YPA to Host P32 Community Conversations
Posted On: July 26, 2010
The Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is hosting Community Conversations this summer as part of the regional visioning effort sponsored by the “Power of 32.”
The “32″ refers to the 32-county region surrounding Pittsburgh. It includes 32 counties in four states encompassing 4.1 million people. The Power of 32 is the nation’s largest regional visioning effort!
Community Conversations are being held to solicit input from the general public about the future of the region. This is a unique opportunity for you–the public–to provide your input on how the Pittsburgh region should be shaped in the near future.
We encourage you to attend one of our Community Conversations, below, or find one closest to you.
To register and for more information, go to www.powerof32.org.
Homestead & Steel Valley Community Conversation – July 27
Location: Pump House - July 27th
880 E. Waterfront Drive, Munhall
Homestead, PA
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Register Here: http://www.powerof32.org/event/homestead-community-conversation
East End Community Conversation – August 5
Location: Union Project
801 North Negley Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA, 15206
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Register Here: http://www.powerof32.org/event/east-liberty-friendship-community-conversation
North Side Community Conversation – August 9
Location: Penn Brewery
800 Vinial Street Ratskeller Party Room
Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Register Here: http://www.powerof32.org/event/north-side-community-conversation
Hill District Community Conversation – August 11
Location: Hill House
1835 Centre Avenue
Conference Room A
Pittsburgh, PA, 15219-4396
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Register Here: http://www.powerof32.org/event/hill-district-community-conversation
Student/Youth Conversation – Sept. 7
Location: William Pitt Student Union (on Pitt’s campus)
4200 Fifth Avenue
Room 548
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Register Here: http://www.powerof32.org/event/youth-forum-community-conversation
Squirrel Hill Conversation – Sept. 27
Location: Squirrel Hill JCC
5738 Forbes Avenue, Room 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Register Here: http://www.powerof32.org/event/squirrel-hill-community-conversation
YPA Celebrates Historic Preservation Month!
Posted On: May 25, 2010
YPA celebrated National Historic Preservation Month at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty on Friday, May 21, 2010.
YPA unveiled its new list of the “Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area.” The list, published annually, highlights historic preservation projects with a good chance of survival and reuse. It’s a great way for communities all over southwestern Pennsylvania to celebrate historic preservation victories in the making.
Here’s the Top Ten Report: Top Ten Report 2010
YPA also released a new, groundbreaking report, “The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania.” The report quantifies how many dollars, jobs, new businesses, and housing units have been created in the last few years through historic preservation.
Download a copy of the report here: Economic Impact in SW PA
Finally, YPA published a new report, “The Top Ten Buildings We Wish We Had Back,” which looks back on what we have lost. They serve as lessons for what to preserve in the future. Download a copy here: Homage to the Fallen May 2010
Here are pictures from the fun, networking reception:
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| YPA's Preservation Month Celebration, 2010 |
Sponsored by the Neighborhood Investment Association
Catering provided by the Culinary Artists Catering Group
Preservation Solutions Developed for Hazelwood
Posted On: March 8, 2010
More than 115 people met on Saturday, April 10, 2010, to develop solutions for preserving historic sites in Hazelwood. YPA hosted the second-annual Preserve Pittsburgh Summit as a way for young people, and people of all ages, to get involved in preserving local history. The Summit was held at the Frick Fine Arts Building in Oakland, and tours of Hazelwood were provided in the morning.
YPA honored PA State Representative Jake Wheatley for his contribution to preservation in his district and in the state legislature. Rep. Wheatley addressed the audience as the opening speaker.
The sites that were featured included the 1790 John Woods House, the 1899 Carnegie Library of Hazelwood, the 1912 Spahr Building, and the 1914 Gladstone School. Summit participants developed solutions for the sites, and then squared off in a So You Think You Can Preserve contest. The winning team was the John Woods House, but all recommendations that were developed were constructive ideas for the reuse of these historic sites.
The Summit featured a keynote address by Kate Burns Ottavino, Director of Preservation Programs at the Brooklyn High School of the Arts, the nation’s first high school preservation program.
Kate Burns Ottavino Bio
That evening, YPA hosted the Preservation Awards Reception at the Carnegie Museum of Art. At the Reception, YPA awarded the top Preservation Videos, presented by First Commonwealth Bank.
The winners were:
Historic Site
Mershon’s Summer Kitchen & Stable
209 West Main Street
Saxonburg, PA 16056
Butler County
Winning Student
Jamie Cashdollar
Knoch High School, Saxonburg
Nominating Teacher
Mr. Michael King
Youtube Link:
Historic Site
Trinity Hall
231 Park Avenue
North Franklin, PA
Washington County
Winning Students
Devin Mast, Jarrett Maleski, Chelsea Denman
Trinity High School, Washington, PA
Nominating Teacher
Mary Ann Berty
Youtube Link:
YPA also gave the Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award to students from Propel Andrew Street High School for their work on a book about Homestead’s past, present, and future. The award was presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union.
Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award
Here’s a map of the sites featured on the tour:
View Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Sites 2010 in a larger map
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| From Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Uploads for 2010 |
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| From Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Uploads for 2010 |
2010 Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Sponsors
Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation
Discover Pittsburgh’s African American History!
Posted On: July 1, 2009
After nearly three years of work, YPA is pleased to present the first-ever tourguide of African American historic sites in the southwestern Pennsylvania region.
Called “Discover the Legacy: The African American Experience in Southwestern Pennsylvania,” and developed in collaboration with VisitPittsburgh and other partners, the website features more than 100 sites important to the development of southwestern Pennsylvania’s African American community. Ten historical themes are represented in nine southwestern Pennsylvania counties, including the city of Pittsburgh. The tourguide also interfaces with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission historical markers.
YPA is in the process of planning a public release of the printed tourguide, so stay tuned! In the meantime, here is the list of sites that will be featured in the forthcoming hardcopy of the tourguide:
Discover the Legacy
The VisitPittsburgh website link is here: Black History Tourguide
A WQED-TV special on the National Negro Opera Company, America’s first black opera company which began right here in Pittsburgh, won an Emmy Award in Fall 2009.
You can view the video here: http://www.wqed.org/ondemand/onq.php?id=614
YPA also created a Google Map of the historic sites here:
View Discover the Legacy in a larger map
Here are photos of the sites:
African American History Sites
Thank you to all who made it possible, particularly the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, the two agencies which underwrote the tourguide. Thanks to a collaboration with VisitPittsburgh (Colleen Kalchthaler) and a lot of hard work from Dr. Larry Glasco, Dawn Webb Turner (the 2009 Promise Award winner), Melody Farrin, John Burgess, Thea Young, Michael Bennett, and many others, this project is the product of a concentrated team effort.
Thank you for giving life to African American history!
Young People Preserve History!
Posted On: April 15, 2009
More than 160 people attended YPA’s Preserve Pittsburgh Summit on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The free event included lunch, a bus tour of four historic sites, and a keynote address by Michael Tomlan, Director of Cornell University’s Historic Preservation Program.
Facilitators guided discussion groups and on-site tours to develop recommendations for these four historic sites: the August Wilson House and New Granada Theatre in the Hill District; the Garden Theater on the North Side; and the National Negro Opera Company house in Homewood/Lincoln-Lemington.
The Summit, held at the Frick Fine Arts Building in Oakland, enabled young people and community residents to make history come alive by injecting innovative ideas to create a better future for these important but endangered historic sites. A final report will be issued at a later date.
That evening, Post-Gazette’s Tony Norman and PA State Senator Jim Ferlo hosted YPA’s Preservation Awards Reception. YPA awarded $500 to the winners of its preservation video contest and announced the Promise Award to an emerging preservationist. Entertainment was provided by “Sounds of Steel,” the Northside Urban Pathways Charter School Steel Pan Band. Immediately following the Awards, participants enjoyed networking with dynamic movers and shakers in the Pittsburgh region.
Read the Final Report here: Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Final Report June 2009
The 2009 Preservation Video Award winners included:
First Place ($250):
Site: Paramount Pictures Film Exchange, City of Pittsburgh (Soho)
Winning Student: Drew Edward Levinson
School: Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Hometown: Zelienople, Pa. (Butler County)
Age/Grade: 21, Sophomore
Nominating Teacher: Lorraine Heidekat
YouTube Link:
Second Place ($125):
Site: “Save the Strand,” Strand Theater, Zelienople, Butler County
Winning Students:
Bethany Bettencourt
Selena Blair
Michaela Burr
Alex Deep
Connor Domhoff
Tyler Falk
Christian George
Austin Hall
Rachel Hunter
Justin Kording
Morgan Marion
Cole McDonough
Austin Ridgley
Hailey Vey
Chelsea Alberth
Kayla Hart
School: Riverside Middle School
Hometown: Ellwood City, Pa.
Ages/Grades: 13-18, 8th Grade – Senior
Nominating Teacher: Mrs. Rebecca Erin
YouTube Link:
Third Place ($75):
Site: Old Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Indiana County
Winning Student: Brandon Roudebush
School: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Hometown: Kittanning, Pa. (Armstrong County)
Age/Grade: 20, Junior
Nominating Teacher: Dr. Erick Lauber
YouTube Link:
Fourth Place ($50):
Site: The Longwell House, Monongahela, Washington County
Winning Student: Caci Lignelli
School: Ringgold High School
Hometown: Monongahela, Pa. (Washington County)
Age/Grade: 15, 10th Grade
Nominating Teacher: Mr. Don Roberts
YouTube Link:
YPA’s Promise Award was presented to Dawn R. Webb Turner, a third-grade teacher in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood.
YPA’s Promise Award, started in 2005, will go to one person, organization or place that is undertaking a new preservation initiative that represents great promise for advancing historic preservation in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Ms. Webb Turner’s work with YPA over the past year as a volunteer to develop the Pittsburgh region’s first African American history tourguide, as well as her efforts to preserve the National Negro Opera Company first home, and her extensive experience, education, and community involvement makes her an ideal awardee.
Ms. Webb Turner is currently a third-grade teacher at Pittsburgh Faison Arts Academy in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. A Pittsburgh native, Ms. Webb Turner is a graduate of Westinghouse High School.
She received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating Cum Laude. She has held positions as a Branch Manager for Three Rivers Bank and Assistant Vice President for PNC Bank. Ms. Webb Turner is currently developing the George A. Webb Sr. Learning Institute that will teach financial education and entrepreneurship to elementary-school aged children and older. She is also the Steward of Homewood North under the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, and started the “Let’s Clean Up Our House Committee,” a group of youth, residents, and block club members who are dedicated to cleaning up areas in the community.
Previous Promise Award winners have included The Union Project (2005); Braddock Mayor John Fetterman (2006); Sandee Umbach, director of Wash Arts (2007); and Tansy Michaud, a senior at Norwin High School (2008).
Photos from the Summit:
YPA’s Preserve Pittsburgh Summit, March 28, 2009
Photos from the Reception:
YPA’s Preservation Awards Reception, March 28
More info. about the Summit is here: Preserve Pittsburgh Summit
Summit Program: Summit Program
Preservation Awards Reception Program: Preservation Awards Reception
Download a poster here: Preserve Pittsburgh Poster
View a map of the four historic sites:
View Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Locations in a larger map
Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Host Committee
Diana Bucco, Executive Director, The Forbes Funds
Esther Bush, President and CEO, Urban League of Pittsburgh
Cheryle Campbell, Director, Pittsburgh Field Office, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
Mindy Higgins Crawford, Executive Director, Preservation Pennsylvania
Aradhna Dhanda, Executive Director, Leadership Pittsburgh
Honorable Patrick Dowd, Pittsburgh City Council
Honorable Mike Doyle, U.S. Congressman
Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis, Executive Director, Historic Hill Initiative
Paul A. Ellis, Esq., Law Office of Paul Ellis & Associates
Honorable Jim Ferlo, PA State Senator
Saleem Ghubril, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Promise
Court Gould, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh
David Hopkins, Western Pennsylvania Community Development Territory Manager, PNC Bank
Ellen Kight, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development
Honorable Bruce Kraus, Pittsburgh City Council
Marimba Milliones, New Granada Theatre Committee
Jerry Morosco, AIA, Principal, Gerald Lee Morosco Architects, PC
Honorable Tonya Payne, Pittsburgh City Council
Honorable Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh City Council
Honorable Luke Ravenstahl, Mayor of Pittsburgh
Honorable Doug Shields, Pittsburgh City Council President
Sala Udin, President and CEO, Coro Center for Civic Leadership
Preserve Pittsburgh Planning Committee
Kevin Acklin, Renew Pittsburgh
Regina Anderson, Coro Center for Civic Leadership
Drew Armstrong, University of Pittsburgh Architectural Studies
Laura Becker, Student, Pitt
Terri Blanchette, Heinz History Center
John Burgess, Coro Center for Civic Leadership & Pitt Student
John Burke, URA
Bill Callahan, PHMC
Sean Capperis, YPA/Councilman Patrick Dowd’s office
Robert Carter, First Commonwealth
Matthew Cesare, YPA & Student at Geneva College
Ann Fortescue, Heinz History Center
Dan Holland, Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh
Mac Howison, Sprout Fund
Kelly Lyons, Coordinator of K-12 Outreach, School of Architecture, CMU
Rebecca Maclean, CPD Representative, HUD
Rick Malmstrom, Ellis School
John McCarthy, Ph.D., Robert Morris University History Club
Bethany McLaughlin, YPA
Alex Mickinak, Recent graduate, Pitt
Katherine Molnar, City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission
Mikhail Pappas, State Senator Jim Ferlo’s Office
Becky Rodgers, Neighbors in the Strip
Chris Sandvig, YPA
Colleen Schmidt, Student, Cal. U.
Steve Seliy, Consortium for Public Education
Thank you to Our Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsors
PNC Bank
Grable Foundation
Contributing Sponsors
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation
Supporters
Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE)
Carnegie Museum of Art
First Commonwealth Bank
Donors
Citizens Bank
Pennsylvania State Senator Jim Ferlo
Pennsylvania State Representative Jake Wheatley
GNC
Massaro
TriState Capital Bank
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
YPA Secures Black Opera Company House
Posted On: November 24, 2008
More than 20 volunteers spent three hours cleaning up the abandoned house on Apple Street in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, better known as the first home of the National Negro Opera Company, on Saturday, November 29, 2008.
YPA teamed up with RenewPittsburgh to board up and clean up the 7,000 square-foot Victorian. The board-up/clean-up effort was an important step toward the restoration of the historic house.
In addition to RenewPittsburgh, YPA is grateful to PA State Senator Jim Ferlo and Operation Better Block.
Built in 1894, the house on Apple Street was first purchased by Pittsburgh numbers king Woogie Harris, in 1930. Woogie Harris was the brother of famed photographer Teenie Harris. The house served as the home of the first black opera company in the United States. The NNOC was started by Homestead native Mary Cardwell Dawson in 1941. The NNOC grew to include a number of chapters around the country. First Lady Elanor Roosevelt and Marian Anderson were honorary board chairs. Among the people who came through the house include Ahmad Jamal and Lena Horne. The house also hosted a number of Steelers, including Roy Jefferson, John Nesby, and Marvin Woodson, as well as Roberto Clemente.
YPA coordinated the replacement of a state historical marker in 2007 (the original one had been ripped down). That same day, both the Mayor of Pittsburgh and City Council issued proclamations honoring the National Negro Opera Company. The house became a City Historic Landmark in spring 2008 and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
A condemnation notice was issued on November 7, 2008, which inspired YPA to take action to ameliorate the condition. YPA has also established a separate fund for the house’s restoration. Donations can be directed to the YPA NNOC Fund and sent to our Homestead headquarters:
Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh
110 East Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120
Inquiries can be directed to youngpreservationist@gmail.com
After nearly three years of work, YPA is pleased to present the first-ever tourguide of African American historic sites in the southwestern Pennsylvania region.Discover the Legacy
View Discover the Legacy in a larger map
More than 160 people attended YPA’s Preserve Pittsburgh Summit on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The free event included lunch, a bus tour of four historic sites, and a keynote address by Michael Tomlan, Director of Cornell University’s Historic Preservation Program.Second Place ($125):
Third Place ($75):
YPA’s Promise Award was presented to Dawn R. Webb Turner, a third-grade teacher in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. View Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Locations in a larger map
More than 20 volunteers spent three hours cleaning up the abandoned house on Apple Street in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, better known as the first home of the National Negro Opera Company, on Saturday, November 29, 2008.110 East Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120