Public Hearing at City of Pittsburgh Council on the Malta Temple City Historic Structure Nomination

PREPARED TESTIMONY OF

ANNE E. NELSON, ESQ.

GENERAL COUNSEL

PITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION

BEFORE THE PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MALTA TEMPLE

CITY HISTORIC STRUCTURE NOMINATION

June 25, 2008

Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation supports the nomination of the Malta Temple Building to be a city-designated historic structure. 

The former meeting house of the Ancient and Illustrious Order of the Knights of Malta is noteworthy for its historical and architectural character.  Furthermore, the building’s location, as part of the continuous streetscape of the historic North Avenue next door to the Federal North block, which is also significant.  Therefore, the Malta Temple Building should be preserved for the benefit of the residents of Pittsburgh.

The Salvation Army intends to replace the current structure with a building that is almost identical in style and design to the current structure.  The reason for the new building is that the existing floor plates do not support the services the Salvation Army needs to offer at that location.  Landmarks is currently rehabilitating four historic  buildings in Market Square and has altered the floor plates and interiors to meet the new uses of the building.  This is done with numerous historic properties.

Landmarks offers its assistance to the Salvation Army in planning to reuse the structure.