A proposal to convert the Honus Wagner house on Beechwood Avenue into a bed and breakfast by July 11, when the All-Star Game will be played at PNC Park, still may be in play.

"We have two strikes and the question is whether we can go up to bat again and hit it," said historical entrepreneur Stan Klos late last week. "I'm trying to figure out how to approach the 'pitchers.' "

Klos, who is working with two partners, was disappointed when the Carnegie zoning hearing board failed again last week to grant a variance despite the proposal having been streamlined since February from a multi-use, bed-and-breakfast-museum-gift shop.

At that time, zoning officials turned the plan down on grounds that more parking space would be needed in the residential neighborhood. By limiting the proposal to just a bed and breakfast, Mr. Klos said he thought parking would no longer be an issue because there is sufficient space in the driveway and garage.

Last week, zoning board member Marty Regan moved to approve the variance use, but colleagues John Fisher and Gary Marches dissented. Mr. Marches feared that approval would set a precedent.

Zoning hearing board member Bob Heinrich declined to vote, saying it wouldn't matter because the stage was already set for failure due to the absence of fifth member Ed Hertzel.

But Mr. Heinrich left the door open a bit, because he also said he liked the idea of honoring Honus Wagner, the Hall of Fame Pirates shortstop who lived his entire life in Carnegie. Mr. Wagner built the home in 1918 and occupied it until his death in December 1955. He also thought the project would benefit the neighborhood.

Mr. Heinrich later said he thought application to designate the home a historical landmark would bolster the case for the bed and breakfast, as well as negate Mr. Marches' objections of setting a precedent.

But Mr. Klos wasn't so sure that was necessary.

"The home was a precedent breaker by just who owned it," he said.

A historical marker on Mansfield Boulevard alerts passersby to the fact that Honus Wagner was born in Carnegie.

Gary Brandebura, of Beechwood Avenue, told the zoning panel that allowing the variance would be opening a Pandora's box for other owners who want to establish businesses in the large, gracious homes on the street. He especially worried about how long the use would last.

"Once you grant one use variance," he said, "I don't see how you can prohibit other use variances."

Aaron Whitaker worried about traffic in an area that already is reeling from excessive cars and pedestrians.

But others, like Marcella McGrogan, president of the Historical Society of Carnegie, backed the idea.

"It enhances our reputation in Carnegie as a historic town," she said.

Meanwhile, Bridget VanDorn, of Beechwood Avenue, backed the revised proposal, saying a museum would have brought in too much traffic but a bed and breakfast alone would not.

"I think it's a wonderful idea. The precedent that I would like to see being set in our neighborhood is the houses being restored," she said.