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Protecting the Places that Make Pittsburgh Home Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Nonprofit Org. 100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450 U. S. Postage Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134 PAID www.phlf.org Pittsburgh, PA Address Service Requested Permit No. 598 PPublishedH for the membersL of the FPittsburgh HistoryN & Landmarksews Foundation No. 167 September 2004 In this issue: 4 Our Work: Recent Progress 10 Inspirational Lectures, Tours, and Conferences 14 Researching Regional Architects 16 A Day I Recommend 20 Event Preview: September – November As a result of Landmarks’ Historic Farm Preservation program, the Tooke farm was protected by a preservation easement that restricted alterations to the 1835 farmhouse and prohibited commercial development on the 64-acre farm in Gibsonia. When Landmarks put the farm up for sale in 2001, William Versaw purchased the property and restored the farmhouse, shown here in before and after photographs (below and above). Using Innovative Strategies Landmarks Saves More Than 1,300 Acres of Historic Farms and 10 Structures hen Lucille Tooke • Partnered with South Fayette Despite these successes, it was disap- Wgave her farm to a Township to explore a “Smart pointing to identify at least 20 other charitable remainder trust Growth” plan that could become architecturally significant Allegheny to benefit Landmarks in a model for adapting land and County and Western Pennsylvania farms late 2000, she had no idea historic farm structures into a that we could not pursue due to limited that her gift would lead to development plan that conserves resources. It is our hope that our results the creation of our Historic the land and also farming; during the past three years will encour- Farm Preservation Program • Obtained a precedent-setting legal age other foundations to allocate funds and motivate a local foun- ruling that opened the door for to initiate a second phase of this project. dation to make a major Landmarks to assume a mortgage grant that helped us pre- when commercial lenders refuse to serve four additional farms subordinate their note to our Impact of Landmarks’ Historic with historic buildings, and preservation easement; Farm Preservation Program: more than 1,300 acres of Tooke farmhouse of 1835 before its restoration in 2002. Leveraged Results for Five Farms farmland. • Provided The Allegheny Land Trust with a grant to underwrite Landmarks believed 6000 $600,000 to that total and achieved the closing costs on the purchase of a that, like Mrs. Tooke, many local farm- Value of following results: 212-acre parcel of land that was property $5869 Thousands in Dollars ers were concerned about rising taxes saved 5000 and urban sprawl, factors that have • Used bargain sale and gift strategies once part of several adjoining historic farms in Monongahela, Pa., played a significant role in the loss of to leverage the $1.1 million to 4000 nearly half of Allegheny County’s farms protect numerous historic structures bordering the river; between 1982 and 2002. For multi- and accompanying land valued at • Made available to Allegheny 3000 generational family farmers, we believed nearly $6 million; County $15,000 for a revolving that planned gifts and preservation • Preserved 1,378 acres of farmland loan fund to cover reimbursable 2000 easements provided an alternative to appraisal expenses for farmers who and five farms, three of which Grant PHLF selling historic farms to the highest apply for the Agricultural Land money contribution 1000 are listed on, or eligible for listing received bidder, usually a commercial developer. on, the National Register of Preservation Program of the $500 $600 The Richard King Mellon Foundation Historic Places; Commonwealth; and granted $500,000 to us to find out if • Returned a 20-parcel subdivision • Generated significant publicity we were correct. By the close of 2003, next to one of those farms to a that notified farmers that they Landmarks had added another single parcel; have choices beyond commercial development. (continued on page 2) Page 2 PHLF News • September 2004 First Phase of Landmarks’ Historic Farm Preservation Program Is Successfully Completed (continued from page 1) VAN KIRK FARM: A precedent-setting opinion by the Duquesne University Law School Clinic laid the groundwork for Landmarks assuming a mortgage on Jim and Dorothy Wycoff’s farmhouse in order to purchase a preservation easement on the 71-acre National Register-listed farm at 337 Round Hill Road, Elizabeth, Pa., Allegheny County. The Van Kirk farm once boarded horses for the Lewis & Clark Expedition. The Van Kirks were Jim and Dorothy Wycoff’s ancestors. SEVERED PROPERTY RETURNED TO WYCKOFF FARM: In one of its more complicated deals, Landmarks paid fair market value to purchase 54 acres of land off Rothey Drive in Elizabeth, Pa., Allegheny County, that had already been subdivided for residential development (far right). The site adjoined a 214-acre farm eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Once this was purchased, Landmarks undid the subdivision and the adjacent farm owner accepted the land as payment for a preservation easement, ending further encroachment threats (above), thereby protecting a total of 268 acres. WYCKOFF FARM: Sara Wyckoff honored her late mother Helen’s wish and worked with Landmarks to negotiate a preservation ease- ment for the 214-acre farm at 201 Park Avenue, Elizabeth, Pa., that had been settled by her family in the mid 1700s. Included are an historic house (far left), barn, springhouse (left), shed, and cottage now serving as an office. O’SHEA/HAUSEN FARM: Located in Westmoreland County at the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains near several ski resorts, the O’Shea/Hausen farm can trace its roots to the early 1800s, when tanning and ironmaking were occupations second only to farming. Commercial development remains a threat to many historic and architecturally significant farms in Western Pennsylvania. The 62-acre O’Shea/Hausen farm also is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. PHLF News • September 2004 Page 3 Status of Historic Preservation Legislation In Memoriam Gregory T. H. Davies as Summer Recess Begins (1946-2004) Kevin Gray, Intern Greg Davies, an extraordinary man and trustee of Landmarks, died at his On May 4, Landmarks joined the the power of 4(f) is being questioned. across Pennsylvania. The Elm Street Mt. Washington home on July 21, Urban Redevelopment Authority and 4(f) provides historic resources with the program will compliment areas included of complications from a malignant the Downtown Living Initiative in strongest protection against highway in the Governor’s Main Street, or brain tumor that had been diagnosed sponsoring a bus trip to Harrisburg to transportation projects. It provides the downtown revitalization, program. in mid-March. The former Wabtec lobby for Pennsylvania Historic Tax funding for resource reviews, and calls The idea is that businesses in com- president and CEO had previously Credits. “Pennsylvania loses hundreds for extensive planning, the mandatory mercial areas will have more success of millions of dollars in investment search for feasible alternatives, and if the residential communities around run divisions of Fortune 500 compa- annually,” said Julie DeSeyn, senior public participation when deciding on those districts are restored. The nies such as Danaher Corporation, project development specialist for the such projects. In an effort to “stream- $5 million grant program will allow Ford Motor, and Cummins Engine. URA, “by not fully capitalizing on line” highway construction, there has neighborhoods to restore the appear- historic rehabilitation as a means of been a call for reauthorization of this ance of dilapidated housing while Born in London, England, and economic growth.” bill to lessen the impact of 4(f). cleaning and repairing streetscapes, educated in the United States and Twenty-five preservation advocates Thanks to the efforts of The National sidewalks, and lighting. Elm Street will England, Greg accomplished much from Pittsburgh met with the sponsors Trust for Historic Preservation and help to cover administrative costs, in his 57-year-life. He was devoted of Senate Bill 820 and House Bills 951 other preservation groups, the Senate including the hiring of a manager to to his family, to his work, and, and 952: including Senators Jay Costa, version, passed on February 12, clearly oversee each project. The community according to his brother Richard, Jim Ferlo, Allen Kukovich, Sean upheld 4(f)’s power, while exploring itself will be responsible for leveraging a Logan, Barry Stout, Jack Wagner, and other ways to expedite the development certain amount of public and private “to the mission of making things Representatives Dan Frankel and Tom process. monetary contributions as well as better.” Tangretti. The House version of the bill, passed recruiting volunteers to get the work Here we highlight the status of on April 13, follows suit, but with some done. Elm Street will follow the same When he and his wife Jamini several preservation legislation issues distinct differences. The House bill model as the already successful Main arrived in Pittsburgh in 1998, they that have involved staff time and effort neglects the provision of 4(f), which Street program. For information on purchased an old house on Sycamore this year. provides for written consent, as well program eligibility go to Street overlooking the city, and reno- as direct public participation during www.inventpa.com. vated it and created an outstanding State Historic Tax Credits project reviews. Although both bills hillside garden. “Even though Greg support the “no adverse effect” termi- The Give and Take Pennsylvania has proposed a two-part and Jamini had lived in and traveled nology, the House bill’s definition of historic preservation tax credit bill In January, President Bush presented his to many places throughout the the phrase has been questioned. focused on economic development and FY’05 budget.