City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission Denies Application to Build Medical Facility on First Baptist Church Parking Lot

Albert M. Tannler, Historical Collections Director
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
July 12, 2006

On May 8, 2006, Landmarks published a Preservation Alert regarding a proposal by The Elmhurst Group, the developer, and architects Burt Hill to erect a ten-story “acute care hospital” on a parcel of land next to the landmark First Baptist Church, owner of the property, which has been rented for some years as a parking lot. The site is located in the National Register Schenley Farms Historic District and the City of Pittsburgh Oakland Civic Center Historic District and adjacent to the City of Pittsburgh Schenley Farms Historic District. On Wednesday, July 12, 2006, the Historic Review Commission voted on the proposed construction. By a vote of 5-2, the Commission rejected the proposal. In two weeks the City of Pittsburgh Zoning Commission will hold a similar hearing. The proposal will then be sent to Pittsburgh City Council for a final decision.