Local Historic Designations

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City of Pittsburgh Historic Designation

A City Historic Designation may be given to districts or individual buildings within the Pittsburgh city limits that are significant for architectural or historical reasons. Civic groups or individuals can prepare a nomination for submission to the Historic Review Commission (HRC). The HRC and the City Planning Commission review the nomination and pass on their recommendations to City Council. Public hearings by both the HRC and City Council are part of the process of reviewing historic nominations. City Council makes the final decision about all historic nominations.

City Historic Designation establishes a regulatory process for the review of the exterior appearance of all buildings that are designated (either individually or as part of a district). If a City Historic Designation is awarded by City Council, the HRC (directly or through its staff) must review all visible exterior alterations, including demolition, new construction, and additions. The HRC’s jurisdiction does not include parts of buildings that can not be seen from a public street or way, not does it include building interiors, or the use of properties. The HRC will review only those changes that an owner proposes to make to a building.

At present (2010), there are 13 City Historic Districts: Allegheny West, Alpha Terrace, Deutschtown, East Carson Street, Manchester, Market Square, Mexican War Streets, Murray Hill Avenue, Oakland Civic Center, Oakland Square, Penn-Liberty District, and Schenley Farms.  There are also 86 individually-designated structures in the city.

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There are also Borough Historic Preservation Ordinances in Homestead, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights.

Aberlie House
122-124 East North Avenue
Designated on February 13, 2001

Allegheny Arsenal
Penn Avenue at 40th Street
Designated on February 22, 1977

Allegheny County Courthouse
436 Grant Street
Designated on December 26, 1972

Allegheny County Jail
400 block Ross Street
Designated on December 26, 1972

Allegheny Library
Allegheny Center
Designated on March 15, 1974

Allegheny Middle School (formerly Allegheny High School)
810 Arch Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

1318 Arch Street (formerly George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. House)
Designated on June 28, 2001

Arsenal Middle School (formerly Arsenal Junior High School)
3901 Butler Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Beltzhoover Elementary School
320 Cedarhurst Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Stanley Theater)
207 Seventh Street
[Included in Penn-Liberty City Designated Historic District]
Designated on November 20, 1984

Byers-Lyons House (currently Byers Hall of the Community College of Allegheny County)
808 Ridge Avenue
[Included in Allegheny West City Designated Historic District]
Designated on March 15, 1974

Calvary United Methodist Church
Allegheny Avenue at Beech Avenue
[Included in Allegheny West City Designated Historic District]
Designated on February 22, 1977

Cathedral of Learning – University of Pittsburgh
4200 Fifth Avenue
[Included in Oakland Civic Center City Designated Historic District]
Designated on February 22, 1977

2621 Centre Avenue – The YMCA Building
Designated on August 8, 1995

Pittsburgh Children’s Museum (formerly the Allegheny Post Office)
10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Center
Designated on December 26, 1972

Colfax Elementary School
2332 Beechwood Boulevard
Designated on November 30, 1999

Concord Elementary School
2340 Brownsville Road
Designated on November 30, 1999

David P. Oliver High School
2323 Brighton Road
Designated on November 30, 1999

Dilworth Traditional Academy (formerly Dilworth Elementary School)
6200 Stanton Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999

Dower’s Tavern (formerly Beck’s Run School)
1000 Beck’s Run Road
Designated on September 28, 1987

Emmanuel Episcopal Church
957 West North Avenue
[Included in Allegheny West City Designated Historic District]
Designated on February 22, 1977

Engine Company No. 1 and No. 30
344 Boulevard of the Allies
Designated on March 17, 1993

Engine Company No. 3
1416 Arch Street
Designated on April 12, 1995

Ferris House (Former George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. House)
1318 Arch Street
Designated on June 28, 2001

Former Fifth Avenue High School
1800 Fifth Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999

Friendship Elementary School (formerly Liberty School Number 4)
5501 Friendship Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999

Stephen Foster Community Center (currently the Catholic Youth Association)
286 Main Street
Designated on July 8, 1982

Former Garrison Foundry-Mackintosh Hemphill Company Offices
901-11 Bingham Street
[Included in East Carson Street City Designated Historic District]
Designated on October 18, 1991

Greenfield Elementary School
1 Alger Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Guckenheimer Warehouse
125 First Avenue
Designated on May 9, 1995

Howe-Childs Gate House
5918 Fifth Avenue
Designated on April 16, 1986

John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church
594 Herron Avenue
Designated on October 11, 1993

B. F. Jones House (currently Jones Hall of the Community College of Allegheny County)
808 Ridge Avenue
[Included in the Allegheny West City Designated Historic District]
Designated on March 15, 1974

King Estate, or “Baywood”
1251 North Negley Avenue
Designated on November 12, 1992

Langley High School
2940 Sheridan Boulevard
Designated on November 30, 1999

Lemington Elementary School
7060 Lemington Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999

Lincoln Elementary School
328 Lincoln Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999

Lord & Taylor Department Store (formerly the Mellon National Bank Building)
514 Smithfield Street
Designated in July, 1999

Lowen-Shaffer House
311 Lowenhill Street
Designated on February 10, 1992

Madison Elementary School (formerly Minersville Public School)
3401 Milwaukee Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Mamaux Building
121-23 First Avenue
Designated on July 27, 1995

141 Mayflower Street
Designated in June, 1999

Former Saint Michael’s Roman Catholic Church & Rectory
21 Pius Street
Designated on February 23, 2001

Mifflin Elementary School
1290 Mifflin Road
Designated on November 30, 1999

Monongahela Incline
Between West Carson Street, near Smithfield Street, and Grandview Avenue
Designated on March 15, 1974

Moreland-Hoffstot House
5057 Fifth Avenue
Designated on February 22, 1977

Neill Log House
Serpentine Drive in Schenley Park
Designated on February 22, 1977

Old Heidelberg Apartments
401-423 South Braddock Avenue
Designated on March 15, 1974

Perry Traditional Academy (formerly Perry High School)
3875 Perrysville Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999

Phipps Conservatory
Schenley Park
Designated on December 26, 1972

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Station
(Currently the Landmarks Building, One Station Square)
Smithfield Street near West Carson Street
Designated on March 15, 1974

Saint Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church
1326 East Ohio Street
Designated on July 13, 2001Schiller Classical Academy (formerly Schiller School)

1018 Peralta Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Sellers-Carnahan House
400 Shady Avenue
Designated on December 31, 1995

Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua
1700 Harpster Street
Designated on February 22, 1977

Smithfield Street Bridge
Smithfield Street over the Monongahela River
Designated on February 22, 1977

W. P. Snyder House (currently Babb Insurance Company)
854 Ridge Avenue
[Included in Allegheny West City Designated Historic District]
Designated on March 15, 1974

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Museum
4141 Fifth Avenue
[Included in Oakland Civic Center City Designated Historic District]
Designated on February 11, 1991

South Side Market House
South 12th and Bingham Streets at Bedford Square
[Included in East Carson Street City Designated Historic District]
Designated on February 22, 1977

Sterrett Classical Academy (formerly Sterrett School)
7100 Reynolds Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Stevens Elementary School (formerly Thaddeus Stevens School)
824 Crucible Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Sunnyledge (former McClelland House)
5136 Fifth Avenue
Designated on April 12, 1995

Victoria Hall (formerly the Ursuline Academy {former Lynch House})
201 South Winebiddle Street
Designated on August 20, 1982

Westinghouse High School
1101 North Murtland Street
Designated on November 30, 1999

Woods House
4604 Monongahela Street
Designated on February 22, 1977

Woolslair Elementary Gifted Center (formerly Woolslair Elementary School)
40th Street & Liberty Avenue
Designated on November 30, 1999