Lawrenceville : Development News

From the street, 3634 Penn Avenue seems like any other nondescript, underused building.  But once inside, beyond the red brick and glass-block windows, the space reveals itself as a haven for visual and performance art.

The building, which Monk McAllister leases, was once a former home brewing supply store.  With the help of the building’s owner, Monk transformed the store into a wide-open gallery and performance space comprising the entire first floor, and an upstairs living space.

Monk grew up in Pittsburgh, but left for New York City in 1977.  When family drew him back just a few years ago, he wanted to have an impact on the local arts scene. Through his arts venue he began to meet interesting people and a side of Pittsburgh he wasn’t previously aware of.  

Monk says developments in Pittsburgh’s art scene, like Penn Avenue Arts District and the monthly Unblurred Art Crawl, are great additions to the city, and he credit’s local nonprofit organizations and the work of individuals for these changes.

“It's almost as if the art scene in Pittsburgh has picked itself up by its own bootstraps,” he says.

But Laurie Trok can attest to the impact Monk himself has made.  A Pittsburgh-based artist, Trok says Monk gives local artists ample time and space to develop ideas.

“This is a very different gallery experience than any gallery I’ve ever shown in before,” Trok says.  “Monk is willing to work with you and take time to see your vision through, and he has a similar vision with you.”  

Trok’s latest show, titled “don’t go back to sleep,” will be on display at 3634 Penn Avenue, from December 10th through January 7th.  A reception will be held this Saturday, the 10th, from 7 to 11 p.m. featuring a live music performance at 8 p.m.

Trok says her abstract work is a bit like electronic music, in that she borrows from other things, remixing or reinventing found objects.  

“I like the idea of taking things that are nothing to anyone anymore…and making art out of them,” Trok says.

Although the space is sometimes known as Morris Levy Gallery or Monk’s Place, Monk likes to refer to the gallery simply by its address, 3634 Penn Avenue.

For more information: 412-681-0154.


Writer:  Andrew More
Source:  Monk McAllister, Laurie Trok

A public meeting will be held in the Strip District tomorrow allowing residents to weigh in on the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard Plan.

As the first of several public meetings, attendees will have a chance to learn about the project’s progress, as well as how to provide feedback on the corridor’s design and plans.  A series of interactive activities will generate information on how residents currently use the corridor, and how they’d like to use it in the future.

The Green Boulevard is a planning project looking at a six mile stretch of rail right-of-way between Downtown, Lawrenceville, and beyond.  The goal is to transform the existing rail corridor into a multi-modal green boulevard with river and park access, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and passenger rail service, in addition to freight traffic.  

Lena Andrews, URA planning and development specialist, says planning for this corridor is important because Lawrenceville and the Strip District are growing, but the infrastructure is lacking and in disrepair.

“In order for things to keep moving there needs to be new infrastructure in that area,” Andrews says.

The Green Boulevard is a continuation of the Mayor Ravenstahl’s Allegheny Riverfront Vision Plan, which was released earlier this year.  Planning for the boulevard is supported by a $1.5 million grant funded by HUD and DOT, and will continue through March 2013.

Allegheny Valley Railroad, a company who controls much of the rail right-of-way, recently received a $350 million commitment to develop a passenger rail service, which would include the Green Boulevard corridor.  Andrews says both plans are integrally related, “but we just need to make sure [the passenger rail] is part of a larger citywide vision.”

Andrews says earlier research showed a huge lack of open space and infrastructure needs in the corridor, and that the Green Boulevard could solve those problems by providing a new form of mobility, new connections to downtown and Oakland, and address storm water runoff.

“All of the things that the Riverfront Vision plan pointed out were really lacking in the Strip District and Lawrenceville, this right-of-way has an opportunity to help to solve,” Andrews says.

November 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Society for Contemporary Craft, 2100 Smallman St. in the Strip District.  For additional information, contact Lena Andrews, 412.255.6439.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Lena Andrews

Spaces Corners, a bookshop, gallery, and project space, opened last week in Lawrenceville’s Ice House studios.  The 425-square-foot shop is focused primarily on photography, with an emphasis on photo books published by independent presses.  An opening celebration will be held on November 4th.

Melissa Catanese, who owns and operates the shop, moved back to Pittsburgh this past spring after spending several years in New York City.  She had only lived in Pittsburgh for one year previously, but the city made an impression on her as a place supportive of experimentation.  This type of support isn’t widely available in other cities, she says.

“There’s a lot of opportunity, lots of grants for artists, lots of available space.  Everything about it right now” is supportive, notes Catanese.  “You have room to breathe and to be able to realize the dream that you have.”

Catanese says she wanted to share the phenomena of photography through the photo book with Pittsburgh because there wasn’t anything like Spaces Corners.  The shop is sponsored in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The books featured at Space Corners are published in small numbers, usually between 500 and 1,000 copies in an edition.  And many of the books aren’t available through online retailers like Amazon, Catanese says.  In addition to photography, the shop also features artists’ books, zines, and monographs.

The open house celebration on November 4th will feature refreshments, and an exhibition of work by local photographer Ed Panar.  Panar’s photo book, Animals That Saw Me, will be published in November by The Ice Plant, a small press in Los Angeles, followed by a book signing at Spaces Corners.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Melissa Catanese

Shannopin’s Village, a project planned for Lawrenceville’s Butler Street, has received a much needed loan from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.  The $439,000 loan will assist in construction of the infill development project, and is met with a $63,000 Streetface grant.

Developer Kris Senko says after several years of planning, this loan from the URA fills a crucial financing gap and will allow the project to move forward.

“Without Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and the URA this just wouldn't have happened,” Senko says.  “That was the biggest piece to the whole puzzle for us.”  

The project consists of two new buildings, at 3810 & 3822 Butler Street, each featuring up to two commercial storefronts and two rental apartments.  A new street, Shannopin Lane, will be constructed between the two buildings.

The 1,350-square-foot apartments will include two bedrooms, one and a half bath, and off-street, rear parking.  The first-floor commercial spaces will be designed for restaurant, office, or retail space.  Original plans called for a series of additional town homes, but the project has been scaled back to include the Butler Street structures only.

Senko says his development team has worked closely with the Lawrenceville Corporation and Lawrenceville United, and that those relationships helped facilitate the URA loan.

The facades of Shannopin’s Village have been designed to fit the historical context of existing structures on Butler Street, which made the project eligible to a Streetface grant from the URA.  

Senko says excavation of the Shannopin’s Village site will begin later this month, with an expected project completion date of spring 2013.

In addition to this project, Senko Construction is currently partnering with October Development in the construction of Doughboy Square’s new townhouse development.  


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Kris Senko

This Friday over 300 students from Pittsburgh-area schools will participate in the Third Annual Preserve Pittsburgh Summit.  Hosted by the Young Preservationists Association (YPA) of Pittsburgh, the event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Heinz History Center in the Strip District.

YPA President Dan Holland says the event is designed to teach young people what it takes to bring old buildings back to life, and to encourage engagement with historic structures in their own schools and communities.

“Our goal is to get young people reengaged in the community, and to help shape a better future in their respective communities,” Holland says. “We want Pittsburgh to be a center for youth activity and innovation.”

The year’s theme is Change and Continuity. As part of the summit, seven different tours will lead participants through the Strip District, Lawrenceville, and Downtown Pittsburgh.  Holland says these tours will showcase historic properties that have both changed and remained the same through preservation.

The tours are organized by themes, including food, waterfront, loft housing, bridges, Main Street Lawrenceville, and a downtown walking tour.

Holland says he hopes the summit can instill within young people the confidence and the ability to do similar type restoration projects in their own community.  He hopes students can become motivators for restoring historic properties.

“If they go back to their neighborhood and they see that there's a vacant building, they will then be able to say, this building doesn't have to be torn down, it can actually be restored,” Holland says.

Keynote speakers include State Senator Jim Ferlo, city council members Patrick Dowd and Natalia Rudak, and Felicia Mayro, Director of the Neighborhood Preservation Center in New York City.

Tours are currently full, but $10 tickets to the lunch are still available.  For more information contact the YPA: 412-205-3385.


Writer:  Andrew Moore
Source:  Dan Holland

A new gastropub, Alchemy N Ale, has recently opened in Upper Lawrenceville. Located in the former Mama Rosa building, owner David Santa says gastropubs are simply pubs which specialize in serving high-quality food.

Gastropubs first appeared in England during the mid-1990s, challenging the concept of conventional bar food, and remodeling classic pub interiors for a more trendy setting. And Santa says he has done this exact thing with an established dining space in Pittsburgh.

"We took it and revamped it," Santa says, "Exactly what I think a gastropub is--taking an old pub and putting a new spin on it...making it fresh, cool, and new again. And we've definitely raised the bar on what food should be."

The menu includes fish and chips, an Alchemy N Ale burger, lobster deviled eggs, steak frites, and crab stuffed pierogi. Sunday brunch, including county-fried chicken and biscuits, espresso cured salmon, and a protein heavy Irish breakfast, is served with a Mimosa or Bloody Mary.

Santa says the atmosphere is similar to a turn-of-the-century, English-style, rustic pub. Reclaimed barn wood is used on walls, as well as the custom-made furniture.

Santa has owned night clubs and lounges in Pittsburgh and Fort Lauderdale, but this is his first restaurant. He is joined by Chef Patrick MacFarlane, formerly of the Tribeca Grill in New York City.

Santa has worked in other neighborhoods throughout Pittsburgh, but says he is happy to be a new addition to Lawrenceville.

"It's a breath of fresh air, it's just very nice to be wrapped with a great group of people here in Lawrenceville," he says.

Alchemy N Ale, 5147 Butler Street, Lawrenceville, 412-252-2156, Wednesday - Sunday.


Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: David Santa

The growing technology hub in Lawrenceville has just added another new business. nanoGriptech, LLC announced last week that they would be expanding their operation to the RIDC Chocolate Factory building in the Lawrenceville Technology Center.

nanoGriptech was founded by Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Metin Sitti in 2009, as a spin-off from the university. The 2,408 square-foot space will primarily be used as office and laboratory.

"Lawrenceville is a great and developing area for high-tech start-ups like ours," Sitti says. "The Chocolate Factory is a great new building with both office and manufacturing infrastructure, which is a great positive for us to hopefully expand in this space in the future."

The company's work is inspired by animals and insects commonly found in nature. The unique climbing ability of geckos and insects are due to micro and nano-scaled foot-hairs--abilities that nanoGriptech hopes to synthesize and recreate for new, innovative purposes.

At their space in Lawrenceville, nanoGriptech will aim to develop and mass-produce repeatable polymer adhesives for a variety of product applications.

RIDC President Donald Smith says this expansion to Lawrenceville reflects that neighborhood's emergence as a community that attracts the young talent which is fueling these start-up companies.

"I think this reflects the emerging Pittsburgh economy where university driven spin-outs are making up an increasing proportion of the companies...and it's not just an Oakland phenomenon," Smith says. "And this is just the latest in a long line of successions that I think shows that the regional strategy is paying dividends."


Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Donald Smith, Metin Sitti

When it came to naming a new development of townhouses in Lawrenceville, Emeka Onwugbenu decided to put the question to neighborhood residents. And so after conducting a naming contest in partnership with Lawrenceville United, the sloping, island-like parcel of land on Penn Avenue came to be known as Croghan's Edge.

The townhouses, which are designed by mossArchitects, will feature a combination of corrugated metal, cedar wood, and cement siding facades. E Properties and Development held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site on Tuesday.

Onwugbenu says the triangular, sloping site was initially viewed as a challenge from a design perspective, but that they were able to engage mossArchitects to overcome that. "We turned what seemed like site problems into opportunities," Onwugbenu says.

"Working with moss, they kind of created this box-like feel to it, where they pushed, pulled, and stretched different levels of boxes to create townhouses you've not seen in Lawrenceville before," Onwugbenu says.

The interior spaces will be in keeping with a contemporary/modern feel, Onwugbenu says, including nine-foot ceilings on all levels, designer kitchen layouts, and granite countertops. E Properties expects the homes to be move-in ready by September.

The name Croghan's Edge refers to George Croghan, who was know as "the king of the traders." One of the area's first settlers Croghan built his home in the vicinity in the 1760s, long before modern Lawrenceville was conceived.

The new homes will be located in a part of Lawrenceville which hasn't seen as much redevelopment activity as the bustling Butler Street corridor. Onwugbenu hopes this transformation of an under-utilized space into new and unique housing is a trend that other builders will follow.

The development is breaking ground in more ways than one, and "speaks to the next level of growth in the area," Onwugbenu says. "I feel Croghan's Edge is the continuation of the renaissance [and] rejuvenation of Lawrenceville."

Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Emeka Onwugbenu, E Properties and Development

What better way to enjoy Pittsburgh's great neighborhoods and architecture than on a bike? That's the goal of Pedal Pittsburgh's 18th annual ride scheduled for Sunday, May 22.

A fundraiser for the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP), the various bike rides will all begin and end at SouthSide Works. Attracting more than 2,000 riders each year, it's the only ride of its size within the city limits says Jennifer Fox, director of administration at CDCP.

"It's not about the first one to the finish line," she explains. "It's really about a leisurely ride that's going to take you past some fantastic views and places." With routes ranging from six to 60 miles, and many refreshment stops along the way, riders and families of all skill levels can take part.

The six routes travel through the South Side, Northside, Lawrenceville, Squirrel Hill and Mount Washington, giving cyclists--especially those who travel the entire 60 miles--a great way to experience the city and its neighborhoods, says Fox.

One group joining the ride is Team East End Brewing Company and OTB Bicycle Café (EEB/OTB). The first 50 riders to RSVP for their team will get half of their registration covered for the event and a Team EEB/OTB t-shirt.

This year, Fox explains, CDCP will have activities for riders at its rest stops to showcase what good planning and design brings to communities.

Over the past 10 years Fox has coordinated Pedal Pittsburgh, she says they have consistently seen more people get involved. "It's amazing to see that many people on bikes," she adds.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at SouthSide Works, with the first group of riders taking off at 7 a.m.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Jennifer Fox, CDCP

Pittsburgh now boasts more Elm Street districts. Manchester, Central Northside, Troy Hill, Lawrenceville, East Liberty and the South Side Slopes were all deemed Elm Street districts by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, with Mt. Washington and Bloomfield-Garfield receiving overdue funds.

As a complement to its Mainstreets Program, the Elm Street Program focuses on the neighborhoods surrounding Mainstreet districts, says Elm Street Program Coordinator Josette Fitzgibbons. Recipients of the funds must focus on five areas: clean, safe and green; neighbors and economy; design; image and identity; and sustainable organizations.

Each community is given funds for a one-year Elm Street planning process, says Fitzgibbons, which Mt. Washington and Bloomfield-Garfield were late in receiving. Both neighborhoods were designated as Elm Street districts in 2009, but due to state budget cuts the funding was not available.

Bloomfield-Garfield has its plan ready, say Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Deputy Director Aggie Brose and its resident Elm Street Coordinator Kathryn Vargas. They plan on using funds for vacant lot and street cleanups, outreach and community groups. "The residents feel ownership over the planning and outcome," says Vargas, adding that she hopes more residents will get involved as plans develop further.

Mt. Washington will use its Elm Street funds to engage residents and increase curb appeal by cultivating growth, development and community investment, says MWCDC Executive Director Chris Beichner. "It will help us to attract a different population of our community to become involved," adds Program Manager Greg Panza.

Fitzgibbons says it is unknown whether the usual five years of operational funding that take place after year one will occur, depending on the state budget.

For now, it's important to work together to create stable plans that include both community programs and initiatives like streetscape improvement, she says. "It's the combination of the human and the bricks and mortar together that make it a successful program."

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Writer: Alex Audia
Sources: Josette Fitzgibbons, URA
               Chris Beichner and Greg Panza, MWCDC
               Aggie Brose and Kathryn Vargas, BGC

When he returned to Pittsburgh in 2005 after studying art in England, Nicholas Brungo worked on bikes at REI. And now, six years later, he opened Love Bikes in Lawrenceville.

The tiny 400-square-foot store is mainly a service shop at the moment, but Brungo sells Charge Bikes and hopes to sell custom bikes in the future.

He chose Lawrenceville because his grandmother lived there, so he was familiar with the area and saw its transformation over the years. The neighborhood is flat and has a good riding population, he thought, but no bike shop. "I knew a lot of people that lived here that rode bikes and had nowhere to go that was close," he says.

He found the raw space off 44th Street behind Arsenal Lanes, and thought it would be a good place to provide commuters with everyday repairs. Eventually, Brungo would like to host events with other biking organizations in the area, such as Bike Pittsburgh.

Love Bikes is located at 212 1/2 44th Street. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Nicholas Brungo, Love Bikes

Photograph copyright Alex Audia

The Lawrenceville Corporation (LC), along with its Mainstreets Committee, announced six upcoming events to receive funds for its 2011 Community Event Microgrant Program.

In its 14th year, Art All Night will be the Microgrant Program's first event, which is coming up at the end of April. Others that received funds include the Lawrenceville Blossom Tour, Hand(Made) in Marriage, the Artists' Studios Tour, the Hospitality House Tour and the Joy of Cookies Cookie Tour.

Ranging from $100 to $1,500 per project, these events are meant to achieve the three major goals of neighborhood revitalization: attracting new visitors and customers, contributing to Lawrenceville's long-term growth and community organizations working together to create positive change.

"We want people to feel like they can get engaged easily," says Patrick Bowman, marketing and communications coordinator at the LC. "They're in a community that supports their ideas and supports a greater approach to community and civic involvement."

As of 2008, the LC reached graduate status in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Mainstreets Pittsburgh program and gained the ability to enact special projects like the Microgrant Program, says Bowman. Other projects include neighborhood marketing initiatives and a sign grant program that helps businesses with new signage.

"It's all about making the Lawrenceville business district and the community a great place to come," adds Bowman.

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Writer: Alex Audia
Source: Patrick Bowman, Lawrenceville Corporation

Former Café du Jour co-owner Dan Robinson left Pittsburgh three years ago for an extended journey covering 26 countries. Many of the flavors Robinson experienced in his travels can be found on the menu of his newest restaurant Kaleidoscope Café, housed in the former River Moon Café space in Lawrenceville.

"People say that you can't have something for everyone, but I tend to disagree. You can come in here for dinner and you can spend $8 or you can spend $58. It all depends on what you want," says Robinson, who opened Kaleidoscope Café in mid-November with co-owner Erin Mangan. The menu is self-described as "American eclectic", forgoing the trendy Post-It Note-sized carte in favor of a large selection of creatively adapted sandwiches, salads, pastas, and entrees. Robinson's mention of the price range wasn't an overstatement, the $7.50 Memphis BBQ Burger sounds as good as the $23 pan seared Basa.

Kaleidoscope has done away with the white tablecloths from the River Moon Café days. "As far the décor goes, all my tabletops will be made by different artists, and you can actually buy them if you want. The interior is meant to be kind of funky. We have an exploding kaleidoscope on the wall made from foam insulation," says Robinson.

Kaleidoscope Café is located at 108 43rd Street. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Writer: John Farley
Source: Dan Robinson, Kaleidoscope Cafe

Photograph copyright John Farley

While the neighborhoods adjacent to the Allegheny River have undergone a heavy transition from industrial zones to thriving commercial districts in the last two decades, their connection to the river itself was lost long ago following the advent of industrialism, leaving a large swath of land underutilized and ecologically impaired. On Monday, the City released its sweeping 77-page, 20-year Allegheny Riverfront Vision Plan, designed to reorient the city toward the riverfront and generate new transit systems, housing, and businesses.

Since 2009, Mayor Ravenstahl and the City of Pittsburgh, Riverlife, and the URA have been working with consultants Perkins Eastman Architects to develop the multi-phase plan that covers 6.5 miles of sustainable development along the Allegheny riverfront from Downtown through Highland Park. The plan incorporates several major redevelopment projects already on the table, such as the proposed Green River Boulevard project, which entails a new commuter rail line, riverfront commercial and residential development, and environmentally-minded landscaping. Another component includes Buncher Co.'s redevelopment of the Terminal Produce Building on Smallman Street, as well as the construction of new residential buildings. A proposed trolley and new bike lines would better connect the Strip to Lawrenceville and take the traffic burden off of Butler Street, Smallman Street, and Penn Avenue.

The plan includes a lengthy list of initiatives to be implemented in different phases, such as the creation of new tax credits to aid potential developers, improvement of the sewage overflow system to clean up the river, the reintroduction of native plant and animal species, a focus on developmental "hot spots" like Lawrenceville's Heppenstall Plant, the repurposing and maintenance of several historic structures, and the movement of Strip District and Lawrenceville industry to a new site near the 62nd Street Bridge.

The initial phases laid out in the Allegheny Riverfront Vision are predominantly public projects to be initiated by the URA and the City of Pittsburgh in collaboration with a 16-member steering committee, with the assumption that these projects will quickly draw in private investment for the later and less concrete parts of the plan.

An event is being held to celebrate the plan on March 14 at 6:30 p.m. in The Roberto Clemente Museum at 3339 Penn Avenue.

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Writer: John Farley
Sources:  Joanna Doven, press secretary for the Mayor's Office