The Historic Review Commission unanimously approved landmark status for the Iron City Brewing Co. in Lawrenceville yesterday.

The brewery's owners moved plant operations to Latrobe last year and supported the Lawrenceville Stakeholders' historic-status nomination on the premise that the complex could be redeveloped into retail and residential area. The company maintains headquarters there, at 3340 Liberty Ave.

A building from the 1970s, deemed historically noncontributing to the site, was earlier approved for demolition. The brewing company's original buildings have been on the site since the 1860s.

In moving the matter on to the planning commission for a public hearing on Feb. 16, the body's decision was described by planning director Noor Ismail as "a no-brainer."

In other action, the commission approved demolition of the pedestrian bridge over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side. The bridge has been closed for almost 10 years and has been dropping concrete chunks onto the rail bed, said Pat Hassett, assistant director of the Department of Public Works.

He said Baker Engineering confirmed city engineers' assessment that the concrete span and abutments are not stable enough to restore.

The commission holds letters from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and the railroad that support replacement.

The Allegheny Commons Initiative has begun a long-term restoration of the park and insisted on a historically sensitive replacement. Asked if the initiative approves the city's plan, initiative director Alida Baker smiled ruefully and said, "We do not oppose it."

John DeSantis of Allegheny West suggested the span could be restored and a new steel deck built independent of the bridge walls. Federal law would protect the lower elevation if the bridge is restored, he said, but a replacement would have to meet height standards that allow for double-decker trains.

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