Category Archive: PHLF News
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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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Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr. Re-appointed to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Board
(HARRISBURG) Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr., has been unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate for re-appointment to the Board of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Governor Edward G. Rendell recommended Dr. Slaughter for re-appointment in October. His new term will run through July 20, 2013.
Dr. Slaughter is Chief Executive Officer of Landmarks Community Capital Corporation of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit organization of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, providing funding for housing and economic development activities in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia. He was formerly Director of Fannie Mae’s Pittsburgh Community Business Center.
Senator Jay Costa of Pittsburgh expressed his pleasure at the appointment. “This is tremendous. Howard Slaughter brings to this position a fine sense of Western Pennsylvania’s needs for housing and development,” Costa said. “His record of securing the capital that makes meeting those needs possible is unsurpassed.”
At Fannie Mae Dr. Slaughter worked with local housing partnerships to help 24,000 low- and moderate-income families become homeowners. Before that he was Director of Preservation Services for the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and held important positions in Equibank and Dollar Bank.
Brian A. Hudson, Sr., PHFA’s Executive Director and CEO, also praised the re-appointment. “His extensive background in housing, finance, neighborhood revitalization and economic development are valuable assets to the Commonwealth,” Hudson stated. “I am tremendously gratified that Governor Rendell re-appointed Howard Slaughter to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Board and that the Senate confirmed that action.”
Dr. Slaughter is a member of the Board of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, and the Board of Visitors at Robert Morris University, and has received a number of local, regional and national awards for charitable and community service.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Commonwealth’s leading provider of capital for affordable homes and apartments, is governed by a 14 member Board. Since its creation in 1972, it has generated more than eight billion dollars for 140,000 single family mortgage loans and 80,000 rental units, while saving the homes of nearly 41,000 families from foreclosure.
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Hearing Before the Council of the City of Pittsburgh on the Bakery Square Tax Increment Financing Plan – Nabisco Property
PREPARED TESTIMONY OF
ANNE E. NELSON, ESQ.
DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
PITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION
BEFORE THE PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BAKERY SQUARE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN – NABISCO PROPERTY
OCTOBER 23, 2007
On behalf of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (“Landmarks”) and our president, Arthur Ziegler, I thank you, members of the Council, for the opportunity to discuss the Bakery Square Tax Increment Financing Plan.
From a historic preservation standpoint, Landmarks appreciated the opportunity to meet with the project developers from the onset and to work with them to put together a preservation plan for the buildings that, at the same time, respected the developer’s functional needs. Landmarks is very pleased that the developer has followed through consistently with the preservation plan and is considering the donation of a historic preservation easement on the buildings.
The Bakery Square development not only serves historic preservation interests, but will provide a major capital infusion at a strategic city block that will affect the surrounding neighborhoods of East Liberty, Point Breeze, and Homewood.
Therefore, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation supports the Bakery Square Tax Increment Financing Plan.
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National Negro Opera House Nominated for City Historic Structure
On Monday, October 22, 2007, the Historic Preservation Commission received a nomination for 7101 Apple Street – National Negro Opera House to be a City Designated Historic Structure.
Nomination affords the property protection against demolition, and mandates that all exterior changes to the building be reviewed by the HRC.
These protections are temporary until/if the HRC, Planning Commission, and City Council vote to approve the nomination.
The Historic Review Commission will make a preliminary review of this nomination at its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
This hearing will be held after 12:30 PM in the Commission Hearing Room on the first floor of the John P. Robin Civic Building at 200 Ross Street, Downtown.
At that time, the Commission will make a preliminary determination about whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the nominated property will meet the criteria for designation listed in the preservation ordinance.
All members of the public are invited to attend.
Please feel free to call Katherine Molnar, Historic Preservation Planner, at 412-255-2243 or email Katherine.molnar@city.pittsburgh.pa.us if you have any questions.
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Landmarks Architecture Design Challenge project in downtown Vandergrift
September 24, 2007
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (Landmarks) has selected Vandergrift as the host community for its 12th annual Architectural Design Challenge for over 150 Westmoreland County middle school and high school students.
On September 26 and 27, members of the community will lead students on a tour to learn about the town’s history, unique architecture, and downtown revitalization plans. They will also study their project site which is the vacant building located at 134 Grant Avenue, this building will be the focus of the students’ design challenge. Once back at school, students will work in teams, over a five-month period, to create potential design solutions for rehabilitating 134 Grant Ave. into a “Galleria” Arts Center.
In February 2008, the students will return to Vandergrift to present their proposed designs and models to the community and to a selected panel of critics which will include architects. Student presentations will include drawings and models illustrating their designs for the building addressing the program for the proposed Arts Center.
The Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc. (V.I.P) is excited about having the students work on the Design Challenge project in Vandergrift. “We look forward to seeing what the students will design for the former JC Penny’s building. This is a great opportunity for students to create design solutions that could actually get incorporated in the revitalization efforts,” says Shaun Yurcaba, Main Street Manager.
Through this project the students will learn about the architectural design process by having a real building to work with, a hypothetical proposed Arts Center, and a set of design guidelines to follow. The Architecture Design Challenge will teach younger generations about the value of small towns, historic architecture, and preservation.
Landmarks has numerous educational programs for students and teachers featuring local history and architecture. Using the environment as a classroom, students learn about local history, historic architecture, preservation, and revitalization. Landmarks’ also offers educational resources including in-school programs and field trips. Visit www.phlf.org for more information.
The V.I.P. on site Main Street Manager is Mrs. Shaun Yurcaba, of Landmarks. The V.I.P. has selected PHLF to manage the main street revitalization efforts, working closely with the Landmarks staff, specifically with Arthur Ziegler, President, and Eugene Matta, Director of Real Estate and Special Development Projects.
The V.I.P. is a non-profit organization composed of local residents, businesses, and local and state government officials. The V.I.P. is a designated Main Street community funded in part by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
The V.I.P. is dedicated to the protection, preservation and restoration of Vandergrift by using a four-point approach that focuses on organization, economic restructuring, promotion, and design of the central business corridor as well as the residential areas of Vandergrift.
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Vandergrift Main Street Community Receives Award for Retail Promotion
September 24, 2007
The Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc. (V.I.P.) received a “Townie Award” for the “Vandergrift Pet Photo Contest and Calendar” from Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) at the PDC’s statewide annual conference in Bethlehem, PA, which was June 3-5, 2007.
The “Townie Awards” is an annual awards ceremony facilitated by PDC, which works with over 300 member communities from across the state, 77 of which are currently in the Main Street program. The “Townie Awards” is an opportunity for Main Street programs to submit their most successful revitalization projects implemented in their community.
The Vandergrift Pet Photo Contest and Calendar won “Best Retail Promotion” for that category competing against 77 other communities from across the Commonwealth. This is the 17th year that the “Townie Awards” have been implemented.
“The Townie Awards are very competitive”, says Suzanne Gagliardo, Western Coordinator for PDC, “I’m surprised and impressed that such a young Main Street community like Vandergrift and the V.I.P. won best out of the retail promotion category. They were up against many terrific retail promotions from other more established PA communities.”
The Vandergrift Pet Contest and Calendar was selected for the “Townie Award” as “Best Retail Promotion” for its creativity and successful implementation that brought over 4000 people into the commercial district over the course of two months to submit their pet photos and then to cast their vote for their favorite pet photo. This effort brought people into participating downtown businesses and helped to build awareness about the historic downtown. Sherry Jenks, who serves on the VIP Board and on the Promotions Committee, conceived the idea for this contest.
Shaun Yurcaba, the Vandergrift Main Street Manager from Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) realized that this retail promotion would be successful when “…people were coming into downtown that hadn’t been to Vandergrift in months or even years. We were pleased about the participation from the community and the amount of increased foot traffic into the downtown businesses.”
The V.I.P. will be facilitating the second annual Vandergrift Pet Contest and Calendar 2008 starting on Sept. 24. Submit your favorite pet photo to the V.I.P. office between Sept. 24-Oct. 5. Place your vote at participating businesses between Oct. 15-31. Winners and calendars will be announced at Light Up Night on November 23, 2007.
The V.I.P. organizes several events and retail promotions a year in an effort to bring people into the downtown and to help the area become more aware of what is offered by the local businesses. The V.I.P. President, David Truffa, is also a downtown Vandergrift business owner and one of many business owners who’s involved with the V.I.P., “We are an organization committed to revitalizing Vandergrift, and it’s events like this that do encourage people to visit downtown Vandergrift.”
Founded in 1987, the mission of Pennsylvania Downtown Center is to advance the sense of place, quality of life and economic vitality of Pennsylvania’s downtowns, traditional neighborhood business districts and nearby residential areas.
The Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc. is a non-profit organization composed of local residents, businesses, local and state government officials. The V.I.P. is a designated Main Street community funded in part by the Department of Economic Development (DCED).
The V.I.P. on site Main Street Manager is Mrs. Shaun Yurcaba, of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF). The V.I.P. has selected PHLF to manage the main street revitalization efforts, working closely with the PHLF staff, specifically with Arthur Ziegler, President, and Eugene Matta.
The V.I.P. is dedicated to the protection, preservation and restoration of Vandergrift by using a four-point approach that focuses on organization, economic restructuring, promotion, and design of the central business corridor as well as the residential areas of Vandergrift.
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Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh Agenda for October 3, 2007
HISTORIC REVIEW COMMISSION OF PITTSBURGH
200 Ross Street, First Floor Hearing Room
October 3, 2007
AGENDA12:30 CALL TO ORDER
INTERNAL BUSINESS
Old Business
• Enforcement Issues Report
• Nominations ReportNew Business
• Approval of the Minutes from the August 1 & September 5, 2007 HRC Meeting
• Certificates of Appropriateness Report
• Historic Reviews Report
• Economic Hardship Demolition Applications Report1:00 PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Comment
The Garden Theater
12 W. North Avenue
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Owner
Mexican War Streets Society, Nominator
Nominated to be City Historic Structure1:20 Manchester
1212 N. Franklin
City of Pittsburgh, Owner
Bureau of Building Inspection, Applicant
Russell Blaich, Applicant Representative
Proposed demolition to gradeManchester Historic District con’t.
1214 N. Franklin
Goodlow & Mary Brown, Owners
Bureau of Building Inspection, Applicant
Russell Blaich, Applicant Representative
Proposed demolition to grade1:35 East Carson Street Historic District
2026 East Carson
xxx, Owner
Morgan Associates, Applicant
David Morgan, Applicant’s Representative
Proposed addition of a handicap accessible ramp; proposed addition of windows
into east elevation1:50 East Carson Street Historic District
629 East Carson
Samuel Manfredo, Owner
Stephen Todorovich, Applicant
Proposed addition of a sign to a car wash2:05 Oakland Civic Center
123 University Place (University Club)
University of Pittsburgh, Owner
Landmarks Design Associates, Applicant
Bill Hashinger, Applicant’s Representative
Proposed modification of south-elevation stair tower, including addition of 1st floor
entrance; demolition of non-original fabric and reconstruction of rear entrance on
west-elevation; other slight modifications2:30 Penn-Liberty Historic District
212 9th Street (aka 821 Liberty)
Catholic Charities, Owner
Advance Sign, Applicant
Jason Hampsan, Applicant’s Representative
Proposed installation of an awning over the entrance door2:45 Penn-Liberty Historic District
960 Penn Avenue
FedEx Kinkos, Owner
Accel Sign Group, Applicant
George/Mark, Applicant’s Representative
Proposed installation of two FedEx Kinkos signs3:00 Historic Schools – Arsenal Middle School
3900 Butler Street
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Owner
Apostolou (?) -Associates, Applicant
Dennis Buirge, Applicant’s Representative
Proposed installation of a temporary parking lot and permanent exterior elevators3:20 Historic Schools – Concord Elementary School
2350 Brownsville Road
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Owner
L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Applicant
John Anthony, Applicant’s Representative
Proposed substantial rear addition to building3:45 ADJOURNMENT
The John P. Robin Civic Building, located at 200 Ross Street downtown, is wheelchair accessible.
This meeting is open to all members of the public.(HRCAGENDA/OCTOBER352007AGENDA.DOC)
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Woodville Plantation Ownership Transferred
September 9, 2007
PHLF NewsAfter thirty-one years of ownership, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation officially transferred the Neville House, a two-story Southern colonial style house constructed in 1785 by John Neville, to the Neville House Associates.
Neville House, located in Collier Township, has been managed by the Neville House Associates for more than thirty years, and the organization hopes to expand their operation of the historic house museum.