Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission approves demolition plans

The Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission recently approved the demolition of two historic buildings on Penn Avenue to make space for downtown redevelopment, a report by The Incline says. The two buildings are a century old.

Crews will take the façades from the buildings and “paste” them to a new building with a method known as facadism, the report says. Davis Cos., with locations in Boston, New York and Norwalk, Connecticut, purchased the spaces and plans to replace the buildings with luxury condos, a parking garage and retail space.

There are several conditions that come with the commission’s approval, the report says. One of the conditions requires full funding and any necessary municipal approvals before demolition can begin. Ernie Hogan, the chairman of the commission, says in the report that the conditions will create at least a year’s worth of work before demolition.

Since the buildings are in an area that is considered both a national and city historic district, discussions will need to go through a 106 Process. The 106 Process is a special review that’s a part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the report says.

The Historic Review Commission will review the condo plans design in February. Once reviewed, the plans will be presented to planning and zoning for approval.

Currently, the buildings house a violin shop and an art gallery on the ground floors. The report says the top floors are currently vacant.