Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh » Events

YPA to Host P32 Community Conversations

Dan Holland — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:11:31 +0000

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!

Dan Holland — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:42:26 +0000

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:

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

Dan Holland — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:36 +0000

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

From Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Uploads for 2010

2010 Preserve Pittsburgh Summit Sponsors

Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation

Discover Pittsburgh’s African American History!

Dan Holland — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:52 +0000

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!

Dan Holland — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:30:36 +0000

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

Dan Holland — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:53:14 +0000

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