Support the Work of YPA
Posted On: December 21, 2011
When YPA started in 2002, we were the only organization in the United States solely dedicated to the involvement of young people in historic preservation.
Now, nearly ten years later, more than 5,000 people have benefited from our programs. YPA pioneered the first list of preservation “opportunities,” called “The Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area.” Since that time, more than $80 million has been invested in sites listed on our Top Ten List.
We held the first preservation video contest for young people, which resulted in the historic designation of the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood, which has been preserved.
YPA’s Youth Main Street Advisors Program provided students at Propel Andrew Street High School and Peabody High School with an amazing sense of accomplishment and opened their eyes to great possibilities. More than 600 books have been produced, and many have been sold to generate revenue for students.
YPA’s dedication to African American history resulted in two new protected City landmarks, the first home of the National Negro Opera Company in Homewood, and the New Granada Theatre in the Hill District. YPA also pioneered the region’s first African American History tour guide, called “Discover the Legacy.” More than 5,000 tour guides have been distributed to young people in southwestern Pennsylvania.
YPA held the first conference for young preservationists, the first bike tour of historic sites–”Wheeling Through History”–the region’s first study of the economic impact of historic preservation, and the first Preserve Pittsburgh Summit, which attracted more than 300 students this year.
There are numerous individual success stories, which you can read about here: http://www.youngpreservationists.org/about-2
Even our logo is the result of young people. Developed by students at LaRoche College, it was adopted by YPA in 2007.
Our new video highlights several of our accomplishments, which you can view here: http://www.youngpreservationists.org/about-2
YPA encourages you to support the work of this unique organization. You can donate online at:
https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=30-0214451
OR:
http://pittsburghgives.org/
OR, send a donation to our office:
Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh
110 East Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120
Thank you for helping YPA Give Life to History!
Faces of Young Preservationists
Posted On: November 29, 2011
Since YPA started in 2002, our programs have impacted more than 5,000 individuals. YPA has presented more than 30 events and activities, published more than 20 unique publications, and hosted more than 30 interns and volunteers.
More than 150 media articles have been generated, and now young preservationist groups have emerged across the country, as well as in Canada: http://histpres.com/list-of-young-preservationist-groups
Behind the numbers, the young people who have participated in YPA’s programs have become preservation leaders across the United States, and beyond.
Preservation Generation 3.0 has arrived!
Let’s meet some of them:
Colleen Schmidt
Colleen Schmidt Profile
J’mal Christmas
J’mal Christmas Profile
Tansy Michaud
Tansy Michaud Profile
Sean Capperis
Sean Capperis Profile
Noel Jenkins
Noel Jenkins Profile
Dawn Webb Turner
Dawn Webb Turner
Drew Levinson
Drew Levinson
Connect with YPA on Facebook!
Posted On: October 17, 2011
Keep up with the news and activities of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh on our Facebook page. Join our rapidly growing list of supporters and connect with like-minded young preservationists around the country, and around the world.
Events and activities will be featured on our Facebook page, so plug into the realtime energy of YPA on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Preservationists-Association/19525613577
Peabody High School Students Publish Book
Posted On: June 2, 2011
Students at Pittsburgh Peabody High School have published a book about the East End, the first such book by a city school. They held their first book signing ceremony on June 1, 2011, at the Carnegie Library of East Liberty.
See article in the Tribune-Review: Peabody students publish book about Pittsburgh’s East End Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 1, 2011
The book, entitled, “Pittsburgh’s East End: Then, Now and Later,” documents the history, current conditions, and future potential for East End neighborhoods, such as East Liberty, Larimer, and Homewood.
The Young Preservationists Association has been working with students at Peabody High School, in Pittsburgh’s East End, to document the past, present, and future of the school and surrounding neighborhoods through YPA’s Youth Main Street Advisors Program.
The program is a service learning project that connects students with communities through the creation of a student-produced book about the community’s history, present, and future. The program is a journey of discovery that introduces the students to the community and historic preservation concepts, trains them on how to engage with the community, and provides them with tools to take action.
Through YPA’s Youth Main Street Advisors Program, Peabody students studied the history, present, and future potential of East Liberty and surrounding neighborhoods.
The process involves learning about the history of the community from various sources, including school archives, the Historic Pittsburgh website, field visits, photography, and talks with community leaders, such as historian and author (and Peabody alum) John Brewer. In February, YPA conducted an interview workshop with SLB Radio, which afforded the students an opportunity to record their conversations with community leaders.
In May, the students were awarded the Michael Eversmeyer Promise Award for their work on this book at YPA’s Preservation Month Celebration, held on May 6, 2011.
The Promise Award Winners for 2011
Students at Peabody High School
Seniors
Dennis Glover
Ponderee Jones
J’Mal Christmas
Freshman
Teauthay Littleton
Justin Bonner
Malik Barber
Dai’Ron Drake
Eric Walker
Teachers
Cynthia Albrecht, Teacher
Kristen Pancio, AmeriCorps
Priscilla Kelly
Melissa Friez, Principal
This books was a team effort. Special thanks goes to:
Larry Berger and Liz Adams at SLB Radio
John Brewer, author, historian, and photographer
Nate Cunningham of East Liberty Development, Inc.
Carolyn Dorsey of East Liberty’s State Farm Insurance Agency
Melody Farrin, Photographer
Joyce Faulkner at Red Engine Press
Al Mann, president of the East Liberty Historical Society
Carol Spencer-Royall of the Union Project
Justin Strong, owner of East Liberty’s Shadow Lounge and AVA
Tom Sturgill of East Liberty’s Vintage Sr. Center
Stay tuned to YPA’s Facebook page for more details and updates!
YPA Releases 2011 Top Ten List
Posted On: February 24, 2011
The Young Preservationists Association has released its 2011 list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities, which marks the start of National Historic Preservation Month (May). The list, released annually, includes endangered historic sites in the Pittsburgh area that are good candidates for preservation and reuse.
YPA will release a printed copy of its 2011 Top Ten report at its annual Preservation Month Celebration on Friday, May 6th, at the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange, from 6 to 8 p.m. Event details are on YPA’s website, http://www.youngpreservationists.org/preservation-month-celebration-may-6
Since 2003, YPA has celebrated historic preservation with its annual list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The list, compiled from nominations received from various individuals and organizations, is designed to encourage investment in historic sites throughout the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. The list has been used by property owners to draw positive attention to their properties, raise investment funds, secure grants, and generate political goodwill for their historic sites.
In fact, since YPA released its first Top Ten List in 2003, more than $80 million has been invested into properties placed on YPA’s Top 10 List, including the creation of an estimated 1,245 construction and trade-related jobs, 230 housing units, and $750,000 in additional annual wage tax revenue is yielded to state and local municipalities, as documented in YPA’s 2010 report, “The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania: Jobs that cannot be outsourced.” Download the Economic Impact Report here: Economic Impact in SW PA
The criteria used to select the Top Ten List include the following:
1. 50-year Threshold (is it 50 years old or older);
2. Historic & Architectural Significance;
3. Threats to the Site;
4. Community Input; and
5. Feasibility of the Solution.
Below are the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area for 2011.
10. Connellsville Armory, Connellsville, Fayette County
9. Saints Peter and Paul Church, East Liberty (Pittsburgh)
8. Wigman House, Carrick (Pittsburgh)
7. Stables Building, Allegheny West (Pittsburgh)
6. Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Forest Hills, Allegheny County
5. Hipwell Building, Alleghney West (Pittsburgh)
4. Old Masons Building, Uniontown, Fayette County
3. Highland Building, East Liberty (Pittsburgh)
2. Grand Theatre, Elizabeth (Pittsburgh)
1. Main Street Waynesburg, Waynesburg, Greene County (featured below)
A low-res. copy of the final report can be found here: Celebrate Historic Treasures in Southwestern Pennsylvania: Top Ten Best Historic Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area 2011
Past sites have included the Armstrong Cork Factory, Union Project, and the New Granada Theatre, all of which have been restored or stabilized.
Stay tuned to YPA’s Facebook Page for more details.
Propel Students Publish Preservation Book!
Posted On: June 10, 2010
On June 3, 2010, six high school students proudly sat at the Tin Front Cafe in Homestead and autographed copies of their new book, “Take a Walk From the Past to the Future of Eighth Avenue.”
They were participants in YPA’s Youth Main Street Advisors Program that encourages young people to explore and document their community and make recommendations for changes. The book was the product of a year-long process of discovery and creativity.
YPA is grateful to the Grable Foundation, which supported the project, and Red Engine Press, which published the book. Additional support was provided by SLB Radio, which conducted an interview workshop for the students, and Rivers of Steel, which provided research assistance. Louise Sturgess from Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, and Eric Milliron, from Main Street Mt. Lebanon, spoke to the students at an orientation session held in October.
The 100-page book is available from either YPA or Propel Andrew Street High School (http://www.propelandrewstreet.org/) and are $12.00. Book sales benefit the school.
The Post-Gazette covered the story:
Students pen a historical look at Homestead Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 10, 2010
See photos from the training sessions and the book signing:
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| Propel Student Book Signing 6-3-10 |
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| Andrew Street HS Youth Main Street Advisors Interview Workshop, 12-10-09 |
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| Youth Main Street Advisors Program, Oct. 22, 2009 |
2010 Top Ten List Released!
Posted On: May 21, 2010
YPA has released its new list of the Top Ten Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The Top Ten Report was released at YPA’s Preservation Month Celebration, held at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, on May 21st.
YPA counted down the Top Ten on its blog, “Give Life to History!”
The blog can be accessed at http://youngpreservationistsassociation.blogspot.com/
Download a copy of the Top Ten report here: Top Ten Report 2010
Here is a copy of YPA’s new report, “Homage to the Fallen: The Top Ten Buildings We Wish We Had Back” Homage to the Fallen May 2010
YPA Releases New Report: Historic Preservation Creates Jobs!
Posted On: May 20, 2010
On May 20, 2010, YPA and Pennsylvania Works! released a new report that details the economic impact of historic preservation in southwestern Pennsylvania. The report, called “The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania,” demonstrates the power of historic preservation to stimulate investment, generate taxes, create new housing units, and create jobs for Pennsylvanians that cannot be outsourced.
The report shows that in ten counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, over a five-year period, 2004 to 2009, historic preservation projects created:
> $475 million total investment,
> $65.6 million in taxes generated,
> 1,204 new housing units,
> 5.2 million square feet of space, and
> 3,042 permanent jobs.
The report measured the economic impact of historic preservation among YPA’s list of the Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities, historic Main Street and Elm Street communities, and federal historic tax credit projects.
At a time when jobs are paramount, there’s no better way to stimulate the economy than through reinvesting in our core communities and historic structures.
Download a copy of the report here: Economic Impact in SW PA
YPA and Pennsylvania Works! call on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass a state law that provides incentives to owners of historic properties to preserve and reuse their old buildings. For the past ten years, the Pennsylvania legislature has been considering this legislation, but has failed to act. The time to act is now in order to put people back to work and invigorate the struggling economy.
The proposed legislation would provide direct grants to owners of historic properties to be used for building rehabilitation. It provides $15,000 for owners of residential properties, and up to $500,000 for owners of commercial properties. These funds not only fix up historic properties, but they employ local skilled labor that cannot be outsourced.
This economic impact report underscores the need for Pennsylvania to adopt this preservation incentive legislation to extend the economic benefits of preservation to all communities across the Commonwealth. Preservation puts people back to work, restores our core communities, and reinvigorates the tax base.
This new economic impact report is the definition of YPA’s slogan, “Give Life to History.”
YPA Press Release: YPAPressRelease 5-20-10
YPA CEO’s Remarks: YPA CEO Remarks 5-20-10
See images from the Press Conference here:
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| YPA Press Conference, May 20, 2010 |
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
Paramount Pictures Film Exchange: Pittsburgh’s Newest Landmark
Posted On: February 22, 2010
Paramount Pictures Film Exchange, 1727 Boulevard of the Allies
On Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl signed the final legislation designating the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange to be a City of Pittsburgh Historic Landmark. Council had voted, 8-1, to designate the Film Exchange on Jan. 26th. You can see a copy of the legislation here: Final Bill Passage
YPA is grateful to Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle and the other Council people who voted in favor of this designation, as well as YPA’s Board, Advisory Committee, Members, and partners, such as the Uptown Community Partners, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and the Pittsburgh Film Office. More than 75 letters of support had been received in support of the designation.
YPA is especially grateful for Drew Edward Levinson, the 21-year-old film student who first called our attention to this important historic landmark. His video appears below (scroll down).
Last spring, YPA nominated the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange Building, at 1727 Boulevard of the Allies in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood, to be a city of Pittsburgh Historic Landmark.
On August 5, 2009, the City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission voted to recommend to City Council the designation of the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange to be a City of Pittsburgh Historic Landmark. The Uptown Community Partners, the leading community based organization in the Uptown-Soho neighborhood, endorsed the nomination, along with more than 75 supporters.
The building was recently sold to a developer who plans to rehabilitate the building. The building had been owned by UPMC Mercy since 2008. This is a win-win for the Uptown neighborhood, which is undergoing a revival, the City of Pittsburgh, and for the region’s film history. If it were not for a YouTube video about the film exchange produced by Drew Levinson last spring, Pittsburgh’s rich motion picture legacy would not have been told.
Historic Significance
Designed by R.E. Hall Co. Architects of New York City in 1926, the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange building meets the Historic Review Commission’s criteria for its association with important cultural or social aspects or events in the history of the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States.
The Paramount Pictures Film Exchange Building is the last original remnant of Pittsburgh’s “Film Row.” From the 1920s until the 1970s and 80s, film exchanges were operated by movie studios that contained a film library of reels, offices, and private screening rooms. Theater owners could view a picture before booking them into their theaters. Pittsburgh’s film exchanges were all within a couple blocks of each other forming a “film row,” because it was very much a ‘one-stop shopping’ deal, where theater owners could go out of one exchange and immediately into the next—possibly to negotiate or book films from several studios. Now, Pittsburgh’s last one remains, the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange building.
History Captured in Film
This history came to light just this spring, when YPA held a historic preservation video contest for students under the age of 25. This year’s first-place winner was a student at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Drew Edward Levinson, who profiled the history—and possible threat—to the Paramount building.
Judges for the contest included a number of experienced preservationists who had never heard of this building, never knew of Film Row, and were fascinated by the video. The YouTube video is embedded below.
YPA held an awards ceremony on March 28th to honor Mr. Levinson and the video was shown before an audience of about 100 people at Carnegie Museum of Art. State Senator Ferlo encouraged Mr. Levinson to nominate the building for historic status, and YPA offered to assist. YPA’s board unanimously supports this nomination.
Here’s the YouTube video:
Here are two GigaPan interactive panoramas of the Paramount building:
YPA Letters & Testimony:
Testimony for 1-12-10
Letter to City Council 10-30-09
Paramount Pictures Film Exchange Building: Fact Sheets
Fact Sheet
Film Exchange Pamphlet Complete 6-30-09
Here’s the original historic nomination form:
Paramount Pictures Film Exchange Building Nomination Form
Articles:
City Council votes to designate Paramount building as historic landmark, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 27, 2010
Pittsburgh City Council designates Paramount Pictures building as historic, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 26, 2010
Pittsburgh approves historic status for Paramount building, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 20, 2010
Sale of Paramount building slated for today, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 19, 2010
Uptown Paramount building historic designation debated, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 18, 2010
Public supportive of Paramount, The Duquesne Duke, January 14, 2010
Preservationists aim to save Uptown film exchange building, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 13, 2010
Dozens attend meeting about Paramount Pictures building, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 12, 2010
Historic Uptown building faces demise, The Duquesne Duke, October 1, 2009
Movie buff’s effort saves a building of paramount importance to film history, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 10, 2009
Historical designation for Uptown building OK’d, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 6, 2009
Pittsburgh’s Film Exchange gets historic designation, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 6, 2009
A bid to preserve part of Pittsburgh’s film history, WQUQ 90.5-FM, August 4, 2009
Group wants to save some of Pittsburgh’s Hollywood history, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 10, 2009
Paramount Pictures Film Exchange, 1727 Boulevard of the Allies
Testimony for 1-12-10
Fact Sheet
Paramount Pictures Film Exchange Building Nomination Form
City Council votes to designate Paramount building as historic landmark, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 27, 2010