Category Archive: PHLF News
-
An Update on the Restoration of Houses in Wilkinsburg
PHLF continues its work of restoring single-family homes in and around the Hamnett Place neighborhood of Wilkinsburg, a National Register-listed historic district. Since its successful restoration of four houses as part of Hamnett Restoration Phase I in 2008, PHLF is restoring three more located at 833 Holland Avenue, 845 Holland Avenue, and 517 Jeanette Street, with assistance from Allegheny County Economic Development and The Allegheny Foundation, a Richard M. Scaife charity.
Much like the first phase of residential development in Hamnett Place, PHLF will be working to secure new long-term owners for the properties. The Hamnett Phase II renovations will be complete in the fall of 2011. Homebuyer incomes are restricted to 120% of the area median income. Below is a view of the houses and architectural renderings of what they will look like when restored. For more information, please contact David Farkas, PHLF director of Main Street Programs at 412-471-5808.
-
-
Work Continues on Wilkinsburg Restoration Projects
Work continues on the Crescent Apartments and Wilson house project in Wilkinsburg, to restore two historically significant buildings and bring 27 affordable housing rental units to the market. The project is over 30% complete, with apartment walls now being installed along with electrical wiring and plumbing. Both buildings are on schedule for completion in fall 2011. Social services will be offered at both buildings, on and off-sight, through Hosanna House. This $8.6 million development is being funded with assistance from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Allegheny County, through its Department of Economic Development and office of Behavioral Health, PNC Bank, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Pittsburgh.
-
-
The New Granada Theater Listed on National Register of Historic Places
The New Granada Theater, which housed a prominent Hill District civic organization, and was also used as a movie theater, live entertainment venue, and community center for decades, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The listing, announced January 7, is the result of a submission of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) and the Hill Community Development Corporation (Hill CDC).
Designed in 1927 by Louis A.S. Bellinger, Pittsburgh’s first African American architect, the three-story building located at 2009-11 Centre Avenue was the Knights of Pythias Temple—an African American fraternal organization—from its opening in 1928 to 1936. It re-opened as the New Granada Theater in May 1937, under the management of the Handel Theater Corporation and remained active until the 1970s when it closed under private ownership. After years of vacancy and deterioration, the Hill CDC purchased the building in June 1995, with the help of a loan from PHLF.The Hill CDC and PHLF collaborated on a $1.1 million stabilization of the New Granada in 2007-10, funded by The Heinz Endowments, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program, and Allegheny County’s Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund.
African American architect, Milton Ogot, and Repal Construction Company assisted with the stabilization project.
“The renewal of this building will anchor future development in the entire area. We look forward to the results of the visioning process now underway by the Hill CDC,” said PHLF President Arthur Ziegler.
The New Granada is one of 32 sites in Pittsburgh’s Hill District featured in PHLF’s forthcoming book, August Wilson: Pittsburgh Places in His Life and Plays, by Laurence A. Glasco and Christopher Rawson, with introductions by Kimberly C. Ellis and Sala Udin. A book signing and celebration, free to the public, will be on Saturday, February 26, 1-3pm, Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2001 Wylie Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Reservations required: marylu@phlf.org; 412-471-5808 ext. 527.
-
Project PATH – Pennsylvania Transportation & Heritage
Preservation Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) have partnered to make Section 106 documentation for projects programmed on the State Transportation Improvement Program more accessible to the public. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires Federal agencies and recipients of federal funds to assess the effects of their undertakings on historic buildings or districts listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Online in-progress Section 106 documentation from PennDOT can now be accessed by the public at Project PATH
-
Pittsburgh Athletic Association Centennial Event: Lecture, Tour and Dinner for PHLF Members and Friends
Here’s your chance to explore one of Pittsburgh’s most elegant private clubs. Join us Wed. evening, Feb. 2, 2011, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, 4215 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Oakland).
Evening Agenda
- 5:30: Cash bar
- 6:00: Illustrated lecture by David J. Vater, RA and PHLF Trustee, on the architects and on the significant design features of the PAA.
- 6:30: Guided tour of the clubhouse, including the swimming pool, basketball court, and bowling alley.
- 7:15 Dinner in the Main Dining Room
Entree Choices (choose one when you make a reservation):
- Twin Jumbo Crab Cakes
- Strip Steak Au Poivre
- Eggplant stuffed with cilantro ginger pesto
The Pittsburgh Athletic Association (Janssen & Abbott, architects, 1909-11) is one of the most elegant buildings, both inside and out, in Oakland’s Civic Center and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This event, on the occasion of the PAA’s centennial, is one in a series of private clubhouse tours organized by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation for its members and friends. In previous years, Mr. Vater has led events at the Twentieth Century Club, Longue Vue Club, and Fox Chapel Golf Club.
Reservations must be pre-paid by Thurs., Jan. 27, 2011.
Valet parking is available in the PAA lot, via the entrance from Lytton Street. Purchase a parking token for $8 at the front desk of the Club.
Parking is also available in the Soldiers and Sailors Museum garage on Bigelow Boulevard and in the Holiday Inn University Center garage on Lytton Street.
Time: 5:30pm – 9:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Pittsburgh Athletic Association, 4215 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Oakland)
Fee: $60 PHLF and PAA members; $75 non-members. (To receive the discount, become a PHLF member.)
Reservations must be pre-paid by Thurs., Jan. 27, 2011.
Questions/Reservations: marylu@phlf.org; 412-471-5808, ext. 527 or
REGISTER ONLINE by clicking HERE -
PHLF in 2010
This year, we had more than 10,000 people participate in creative educational classes, public tours, and special events offered by our staff, with the help of many dedicated volunteers. We had a splendid “Legends and Landmarks” evening at Oakmont Country Club, where Carol Semple Thompson was honored with our Living Landmark award for her contributions to golf and preservation. We also enjoyed an evening reception at the Lehn’s historic Fifth Avenue home, honoring those who have been members of PHLF for 25 years or more.
In 2010, we fully leased Market at Fifth and we have begun to assemble the funding for a creative reuse of our fourth building downtown— the Thompson Building. Renovation is scheduled to begin in the coming months. Work in Manchester continues with the Manchester Citizens Corporation, restoring seven historic houses with funding from PHLF and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
We also reached an agreement with the City of Pittsburgh for them not to demolish any more historic houses in Manchester until a plan is in place. We also continue to engage the City in further analysis of how to increase restoration and reuse of historic buildings in downtown.
As a result of over three years of effort by many parties, work began on the Crescent Apartment and Wilson House, for an affordable housing restoration project in Wilkinsburg. We completed all of the negotiations and acquisitions for the next phase of restoring derelict houses and planting vacant lots, and we opened our Housing Resource Center to serve Southwestern Pennsylvania homeowners with educational programs.
Our Allegheny Together Main Street program with Allegheny County has created considerable investment in building restoration, in developing new businesses, and in upgrading existing ones. The same is true for our Main Street programs in Vandergrift, Freeport, Leechburg, and Apollo. In Pittsburgh, we continue to work with North Side residents and the cultural institutions there on opening some of the historic streets in Allegheny Center.
Our Historic Religious Properties Program of financial and technical assistance was reactivated, thanks to a generous challenge grant from two PHLF members and many matching gifts from members and friends. In 2010, we accepted an easement for the oldest office building downtown, the Burke Building (John Chislett, architect, 1836), resulting in the preservation of the building’s façade in perpetuity.
The Civic Arena presented enormously complicated problems. We talked with many groups: those who feel that it absolutely must be saved; those who feel it absolutely must be demolished; the Hill District residents; the Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA); the Penguins; and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Ultimately, we articulated our position in the paper that we published in October 2010. We desire to see the Federal Statute called “Section 106” honored in order for SEA to see the process through to a sound solution.
All in all, I have tried to demonstrate how the foundations have been laid for a productive 2011. And, as the New Year begins, we are eager to hear from you as to your priorities for historic preservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Arthur Ziegler
President
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
-
Wilkinsburg Celebrates New Developments
On October 12th, PHLF held a press conference at the Landmarks Housing Resource Center in Wilkinsburg to announce the commencement of four major initiatives.
In the span of one year, these initiatives will bring nearly $10 million to the community and will result in two fully restored apartment buildings, three restored single-family homes which would represent the second phase of housing in Hamnett Place, the start of year three of the Neighborhood Partnership Program, and the launch of the Landmarks Housing Resource Center.
County Executive Dan Onorato, an important funder and supporter of the housing work ongoing in Wilkinsburg, stated that, “In working with these public and private partners for the last four years, we have demonstrated our commitment to the revitalization of Wilkinsburg. We have renovated homes and developed commercial property, all while preserving the historic feel of this community. We know that businesses and housing go hand-in-hand with economic revitalization.”
Brian Hudson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, a major funder of the Crescent and Wilson restoration development, also stated that by “working together, we will be able to restore these historic buildings and not only provide affordable housing, but also provide supportive services for the new residents.”
Speakers at the press conference also lauded the success of the past two years of the Neighborhood Partnership Program, an initiative of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and talked about the programming for the upcoming year. With funding from TriState Capital Bank, which has committed $2 million dollars over a seven-year period, the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will use the funds for initiatives ranging from vacant lot management, to programming for the Landmarks Housing Resource Center, to clean and green programs on the Wilkinsburg main street.
Lastly, the site for the press conference, the Landmarks Housing Resource Center, was praised by attendees as being a new important ingredient for community revitalization in Wilkinsburg and beyond. The HRC is located in the heart of Hamnett Place across from the Crescent Apartments. Programming throughout the year, will focus on workshops and seminars ranging from how to restore your historic home, how to acquire and improve a vacant lot, and to how to make your home more energy efficient.
-
More than 10,000 People Participated in PHLF’s 2010 Educational Programs
-
