carrington Street, Charlick Way and Reddour Street.
Mike Eversmeyer, a preservation expert who until recently chaired the city’s Historic Review Commission, has done the application paperwork for the society. He will present the proposal April 9 at the Central North Side Neighborhood Council’s general membership meeting at 7 p.m. at 1310 Arch St..l and April 17 at the Mexican War Streets Society’s general membership meeting at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church on North Avenue.
Mr. Mucha said the proposed boundaries are rough because demolition has left parts of some streets without enough historic fabric to be included.
“But we erred on the side of inclusion and decided to leave it up tot he state” to do the pruning” he said.
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Nonprofit developer suing Munhall council
By Jan Ackerman,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thursday, March 29, 2007A nonprofit organization that wants to build seven homes for low- and moderate-income families behind a historic Munhall library has stirred up bad feelings by suing Munhall council for rescinding project approvals.
Relations are so strained between Munhall and the Mon Valley Initiative that state Reps. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, and Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg, issued a joint statement urging the parties to resolve their differences out of court.
The representatives are concerned that a government-funded nonprofit is suing one of the governments it is supposed to be helping.
“This lawsuit sends out a harmful message to Munhall and surrounding communities … .” said Mr. Gergely.
MVI filed suit against Munhall on Feb. 26, asking a judge to order the borough to approve the plan and allow construction to begin. The nonprofit organization contends that Munhall council violated the law by trying to add the property to a historic district after the subdivision plan had been approved.
Munhall Councilman Michael Terrick said council isn’t trying to stop the project.
“We are just asking them to meet historic district standards,” he said.
Stephani Greenleaf, spokeswoman for MVI, said the organization will not comment because of the litigation.
Last fall, Mon Valley Initiative, which builds “affordable housing” in Rankin, Braddock and Homestead, was seeking approvals to build seven homes on two-plus acres between 11th and 12th avenues, Louise and Andrew streets.
MVI planned four-bedroom, 21/2-bath, vinyl-sided homes with 1,860 square feet, front porches and garages. The homes would be priced at $130,000, but some would sell for less, depending on the buyers’ income.
Some neighbors of the property are unhappy with the proposal; they say it will destroy the area’s historic character.
By a 5-2 vote, council approved the subdivision plan Jan. 17. The meeting minutes said the planning commission OK’d it with the understanding that “the historic district status that is now in the process will apply to this development when it actually occurs.”
On Jan. 24, MVI applied for seven building permits.
At a special meeting Jan. 26, council voted to expand the boundaries of the historic district to include the MVI property. It also voted to rescind the approval of the subdivision.
According to MVI’s lawsuit, the borough received a legal opinion saying that it would violate the law if it tried to include the MVI property in the historic district after the subdivision had been approved.
The lawsuit is pending in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.
(Jan Ackerman can be reached at jackerman@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1512. )
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Restoration Plans for the Crescent Apartment Building Take Shape
Abandoned years ago, the Crescent Apartments, and the smaller Wilson apartment building nearby, are “key to the revitalization of the area,” as determined by the Wilkinsburg Neighborhood Transformation Initiative Plan and community groups. Allegheny County recently acquired the apartment buildings and is working with Landmarks to create a development plan for both.
The handsome, three-story, 31,000-square-foot Crescent building from the early 1900s is architecturally significant with its unique crescent-shaped exterior and elegant classical detailing. The building acts as a gateway to the Hamnett Place area, shielding the streets behind it and helping to create a quiet enclave.
Eugene Matta, director of real estate and special development programs at Landmarks, said that “There is an enormous cost to this redevelopment project because of long-term disuse.
In order to restore the apartment buildings, a variety of financial tools will be needed, including low-income housing tax credits administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The total project cost may reach $10 million.” It is estimated that the project will have about 27 units with a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. All units will have a cap on rental rates so they are affordable.
An important aspect of tax-credit projects is the social services component. In order to give individuals and families a better chance at achieving greater economic independence and advancement, a detailed social services plan will be developed as part of the project tax-credit application. The plan will coordinate the work of many local organizations to provide services such as education, job training, and other enrichment activities.
To ensure the success of the project, Landmarks has put together an experienced development team. Mullin & Lonergan Associates are the tax-credit consultants; Landmarks Design Associates is the architect; and Sota Construction is the general contractor for the project.
The tax-credit application for the Crescent project is being submitted to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the state organization that administers this program, on April 13th. “We are in the most competitive region of the five regions in Pennsylvania for the tax-credit allocation, but we are confident about our plan, knowing the tremendous community impact it could have,” said Eugene. Landmarks will hear if its tax-credit application is approved in the fall.
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Ready for Sale: Four PHLF-Restored Houses in Wilkinsburg
Historic preservation efforts initiated by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation in cooperation with the Wilkinsburg community are serving as a catalyst for renewal in the historic Hamnett Place neighborhood. With the restoration of four homes on Jeanette Street and Holland Avenue underway, the purchase of a former Packard showroom (see page 7) on Rebecca Avenue, and the developing plans for the dramatic Crescent Apartment building, Landmarks is making a significant commitment to the Wilkinsburg community.
Thanks to two grants of $500,000 each from the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development and the Sarah Scaife Foundation, and gifts from others, Landmarks was able to acquire four properties in Wilkinsburg: 516, 522, 524 Jeanette Street, and 811 Holland Avenue. “Our investment represents the first phase of redevelopment efforts in the Hamnett Place neighborhood,” said Landmarks president Arthur Ziegler, “and continues our record of taking the lead and helping turn the tide in historic inner-city neighborhoods.” Restoration work will be completed this summer—and the four houses are on the market now.
Under the supervision of Tom Keffer, property and construction manager, Eagle Construction & Remediation LLC is working meticulously to restore the architecturally-significant trims and fixtures of the buildings, while also incorporating all the comforts and amenities of a modern new home. “These well-built homes will be returned to their original splendor and updated with modern amenities, including energy-efficient HVAC systems, new thermo-pane windows designed in the original style, and insulated exterior walls and roofs,” said Dwight Quarles, president of Eagle Construction and Remediation LLC.
516 and 522 Jeanette Street are single-family homes with distinctive Colonial Revival features. Each will have up to three spacious bedrooms and 1.5 baths. Some of the stand out features of these solid brick homes are fully restored front porches with colonial columns, handsome original pocket doors and trim on the interior, and large kitchens with a “pass thru” into the dining area. These homes will also have clean and airy basements ready to build out if desired.
524 Jeanette Street is a late-Victorian, Queen Anne, two-family home with a striking rounded turret and mansard roof. The all-brick home has a one-bedroom, one-bath unit on the first floor, and a three-bedroom, 1.5-bath unit on the second floor. Whoever purchases the two-family home will receive the income from the rental unit.
811 Holland Avenue, just a block away from the Jeanette Street properties, is an ornate Stick-Style house with an abundance of character. This home has up to five spacious bedrooms and 1.5 baths. There are original wooden entry doors that complement the geometric woodwork of the fully restored front porch. The attractive clapboard siding wraps around the home, giving it a durable and clean look. Some of the other exceptional features of this home are a slate roof, a side porch that connects to an open and flowing kitchen, and off-street parking in the rear.
“One of the best features of these homes is that if we receive signed sales agreements before the end of April, buyers will have the ability to customize certain features such as paint colors, carpet colors, fixtures, and appliances,” said Michael Sriprasert, Landmarks’ assistant for real estate programs. Buyers can also opt for an allowance in lieu of the above items, giving them free reign in what they want to do in their new home. “Sales prices for these homes start at $70,000 with special financing available. This is an exceptional deal considering that over $200,000 was spent restoring each of these homes,” said Michael. Landmarks’ goal is to sell owner-occupied renovated residences in the historic Hamnett Place neighborhood, through an affirmative marketing effort to a range of potential buyers, consistent with local, state, and federal fair housing laws.
For further details contact
Michael Sriprasert
412-471-5808, ext. 511;
michael@phlf.org. -
PHLF Begins Work on Three Downtown Properties
After eight years of controversy and misguided policies, redevelopment of the Fifth/Forbes corridor downtown is moving ahead, and several key projects are incorporating preservation and “green”-building principles.
“Green” buildings are purposely designed to preserve the natural environment as much as possible and to provide healthy, productive places for people. Because of the quality building materials used in historic structures and large windows and well-proportioned spaces, the “greenest” developments are often those that reuse historic structures.
After co-sponsoring the “Greening of Historic Properties National Summit” on October 30, 2006, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is putting many of the recommendations discussed that day into practice as it transforms three endangered historic buildings at Market Street and Fifth Avenue, downtown, into residential and commercial space.
“This is a major restoration project that Landmarks is undertaking to help spark the revitalization of architecturally significant historic buildings in the Fifth/Forbes corridor,” said Landmarks president Arthur Ziegler. “We are raising money to help fund the ‘green’ aspects of the restoration and to subsidize the apartments so they can be more affordable.”
On January 9, Landmarks purchased 439 and 441 Market Street and 130 Fifth Avenue from the Urban Redevelopment Authority for $257,000. “Unfortunately, these buildings were permitted to deteriorate severely under the former Mayor Tom Murphy’s administration,” said Arthur. One, the former home of Alexander Graham Bell Café, suffered a fire; then the administration did not repair the roof and it eventually fell into the basement, taking three floors with it.
Market at Fifth is seeking a “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) rating based on more than 26 green features. Sterling Contracting LLC is serving as general contractor; Landmarks Design Associates is project architect; and evolve is the green-building consultant. The space within the three historic buildings is being reconfigured to function together and will contain seven upper-floor apartments and a commercial first-floor tenant, most likely a restaurant. The residential units have spacious layouts and exceptional designs. “Our two top units will feature a dual-floor layout with private decks overlooking a ‘green’ rooftop garden,” said Michael Sriprasert, Landmarks’ assistant for real estate programs.
The purpose of the green roof is to absorb moisture and reduce water run-off. Rents will range from about $1,100 for a one-bedroom/one-bath unit to about $1,900 for a two-bedroom/two-bath unit. “Having a development project in the center of an emerging housing market is very exciting,” said Michael, “and it’s our goal to have these units leased soon after they’re completed this fall, if not before.”
Plans are still in the works for the commercial space, but the concept is for a restaurant that will provide a comfortable space for both the business executive and the casual diner. Market at Fifth is located within the Market Square Historic District and will face a new park being developed by PNC across the street on Fifth Avenue.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was instrumental in facilitating Landmarks’ acquisition of these buildings. According to Eugene Matta, director of real estate and special development programs at Landmarks, “The URA was exceptional in working with us to acquire these buildings, and their hard work has helped us get the project moving quickly.”
In contrast to the Murphy administration’s approach of trying to attract one master developer from out-of-town to revitalize the Fifth/Forbes corridor, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is following the approach set by the late Mayor Bob O’Connor in allowing local private developers to tackle the redevelopment of many City-owned buildings. According to Michael, who led a team of Heinz School students to study the housing market in downtown Pittsburgh in 2005, “This approach leads to more creative and sustainable solutions because those developers who are locally based have a better grasp of the local market, are used to dealing with the intricacies of the local political system, and are invested in the Pittsburgh region.” Millcraft Industries, Inc. of Washington County and PNC Financial Services Group––both headquartered in the Pittsburgh region––are making significant investments in the Fifth/Forbes corridor, thus proving the logic of a local development strategy.
—Market at Fifth, LP, is a downtown revitalization project of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation using “green”-building principles. Seven rental apartments and one commercial unit in three historic buildings at Market Street and Fifth Avenue are expected to be ready for occupancy this fall.
Interested?
Call: 412-471-5808, ext. 511; michael@phlf.org
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A fresh start for Wilkinsburg
By Marjorie Wertz
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, March 25, 2007It was Col. Dunning McNair who laid out the first lots in what now is Wilkinsburg in 1790. He named his plan McNairsville and built the first mansion, Dumpling Hill.
The mansion eventually became the home of James Kelly, a wealthy businessman. Kelly bought thousands of acres and donated the land for churches, schools and two homes for senior citizens. It was Kelly who eventually would fight to make the borough independent.“Col. McNair had purchased about 266 acres, and he and Kelly developed the village,” said Jim Richard, a former borough tax collector and member of the Wilkinsburg Historical Society. Richard also is a member of the Wilkinsburg School Board.
But it was from the well-connected Wilkins family that the 2.03-square-mile borough eventually would take its name.
John Wilkins owned a lot of property in the village, while his brother, William, was a county judge, founder and first president of the Bank of Pittsburgh, legislator, state senator, minister to Russia in Tyler’s administration and, eventually, Tyler’s secretary of war.
In the 1800s, the area that became Wilkinsburg was annexed to the city of Pittsburgh. Kelly fought to make the village independent again, and, in 1871, he prevailed. Fifteen years later, on Oct. 5, 1887, Wilkinsburg was incorporated as a borough, and the community quickly grew.
The Pennsylvania Railroad laid its first tracks through the community in the mid-1800s. The Lincoln Highway would come through the borough in the early 1900s.
“We also used to have an airport in the Blackridge area of Wilkinsburg from 1930-38,” Richard said.
“Wilkinsburg was the home of a transportation network, with the highway as the main street, the railroad, and it was an early streetcar hub,” said Arthur P. Ziegler Jr., president of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
The borough’s access to Pittsburgh’s “amenities” made it appealing. Plus, it was known as the “city of churches.” And it was, and still is, a “dry” community — no taverns or bars are allowed in the borough.
Popular home-construction styles in the borough’s heyday included Queen Anne and Romanesque (1890s), as well as Colonial Revival, Federal and Vernacular (early 1900s). Many buildings remain, forming the foundation for the borough’s rich architectural heritage.
The historical society has written a book that will be published by Arcadia Publishing on April 30. The book features 220 photographs and will be available at local bookstores and through the Wilkinsburg Public Library.
Joel Minnigh has been head librarian for 31 years. The library was founded in 1899 as a branch of the first Carnegie Library in Braddock.
“In its heyday, it was the largest library in the state,” Minnigh said. “Our first librarian was Fred Evans, whose father designed the British House of Parliament.”
According to a report by the Wilkinsburg Neighborhood Transformation Initiative in December 2004, the borough, like many Allegheny County neighborhoods, began to experience declining and aging population in the late 1960s, which led to an eroding tax base, out-migration, loss of neighborhood schools, abandoned or underutilized buildings and decaying business districts.
After the borough began to decline in the ’70s and ’80s, criminal activity increased.
Mark Smith lived in Uniontown for 10 years before moving to Wilkinsburg in 1998. Smith was director of the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce from 1998-2000 and now is involved in a real estate and community-development consulting firm.
Smith bought and renovated property along Jeanette Street. His book, “Boldly Live Where Others Won’t,” resulted from his interest in community development.
“My desire has been to convince people to become property owners and live in the community as resident landlords,” Smith said. “There’s this housing stock in Wilkinsburg of larger homes that lend themselves to duplexes and small, multi-unit apartments, in which the property owner can live in one unit and rent the others.”
Smith lists three advantages to buying property in Wilkinsburg: convenience, cost and conscience.
“You can get favorable appraisals and that leads to favorable financing plans. Plus, Wilkinsburg is 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and 10 minutes from Monroeville,” he said. “Wilkinsburg has its issues, but for those who have vision and willing to stick it out and become a part of the solution, there’s opportunity.”
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation became interested in Wilkinsburg because of its history and the rich architecture of its buildings.
“Residents and local government officials asked us to try and assemble a program to create reinvestment in Wilkinsburg without relocating anyone,” Ziegler said. “We have developed a multi-pronged effort, which includes the use of our preservation loan fund to help some local nonprofits restore and renovate buildings.”
Kasey Connors, a Wilkinsburg resident and owner of Vintage Reconstruction, a restoration contracting company, also is involved in the Wilkinsburg Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.
The initiative came about when a development proposal called for demolition in the Jeanette Street area.
“The community felt so strongly about the historic nature of that area, we asked Landmarks to come in and help,” Connors said. “Landmarks brought their resources to the table with consultants and held multiple community meetings focusing on the Jeanette Street corridor.”
History & Landmarks was drawn to the project because of the architectural integrity of the Jeanette Street buildings, which were built in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Three houses along Jeanette Street and one along Holland Avenue were targeted for restoration. Restoration began in summer 2006 on the three single-family homes and one owner-occupied duplex.
“The houses will have special financing that includes $10,000 in soft mortgage provided by the county government,” said Michael Sriprasert, Landmarks’ assistant for real estate programs. “The houses will cost $70,000, but the buyer will have a first mortgage of $60,000. The $10,000 soft mortgage will be deferred until the buyer sells the home. If they sell after 15 years, the soft mortgage will be forgiven.”
Funding for the restoration projects came from Allegheny County, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the Hillman Foundation and others.
The homes will be available for sale in early fall. Sriprasert said buyers can customize fixtures, paint and flooring if Landmarks has an agreement of sale in April.
Ziegler said History & Landmarks also might get into a restoration project with the historic Pennsylvania Railroad Station, which was built in 1916 but has been abandoned since the 1970s.
“The county wants us to look at the train station, which we’ve looked at many times,” Ziegler added. “That’s a big commitment.”
Connors is quick to commend History & Landmarks for its efforts in the community.
“I see them as a rescuing agent,” she said. “They brought these homes up to the standards on which historic districts are based.”
Mindy Schwartz saw opportunity in the form of gardens on vacant lots.
Schwartz operates Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery on two vacant lots across the street from the Holland Avenue home renovation project. The business markets specialty and heirloom seedlings, sustainable gardening supplies and vegetables. A greenhouse in her Center Street basement allows her to grow 10,000 plants, including 80 types of tomatoes.
“My garden is a green oasis in the middle of a distressed neighborhood; a patch of green where life is growing,” Schwartz said. “The farm is a fountain of regeneration, in a way. It creates good energy and is a bright spot in town. It seems to have a significant impact in the community.”
Schwartz and two friends, Barb Kline and Randa Shannon, created Grow Pittsburgh, which teaches and facilitates urban agriculture. Its two affiliates are Garden Dreams and Mildred’s Daughters Urban Farm in Stanton Heights.
“There have been a number of people redoing houses and investing in the neighborhood,” Schwartz said. “My farm has been a magnet that’s excited and engaged people and has been a contributing factor in helping people want to invest in this neighborhood.”
She is working on another project in the Hamnett Place area of Wilkinsburg. The Hamnett Homestead Sustainable Living Center will be in a building Schwartz owns. The building will be transformed into a community center and greenhouse, where she will teach people how to grow food and achieve sustainability.
For Mayor John Thompson, the changes to the community in which he’s lived for 42 years are invigorating.
“I’m excited about the positive things I see happening in Wilkinsburg,” said Thompson, who took office on Jan. 2, 2006. “We have committees working together and focusing on seven areas — economic development, municipal services, human services, communications, education, beautification and housing.”
A much-needed grocery store, Save-A-Lot, opened Feb. 20 in the borough, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Generations Building, on the corner of Wood and Franklin, took place March 14. The newly renovated structure will have offices and housing. The Sperling Building, on the corner of Penn Avenue and Coal Street, was transformed into a six- to eight-unit apartment building.
“We’re also looking at doing single-family housing projects on McNair Boulevard,” Thompson said.
In December 2006, the police department hired a new chief, Ophelia Coleman, who served as a Pittsburgh Police detective for 20 years.
“She is very community-oriented. She knows what needs to happen here in Wilkinsburg,” Thompson said. “There’s truly a lot going on in Wilkinsburg. If you can’t get excited about what’s happening now, I don’t know what it will take.”
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The history:
Wilkinsburg, which was first home to settlers in the 1700s and broke away from Pittsburgh’s eastern flank in 1871, has made its share of contributions to the region’s history.
* It was home to President John Tyler’s secretary of war.
* It was a transportation mecca in the 1800s, with the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Lincoln Highway and a streetcar system running through it.
* It was where, in 1919, the first commercial radio station, 8XK, was broadcast from the garage of Westinghouse engineer Frank Conrad; the station was a forerunner to KDKA radio.
* It was birthplace, in 1920, of Scholastic Magazine, founded by Wilkinsburg native Maurice Robinson as a newsletter for high school students. Scholastic Magazine would become Scholastic Publishing, publisher of the wildly popular “Harry Potter” series.
For all the borough’s historic value, though, the past several decades have brought economic and social ills that have coincided with an eroding tax base. But within the past few years, a renaissance has begun, as residents and nonprofits work to revitalize the community.
