Downtown Waynesburg ripe for rescue
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It's kind of a backhanded honor to be chosen as the best preservation opportunity in the region, but Downtown Waynesburg -- No. 1 on the Young Preservationists Association's annual "top 10" list -- welcomes the recognition if it helps get investors to the Greene County seat.
"We're here with open arms," said Larry Marshall, the borough's Main Street manager. "Preservation is part of the job we do, but our municipality and every other municipality have no money."
Since 2003, the preservationists organization, which is based in Homestead, has been coming out with "top 10" lists to bring attention to sites it deems worthy and in need of rescue.
"We received a number of nominations," said YPA founder and CEO Dan Holland. "We have a scoring guide and give points for historical or architectural significance, community interest, threats to properties and feasibility of the solution. We want to make sure that these sites become success stories."
In some cases, the sites have already been bought for new purposes, such as the No. 5 pick, the Hipwell flashlight factory in Allegheny West. Its owners plan to renovate it for offices and condos.
The Wigman House in Carrick, No. 8, awaits historic designation from the city and a buyer.
The Highland Building in East Liberty, No. 3, has had historic status since 1991 but has sat vacant since before then. Walnut Capital plans to renovate it into 130 market-rate apartments once a budgeted state grant of $4.5 million for a parking garage is released.
The rest of the top 10 are No. 2: The Grand Theatre in Elizabeth; No. 4: The Old Mason's Building in Uniontown; No. 6: the Westinghouse Atom Smasher in Forest Hills; No. 7: the Stables Building in Allegheny West; No. 9: Saints Peter and Paul Church, East Liberty; and No. 10: the Connellsville Armory in Connellsville.
The YPA's list will be officially unveiled at a celebration Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange, 1727 Blvd. of the Allies, Uptown.
Tickets are $25 for the public, $15 for YPA members and $5 for students. They can be purchased at www.youngpreservationists.org or at the door.
The event will include refreshments and a tour of the former Fifth Avenue High School, for which a renovation is proposed to create 65 loft rental apartments.
According to YPA's 2010 annual report, "The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania: Jobs that cannot be outsourced," more than $80 million has been invested in properties that have made its Top 10 lists.
Mr. Marshall said Waynesburg had lost some fine old structures, such as the Colonial Building earlier this year, and was in danger of losing more.
"We have a skyscraper from back in 1903 that has sat vacant for 30 years, and right now the windows are falling out," he said. "We have some buildings that could be restored, but the people who own them don't have money to put into them."
On the bright side, he said, the old Fort Jackson Hotel is being used by the county for offices, the County Courthouse has been renovated and several banks have been fixed up.
"We have a lot of nice things, but we have properties we would love to save. Maybe someone who has money will come and see us."
First Published May 3, 2011 12:00 am
