Preservation & Cultural Assets Planks

Preservation Pittsburgh

Introduction

The Master Planning plank should be the umbrella for the following preservation and community design planks. Preservation is not an isolated activity focused on single buildings; rather it is part of the broader goal of reconstruction the fabric of the hill socially and physically. Social and economic justice initiatives around the country have incorporated design, preservation and sustainability (green building and planning) in an integrated and comprehensive manner. This plank aims to not only support the essential characteristics as anchors for new development that supports the other planks such as affordable housing, employment and social services.

1. Neighborhood Planning & Design Review Plank

The purpose of this plank is to commitment by the City and SEA to an extensive, integrated design process across all built environment disciplines: preservation, architecture, urban design, transportation, housing, infrastructure and environmental remediation.

Create a Neighborhood Planning & Design Review Process similar in structure to other neighborhoods such as Southside and Baum Centre, that endorses/critiques development proposals prior to Planning Commission approval. The process will serve for at least as long as the new and old arena sites are under redevelopment. 

Resources: 10 years x $50,000 per year for Staff, overhead and support costs. This could be coordinated with and supplemented by other planning and volunteer support from outside organizational resource.

Hill District & Uptown Cultural Assets Plank

Funding of the Historic Hill Initiative already in development, including part-time staffing (possibly coordinated with planning plank staffing) for ongoing monitoring of the historical and cultural assets in the Hill, web development & maintenance, and a cultural tourism subplank. Funding could leverage other resources (state preservation funding, etc.). Key parts of the plank are to bridge gaps in financing of capital projects, including but not limited to:

• New Granada Theatre: fill whatever funding gap that ensues, as determined by New Granada Committee, up to $5 million. (This figure should be verified with the New Granada Committee)
• August Wilson House. $500k for capital redevelopment/preservation reuse. Full Historic Structures Report is in need of funding as well as capital costs that could be tied to employment training in historic preservation trades.
• Crawford Grill: $300k. The purchase price presents an obstacle to reopening the business. Provide gap financing or other mechanism to leverage maximum advantage for the building and surrounding neighborhood.

All three structures could leverage historic and green design incentive funding sources if structured properly.

Conservation/Preservation Incentive Plank

Create a Conservation District in targeted areas of the Hill to encourage commercial, civic and residential real estate ownership in Hill and Uptown.

• Historic preservation residential and small business real estate incentives in targeted areas: rehab tax credits, forgivable loans/grants, revolving loan funds, etc., with owner-occupancy requirement.
• Job skills training for preservation trades: skills can be applied to their own home, skills marketable in region. Model programs after successful programs in other cities such as Boston’s

Resources: $500,000 revolving fund for incentives. Job Skills allowance: $100,000.

Civic Arena Reuse Plank:  Feasibility Study for the sustainable reuse of the historic Civic (Mellon) Arena

As a national register structure, the repurposing of the arena as a unique asset and neighborhood/regional destination civic space could jump start high quality development and provide needed public open space and associated business opportunities. The study would be accomplished in full coordination with the community vision and master plan processes. This plank would provide the resources devoted to an independent neighborhood oriented study of the technical and financial viability of alternative uses of the Civic Arena as a civic space. Sustainability would be a key feature from economic, environmental and social perspectives.

Resources: $50k-75k for the study to be conducted in conjunction with master planning planks.

Streetscapes & Facades Plank

Streetscape and façade improvements in EXISTING middle hill and uptown neighborhood streets (INCLUDING residential!), in coordination with and in balance to new streetscapes in lower Hill. Sidewalk improvements, lighting, street trees and underground utilities where technically feasible.

Resources: Duquesne Light/City of Pittsburgh/URA/State infrastructure funds to be supplemented to provide public realm/streetscapes similar in emphasis to the Elm Street Program. Up to $1 million