For years, holiday revelers have savored the sweet collection of gingerbread houses on display in PPG Place and its Wintergarden space Downtown.
But not for much longer. These homes are being displaced by new development.
This is the last season they will be exhibited in the Wintergarden, which will be undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation next year.
Highwoods Properties, the PPG Place owner, is trying to find a spot for the display off site, said Andy Wisniewski, the company’s vice president in Pittsburgh.
“We are working with some community groups to hopefully keep the gingerbread house display going at a different venue,” he said in an email Wednesday.
The gingerbread houses have been a holiday staple at PPG Place since 2002, when hotels concocted the first ones as part of a competition to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.
Over the years, the competition has evolved, with individuals, families, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownie troops, clubs, senior citizens, students, and chefs joining in the fun to craft their own cookie cottages to benefit the Free Care Fund.
This season, a city of gingerbread houses fills one side of the Wintergarden and wraps around its center Christmas tree. The structures range from the humble to the elaborate, from whimsical to poignant. Many are adorned with marshmallows, gum drops, candy canes or other trimmings.
Some this year feature Pittsburgh Strong or Stronger than Hate themes honoring the victims of the Tree of Life massacre.
There also are gingerbread creations in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, Fort Ligonier, Snoopy and his dog house, a merry-go-round, the Mister Rogers trolley, and tributes to the movies “A Christmas Story” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
The display runs through Jan. 1. The news that the gingerbread concoctions would be leaving their longtime home at PPG Place surprised and disappointed some visitors Wednesday.
“It’s kind of bah, humbug, isn’t it, not to have this here? said Lisa Reeping of Murrysville, as she checked out the houses with her husband, Jeff, who was visiting for his first time.
Over the years, Mrs. Reeping has made it a tradition to see the gingerbread collection with her mother as part of a shopping day Downtown.
“With the ice rink and the Christmas market, trying to bring people into the city and the holiday spirit, I just think they should keep that all together. That’s a shame,” she said.
Lily and Ron Johnson drove from Waynesburg to spend time at the Wintergarden and the Christmas market in nearby Market Square.
“It’s a little heartbreaking. This has been nice,” Mrs. Johnson said when she learned that the collection no longer would be housed in the Wintergarden. “Unfortunately, time changes everything.”
While the gingerbread houses will be leaving, Mr. Wisniewski said Highwoods plans to keep the exhibit of life-size Santas from around the world on display in the Wintergarden. Highwoods also will be adding new Christmas decor throughout the PPG Place complex, he said.
The gingerbread homes are leaving to make way for a remodeling that includes a new heating and air conditioning system, the addition of restrooms, a kitchen facility, audio and visual upgrades, and architectural enhancements.
Raleigh, N.C.-based Highwoods and partner Bottleneck Management, owner of the City Works restaurant in 2 PPG Place, are spending more than $3 million on the renovations, which should be finished in the second quarter of 2019.
The goal is to make the Wintergarden the “premier conference banquet facility in Western Pennsylvania,” Mr. Wisniewski said.
Once completed, the space will be available to customers of PPG Place and EQT Plaza, also owned by Highwoods, as well as to the outside business community and general public for meetings, weddings, and banquets.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: December 20, 2018, 12:30 p.m.