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 Renewing Communities; Building Pride PPublishedH for the membersL ofF the Pittsburgh N History &ews Landmarks Foundation No. 184 February 2020 In This Issue 2 Spotlighting Our Work Downtown 4 Lending Exceeds $1.8 Million 12 In Good Hands: Educating the Next Generation 20 Dining Out in Storied Spaces 24 A Tribute to Albert M. Tannler Manchester 1515 Bidwell Street This year, LDC is renovating 1515 Bidwell Townhomes Street (above and below) as an affordable, single-family home. The sidewall of the Restored for two-story, red-brick building had begun to collapse when LDC purchased it in 2018. The building was stabilized in 2019, and Affordable Milton Ogot and CitySTUDIO completed construction drawings in January 2020. Housing 1515 Bidwell anchors the corner of a modest block of rowhouses in Manchester. 1403–1405 Pennsylvania Avenue According to the City Directory of 1874–1875, Thomas R. Herd lived at what is now 1405 Pennsylvania Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood. The directory noted that he worked for a “cracker bakery.” John McClurg, who lived next door at what is now 1403 Pennsylvania Avenue, Built c. 1874, the townhomes are set back from Pennsylvania Avenue (top) and from Stedman was employed by the James McClurg & Street (above), providing space for front and back yards; the back yards have gravel parking pads. Co., Cracker Bakers and Confectioners in Allegheny City, now Pittsburgh’s are fully restored and were available for LDC hired Milton Ogot, architect, Pennsylvania Avenue.” North Side. sale for $250,000 each, at the time of who teamed up with CitySTUDIO Both townhomes have three bedrooms More than 140 years later and after publication. “Buyers must meet certain and HNMS, Inc., a general contractor. and 2 1/2 bathrooms, including a master nearly two years of labor-intensive income requirements,” said David They addressed structural issues caused suite on the second floor, ample closet work, 1403–1405 Pennsylvania Avenue Farkas, PHLF’s director of real estate by foundation settlement, rebuilt three space, and an open-concept third floor. development, “because our goal here of the four exterior walls, installed Both include central air conditioning, is to provide affordable housing in forty-two new windows, and fully new mechanical systems and utilities, Manchester at a time when property modernized the two townhome interiors, hardwood floors, ten-foot ceilings, an values are rising.” among many other improvements. open-concept kitchen and dining area, Landmarks Development Corporation “Funding from TriState Capital first-floor powder room, and second- (LDC), a for-profit real-estate subsidiary Bank, through a Neighborhood floor laundry facilities. of PHLF, acquired 1403–1405 Pennsyl- Partnership Program, and from many They are located within walking vania Avenue in 2017. The three-story, other donors enabled PHLF and LDC to distance of Heinz Field and PNC Park, red-brick buildings had been vacant save these buildings from demolition,” the Western Avenue business district, for years and had deteriorated badly. said Michael Sriprasert, president of Allegheny Commons, and many attrac- LDC and vice president of PHLF. tions, including the Carnegie Science From left: Ryan England of CitySTUDIO, “Tom Keffer, our director of construction, Center, Mattress Factory, and Children’s Eric Roberson of HNMS, Inc., Milton Ogot, led the restoration effort, and we are Museum of Pittsburgh. The commute architect, and Tom Keffer, PHLF’s director of extremely pleased with the results. to Downtown is five minutes. “Whoever construction, celebrated during the opening These townhomes now hold their own buys these homes will be fortunate reception for PHLF members and friends on among the impressive homes on indeed,” said Michael. Tuesday, November 5, 2019. 2 PHLF News February 2020 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News February 2020 3 Through the place, we renew PHLF Trustees the spirit of the people. Jack Norris, Chair Historic preservation Kevin P. Allen, Vice Chair can be the underlying basis David M. Brashear, Vice Chair of community renewal, Verna Corey, Sc.D. human renewal, Selene L. Davis, Secretary and economic renewal. Vincent J. Delie, Jr. 400 Block, Wood Street, Leroy Dillard Preservation is not some isolated with the façade of Peter George C. Dorman cultural benefit. Lawrence lighted at night. We are raising funds this Larry Dunn, Treasurer —Arthur Ziegler, PHLF President year to light the adjacent Kezia L. Ellison façade of Boutique La Laurence Glasco Passerelle. Leon E. Haynes III PHLF’s Mission Sy Holzer The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks David A. Kleer, Vice Chair Foundation (PHLF) works within Valerie McDonald Roberts, Vice Chair a 250-mile radius of Pittsburgh, Corbin P. Miller Pennsylvania, to identify and save Mary A. Navarro historically significant places; renew Genevieve Oduor historic neighborhoods, towns, and urban areas; preserve historic farms Mary Beth Pastorius Heinz Healey’s, 160 Fifth Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh and historic designed landscapes; and Jack B. Piatt educate people about the Pittsburgh Curtiss Porter, Ph.D. region’s rich architectural heritage. Matthew A. Sanfilippo J. T. Thomas PHLF . Cynthia Pearson Turich Spotlighting Our Work Downtown: Todd Wilson • is governed by a board of twenty-five community leaders (see page 3); Subsidiary Boards • has had a balanced budget in each year An Inside Look at of operation since its founding in 1964; Landmarks Community • provides leadership and assistance to Historic Buildings Capital Corporation (LCCC) local, state, national, and international Harold Blye, Chair organizations; on Market Street, Deborah A. Blackwell-Battle • provides financing and technical Scott L. Brown assistance through a non-profit Josie Bryant subsidiary, Landmarks Community Fifth Avenue, and Jennifer Cash Wade, Treasurer Capital Corporation (LCCC), a certified Community Development Wood Street Elisa J. Cavalier Financial Institution (CDFI); and Kasey Connors, Secretary PHLF and its for-profit subsidiary, Landmarks Development Joseph DiMenno, Vice Chair • develops real estate and provides Corporation (LDC), have invested nearly $17 million in consulting services through a for-profit Jim Ferlo downtown renewal efforts since 2007, when we acquired subsidiary, The Landmarks Development The coffee shop (above) occupies the front of the Market St. Boutique La Passerelle, 417 Wood Street Peter Lawrence, 413 Wood Street Bill Griffin three badly deteriorated buildings on Market Street and Fifth Grocery at 435 Market Street. The Wine Bar is located in the back Joseph A. Hardy III Corporation (LDC), and through Avenue from the Urban Redevelopment Authority for $275,000. various real-estate limited partnerships. of the Market and is also accessible via the Graeme Street entrance. provided for lunch, and into the third • the restoration of eight more façades • was instrumental in the successful Thomas W. McCargo We reconfigured the interior spaces to function as one building The Market has expanded into the second floor (below) and third floor, where special events are held. on Wood Street and Fifth Avenue nomination of five National Register Morton D. Stanfield, Jr. with seven upper-floor market-rate apartments and two first-floor floor of the former Thompson’s Building. A brisk business continues as usual between 2012 and 2015, thanks Districts: Penn-Liberty; Pittsburgh Dianne Swan, Vice Chair commercial spaces. on the first floor, in the midst of some to funding provided by the state’s Central Downtown; Fourth Avenue; Doris Carson Williams “Market at Fifth” opened in 2009 and successfully used remodeling this year. Redevelopment Assistance Capital Firstside; and Pittsburgh Renaissance the federal rehabilitation tax credit and received LEED-Gold Our total investment in Downtown Program, under contract and Historic District; and certification. Heinz Healey’s (men’s retail) and Nettleton Shop The Landmarks Financial Pittsburgh also includes: in partnership with the Urban • has awarded matching grants to are prospering. Visit the stores to see the handsome interior Corporation (LFC) • the recent acquisition and renovation Redevelopment Authority. several historic religious properties. spaces and quality merchandise. All seven apartments have of four historic buildings on Wood William Hart, Chair In addition, PHLF: Landmarks Community Capital been well occupied, although a two-story penthouse apartment Street. Two of the buildings house Adam B. Embry • holds easements (see page 6) on six Corporation, PHLF’s non-profit lending was available at the time of publication. Contact David Farkas, women’s retail––Boutique La Passerelle Diana Froats buildings in Downtown Pittsburgh subsidiary, has extended loans to several PHLF’s director of real estate development, for details: (open since 2010) and Peter Lawrence Ben Garber (900 Penn Avenue, Buhl Building, developers in Downtown Pittsburgh. [email protected]; 412-471-5808, ext. 516. (open since 2018). Two more (420–422 Dr. Lloyd G. Gibson Burke’s Building, The Carlyle, “Through our preservation efforts, In 2008, PHLF purchased a fourth historic building, originally Wood Street) provide 1,900