Hope Rises in Homewood

Elwin Green walks us down his street, Race Street, in the middle of Homewood. It is mid-morning, the sun is shining brightly and the day is perfect for taking photos, meeting the neighbors, and assessing the potential of this street. Race Street is an five-block-long street of modest four-square brick Pittsburgh homes, like any street in the region.

However, Race Street, like much of Homewood, is plagued with an image problem. Sure there are some vacant properties--many of which could be fixed. But with people unable to obtain home improvement or home mortgage loans, public safety issues, and low self-esteem, Race Street, like Homewood, faces an uphill battle for legitimacy and its future.

Yet, the story does not end in a downward spiral of despair. Residents are fighting back. They are organizing, involving a diverse array of stakeholders, and, most importantly, getting the young people involved.

Race Street is a subset of efforts to revitalize Homewood that have galvanized around the Homewood Children's Village concept (Http://homewoodchildrensvillage.org), a direct descendant of the Harlem Children's Zone founded by Geoffrey Canada (http://www.hcz.org/). A public kick-off event for the Homewood Children's Village was held on September 14, 2010. Hundreds of people packed the gym at Faison school to watch a touching video, "One Square Mile," and to hear the elaborate plans and committees that have been organized. The room was filled with incredible optimism and hope.

Today (September 23rd), however, the U.S. Department of Education announced their latest round of grant awards, and the Homewood Children's Village was not chosen for federal funding. Yet, there is still reason for optimism, not just because Homewood's latest plan has the backing of elected officials and other community leaders.

Hope rises in Homewood because of the young people who are involved, who were well represented at the kick-off event.

The celebration ended with an original rap performance by four young people, who closed out their set with the catchy tune "Welcome to the Village." Yes, welcome to the Village. It was an amazing display of community cohesion and promise--which can only be sustained if the young people are involved.

We cannot, must not lose another generation to the streets, to the vacant buildings and empty lots, and to hopelessness. If we fail our children, we fail ourself.

Let's involve our children, get involved in their world, protect them, and make them feel welcome in all aspects of our lives. It is through them our legacy survives.

Advertising Signs and Historic Preservation

An important historic preservation issue is not getting the attention it deserves: advertising signs and how they affect historic neighborhoods and business districts.

Decades ago, signs were painted on brick walls to promote a business in the building or located nearby. These signs can be found across the Pittsburgh region today, but most have faded away and are commonly referred to as “Ghost Signs”. They unlock a piece of history and add great character to an otherwise nondescript part of a building.

The advertising industry shifted long ago to a more “in your face” attitude in locating and designing current billboards. Most of these are brightly lit at night so that they are center of attention. In the city of Pittsburgh alone, there are over 900 billboards lining our streets and neighborhoods (with greater numbers found in low-income areas). These signs try to pull our eyes away from what Pittsburghers cherish so much: the city skyline, tree covered hills, river views and our neighborhoods.

It is often cited that billboards are a major distraction to drivers, but they also are a visual distraction to pedestrians. Unlike watching television or reading a newspaper or magazine, billboards are front and center where someone can’t turn to a different channel or flip to the next page. That is one of the reasons the billboard industry does so well and why businesses constantly advertise with this medium.

In recent years, the signage industry has been moving focus to new electronic technology that has moving, flashing and color-changing elements. Primarily using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the light from the billboards is often seen for miles, especially in the Pittsburgh region with our topography. New York’s Times Square and the Strip in Las Vegas are examples of places designed for these bright flashing signs. Our residential neighborhoods and historic main streets should not fall into the same category.

Currently, new legislation is being developed to bring the zoning code up-to-date with the new technology. The City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning has been working with legal and lighting consultants to draft new regulations for electronic signage. The Planning Commission will have hearings on the issue in October. This would be the perfect opportunity for you to get involved and have your thoughts about these signs heard. Involvement from residents will be critical!

It is time to stop ignoring these signs and take action to reduce the visual blight on Pittsburgh’s landscape. Change must happen from both businesses and residents alike. Businesses need to understand that their historic main street is being plastered with clutter. Residents should demand the views from the streets be protected and not sold off for profit.

What happened to the simple painted signs on brick walls that showcased the Mom and Pop store? Instead we now have signs brightly shining into windows at night and billboards on rusting steel supports or tall poles that bring down property values. Most officially designated historic districts in municipalities have the most restrictions on advertising signs and generally don’t allow them at all. That leaves the majority of the city vulnerable and our historic urban character at risk.

To find relevant documents and more information on this issue, visit the Department of City Planning’s website (http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/), under the “Electronic Advertising and Message Signage” heading.

—Chuck Alcorn, YPA Board Secretary

YPA's Take on the Civic Arena

Historic preservation is at a crossroads. The current generation of preservationists is now grappling with preservation of the recent past. How we as a movement deal with the built environment of the past 50 years, as well as how we relate to our own colleagues will define the future effectiveness of our movement.

The definition and methods of preservation have been appropriately expanded beyond bricks and mortar. In addition to architectural and cultural significance, we must consider the social, political, and economic implications of our engagement.

The aim of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is to approach each instance with an appropriate objectivity. There are moments where casting a vision is necessary, and others when supporting the vision of others is of paramount concern. We do not seek to define what is right or what is wrong.

On the contrary, we hope to provide an atmosphere for dialogue and an exchange that leads to a heightened and inclusive discussion. YPA’s mission is to provide the tools to the next generation as they continue to craft their own definitions of preservation.

The effort to save a Modernist icon like the Civic Arena will not be the last time that preservationists will have to face this challenge. But we should encourage a strong, unified, and inclusive dialogue for such important preservation issues.

As published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 16, 2010: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10228/1080309-110.stm

Preserve our Cities, Preserve our Culture

I just started working part-time at the Andy Warhol Museum as a gallery attendant. My job is to look at the people who are looking at art. Although I’ve only been working a few short days, I’ve already noticed a trend in many of the guests. Many of the visitors don’t even really look at the artwork that is displayed. They seem to just enjoy breezing through the seven floors, soaking in the museum atmosphere of wide, open emptiness with a sprinkling of culture and color, while of course, holding hands with their date.

Visitors will stop and read descriptions of intriguing pieces of art to learn some background and many of them are shocked by “Oxidation Painting” (a painting Warhol made by urinating on a copper-coated canvas), but it seems that many people just come to the museum for the atmosphere, to be surrounded by culture.

I’m sharing this because I believe that the cities and towns that we live in are comparable to a museum. When you visit a historic town, you feel the atmosphere change. You are suddenly a part of the history that town has seen. Walking through old streets in the ancient city of Aachen, Germany, you are reminded of the Roman Empire that once ruled the world. These feelings can’t be mimicked in brand new developments and high-rises. They are the stories in the walls of houses that have seen wars, peace and change. The sensation of being in a place that remembers things is something that must be preserved.

Like a museum, we must tend to our property and take care of it, as not to disturb this ambiance. Otherwise we will stop and look around one day and nothing will catch our eye or intrigue us about our culture, because all we might see are Walmarts and condominiums.

—Meghan Leinbach, YPA Intern & student at the University of Pittsburgh

Preservation as a Tool

In my observation/opinion, when most people think about the term preservation, they think about it in the context of preserving something physical in a theoretical sense. For example, we should save a certain historical building or structure, a famous or old house, etc… The act of preserving gets lost in the mix, not because people don’t want to protect said building or structure, but because most people do not know how to actually preserve them.

I guess I am a case in point in that my background is in archeology, a field that fundamentally destroys areas (we like to call this excavation) in order to preserve the historical and/or natural integrity of an area. My technical knowledge in archeology has allowed for expertise in excavation, however it lacks in the restoration aspect of preservation.

You are all probably wondering where I am going with this. Well in my short experience with archeology and preservation, what I see that is lacking is preservation techniques being taught and exposed to the masses. Even as someone who has specialized in a field that involves preservation throughout school, I still have no concrete knowledge of how to preserve a standing building or structure myself.

I think it would be useful for people, especially the younger generation, to learn the basics of how to preserve a building or structure so that they have the necessary tools to preserve in the future. As every home or building has a history, old or new, preservation of that structure will need to be addressed at some point in time… so why not address it early.

Posted by Ashley Noia, YPA Intern, July 2, 2010

Perspectives From An Outsider

Meghan Leinbach and Ashley Noia are interns with YPA this summer. They were asked to write their impressions of historic preservation for YPA's blog. In the photo at left, Ashley prepares for YPA's Preservation Month Celebration held on May 21st at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty.

Ashley's blog entry is below.

As a Californian native, moving to Pennsylvania was not just a scenic change, but also a cultural discovery. Growing up in an environment where shopping centers, malls, and new residential and commercial developments sprouted up faster than their demand, more often than not one’s childhood park or restaurant became unrecognizable as change was an expected norm. Although change in moderation to fit the needs of the community is a good thing, the process in which one implements this change is another aspect entirely. As the recent decline in California’s economy has spawned blighting in businesses and neighborhoods throughout the state, one might infer that some of these issues are a result of over development and over consumption of resources.

This July will mark a year of my life that has been spent living in Pittsburgh, and the last few weeks with the Young Preservationists Association. From my short time here, I have learned the importance that preservation plays in order to protect Pennsylvania’s unique past, as well as act as a model for states like California, which tends to build and expand instead of restoring what exists and reusing standing structures. By no means are the efforts in Pennsylvania perfect, but the first step to preservation is that there is actual effort in existence.

The Pittsburgh region of which I have had the most intimate interaction with over the past year offers the state of Pennsylvania a rich cultural milieu. Not only does Pittsburgh maintain the decadence of four seasons, it also retains the architectural structure of the 1800’s and industrial spirit of which other cities and states depended, a historical picture for its citizens to enjoy and reflect on in the future. Most inspirational to me is the pride that the Pittsburgh citizen has in one’s community and state, a trait that is often lost in the transient cities in states like California.

Pennsylvania’s long history creates a playground of living history for its residents through the preservation of its most influential and unique buildings and landmarks. Preservation of one’s history through physical materials and structures allows for future generations to learn from the past so that they too may positively impact the future. From this outsider’s perspective, Pennsylvania is “Bringing History to Life,” and hopes the great western state might follow.

Ashley Noia is a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College

Old is not Scary

Meghan Leinbach and Ashley Noia are interns with YPA this summer. They were asked to write their impressions of historic preservation for YPA's blog. In the photo at left, Ashley (far right) and Meghan meet with the Mayor of Braddock, John Fetterman.

Meghan's blog entry is below.

The first time I went to Homestead was by mistake. A freshman at Pitt, just trying to get to Target to buy some easy mac, I took the 61C and just never got off. I ended up somewhere on Eighth Avenue and was left to wander the streets in attempts to find a way back to the Waterfront. Too scared to ask for help, I followed the train tracks back. At the time, all I wanted to do was get away from the abandoned buildings and forgotten empty lots and back to the safe space of the Waterfront. My eighteen-year-old self just wanted to be near the familiar chain stores that I was raised on and escape the streets that I was warned to stay away from.

Homestead did not make a good first impression on me. And why would it? As a non-native to Pittsburgh, I knew nothing about the decline of the steel industry and the destruction of communities that the mill closings caused. The formerly thriving neighborhood was now abandoned due in part to the opening of the stores that I visited in the Waterfront. I did not see the worth in historic Eight Avenue; all I saw were abandoned buildings.

Since my freshman experience in Homestead, I’ve visited all the neighborhoods I was warned to stay away from. I’ve realized since then, that exploring the gritty places, which we are warned to leave alone, is way more exciting and worthwhile than frequenting the industrialized mall-parks we have come to accept as a society.

It’s in Nancy B’s Bakery where you can eat the world’s best chocolate chip cookies, not in Costco. It’s in the antiques stores along Eighth Avenue, not Target, where you can find the unique lamp you’ve been dreaming of that pulls your living room décor together perfectly. In the Tin Front Café you can have an Americano made by hand, not by the push of a button like in Starbucks. Now I travel to Homestead intentionally. I’ve learned that there’s nothing generic about Homestead, there’s nothing sterile about Homestead and there is definitely nothing scary about Homestead.

Meghan Leinbach will be a senior at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall. She is a double major in History of Art and Architecture and German, minor in Philosophy.

YPA's Top Ten List Released!

On Friday, May 21st, YPA released its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area.

The list is a great way to celebrate historic preservation accomplishments in the making.

Since the publication of our list in 2003,

> more than $80 million has been invested in historic preservation projects throughout southwestern Pennsylvania;

> more than 1,200 restoration jobs and 401 permanent jobs were created;

> more than 230 housing units were created;

> $750,000 in wage taxes were generated; and

> for every $1.00 of public investment, $1.30 of private investment was created.

These results were reported in YPA's new report, "The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation," released in May. The bottom line: preservation creates jobs!

You can find the report here: http://www.youngpreservationists.org/ypa-releases-new-report-historic-preservation-creates-jobs

Here are the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area for 2010. The full report is available online at http://www.youngpreservationists.org/2010-top-ten-list

10. Ambridge Theater, Ambridge, Beaver County

9. Bantam Building, Butler, Butler County

8. Gladstone School, Hazelwood, City of Pittsburgh

7. Aaron's Building, Connellsville, Fayette County

6. Miles Bryan School, McKees Rocks, Allegheny County

5. 134 Grant Avenue, Vandergrift, Westmoreland County

4. Hulton Bridge, Oakmont-Harmarville, Allegheny County

3. Pittsburgh Brewing Company, Lawrenceville, City of Pittsburgh

2. Brizzi Building, Blairsville, Indiana County

1. Coraopolis Train Station, Coraopolis, Allegheny County

And the Number One Top Ten Site is...

Find out the Number One Top Ten Site this evening at YPA's Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green." It will be held at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration information is on our website: http://www.youngpreservationists.org/celebrate-historic-preservation-month-with-ypa-may-21

You can also register at the door.

At the event, YPA will release its new list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities, as well as a new report, "Homage to the Fallen: The Top Ten Buildings We Wish We Had Back." YPA will also have copies of its new report, the Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

In addition, the Kelly Strayhorn Theater presents Pittsburgh PACT (Public Action Communitarian Theatre) in the premiere of CASINO LIBERTY at 8 pm, following our YPA event. Company members conducted factual research and interviewed area residents about life in the East End for this fun, interactive and thought-provoking show.

There will be great food, drinks, and a silent auction. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to celebrate historic preservation in southwestern Pennsylvania!

YPA Counts Down the Top Ten: #2 Brizzi Building, Blairsville, Indiana County

For the next several days, until May 21, YPA will count down its 2010 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities on its blog. On Friday, May 21, YPA will host a Historic Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green," at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration details are on YPA's website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org.

Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.

The sites featured on YPA's list come from six different counties and include industrial structures, Main Street commercial buildings, schools, a train station, and a bridge. Main Street features prominently in the list, with four of the Top Ten sites being situated in an existing Main Street commercial district. The remaining six sites are within blocks of an existing Main Street community.

The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:

1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);

2. Historic & Architectural Significance;

3. Threats to the Site;

4. Community Input; and

5. Feasibility of the Solution.

#2 Brizzi Building, Blairsville, Indiana County

This property, known as the Brizzi Building to area residents, is located in the heart of Blairsville’s Main Street District, in the section of Market (Main) Street that was improved by Home Town Streets Funds from Governor Rendell. The original brick dwelling on this property was built prior to 1847. In 1900, the impressive three-story Queen Anne section facing Market Street was added; this original façade remains intact.

Throughout the coming years, the building subsequently fell into disrepair. The building also sits in a precarious situation adjacent to an empty, crumbling structure where an out-of-town owner has not been accountable for repairs or restoration. However, new owners Jeffrey and Rebecca Marshall purchased the Brizzi Building and have made significant improvements to the property.

The owners intend to open an art gallery/studio on the second and third floors, something the Blairsville community is sorely lacking. On the first floor, the owners intend to open and operate a bakery, called “Market Street Pastries,” and plan to specialize in artisan baked goods, coffee, and gelato. The space is large enough for a great deal of seating, thus recreating a social gathering spot where folks can enjoy delicious treats – with an updated twist!

The owners will preserve the historic integrity of the architecture as it exists and encourage owners of surrounding buildings to follow through with repairs so as not to adversely affect the safety of the Brizzi Building. This venture shows promise to reignite the economic base in the community by providing jobs, ingredients will be purchased from local grocery stores, and fresh berries and fruits from local growers.

YPA Counts Down the Top Ten: #3 Pittsburgh Brewing Company, Lawrenceville

For the next several days, until May 21, YPA will count down its 2010 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities on its blog. On Friday, May 21, YPA will host a Historic Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green," at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration details are on YPA's website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org.

Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.

The sites featured on YPA's list come from six different counties and include industrial structures, Main Street commercial buildings, schools, a train station, and a bridge. Main Street features prominently in the list, with four of the Top Ten sites being situated in an existing Main Street commercial district. The remaining six sites are within blocks of an existing Main Street community.

The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:

1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);

2. Historic & Architectural Significance;

3. Threats to the Site;

4. Community Input; and

5. Feasibility of the Solution.

#3 Pittsburgh Brewing Company, Lawrenceville

The Pittsburgh Brewing Company is an icon of Pittsburgh itself: strong, industrious, and elegant.

Iron City Beer was started in 1861. Most of the original Lawrenceville plant was built in the 1860s. The signature building that sits on Liberty Avenue was constructed in 1886, designed by architect Nic Kessler. The brewery is a survivor. While most breweries across the country were shuttered due to Prohibition in the 1920s, Pittsburgh Brewing produced ice cream, soft drinks, and “near beer” until Prohibition was repealed in 1933. In 1962, Pittsburgh Brewing marketed the first pull-ring tab on its aluminum cans, an innovation that would survive for several decades. The brewery later became a proud symbol of the city’s winning sports teams of the 1970s, and again in the 1990s and 2000s.

Amazingly, none of the historic brewery complex had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, or designated by the city. In 2009, when the brewers announced they were closing the Lawrenceville plant and moving operations to Latrobe, a community-wide effort to nominate the building for city landmark status was begun. Historic designation is but the first step to reprogram this site for use as a community asset for the revival that has steadily chugged along in Lawrenceville.

YPA Counts Down the Top Ten: #4 Hulton Bridge, Oakmont-Harmarville

For the next several days, until May 21, YPA will count down its 2010 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities on its blog. On Friday, May 21, YPA will host a Historic Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green," at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration details are on YPA's website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org.

Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.

The sites featured on YPA's list come from six different counties and include industrial structures, Main Street commercial buildings, schools, a train station, and a bridge. Main Street features prominently in the list, with four of the Top Ten sites being situated in an existing Main Street commercial district. The remaining six sites are within blocks of an existing Main Street community.

The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:

1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);

2. Historic & Architectural Significance;

3. Threats to the Site;

4. Community Input; and

5. Feasibility of the Solution.

#4 Hulton Bridge, Harmarville-Oakmont

Constructed in 1908-1909 over the Allegheny River, the simple truss bridge connects the boroughs of Oakmont and Harmarville. It was the first bridge to be built by Allegheny County over the Allegheny River. It was named for the Hulton family, who owned a third of present-day Oakmont and had operated a ferry company at the location since 1864.

In late 2009 PennDOT announced its plans to demolish the bridge by 2012 and build a new four-lane bridge upstream, explaining that the bridge is still structurally sound but is functionally obsolete. Pennsylvania’s historic bridges are disappearing at an alarming rate, with one estimate stating that they will all be gone by 2016.

Students from Carnegie Mellon University have come up with a plan to turn the bridge into a pedestrian and biking bridge that connects to the Allegheny Trail. The cost of demolishing the bridge would be $6-10 million, but the students estimated that the conversion costs would be around $300,000. A survey of Oakmont residents found that 70% of residents said they would use the converted bridge and 44% said they would help with its conversion.

The students’ plan appears to be the best alternative. But Penn DOT explains that funds are needed for lighting and snow removal as well as maintenance costs. Also, they would need to find an organization willing to be legally responsible for the structure.

YPA Counts Down the Top Ten: #5 134 Grant Avenue, Vandergrift

For the next several days, until May 21, YPA will count down its 2010 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities on its blog. On Friday, May 21, YPA will host a Historic Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green," at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration details are on YPA's website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org.

Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.

The sites featured on YPA's list come from six different counties and include industrial structures, Main Street commercial buildings, schools, a train station, and a bridge. Main Street features prominently in the list, with four of the Top Ten sites being situated in an existing Main Street commercial district. The remaining six sites are within blocks of an existing Main Street community.

The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:

1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);

2. Historic & Architectural Significance;

3. Threats to the Site;

4. Community Input; and

5. Feasibility of the Solution.

#5 134 Grant Avenue, Vandergrift

The building at 134 Grant Avenue in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, was constructed in 1900, just five years after the founding of the city. From 1903 to 1940 it was occupied by Shepler Co., a mercantile shop. From 1940 to 1956 it was an A&P grocery store, from 1956 to about 1980 it was occupied by J.C. Penny’s, and from 1980 to the late 1990’s it was occupied by the Vandergrift News offices. The Vandergrift Improvement Program (VIP) purchased the building in 2008 and it has remained vacant as they create plans for the building’s use.

The VIP would like to restore 134 Grant Avenue and utilize it as a community arts center with small business incubator space. The project to restore this structure and turn it into a community arts center with retail incubators has been broken into two phases. Phase I would involve repairs to the roof and general building systems, a restoration of the façade, and construction on the first floor. The first floor space will include the business incubators as well as the main art center area. Phase II would involve build-out in the basement, second floor mezzanine, and third floor.

Working with seed capital from PHLF and the Allegheny Foundation, the VIP has been working to approach foundations for funding and has been considering financial support from different members of the community.

YPA Counts Down the Top Ten: #6 Miles Bryan School, McKees Rocks

For the next several days, until May 21, YPA will count down its 2010 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities on its blog. On Friday, May 21, YPA will host a Historic Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green," at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration details are on YPA's website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org.

Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.

The sites featured on YPA's list come from six different counties and include industrial structures, Main Street commercial buildings, schools, a train station, and a bridge. Main Street features prominently in the list, with four of the Top Ten sites being situated in an existing Main Street commercial district. The remaining six sites are within blocks of an existing Main Street community.

The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:

1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);

2. Historic & Architectural Significance;

3. Threats to the Site;

4. Community Input; and

5. Feasibility of the Solution.

#6 Miles Bryan School, McKees Rocks

Miles Bryan was one of the early leaders of Frank Bryan, Inc. He is credited for his role in building the McKees Rocks Bridge in addition to this building, which was constructed in 1928.

When the McKees Rocks and Stowe school districts merged to form Sto-Rox in 1966, Miles Bryan became Sto-Rox Middle School and served in that function until its closing in 1997. The breadth of young people and talented professionals to pass through its doors and enjoy the splendor of its grounds spans several generations. Grandparents and grandchildren alike share fond memories of this magnificent place.

Since its closing in 1997, Miles Bryan has sat vacant. Sto-Rox Schools sold the building in 2000 to a team of private investors; however the development plans quickly fizzled, and they began shopping the property around for sale.

The McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation currently has this property under agreement and is pursuing a development partner to convert the building into mid-range residential loft condominium. The building is ideally suited for this end-use, as the classroom layout translates directly into well-sized condo units. MRCDC is already exploring the economic feasibility of this use with a regional developer at this time. The McKees Rocks Historical Society has made Miles Bryan one of its priority sites, and is honored to be one of YPA’s Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities.

YPA Counts Down the Top Ten: #7 Aaron's Building, Connellsville

For the next several days, until May 21, YPA will count down its 2010 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities on its blog. On Friday, May 21, YPA will host a Historic Preservation Month Celebration, "Old is the New Green," at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Registration details are on YPA's website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org.

Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.

The sites featured on YPA's list come from six different counties and include industrial structures, Main Street commercial buildings, schools, a train station, and a bridge. Main Street features prominently in the list, with four of the Top Ten sites being situated in an existing Main Street commercial district. The remaining six sites are within blocks of an existing Main Street community.

The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:

1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);

2. Historic & Architectural Significance;

3. Threats to the Site;

4. Community Input; and

5. Feasibility of the Solution.

#7 The Aaron’s Building, Connellsville

The Aaron’s Building is historically important for having once housed Connellsville’s greatest furniture retailer. The Aaron’s Furniture Store was founded in Connellsville by Myer Aaron, a Jewish immigrant merchant.

In a city where a considerable amount of historic building fabric has been lost or detrimentally altered, the Aaron Building is the last great remnant of a once thriving district of furniture retailers and, to a greater extent, a physical reminder of the once bustling commercial core of Connellsville. Among the tallest buildings in the city, the Aaron Building was one of several “skyscrapers” to be built at the opening of the 20^th century in Connellsville. It is among the last to remain.

The building has been abandoned since the 1970s and has suffered from neglect. Absentee ownership and unfinished construction work on the building in the mid-2000s has caused the building to deteriorate further. Its roof is in need of immediate repair and a wall facing a vacant lot on Pittsburgh Street needs to be stabilized.

The Aaron Building would be a tremendous opportunity for the beginnings of a revitalized Connellsville. The building would be an ideal location for a boutique hotel, a restaurant, apartments, offices, or any number of other ventures that can complement the Great Allegheny Passage Hike and Bike Trail.