Category Archive: Preservation News
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Revitalize city by building on its natural strengths
By Jack Markowitz
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, January 6, 2002Here are some old ideas for improving the business situation in downtown Pittsburgh, especially in the so-called Forbes-Fifth Corridor.
You read it right. Old ideas, not new ideas. Cheap ideas, too, mostly.A public-private committee is working at this moment on ways to reinvigorate the central business district of Pittsburgh, after several renaissances that haven’t quite cut it. Before January is over, we are told, a so-called “Plan C” ought to be in front of Mayor Tom Murphy and other decision makers. Plans A and B for one reason or another misfired. No disgrace that. Everybody is well advised to keep at it.
Well, here is a guess that Plan C will click if it includes:
Making several blocks of either Fifth Avenue or Forbes Avenue, at long last, into a pedestrian mall. That is, an open-air place for exclusive use by people on foot, in wheelchairs, and baby buggies, from wall to wall of the building lines, nothing but people. Vehicular traffic would be banned.
This is a very old idea and there have always been obstacles to its realization. Yet in a fair number of cities such a pedestrian-dedicated thoroughfare works very well. It creates a special sort of urban delight as well as being good for business.There is a temptation to expand on these virtues, but first some additional inputs to Plan C:
The beautification of downtown’s southern backdrop: that is, the high cliff wall of Mt. Washington and Duquesne Heights.
Here is an immense garden-in-waiting. It was at least 50 years ago that the late Gilbert Love, a columnist for The Pittsburgh Press, proposed planting it with thousands of shrubs and trees (even as the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy now does so nicely with more level bits of public real estate). Horticulturally the mountain wall would be timed to blossom at varying intervals March through October, creating a natural curtain of modulating colors to please the downtown eye. Along about November, true, the escarpment would revert to wintry drab. But only by day. Multi-hued lights, as at Niagara Falls, might play over the craggy face at night. Think of the statement that a wall of shimmering reds, whites, and blues might be making right now, for instance.Mt. Washington could be exploited even more, as a kind of “vertical park.” A steep pathway, lighted by night, with park benches along the route, would be a challenge to hikers from bottom to top. Lunchtime joggers downtown, already a hardy breed, could cross a bridge, “do” Mt. Washington and get back before the first afternoon appointment. Where else in America?
By all means, when it’s time to paint them again, let’s have a different color for every bridge in the city. We’d feature a rainbow of river crossings, as proposed some time back by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. And why not illuminate all those bridges, too, a favorite idea of the late Pittsburgh stalwart Walter F. Toerge? Strings of light bulbs playing on vari-colored arches and trusses above and reflected in the rivers below. Talk about pretty.
Tax incentives ought to reward the voluntary painting, cleaning or repair of downtown building facades. Architectural beauty is a king of public benefit. And it would spur more residential living downtown, already a well-advanced goal.
Possibly no big city mayor has more correctly emphasized cleaning up the litter problem than Tom Murphy. Whatever it takes – more trash cans, more volunteers, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, civic, school and religious groups – this is doable and affordable. Why not “the cleanest city in the country?” It’s an honor up for grabs.
But back to the idea of making a pedestrian mall of Fifth or Forbes:The two long blocks between Smithfield Street and Market Street appear the most rundown and vacancy-ridden. Yet they are blessed with the most preservable low-rise buildings. Get the cars, trucks and buses off those blocks (but let them run as now on the Smithfield, Wood, and Market cross-carriers). Let people walk freely, and that’s where they will go.
There is something liberating and cheerful about a busy street without cars. Restaurants likely will put tables out; specialty shops and kiosks will open. This happens along Church Street, which used to carry most north-south vehicular traffic through downtown Burlington, Vt. It happens along charming Washington Street, in Cape May, N.J.; and in any number of European cities, even in a neighborhood of West Los Angeles.
Why hasn’t the idea taken hold here? Political inertia and perceived business risk (“if cars are kept out, will the people come?”). Also, the costs, inconvenience, and transplanted congestion of rerouting public transportation, and the scheduling of truck deliveries in the wee hours of mornings. All these are natural enough concerns.
But the Forbes-Fifth corridor never seemed like such a sore point before. Now it does.
So take it away, Planners C.
Retired business editor Jack Markowitz writes Sundays and Wednesdays. E-mail him at jmarkowitz@tribweb.com.
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Progress Report on 5th & Forbes: Process On Track and On Schedule
December 13, 2001:
PITTSBURGH, PADon Hunter of Hunter Interests Inc. gave a progress report to the Plan C Task Force at its meeting this morning, outlining his firm’s work to date and his thoughts on how best to proceed with the revitalization of the Fifth and Forbes area. Members of the group indicated agreement with the overall approach suggested. The Task Force is pleased to report that its work with Hunter is right on schedule and it is anticipated that a clear development strategy for the area will be completed by the target date of January 31st, 2002.
Hunter’s suggestions on how to proceed reflect the Task Force’s principles that revitalization should combine new construction via “catalyst” type development together with the re-use of historic buildings, “incremental” smaller scale development and participation by existing property owners. His work also recognizes potential for residential development as well as the need to incorporate unique businesses and to provide for additional (low cost or free) parking. With eminent domain “off the table” Hunter is developing innovative approaches to tenancy, merchandising, financing and redevelopment.
Hunter’s team of 4 consultants, 2 economists and 4 technical/administrative staff have reviewed all past retail and development plans for the Fifth and Forbes corridor and conducted more than 65 interviews with local property owners, retailers, and developers. They have completed about 85% of their market analysis of the region, and about 75% of their work at “testing” their conclusions with potential developers and partners.
The Task Force recognizes that the need to build upon Downtown’s strong retail presence is essential, that there will be a need for some form of subsidy, and that a “do nothing” approach is unacceptable. Working with Hunter Interests Inc., the Plan C Task Force looks forward to presenting a development strategy for potential partners and public consideration in early 2002.
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Historic Rural Preservation Program Announced
Pittsburgh, Pa. . . . .
On December 11th, 40 farmers attended a meeting at Hidden Valley Farm arranged by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to discuss new and creative tools now available to help preserve Allegheny County farms.
One of those tools included Landmarks’ Historic Rural Preservation Program, which offers a variety of planned gifts that help farmers reduce income, estate and property taxes, while preserving historic farm property.
Also presenting were representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Allegheny County Conservation District and Allegheny Land Trust. They discussed how development, scenic and conservation easements could be used to provide cash and reduce real estate assessments for farmers being threatened by increasing development and urban sprawl.
“The remaining farmers in Allegheny County have become land rich and cash poor,” said Landmarks’ president Arthur Ziegler. “We want them to know that they have options other than selling their property to developers or losing it to estate taxes.”
Landmarks held the meeting at Hidden Valley Farm to show how an historic farm can be preserved without having a negative financial impact on the owner. The 64-acre 1835 farm was gifted to a charitable remainder trust and eventually purchased by Landmarks.
In return, the donor received significant tax benefits and a 20-year income stream. At the end of that time, Landmarks receives whatever remains in the trust, an amount expected to offset the loss Landmarks’ experienced after making protective façade and scenic easements a condition of its resale.
Now that these farmers know that they have choices, the next step is to meet with them individually to discuss their interests and needs. Though this collaborative effort, it will now be possible to match a variety of preservation tools to meet the specific needs of the individual farmers.
“According to the most recent census statistics, farm acreage in Allegheny County dropped by nearly 35% between 1987 and 1997 and most likely another 20% since then,” said Ziegler. “Our only hope to preserve what’s left is to work together and maximize our resources in meeting these farmers’ needs.”
Contact: Jack Miller
Director of Gift Planning -
Library honoring holiday, history
By Mark Berton
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 10, 2001The staff of the Andrew Bayne Memorial Library in Bellevue is hoping to throw a Christmas party that would make Charles Dickens proud.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, a Victorian Christmas party will occur at the library, 34 N. Balph St., in honor of the library’s users, library director Sharon Helfrich said.
She said the theme of the annual party is only natural because the library is housed in a 125-year-old Victorian mansion, which along with 4 surrounding acres, was bequeathed to the borough by Amanda Bayne Balph and Jane Bayne Teece.
Balph was the daughter of Andrew Bayne, a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1837-38 and a former sheriff of Allegheny County. In 1976, the library was designated a historic landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.
That history and the history of the times from which the house emerged will be celebrated Tuesday night.
“There will be Victorian crafts and Victorian treats and caroling,” Helfrich said. “It’s basically a Christmas party for our patrons. The house is all decorated for Christmas, obviously.”
The event includes door prizes as well, Helfrich said.
Bellevue Councilwoman Shirley Nine, chairwoman of the parks and recreation committee, is very familiar with the event.
“There will be singing — some Christmas carols,” Nine said. “Each room is a decorated theme. There are mantels all through the library which are very decorated, and one room is red, white and blue.”
The decorations continue up to the second floor of the library, Nine said, and there will be plenty of “punch and goodies.”
The library is open specifically for this event. It typically is closed on Tuesday nights, she said.
“It’s a wonderful event,” Nine said.
The library, which was renovated in the mid-1990s, is home to more than 14,000 titles, several magazine subscriptions and a plethora of reference materials.
Nine said circulation at the library is up 20 percent, and the number of users is up by 40 percent over last year.
That number translates into 24,234 patrons as of Oct. 31 of this year, Helfrich said.
There were 17,448 patrons of the library reported at the same time last year.
Helfrich said the circulation for 2000 was 31,298. So far this year, circulation is up to nearly 40,000 items, she said.
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. © Tribune Review
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Duquesne Light Company Announces Bridge Lighting
December 10, 2001
Pittsburgh, Pa. . . . . Duquesne Light, the Electric Distribution Company for Pittsburgh, PA, USA, announced in November 2001 a major grant to INTA member Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (Landmarks) to design and install a lighting system for the first of 13 downtown bridges, the Roberto Clemente Bridge. The Foundation will be working with Allegheny County (owner of the bridge), the Riverlife Task Force, the City of Pittsburgh, and many other organizations to develop and install a successful system.
In 1984 Landmarks successfully lit the oldest bridge in downtown Pittsburgh, the historic Smithfield Street Bridge, designed by Gustav Lindenthal and built in 1884; the celebration included a huge Roman Candle fireworks waterfall and the lighting has received much acclaim.
Efforts to illuminate Pittsburgh’s bridges dates back over 70 years. In 1929, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the invention of the Edison electric light bulb, the Duquesne Light Company strung the three sister bridges (6th, 7th and 9th Street) and the Manchester, Point, Smithfield, Panhandle and Liberty bridges with garlands of electric bulbs.Sixty years later, the Greater Pittsburgh Office of Promotion revived the idea with two nights of a demonstration lighting of the Fort Duquesne and Sixth Street Bridges in 1989 and Regatta weekend, a few years later, saw the West End Bridge lit in a demonstration culminating in another cascade of fireworks.
Now thanks to Duquesne Light’s generous contribution, the Roberto Clemente Bridge will be fitted with a state-of-the-art lighting system to showcase its strong architectural features. Once lit, the bridge will form a highly visible linkage between downtown and the Northside neighborhood, home to some of the cities most popular destinations including the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Science Center, PNC Park, and Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will oversee the project and spearhead the efforts to complete the lighting of as many as twelve other downtown bridges.
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Etna landmark receives needed renovations
By Tawnya Panizzi
Staff writer
Thursday, December 6, 2001ETNA: The bright red door at Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church acts as a welcome sign to residents here.
At least that is the feeling its pastor, the Rev. Cynthia Jackson ,is hoping to create with the paint job and other renovations taking place at the 92-year old church.
The church was granted $3,000 from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to restore it’s century-old stonework. But the money, according to Jackson, will help refresh more than gritty stone and chipped paint.
It will help solidify the splendid stone building, constructed in 1909, as one of the borough’s oldest treasures and perhaps attract a larger congregation.
The church is a vital presence in the community, but not solely because of its ministries. The congregation totals about 60 members.
“The building houses the services that are much needed in this community,” Jackson said.
Often, residents don’t relate the church with some of the many services located inside, Jackson said. If the building were to crumble, it would eliminate a home for the Girl Scouts, Homework Helper and an Allegheny County elections polling site. The Bread of Life food pantry, which serves 100 families each month, also is located there.
Representatives from the landmarks foundation granted the maximum allowance of $3,000 because Jackson showed that it is integral to town.
“We have a smaller congregation, but we are reaching into the community in many ways,” Jackson said.
Just this summer, the church hosted a reading program for 17 children. Sixteen of them received $270 scholarships through the church to participate. Two days each week, an employment specialist visits the food pantry to advise residents on job opportunities. Jackson is trying to arrange for GED classes at the building.
“We provide services for people of all ages,” Jackson said. “We hope to be able to have more soon.”
The renovation work, while costly, may go unnoticed by some of the congregation. The bulk of the work included repointing the stone, a job that works to salvage the structure of a building. The repointing has stopped leaking on the church’s interior. Plaster work is next, Jackson said.
“You may not be able to tell real well, but there aren’t big gaping holes in the mortar anymore,” she said.
Now in its fifth year, the program has distributed more than $65,000 to churches in Allegheny County. The money, given to sites at least 50 years old, was made available through year-end gifts made by Landmarks members and trustees. Eligibility depends on the architectural significance of each building, as well as community outreach.
A panel of historians and the History and Landmarks staff review more than 40 applicants each year, largely to determine if the building is worth saving. Money doled out must be used for construction work, not operating expenses.
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. © Tribune Review
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Editorial: Brightening bridges / Illuminating the city’s spans is not an extravagance
Tuesday, December 04, 2001
Pittsburgh Post GazetteShedding light — literally — on Pittsburgh’s bridges is not a new idea.
In 1929, on the 50th anniversary of the light bulb, Duquesne Light Co. illuminated bridges here. In 1990, the old Greater Pittsburgh Office of Promotion conducted a bridge lighting demonstration project on parts of the Fort Duquesne Bridge and of the Sixth Street Bridge, now known as the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Four years ago city Councilman Sala Udin called on local corporations to pay for lighting 12 city bridges.
Now, the idea has gotten a boost with the announcement that Duquesne Light will pay for the decorative lighting of the Clemente Bridge. Project sponsors, including the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, the Riverlife Task Force, Allegheny County and the city, hope Duquesne Light is only the first of many corporations or organizations that will help illuminate Downtown bridges.
The aim of the Clemente Bridge project is to make the bridge visible to pedestrians on the Allegheny River walks, as well as to motorists and pedestrians on the bridge itself. The cost of Duquesne Light’s part of the project is unknown pending completion of final details for the lighting, but estimates are that the design, installation and lighting of the bridge will cost between $300,000 and $500,000.
Allegheny County has 3,000 bridges, more than any other county in the nation, and the city itself has more bridges than most others in this country. Each has a story; each has interesting features and details that could be highlighted by illumination and be a source of pride for the region.
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. © Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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Places Around Pittsburgh: Architecture in Spite of Everything
Frank Lloyd Wright and an admirer, Bruno Zevi, were in front of Santa Maria delle Salute in Venice. Wright said, “Bruno that’s a good church.” It had a wooden dome with fake wooden buttresses, it had pediments, it had pilasters. “But Mr. Wright, you don’t like things like this!” “Bruno: that’s a good church!” The old Shady Avenue Presbyterian Church mixes Romanesque of the homeliest description with Queen Anne, and has a marquee suitable for an apartment house on a rather clumsy wing, but the whole complicated composition somehow muddles through to a charm that could never have been attained in cold blood or with inhibiting clarity of thought.—Walter C. Kidney