A dispute over the use of historic building facades on the University’s proposed theater design could de- lay the construction process or force changes in the project altogether.
The University won approval from the City Planning Commission in July to start the processing of moving the Pittsburgh Playhouse from Oakland to Downtown, a project estimated at $53 million. Early this semester, The Globe reported construction on the new Playhouse would include the demolition of
three historic buildings on Forbes Avenue, including the old Honus Wagner store and two adjacent buildings.
Preservation Pittsburgh, a local non-profit advoca- cy group dedicated to the conservation of the city’s his- toric architecture, said the University is not making a good faith attempt to save the facades of the buildings, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Director of Social Media and Digital Public Relations for the University Terra McBride issued a written statement about the dispute.
“The  University  is  committed  to  preserving  as
much of the Forbes Avenue building facades as possible,” McBride wrote in an email. President of  Preservation Pittsburgh Peter Margittai declined an interview, but replied with an email statement.
“Since we are in the process of ongoing discussions with the University, we feel it best to exercise discretion,” said Margittai in the email.
Robert Pfaffmann, president of the group in the early 2000s, was able to shed some light on the situation, but carefully pointed out that his views are his own.
Pfaffmann, who  owns  an  architecture  business, said the dispute should be vetted in public.
“In a discussion or debate about whether to keep these buildings, I think that’s a really great opportunity to have a more transparent public dialogue,” said Pfaffmann during a phone interview. “I’d rather see a community engagement process.”
Pfaffmann  emphasized  his  excitement  over  the Playhouse moving  Downtown, saying  he believes it “will be a great addition and make a big difference in the neighborhood.” His only concern is how it will be done.
“Those  facades are really  beautiful  examples of early 20th century terracotta, and there are very few left in downtown Pittsburgh. The question is, ‘what is that going to do with the new theater?’ I philosophically believe that these old buildings can have new life,” Pfaffmann said. “You can keep the facades and tear everything down behind them. The most important thing that I would like to stress is that this can be a collaborative process. It can be an exciting process that results in a better building.”
Vice Chair of the Young Preservationists Association Ellen Kitzerow said she believes that the facades can be better incorporated into the design of the theater. The Young Preservationist Association is a group dedicated to informing younger generations about the importance of saving historic structures.
“Point Park has done a really great job of reusing historic buildings,” said Kitzerow during an interview Thursday afternoon in Village Park. “I would like for them to continue their tradition of reuse rather than demolish these buildings and lose them forever.”If the dispute is not settled, one option Preservation Pittsburgh has would be to seek historic designation for the buildings from the city’s Historic Review Commission.“Any changes they would make to the facades would need to be approved by the Historic Review Commission. So it’s like an extra step in the process,” Kitzerow said. Pfaffmann said he hopes that does not happen.
“Nominating a building over the last decade or so in Pittsburgh has become a contentious project. It has become a last resort and Preservation Pittsburgh does not want to hold it over the University’s head,” Pfaffman said.
“I encourage Point Park, Preservation Pittsburgh and the city at large to work together in an open and transparent matter to develop a design solution that keeps those buildings.”