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12 PHLF News February 2010 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH FARM & LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION Scaife and Allegheny Foundations Lead the Way: Wilkinsburg Revitalization Effort Gains Momentum The grassroots revitalization effort in Wilkinsburg that Landmarks became involved in six years ago is resulting in major accomplishments. A brief summary of Landmarks’ key work to date includes the following: • In 2004, Landmarks helped fund and publish the Wilkinsburg Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, unifying residents around the concept of using historic preservation to revitalize their community. Landmarks awarded a $68,000 Preservation Fund loan to the Black Vietnam Era Veterans and Historic Landmark plaques to the Jane Holmes Residence and Gardens and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Landmarks also awarded a Historic Religious Property grant to Mulberry Presbyterian Church. • In 2005, Landmarks and the Community Technical Assistance Center completed a survey of 1,200 parcels of land in Wilkinsburg showing that 70 percent of the structures could be rehabilitated. Landmarks awarded a $92,000 loan to Deliverance, Inc. to help acquire the former Penn-Lincoln Hotel. Landmarks also awarded Historic Religious Property grants to Mulberry Presbyterian Church and South Avenue United Methodist Church. In December, the Sarah Scaife Foundation awarded Landmarks a $500,000 grant for Phase One of the Hamnett Place Housing Restoration Program for 516, 522, and 524 Jeanette Street and 811 Holland Avenue. • In 2006, Allegheny County Economic Development committed $500,000 to Phase One of the Hamnett Place Housing Restoration Program and work began. Landmarks raised additional funds from members and friends to fund housing restoration costs and to purchase trees. Landmarks also awarded a $105,000 Preservation Loan to Strength, Inc. to complete façade work and rehabilitations on 700 Wood Street. In November, Landmarks purchased the Packard Building (see page 1). • In 2007, Landmarks awarded a Historic Religious Properties grant to Mt. Gilead Church (formerly Mulberry Presbyterian). Landmarks also identified the importance of renovating the abandoned Crescent apartments and the smaller Wilson apartment building and submitted a tax-credit application to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Although this first attempt was unsuccessful, Landmarks refined its application and resubmitted. At the request of Landmarks, students from CMU’s Heinz School of Public Policy and Management studied and developed strategies to address tax issues in Wilkinsburg. • In 2008, stakeholders in Wilkinsburg’s revitalization efforts came together for a ribbon-cutting event on June 27 to celebrate the completion of Phase One of the Hamnett Place Housing Restoration: 516 and 522 Jeanette Street and 811 Holland were all restored and owner-occupied; 524 Jeanette was finished and occupied by September. In April, Richard M. Scaife pledged a $500,000 gift from the Allegheny Foundation to Landmarks to support Phase Two of the Hamnett Place Housing Restoration Program. Landmarks awarded a technical assistance grant to Second United Presbyterian of Wilkinsburg. In December, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development approved a Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) application submitted by Landmarks Community Capital Corporation (LCCC), a nonprofit subsidiary of Landmarks. TriState Capital Bank contributed $200,000 to LCCC as the NPP corporate sponsor. • In 2009, TriState Capital Bank, the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (CDC), and LCCC partnered in the NPP. These efforts, plus all that was accomplished by residents and the Wilkinsburg CDC (formed in 2007), set the stage for the following good news that has occurred since the April 2009 issue of PHLF News. Neighborhood Partnership Program TriState Capital Bank Announces Six-Year Funding Commitment During a press conference on December 10, 2009, TriState Capital Bank President A. William (Bill) Schenck announced a $1.8 million grant over six years to help Wilkinsburg continue its Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP). Funds will be divided between the Wilkinsburg CDC and LCCC, and will be used to assist business district revitalization efforts as well as affordable housing programs, crime prevention, green initiatives, and youth engagement. TriState Capital’s commitment is conditioned upon the annual renewal of the NPP by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Jean’s Southern Cuisine Lights Façade Thanks to a $4,300 loan in 2009 from LCCC (through the Neighborhood Partnership Program), restaurant owner Jean Gould was able to complete lighting improvements on the façade of her building at 730 Penn Avenue. Landmarks’ neighborhood tour on September 11 (see page 24) will begin and end at Jean’s Southern Cuisine. According to Landmarks President Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr., the catfish dinner with braised cabbage is the best and most affordable anywhere. H.O.O.P.S.—A Summer Success LCCC brought new meaning to the word “hoops” by establishing a summer basketball camp, “H.O.O.P.S.”: Helping to Overcome Obstacles by Perseverance and Strength. Over 130 youth participated (ages 7–18) in the 2009 camp at Hunter Park, and Steelers Quarterback and LCCC Board Member Charlie Batch led the effort by sharing his “Project C.H.U.C.K.” camp model Jean’s Southern Cuisine, 730 Penn Avenue. Photo by B. Glenn Lewis©2010/glennlewisimages.com
HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News February 2010 13 and participating. LCCC launched this camp to support community-building efforts as part of the Neighborhood Partnership Program. Wilkinsburg H.O.O.P.S., led by community leader and Borough Council Member Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson, is working to continue the summer basketball camp in 2010. One worthy camper will receive a sportsmanship trophy, thanks to a gift from Landmarks member Russell W. Coe. Crescent & Wilson Receive State Financing In June 2009, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) approved Landmarks’ application for tax credits for the Crescent/Wilson Apartments, a 27-unit restoration of two historic structures in the Hamnett Place neighborhood. Landmarks will invest about $9 million over the next 14 months, The Wilson apartment building, at 506–08 Jeanette Street, will be renovated to include four units. Abandoned years ago, the Crescent apartments of 1904 (738 Rebecca Avenue) will be renovated to include 23 units with a mix of one, two, and three-bedrooms. All units will have a cap on rental rates so they are affordable. Photos by B. Glenn Lewis©2010/glennlewisimages.com. Renderings and site plan courtesy of LDA Architects. with funding to be provided in part by the PHFA, Allegheny County Economic Development, Allegheny County Supportive Services, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, and PNC Bank. The Crescent and Wilson apartments will also have a community room, a computer room, and wireless access throughout. On- and off-site social services will be provided by Hosanna House, Inc. Upon hearing the good news, Barbara Nicholas, development director of the Women’s Center and Shelter, said: “I thank Landmarks for stepping forward to revitalize and preserve the Hamnett Place neighborhood. As a resident of the community and as council representative for the ward, I would ask that you extend my expression of gratitude to all within your organization who have supported this venture. It has served to immediately increase the quality of life for residents and brings hope for a vital future.” Borough Manager Marla P. Marcinko added: “$9 million coming into Wilkinsburg is just incredible. This is truly a dream come true and will make a HUGE impact on the community.” Steelers Quarterback and LCCC Board Member Charlie Batch with Wilkinsburg H.O.O.P.S. participants in 2009. Phase Two Housing Restoration to Begin In January, Landmarks submitted an application to Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) for Phase Two of the Hamnett Place Housing Restoration Program, for up to three historic properties. ACED has committed $700,000 to the project. Work will begin later this year. Students from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Public Policy and Management helped Landmarks refine its restoration strategy for Phase Two. They presented their recommendations in November 2009. In addition to providing valuable marketing research on potential home buyers, the Heinz students advised Landmarks on various strategies for home restoration. “We are continuing our Phase One strategy of fully restoring each house,” said Michael Sriprasert, Landmarks’ director of real estate development. “In addition, we are working to develop a strategy for shell rehab. Our Housing Resource Center (see page 1) will provide people with the expertise they need to restore their house interior.” Penn-Lincoln Hotel Study Underway Landmarks is conducting a feasibility study of the former Penn-Lincoln Hotel in Wilkinsburg, under contract with Allegheny County Economic Development. The study is to be completed by July. “The purpose of the study is to determine the structural condition of the building, the probable cost of restoring it, The former Penn-Lincoln Hotel (1927), Penn Avenue and Center Street. Photo by Todd Tondera and an analysis of possible uses for it and their market support,” said Michael Sriprasert, Landmarks’ director of real estate development. The hotel was designed in 1926 by Janssen & Cocken and opened in 1927. Benno Janssen (1874-1964), who practiced between 1904 and 1938, was one of Pittsburgh’s most prominent architects. He was the principal designer with Janssen & Abbott (1906–19) and Janssen & Cocken (1922–39). His best-known buildings are the William Penn Hotel, the 1913 addition to Kaufmann’s Department Store, and the 1929 addition to the Duquesne Club—all downtown— and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, Twentieth Century Club (see page 24), and Mellon Institute—all in Oakland’s Civic Center. As the largest structure on Wilkinsburg’s main street, the Penn- Lincoln was a notable landmark on the Lincoln Highway (now Penn Avenue). It also catered to passengers using the Pennsylvania Railroad Station, still standing and also the subject of study. Visit us on the fourth floor of The Landmarks Building at Station Square. Please schedule an appointment in advance to use our libraries. Welcome New Trustees Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Mary A. Navarro Gladys Perez, MSPPM Cynthia A. Underwood Christy Criswell Wiegand Landmarks Financial Corporation Lara Washington Our Mission The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation was founded in 1964 by a group of citizens who passionately believed that historic preservation, rather than massive demolition, could be a tool for renewing communities, creating pride among residents, and stimulating the economy. Now recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative and effective nonprofit historic preservation organizations, Landmarks works to: • identify and save historicallysignificant places; • revitalize historic neighborhoods, towns, and urban areas; • preserve historic farms and historic designed landscapes; and • educate people about the Pittsburgh region’s rich architectural heritage. Landmarks includes two nonprofit subsidiaries, Landmarks Community Capital Corporation (LCCC) and Landmarks Financial Corporation (LFC). Landmarks also includes a for-profit subsidiary, Landmarks Development Corporation (LDC). Landmarks is chartered to work within 250 miles of Pittsburgh, PA, although its primary focus is on Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. For information contact: Mary Lu Denny 412-471-5808, ext. 527 marylu@phlf.org www.phlf.org
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