top ten report-final - young preservationists association

Celebrating Historic Treasures: Preservation Month 2011

PRESERVATION MONTH

MAY 2011

Celebrating Historic Treasures in Southwestern Pennsylvania

The Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area

WWW.YOUNGPRESERVATIONISTS.ORG

Including the

Michael Eversmeyer

Promise Award

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http://www.youngpreservationists.org



2010

Since 2004, YPA has been

celebrating historic treasures and

preservation opportunities in

southwestern Pennsylvania.

All contents © copyright 2011, Young Preservationists Association of PittsburghYPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

YPA’s mission is the participation of young people in the preservation of historic resources.

Website: http://www.youngpreservationists.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Preservationists-Association/19525613577?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ypaceo Blog: http://youngpreservationistsassociation.blogspot.com

Donate: http://pittsburghgives.org/nonprofits

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http://youngpreservationistsassociation.blogspot.com

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http://pittsburghgives.org/nonprofits

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2011 Board Members of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh

Board Officers

Jeff Woodard, Executive Director, Pennsylvania College Access Program and YPA Board Chair

Derric Ivan Heck, Propel Schools and YPA Vice Chair

Kevin Kunak, Architect, Renaissance 3 Architects and YPA Board Secretary

Rashan Walker, Project Manager, Manchester Citizens Corporation and YPA Board Treasurer

Charles Alcorn, Planner, Riverlife Task Force

Robert W. Chambers III, Business Development Representative, Massaro Corporation

Justin Gunther, Curator of Buildings and Collections, Fallingwater

Safiya Hodari, Project Director, Manchester Citizens Corporation

Giselle Leonardo, Esq., Giselle Leonardo P.A., Attorney; Civil Engineer, Arbitrator, Mediator

Sarah Rossbach, Consultant

Colin White, Master of Public Management Student, Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Public Policy

Todd Wilson, E.I.T., Traffic Engineer, AECOM, Inc.

Ken Wolfe, Legislative Assistant to Pennsylvania State Representative Jake Wheatley

YPA Staff: Dan Holland, MPM, YPA CEO

YPA Top Ten Scoring Committee 2011

Colin White, YPA Board Member and Chair, YPA Top Ten Committee and Chair ,YPA Preservation Month Celebration

Adrienne Briskey, YPA Volunteer

Jeremy S. Burnworth, Fayette County Historical Society and Member, YPA Advisory Committee

Matthew Cesare, YPA Member

John A. Martine, Architect, Strada and Board Member, Preservation Pennsylvania

Sylvia McCoy, Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tour and YPA Volunteer

Francine Morales, Pitt Student and YPA Intern

Lee Riccetti, Pitt Student and YPA Intern

Shelly Todd, Esq., YPA Advisory Committee

Jeff Woodard, PA College Access Program and YPA Board Chair


YPA Advisory Committee

Christopher Drew Armstrong, Professor, History of Art & Architecture, University of Pittsburgh

Terri Blanchette, Director of Community Programs, H. John Heinz History Center

Susan Brandt, Principal, Susan Brandt Urban Development

Eliza Smith Brown, Historic Preservation Consultant

Scott Brown, Vice President and Community Investment Manager, Citizens Bank

Walter Burlack, Regional Director, Student Conservation Association

Jeremy Burnworth, Fayette County Historical Society

Lu Donnelly, Architectural Historian

Kim Falk, Evaluation Specialist, Great Lakes Behavioral Research Institute

John Fetterman, Mayor, Borough of Braddock

Joe Flynn, Vice President, Community Development, Wesbanco

Larry Glasco, Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh

Linda Gwinn, Downtown Blairsville, Inc.

Tim Hadfield, Robert Morris University

Randy Harris, Historian

Alex Hershey, Attorney, Thorp Reed & Armstrong

James Hill, Investment Manager, Luttner Financial

Harry Johnson, Chief of Staff to Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle

David Kahley, President and CEO, The Progress Fund

Carl Knoblock, Pittsburgh District Director, Small Business Administration

David Lewis, Founder, Urban Design Associates, Architects and Professor Emeritus, Carnegie Mellon University

Stanley Lowe, Pittsburgh Neighborhood Preservation Services

Kelly Lyons, Director, K-12 Outreach, Department of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University

Everett McElveen, President and CEO, Life’s Work of Western Pennsylvania

Devon McSorley, Public Relations and Communications Consultant

Tracy Montarti, Owner, In the Loop, Inc.

Jerry Morosco, AIA, Gerald Lee Morosco Architects, PC

Mara Dowdy, Program Development Coordinator, Town Center Associates

Rob Ruck, Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh

Norma Ryan, Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation

Doug Skowron, Real Estate Developer, Pittsburgh Gateways

John Stephen, Executive Director, Allegheny River Towns Enterprise Zone

William E. Strickland, President and CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation

Shelly Todd, Esq., Mooncrest Neighborhood Association

Althea Worthy, Historic Preservationist


When we first started YPA in 2002, Pittsburgh was a bleak place.

Derided as a “pit for singles” and a “bleak job outlook,” the city was reeling from decades of demographic

losses, underutilized properties and vacant land, and a negative image we

just couldn’t shake.

All that has changed in the nine years since YPA first coined the

term, “Give Life to History.”

YPA has

involved more than 4,500

people in its programs and activities.

We have published more

than 21 unique publications, seen more than

140 media articles, involved

30 interns and volunteers, and raised more than $1.2 million in direct and indirect

contributions to help young people give life to history.

Last year, YPA reported that more than $80 million has been invested in historic properties that have appeared

on our Top Ten List. That has created more than 1,200 jobs, 230 housing

units, and generated more than $750,000 in local taxes.

But the numbers tell only part of the

story.YPA has made a difference in the

lives of young people. Every single one of the high school students we have worked with has either advanced

to the next level or gone to college. The college interns we have worked

with graduated and have jobs. And the young professionals we have involved have a new perspective on

this amazing city and region.

For instance, Drew Armstrong, a film student who developed a video

about the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange, helped secure its designation as a city historic

landmark. The Paramount is

now being restored.City High

grad and YPA intern Noel

Jenkins helped secure a new

historical marker at a

historic house in Homewood.

Colleen Schmidt

of Cal U. spent a year with YPA as an intern, assisting with the first-annual

Preserve Pittsburgh Summit, an interactive workshop on historic preservation. The Summit is now in its

third year.And Students at Propel Andrew

Street High School and Peabody High School became published authors through YPA’s Youth Main Street

Advisors Program. This year’s Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award

goes to the Peabody students.These are just some of the ways

that YPA involves young people to

shape a better future for historic buildings and give life to history.

Youth Driving Change

YPA has made a difference in the

lives of young people

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Students pen a historicsl look at HomesteadBookfeatures poems,photos, essaJfs

By Dana Vogelr PittsburghPost-Gazette

:Thanks to the Young Preser-v4tionists Association - a non-profit organization that encour-ages the participation ofyoungpeople in historic preservation- the history of Homestead hascome alive for a group of PropelAndrew Street High School stu-dents.

The association's YouthMain Street Advisers Programand seven students from Pro-pel Andrew Street held a booksigninglast Thursday in Home-stead to launch their new book,"Take a Walk From the Pastto the Future of Eighth Ave-nue," published by Red EnginePress;

The book was the result ofa year-long project to betterunderstand Homestead's his-toric commercial district andto envision a new future.

"Take a Walk From the Past

to the Future ofEighth Avenue,"which is divided into threeparts representing the past,present and future of EighthAvenue, features essays, poemsand interviews by the students.

The book also includes pho-tographs of the neighborhoodfrom the past and present.

Dan Holland, CEO of theyouth group, explained theidea for a book came from a

desire to do something enduring than wanted something feel, touch," he said.

Studentauthors PropelAndrewStreet School copies book authoredaboutHomestead'sEighth at Front From Crystal Mal ikQuaSalter, Johnson,Janiece and Johnson.

Bob Donaldson,/Post-Gazette

sEE BOOKS,

This year’s Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award goes to students at Peabody High School, who have worked diligently to write a book about their school and their community. This is Peabody’s

last year before it closes. YPA is grateful to the teachers at Peabody, SLB Radio (which hosted two interview workshops);

Joyce Faulkner at Red Engine Press; and the numerous individuals who made this project a success.

The 2011 Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award: Peabody High School

Named for longtime Pittsburgh preservationist and architect, Michael Eversmeyer, the “Promise Award” is YPA’s premiere award for recognizing emerging leadership in the field of historic preservation. Young people are our region’s future, and this award highlights those who make a difference in our communities.

Students:Malik BarberJustin BonnerJ'mal ChristmasDai'Ron DrakeDennis GloverPonderee JonesTeauthay LittletonEric Walker

Teachers:Cynthia AlbrechtKristen Pancio, AmeriCorpsPriscilla KellyMelissa Friez, Principal

Photo by Melody Farrin

Downtown Waynesburg, Greene County

YPA’s Number One Preservation Opportunity for 2011

2011 Top TenBest Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area

Waynesburg sits atop this year’s annual Top Ten List for a number of reasons, not least of which is the mounting threat to the Main Street’s historic fabric.

The photo below, of the Colonial Building, was taken in 2005. It shows an in-tact historic Main Street ripe for investment and renewal. However, not everyone sees it that way.

The Colonial was demolished in

early 2011. Fortunately, however, the initiative for revitalization of historic structures is coming from individual property owners who are encouraged by the promise of economic growth from the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry and the newly completed streetscape project that brought new sidewalks, trees and underground utilities. The larger preservation community is offering expert

assistance to Waynesburg Borough, encouraging the development of a comprehensive business plan for downtown revitalization that utilizes and protects the historic assets. Downtown property owners will continue to lobby county officials for fast track development of programs so that private equity investment in downtown buildings can be attracted and retained.

#1. Waynesburg Main Street, Greene County

YPA’s Top Ten List 2011

2. Grand Theatre, Elizabeth Borough, Allegheny County

3. Highland Building, East Liberty 4. Old Masons Building, Uniontown, Fayette County

5. Hipwell Building, Allegheny West 6. Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Forest Hills, Allegheny County

7. Stables Building, Allegheny West

8. Wigman House, Carrick 9. Saints Peter and Paul Church, East Liberty

10. Connellsville Armory, Connellsville, Fayette County

2. Grand Theatre, Elizabeth Borough (Historic American Theatres)

Elizabeth Borough’s Grand Theatre was built in 1902 as a Vaudville house. Closed in the 1970s, the Kolodziej family purchased the property in 1997 and spent three years restoring it back to its original use—a venue for live entertainment, film, and community events. The owners continue to work diligently at making this community space available for a variety of events and community gatherings, and volunteer their time and their venue to a number of activities in the borough.

3. Highland Building, East Liberty (Historic Commercial Structures)

Designed by Daniel Burnham and Co. and developed by Henry Clay Frick in 1909-10, the Highland Building (vacant for years) has soared over East Liberty as a symbol of untapped potential. The URA recently approved plans to redevelop the building into 130 one-bedroom and two-bedroom market rate loft apartments. A redeveloped Highland Building will contribute to the powerful development driving East Liberty’s renaissance.

4. Old Masons Building/Peachin Building, Uniontown, Fayette County (Historic Commercial Structures)

Constructed in downtown Uniontown in 1900, this building is one of the oldest buildings in Uniontown’s Historic District. Originally a bank, it was also the first Masonic Lodge in Uniontown and commandery for their Knights Templar sect. Vacant since 2005, a new arts nonprofit called the Uniontown Arts Fellowship has expressed interest in

the property for rehabilitation as a community arts center with studios, a theater, rental space, coffee shop, gallery and arts/crafts gift shop. The FayPen Economic Council and Main Street Programs have also looked at the building to consider for preservation opportunities.

5. Hipwell Building, Allegheny West (Vernacular Industrial Architecture)

Built in 1901, Hipwell Manufacturing, located in Allegheny West, added to the industrial and innovative nature of the increasingly prosperous city as a producer of sheet metal, brass products, and mirrors, in addition to lighting products. Closed since 2005, Mitchell Schwartz and Elaine Stone purchased the Hipwell Property in December 2010 with the intention of adaptively reusing the property as the home of their audio-visual company SMARTSolution Technologies and eleven new apartments and eight condos, in accordance with the Allegheny West Civic Council’s master plan for the area.

6. Westinghouse Atom Smasher (The Nuclear Age) The "Atom Smasher" was the nation’s first industrial Van de Graaff generator, built by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company in 1937, in an effort to conduct research into nuclear physics and remained in use until 1958. Long since vacant, development could proceed around the site, but the preservation of the dome is of paramount significance. It could be possible for the property’s owner, Viacom, to dedicate some resources toward restoring the dome as a testament to Pittsburgh’s role as a leader in technological research and development.


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7. Stables Building, Allegheny West (Historic Municipal Architecture)

Built in 1895, this building housed city-owned draught horses, which were used for public works projects. It is one of the last surviving examples of municipal architecture from the City of Allegheny, before it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. A city-designated historic landmark, it was recently stabilized. The plan is to sell it or partner with a developer who will rehab it into residential lofts or apartments with interior parking, consistent with Allegheny West’s Historic District master plan.

8. Wigman House, Carrick (Historic Houses)

Known as the “Crown Jewel” of Carrick, the Wigman House was built in 1888 by the namesake of the Wigman Lumber Company on the city’s South Side. The Wigman House is the last remaining mansion of Carrick’s Millionaire’s Row. Threatened with demolition for a parking lot, the structure is working its way through the designation process as a city historic landmark. The Carrick-Overbrook Historical Society is interested in preserving this gem.

9. Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, East Liberty (Historic Religious Properties)

Constructed in 1890-91 by architect Adolphus Druiding, and partially rebuilt in 1909 by architect John Theodore Comes, Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church is a

prominent landmark in East Liberty. In 1997, ownership of Saints Peter and Paul Church was transferred to the Everlasting Covenant Church, an organization based in Lagrangeville, New York. Minor repairs have been made and the placement of a new roof has secured the building temporarily from further deterioration, but a concrete plan for restoration and reuse is still desperately needed if the church is to remain an architectural anchor in Pittsburgh’s East End.

10. Connellsville Armory, City of Connellsville, Fayette County (Historic Municipal Architecture) The Connellsville Armory was designed by the W.G. Wilkins Company of Pittsburgh and built by Mark Hurst in 1907. The Armory was created for Company D, 10th Regiment of Pennsylvania National Guard. Vacant since 2006, the building likely has interior deterioration and possible water damage. In 2008, a feasibility study was performed on the Connellsville Armory that proposes to use the site as an assembly area for meetings or banquets on the main floor. The second floor would be used for a small meeting area with a possible overlook to the first floor.

Help YPA make these Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities become a success through an investment of time and resources, and help YPA continue to involve young people in historic preservation through your support of our organization.


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110 E. 8th AvenueHomestead, PA 15120

top ten report-final - young preservationists association

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