Category Archive: PHLF News
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Landmarks Funds Land-Use Study: Preservation Seeds Take Root
by Jack Miller, CFRE , Director of Planned Giving
March 1, 2009
PHLF NewsA Landmarks funded land-use study conducted by LaQuatra Bonci in 2003 has played a key role is preserving 161 acres of farmland at the Boys Home complex in South Fayette Township.
The Boys Home, located on Battle Ridge Road, housed troubled youth and orphans until it closed in 1972. The property was left vacant until purchased by the Township in 1987. In 2003, the Township approached Landmarks for recommendations on how to cost-effectively develop more than 200 acres of farmland while maintaining its rural character. Under our Farm Preservation Program, we looked upon this opportunity as uniquely valuable.
Landmarks appointed LaQuatra Bonci, Pittsburgh landscape designers, and Landmarks Design Associates, architects, and worked a number of months and had several community meetings to ensure that the outcome would address the residents’ priorities.
The resulting study recommended preservation of the farmland and open space. This February, the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board approved the Allegheny County Agricultural Land Preservation Program purchasing the development rights to 161 acres of Boys Home acres for $1.5 million, assuring that the land will continue to be farmed or left untouched in perpetuity. Another 57 acres will be developed as a park.
The Township and Landmarks’ Rural Preservation Program, using funds from a Richard King Mellon Foundation grant, split the $50,000 cost for the land-use study.
“This is a major accomplishment by this municipality in preserving open space and letting some of its current uses continue, said Landmarks President Arthur P. Ziegler. “We were pleased to be able to assist in the effort and hope that other local governments follow South Fayette Township’s lead.”
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Three-Year Grant Awarded to Support Landmarks’ Education Program
by Louise Sturgess, Executive Director
March 1, 2009
PHLF NewsThe Alfred M. Oppenheimer (AMO) Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation is committing $15,000 per year for three years to support general education programs at Landmarks.
“The AMO was established in 1963 to support interfaith and interracial understanding,” said Chuck Half, a trustee of AMO and of Landmarks. “The intent of this grant is to support Landmarks’ educational programs that provide in-depth explorations of historic sites, architecture, neighborhoods, and culture along with opportunities for interaction among participants.”
“This is a tremendous and most welcome source of support,” said Louise Sturgess, Landmarks’ executive director. “Since its founding in 1964, our organization has been committed to offering educational programs that help people realize the value of historic structures and neighborhoods and motivate them to work together to improve the life of their community.
The modest fees we charge for our educational programs do not cover all our costs. The AMO grant will provide a base of operational funding for us in these challenging economic times.”
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New Granada Theater Stabilization Funding Secured
by Anne E. Nelson, General Counsel
PHLF News
February 26, 2009On February 26, 2009, the Allegheny County Economic Development, Community Infrastructure and Tourism Board awarded Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation a $91,000 grant for the New Granada Theater stabilization project.
Thanks to this grant, the $1.1 million project is now fully funded.
The New Granada stabilization project is also being supported by a $500,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments and $500,000 from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program through Representative Jake Wheatley.
The Hill Community Development Corporation is the owner and our partner.
New Granada Theater in 1995 - Andrew Russell/Tribune Review
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Landmarks Community Capital Corporation and its Partners Announce a New Business Initiative, The Metropolitan Loan Fund of Pittsburgh
The Metropolitan Loan Fund of Pittsburgh (MLFP) is a new loan fund with an emphasis to increase minority entrepreneurship. It is a public/private partnership collaborative designed to provide flexible financing and technical assistance to new and existing businesses which are located in or serve the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The partners include Landmarks Community Capital Corporation (LCCC), State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development), Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, the City of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, Neighborhood Business Inc., and Bridgeway Capital including support from the Heinz Endowments. At present, The MLFP has $1.75 million in committed funds to spur more business opportunities in the Pittsburgh region.
Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of LCCC will announce the start of The MLFP at Dorsey’s Record Shop, a third generation minority-owned business in Homewood on Friday, February 13th at 10:00 a.m. He said, “According to the 2002 Census Bureau’s economic data, Pittsburgh had the 6th smallest number of black-owned firms among the top 40 metropolitan regions in the country. The number of black-owned firms in the region did increase by 39% between 1997 and 2002.
The MLFP is designed to help increase the number of minority firms in the region, coupled with strong technical assistance, which will help these firms navigate the vicissitudes of entrepreneurship. The MLFP will also place a significant amount of emphasis on women-owned businesses, which are growing faster by nearly 57% than those businesses owned by men or non-minority women. Women of color are establishing businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts and more than four times that of non-minority entrepreneurs according to a new study released by the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency.”
State Senator Wayne D. Fontana said, “I am proud to support The Metropolitan Loan Fund of Pittsburgh and was eager to partner with Landmarks Community Capital Corporation, community organizations, the County and the City to provide a boost to minority businesses in our region. This program is evidence of what we can do working together – and the projects that can be undertaken because of the economic development funds made possible through the gaming industry. The program will provide financing and technical assistance to new and existing minority businesses, pieces that are particularly key in this economic climate.”
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said, “The MLFP will benefit our region on two levels – by increasing the number of minority-owned businesses and by encouraging additional economic development,” said Onorato. “Through our MWDBE Working Capital Loan Program, Allegheny County has been promoting minority businesses with the approval of two dozen loans totaling $1.3 million. The MLFP will take these efforts to the next level.”
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said, “Pittsburgh’s growth is predicted on the growth of entrepreneurship. Businesses bring jobs, jobs bring income stability and stability equates to vibrant urban communities. Today, minority women represent the fastest growth sector of business and the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s lending participation of $250,000 in The Metropolitan Loan Fund of Pittsburgh in addition to the other great partners is indicative of the City’s commitment to growing minority business. I am again pleased that Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr., CEO of Landmarks Community Capital Corporation is at the forefront of the creation and implementation of new and exciting initiatives, which continue to benefit Pittsburgh and the region.”
Speakers at the press conference include:
- Rev. Ricky Burgess, City Councilman, District 9
- Wayne D. Fontana, State Senator
- Joseph Preston, Jr., State Representative
- Luke Ravenstahl, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
- Mark Peterson, President, Bridgeway Capital
- Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr., CEO, Landmarks Community Capital Corporation
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Historic Religious Properties Committee Awards Grants
January 14, 2009
PHLF NewsToday, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation’s Historic Religious Properties Committee awarded $31,000 in grants to 8 congregations, plus 3 Technical Assistance Grants and 1 Energy Study. The committee reviewed 22 applications from historic religious properties in Allegheny County. Requests amounted to over $170,000.
Grant recipients are:
- Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church on the North Side;
- The Church of the Holy Cross in Homewood;
- First Presbyterian Church, downtown;
- Glenshaw Presbyterian Church, Glenshaw;
- St. Philip Church, Crafton;
- Swissvale United Methodist Church, Swissvale;
- Triumph the Church & Kingdom of God in Braddock; and
- Valley View Presbyterian Church in Garfield.
The projects funded by these grants are all critical to the integrity of the structure. They involve roofing, gutter and downspout replacement, and masonry work.
Congregations receiving Technical Assistance Awards are:
- Kerr Presbyterian Church in Verona;
- Stewart Avenue Lutheran Church in Carrick; and
- Waverly Presbyterian Church in Regent Square.
Deer Creek United Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia was awarded an Energy Study Grant.
The impact of the nation’s economic crisis has resulted in a reduced level of funding available for all PHLF programs this year, including its Historic Religious Properties Program. Fortunately, though, members and trustees responded more generously than ever to our special year-end appeal by donating a total of $31,000 to the HRP Program.
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Landmarks opposes the demolitions of 1403 and 1414 Nixon Street and 1109 Bingham Street
PREPARED TESTIMONY OF
ANNE E. NELSON, ESQ., GENERAL COUNSEL
PITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATIONBEFORE HISTORIC REVIEW COMMISSION,
CITY OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC HEARING ON CITY DEMOLITIONSJANUARY 7, 2008
Landmarks opposes the demolitions of 1403 and 1414 Nixon Street and 1109 Bingham Street because the City was instructed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to cease all demolition activities for any buildings located in National Register eligible or listed or local designated historic districts until the City complies with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and revises its procedures and relevant documentation.
HUD reiterated its instructions and concerns with the City’s Section 106 compliance in a letter dated December 29, 2008. In this letter, the City was further instructed to respond to HUD by January 16, 2009 with: (1) an update on the City’s progress in revising its procedures and relevant documentation to comply with Section 106, (2) assurance that the City has ceased demolition activities, and (3) addressing Landmarks’ concerns.
It is distressing that the City has failed to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act over the past six months. We have yet to receive any responses from the City to our letters commenting on its compliance with Section 106 that were sent in August and September 2008, nor have we received a response to our letter dated July 29, 2008 requesting to be a consulting party.
Landmarks will oppose all City demolitions in historic districts until it complies with Section 106, and we are notified of our consulting party status.
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- 1109 Bingham Street
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- 1414 Nixon Street
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- 1403 Nixon Street
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Landmarks Appoints New Education Coordinator
January 1, 2009
PHLF NewsKaren B. Cahall, Ed.M., joined Landmarks’ staff on January 1, after serving as a docent for seven years.
She assumed Mary Ann Eubanks’ responsibilities as education coordinator, since Mary Ann retired on December 31, 2008.
For details about school tours or teacher in-services, contact Karen: karen@phlf.org; 412-471-5808, ext. 537.
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Landmarks Community Capital Corporation & Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College Hold Landmarks Economic Development Case Challenge
PHLF News
November 14, 2008
by Michael SriprasertIn light of the recent efforts to bring a grocery store to the Hill District, Landmarks Community Capital Corporation, in partnership with the Heinz College, engaged 25 students in the Heinz Colleges’ first ever non-profit case challenge. Titled the “Landmarks Economic Development Case Challenge”, students were introduced to the issue that is gaining more attention both locally and nationally: The dearth of quality grocery stores locating in urban markets.
LCCC presented the topic to students and took them on a site visit to the Hill District to speak with local leadership engaged in the grocery store development. LCCC then took the students to Wilkinsburg to meet with the Mayor and the owner of the Save-A-Lot that just opened two years ago to give students a better understanding of the impact grocery stores can have in urban markets and to give them more insight into the business of operating a grocery store in these types of areas.
After a week of conducting their own due diligence, the students presented on which development they thought would have the greatest likelihood to succeed and would drive positive change for the Hill District and for its residents The panel of judges was made up of professors, economic development professionals, City of Pittsburgh leaders, business professionals from the Hill District and Wilkinsburg, and LCCC staff. The judges all agreed that the presentations were excellent, and making a decision about the top three was very difficult. After over an hour of deliberation, the winning teams were decided upon:
1st Place Winners – Save-A-Lot
Chapel Dcunha, Jebran Syed, Shruti Mohandas, Emily Burnett, Ling Zhai2nd Place Winners – Kuhns
Russell Pustejovsky, Matt Solomon, Jarrod West, Eddie Wilson3rd Place Winners – Save-A-Lot
Conrhonda Baker, Tramaine Brathwaite, Jennifer Clarke, Hanna SmithLCCC & PHLF would like to congratulate all those who participated in the Landmarks Economic Development Case Challenge, and would especially like to thank the Heinz College for engaging LCCC in this great event.
Participants were:
- Conrhonda Baker
- Tramaine Brathwaite
- Emily Burnett
- Jennifer Clarke
- John Cowen
- Chapel Dcunha
- Leigh Halverson
- Kristin Kennedy
- Ashish Mehra
- Sruti Mohandas
- Eric Morris
- Russell Pustejovsky
- Rhajiv Ratnatunga
- Lavanya Shaji
- Hanna Smith
- Matt Solomon
- Michael Spotts
- Jebran Syed
- Huimin Tan
- Zhenyue Wang
- Lu Wang
- Jarrod West
- Eddie Willson
- Jingyi Xu
- Ling Zhai
To find out more information about this case challenge, please contact Michael Sriprasert at (412) 471-5808
