Category Archive: PHLF News
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National Park Service Approves PHLF’s Downtown Districts Project
The National Park Service certified in May the nominations of the Pittsburgh Renaissance Historic District and boundary increase and additional documentation for the Firstside, Fourth Avenue, and Pittsburgh Central Downtown Historic Districts for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. PHLF, with the assistance of Laura C. Ricketts, Architectural Historian with Skelly and Loy, Inc., prepared the nominations, thanks to funding from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), The Anne L. and George H. Clapp Charitable and Educational Trust, Millcraft Investments, Inc., and other developers and property owners.
The result is that 100 more buildings, sites, and structures in downtown Pittsburgh are now listed on the National Register! The City’s Historic Preservation plan recommended that additional listings on the National Register should be pursued, and PHLF is happy to have helped advance that goal.
Bill Callahan, Western PA Community Preservation Coordinator for PHMC said, “This was just an amazing project . . . . My colleagues in Harrisburg have been promoting the PHLF/City partnership on this project as a model for other cities and communities. These new designations will yield preservation benefits for Pittsburgh for years to come.
Listing on the National Register does not place any restrictions on a property owner unless a federal undertaking is involved, but provides owners with possible federal tax incentives, such as the 20% rehabilitation tax credit and a charitable contribution deduction for a preservation easement donation (See Historic Designations in Pittsburgh: A Primer at https://phlf.org/2011/07/01/phlf-primer-on-historic-designations-in-pittsburgh/).
Additional National Register Listings
PHLF is also pleased to announce additional certifications of listing on the National Register of Historic Places for the following:
- Penn-Liberty Historic District Additional Documentation and Boundary Increase, Downtown (prepared by Urban Design Ventures, LLC and Powers & Company, Inc.)
- August Wilson House, Hill District (prepared by Jeff Slack, Pfaffmann + Associates, PC)
- Pittsburgh Terminal Warehouse and Transfer Company, South Side (Skelly and Loy, Inc.)
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Opera Theater SummerFest and PHLF Offer Special July 11 Event
Members of PHLF are invited to a special event on Thursday evening, July 11, at the Twentieth-Century Club in Oakland. The historic landmark, designed by Janssen & Cocken in 1929, is the site for Opera Theater SummerFest. The evening agenda will be as follows:
5:00 p.m.: Memorable Oakland––discussion with David J. Vater, RA, and Louise Sturgess, both of PHLF.
6:00 p.m.: Gourmet Dinner
7:30 p.m.: Shining Brow Performance––based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s tragic love affair with the wife of a client.
Further agenda details include the following:
5:00 p.m.: Memorable Oakland
Join in a discussion about Oakland’s architectural landmarks and share your memories of being in Oakland. David J. Vater, RA, and Louise Sturgess, both of PHLF, will facilitate this discussion. For reservations: marylu@phlf.org or 412-471-5808, ext. 527. Reservations are appreciated; there is no charge for this portion of the program.
6:00 p.m.: Gourmet Dinner
Enjoy a gourmet prix fixe dinner (soup or salad, entree and dessert for $45 inclusive) in one of the Twentieth-Century Club’s charming dining rooms before the mainstage evening opera. Please call the Club in advance to make your reservation, then pay for your meal at the table. For menu details and to reserve, call TTCC, M-F before 4:30 p.m.: 412-621-2353.
7:30 p.m.: Shining Brow Performance
Frank Lloyd Wright looms as an iconic presence in American architecture by virtue of his extraordinary creativity and larger-than-life ego. Daron Hagen’s Shining Brow reveals the inner landscape of Wright’s heart through a tragic love affair with the wife of a client. Shining Brow is at once intimate and universal, performed in the 139-seat Beaux Arts Ballroom on the fourth floor.
Guests are also invited to join the Opera Theater for a free opera preview and a post-show cabaret, followed by a performance of the newly-commissioned Night Caps International mini-opera, “Penthouse Suite” by University of Pittsburgh faculty composer Roger Zahab.
To order, PHLF members may use this exclusive code to save 10% off of tickets on July 11 for Shining Brow (regularly $20-40) and Night Cap (regularly $10): PHLF2013
For SummerFest details and to order online, visit: otsummerfest.org or call the box office 412-326-9687. We hope to see you at the Twentieth-Century Club on July 11.
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Landmarks Scholarship Winners Announced
PHLF Trustee David Brashear, Chair of the Landmarks Scholarship Committee, announced the winners of the 2013 Landmarks Scholarship on May 31. “We selected four winners out of the 58 applications submitted,” said David, “and look forward to meeting these high-school graduates and their parents during a luncheon on June 27.” The winners are:
- Christopher Besser (Upper St. Clair High School), who will be attending the University of Pennsylvania (Computer Science)
- Cody Piper (North Allegheny Senior High School), who will be attending Carnegie Mellon University (Computer Science)
- Jacalynn Sharp (Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy), who will be attending the University of Pittsburgh (Mechanical Engineering), and
- Anna Vitti (Barack Obama Academy of International Studies), who will be attending the University of Pennsylvania.
Applicants are asked to write an essay about a place in Pittsburgh that is meaningful to them. Based on Christopher’s essay about the D. T. Watson Institute, Cody’s essay about Carnegie Mellon University, Jacalynn’s essay about Heinz Memorial Chapel, and Anna’s essay about Highland Park, we know that they understand how essential historic landmarks and historic communities are in creating a livable, meaningful 21st-century city. They share our preservation values and have the ability and desire to succeed in college.
“Our goal through the scholarship program is to build lasting relationships with capable young people who care deeply about this region,” said Executive Director Louise Sturgess, “and we have been able to do just that,” she added. Two former recipients, Kezia Ellison (2001) and Todd Wilson (2002), are trustees of PHLF. Steven Albert (1999) works in Pittsburgh for Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel and is involved in renovating the Frederick & George Rapp houses at Old Economy Village. Paul Steidl (2007) is an intern architect at Perkins Eastman Pittsburgh, and Terri White (2001) works for the Heinz History Center. James Washabaugh (2004) just returned from service in Afghanistan and is working at Michael Baker, Inc. in construction management. With others working as architects in California and New York, or pursuing various professions throughout the United States, PHLF is creating its own “Landmarks Nation.”
PHLF has awarded 52 scholarships ($4,000 each over a four-year period) since the program’s inception in 1999. Twenty-five of those winners are Pittsburgh Public School graduates and 27 are graduates of other schools within Allegheny County. The program is funded by the Brashear Family Fund of PHLF and PHLF members and trustees. In 2008, PNC Bank and BNY Mellon generously contributed to the Landmarks Scholarship Fund. The scholarship helps underwrite book and tuition expenses only.
To learn more about PHLF’s Scholarship Program, please contact: louise@phlf.org or 412-471-5808, ext. 536.
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1,966 Thanks to 11 Corporations
Thanks to contributions from 11 corporations through the State’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, PHLF involved 12 Pittsburgh Public Schools in its “Building Pride/Building Character” program of field trips, art activities, and book-publishing projects this January through June 5. Total attendance for PHLF’s programs was 1,966 (including students and adults).
“All 1,966 students, teachers, and parents––and PHLF staff and docents––thank Huntington Bank, PNC Bank, BNY Mellon, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company, ESB Bank, UPMC, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc., Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., Maher Duessel, CPA, and Bridges & Company, Inc. for their generous support,” said Louise Sturgess, Executive Director of PHLF.
“We are incredibly proud of the four books and seven stained glass windows that were created as a result of the field trips PHLF offered,” said Louise. PHLF worked with students from Pittsburgh West Liberty, Banksville, Colfax, and Phillips to publish books based on their experiences. Daviea Davis, a stained glass artist with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, worked with third-grade students from Pittsburgh Beechwood to create seven stained glass windows of their school, community, and city. “Teachers Tammy Schmidt and Marie Mrvos have always found ways to incorporate the arts into classroom learning,” said Louise, “and the windows and hallways of Pittsburgh Beechwood show the results of their vision. Each year, a new masterpiece is added and the students take pride in the fact that it is their work, as artists, that is being displayed.”
Below are five photos of the stained glass windows that will be hung in the main stair well and second-floor hall of Pittsburgh Beechwood.
PHLF also thanks Molly’s Trolleys, the City of Pittsburgh (particularly the City Council representatives), Allegheny County Courthouse security guards, the Fort Pitt Museum/Heinz History Center, Fort Pitt Block House, and Duquesne Incline for welcoming hundreds of students in April and May.
PHLF received more than 100 program evaluations from teachers and parents who participated in the “Building Pride/Building Character” field trips and activities: they were filled with positive comments and constructive suggestions. Here are just a few:
- “A big thank you to ALL of the businesses that continuously support PHLF’s efforts in educating our youth with programs such as this one. Without them, this program could not continue.”
- “The best field trip I’ve been on! Very informative and fun. A great way to learn about the great city of Pittsburgh.”
- “The students were engaged and excited for each destination within Pittsburgh. The vocabulary connections also helped to link the entire tour together and allowed the students to have a personal connection with what they saw.”
- “The activities were hands-on and based on authentic learning tied to real places.”
- “This program gives pride in one’s city as well as pride in oneself as a result of character building and knowledge of the surrounding world.”
PHLF is renewing its application and welcomes corporate contributions for the 2013-14 school year. For information click here or contact: louise@phlf.org; 412-471-5808, ext. 536.
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Thank You Interns
Five volunteer interns from local universities and graduate schools assisted PHLF from January through April 2013 with educational programs, main street revitalization, and the Downtown Districts National Register project. They helped edit a guidebook on twentieth-century architecture, created a facade rendering for a small-business owner, assisted on many walking tours, created mural projects for elementary school students, edited poetry and art books, and represented PHLF at various presentations and events.
We thank Julie Collins, Sarah Medwig, Catherine Truslow, and Audrey von Ahrens––all from the University of Pittsburgh––and Stevie Greek from Chatham University for volunteering. Below are a few comments from the interns on their experience at PHLF.
- “Through work with educational tours and updating the National Register data, I have not only gained an even stronger bond with Pittsburgh and its buildings, but I have also learned a great deal more about historic preservation. Conducting walking tours allowed me to interact with the Pittsburgh community and inspire children to become excited about architecture. Interning with PHLF has changed my perspective and heightened my appreciation for how I view the buildings around me.”
––Julie Collins, University of Pittsburgh (Urban Studies, Historic Preservation, Italian Studies)
- “Coming from rural Pennsylvania, my internship with PHLF has been a great opportunity for me to learn more about my adopted home of Pittsburgh and to pursue my interest in Historic Preservation. Of any organization I have come into contact with in the last four years, I am the most impressed with PHLF because of the talented people who choose to work and volunteer here. PHLF is doing important work and the level of passion and dedication at this organization will be a continual inspiration to me.”
––Stevie Greek, Chatham University (Interior Architecture)
- I am so grateful for the experiences I had through PHLF. Getting to work with public school children was very rewarding, and really fun! It was awesome to see how preservation can work in a classroom setting and encourage kids to be creative and artistic. I’m so glad I had the chance to be a part of those activities this past semester.
––Sarah Medwig, University of Pittsburgh (Anthropology, History of Art and Architecture, Historic Preservation)
- “The time that I spent as an intern with PHLF was extremely rewarding. I had the opportunity to see the results of my efforts in the office by leading and assisting with various educational tours that focused on the architecture and history of different Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The intention of each tour was to inspire and educate others, but I ended up learning a lot myself.”
––Catherine Truslow, University of Pittsburgh (Urban Studies, Historic Preservation, French)
- “I am really glad I got to be exposed to the work that PHLF does with kids in creating a bond between them and their surrounding built environment. The importance of the youngest generations taking interest in their hometowns and surrounding environments is something that never occurred to me until this internship but it seems like it can trigger some closer connections and inspire some curiosity to deepen their roots and expand them. I love that PHLF takes such pride in Pittsburgh’s history and that the organization is making a strong effort to ensure it is acknowledged and cherished. Pittsburgh is truly an amazing city that I have learned to love in just my four years attending the University of Pittsburgh. PHLF was a great place to end those four years.
––Audrey von Ahrens, University of Pittsburgh (Architectural Studies/Historic Preservation)
To learn more about volunteer internships with PHLF, click here.
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Building Pride/Building Character with PPS Students
Thanks to contributions from 11 corporations through the State’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), PHLF is involving 12 Pittsburgh Public Schools in its “Building Pride/Building Character” program of field trips, art activities, and book-publishing projects this January through June.
In April, students from Pittsburgh West Liberty and Pittsburgh Phillips participated in a PHLF tour aboard Molly’s Trolleys to the City-County Building, Courthouse, Fort Pitt Museum, Fort Pitt Block House, and Duquesne Incline. (Trolley tours are scheduled for 10 more schools in May.) Students from Pittsburgh Beechwood learned about the art of stained glass during an April tour of six buildings in downtown Pittsburgh.
We thank the following corporations for contributing to PHLF in 2012 through the EITC program: Huntington Bank, PNC Bank, BNY Mellon, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company, ESB Bank, UPMC, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc., Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., Maher Duessel, CPA, and Bridges & Company, Inc.
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17 More Student Teams Present Plans for North Side Lot
PHLF’s 17th Annual Architectural Design Challenge drew to a close on April 17 when 17 teams––four high school and thirteen middle school––presented their models showing their visions for a vacant lot at 110 W. North Avenue, Northside. Students envisioned arts and community centers, a homeless shelter and workforce development office, a tutoring and enrichment center for young people, and an ice cream store with apartments above, among many other ideas.
We thank urban planners Barbara Ciampini and Steven Gifford; architects Tom Celli, Joe Grescovich, Joseph Hudec, Roger Hartung, and Andrew Lang; and interior designers Stevie Greek and Sheri Kosh for critiquing the models and awarding the prizes. We thank Carole Malik for allowing us to host the design challenge at Greensburg-Salem Middle School.
Funds from The Fine Foundation, McSwigan Family Foundation, and Alfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation help underwrite PHLF’s annual Architectural Design Challenge.
The following prizes were awarded to high school teams: Greensburg-Salem (First Place Overall and Winner of the Student Award); Penn Trafford (Second Place); Monessen (Third Place); and Yough (Honorable Mention).
The following prizes were awarded to middle school teams: Monessen (First Place); Greensburg-Salem Team 2 (Second Place and Winner of the Student Award); Yough Team 5 (Third Place); Yough Team 4 (Honorable Mention); Penn Team 3 (Honorable Mention); Greensburg-Salem Team 1 (Honorable Mention); Penn Team 2 (Penguin Award).
“I found it inspiring to hear all the ideas and to see how each group chose to use the challenge site,” said Education Coordinator Karen Cahall. She commended the teams for “bringing something useful to the neighborhood and incorporating modern elements and green-building features in a way that respected the historic character of the Northside.”
“The Design Challenge is an interdisciplinary project that brings great benefits to all who participate,” said PHLF Executive Director Louise Sturgess. Students use math skills to calculate scale and space restrictions; art––to creatively depict their concepts; writing and public speaking for their oral and written presentations; and research and Social Studies skills to understand the needs of the area.
Three students from Penn Trafford made the following comments about their Design Challenge experience:
- “From measuring out the dimensions of the building to designing the exterior and interior, to writing a persuasive report that showcases our building in the best possible light, it is exciting to see all of those aspects of education come together in a real-world situation.”
- “Urban planning is more about bringing community together and forming a bond more so than just being pretty.”
- “I’ve always loved the way old buildings look, but this project gives you a new appreciation for what they mean and how important it is to preserve them in appreciation for the art they offer.”
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COMMENTS ABOUT PHLF TOURS FROM 2012 PARTICIPANTS
“From dates, to style of architecture, to history, the PHLF guide knew it all and was very happy to share it. . . . We have been into the city many, many times. Yesterday, however, gave us a new perspective and we hope to take advantage of some of the other tours. Keep up the good work.”
“This type of tour is a great treat for those of us visiting from out-of-town.”
“Thanks for the free tour. Will definitely recommend it to others.”
“The impact of the revitalization of this vital City area [Market Square] surprised us, most pleasantly. Out tour guide was very good both in comments and in handling our group. . . . You have us thinking of finishing our lives with living in downtown Pittsburgh. . . . Keep those grand tours coming.”
“My wife and I inadvertently happened upon the Grant Street Walking Tour last Friday, and it was the best thing that could have happened to us that day. I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed our time on the walk and how much we learned about Pittsburgh’s wonderful history. It was a special joy to me since my grandfather had a restaurant on Grant Street for many years. . . .”
“The guide . . . had lots of pictures to share that added a lot to the tour.”
“Fourth Avenue is such a hidden gem, I was glad to have the tour guides show me around. . . . It was also neat to have out-of-towners there to see the buildings “new” again through their eyes. . . . I will be back for more PHLF tours! Thanks for providing this awesome service.”
“We are living in South Carolina but spend summers in our condo [in downtown Pittsburgh]. We have taken your Friday noon tours and enjoyed them very much. The guides are so knowledgeable and we are amazed at the history that has been preserved there.”
“Congratulations on the great urban tour of the Allegheny Bridges . . . there are not enough superlatives to describe it and the historical knowledge the guides shared.”
PHLF thanks The Fine Foundation, Alfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and VisitPittsburgh for supporting its public tour program.
