Saint Peter and Paul Church on Larimer Ave in East Liberty (Pittsburgh: appointed, apartments)

[LIRefugee]

I recently moved to Shadyside from elsewhere and live very close to East Liberty. I have spent some time wandering around that neighborhood and have read a bit about it's history and I find it to be fascinating as one of the great urban renewal blunders of 1960s America. One building that caught my attention was the church that seems to have problems with the cladding on its two spires. I finally drove past it recently and was disappointed to see that it is both designated as a historic landmark and falling into disrepair.

I'm just curious if anyone reading this forum knows anything about this church and its history.

[Goinback2011]

Here's a link with photos of the inside:

Eye on Heritage

[gg]

Preservation Photo

Lots of Catholic Church's go down. So much money heading overseas and just a religion that is dwindling it seems. Awful lot of controversy in that religion with all the scandals not helping. Hopefully the Diocese will sell it off so some other church will pick it up. Sure is a shame.

Here is more about it.

Preservation Photo

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Preservation Photo

Hopefully the Diocese will sell it off so some other church will pick it up. Sure is a shame.

Here is more about it.

Preservation Photo

The Catholic Diocese does not own the church. From your own link:

With the closing of the steel mills and the population exodus that followed, Pittsburgh did not have the resources to support it's numerous ethnic parishes. In 1992 St. Peter and Paul merged with 5 other congregations to form the new St. Charles Lwanga parish. The St Peter and Paul Church closed after the merger and was later sold.

From City-Data's listing on property valuations:

130 Larimer Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Find on map >>
Owner: EVERLASTING COVENANT CHURCH
Owner description: Corporation
Fair market land value: $63,100
Fair market total value: $216,900
County assessed value for land: $63,100
County assessed value total: $216,900
Local assessed value for land: $63,100
Local assessed value total: $216,900
Assessment for tax year: 2010
Sum of area of land: 19,373 square feet
Land use: Churches, Public Worship
Tax status: Exempt
Class: Other

Dwelling:
Architectural style: Colonial
Number of stories: 2
Year property was built: 1909
Exterior wall: Brick
Roof: Shingle
Basement: Full
Grade: Good +
Condition: Fair
Total rooms: 12
Bedrooms: 4
Full baths: 3
Half baths: 1
Heating and cooling: Central Heat
Fireplaces: 0
Garage for: 0 cars
Total living area: 5,198 square feet



Read more: https://www.city-data.com/allegheny-c...#ixzz1hkpB8p90

[gg]

Originally Posted by Scott2187

The Catholic Diocese does not own the church. From your own link

It was a Catholic Church that folded like so many do. St. Nicholas on Rt. 28 is another one they are letting fall apart after they made Penn Dot move the entire road to save the church at the tax payer's expense. Yet another mess. Not exactly good business people.

[LIRefugee]

Population loss will certainly have detrimental effects on the viability of a church. The insides look beautiful, it's a shame a real use can't be found for it, but it will probably take the repopulation of East Liberty and Larimer for that to happen. It's amazing to me how empty those neighborhoods look the farther you get from Penn Avenue.

It apparently is known officially as the "Everlasting Convenant Cathedral" and received "technical assistance" from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation in 2008.

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

It was a Catholic Church that folded like so many do. St. Nicholas on Rt. 28 is another one they are letting fall apart after they made Penn Dot move the entire road to save the church at the tax payer's expense. Yet another mess. Not exactly good business people.

That was never disputed. You stated:

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Hopefully the Diocese will sell it off so some other church will pick it up.

That has already happened, it is now owned by Everlasting Covenant Church, which is not a part of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. As far as St. Nick's is concerned, here's some older articles:

Fight to preserve historic St. Nicholas Church fails - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Parishioners and preservationists demanded that PennDOT spare St. Nicholas, and the highway agency eventually relented.

The diocese, which favored the initial plan to demolish the aging building, closed the church in 2004 and looked for buyers.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/pitts...ally-torn.html

[gg]

Originally Posted by Scott2187

...maybe-st-nicholas-will-finally-torn

Lets hope. Sure was a typical mess.

[Caladium]

Beautiful building, but the thing I've often wondered about churches is what else they can be used for if another church doesn't want it. I know some get turned into libraries or museums, but it seems almost sacreligious (not to mention impractical) to convert a church into office space or apartments.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Beautiful building, but the thing I've often wondered about churches is what else they can be used for if another church doesn't want it. I know some get turned into libraries or museums, but it seems almost sacreligious (not to mention impractical) to convert a church into office space or apartments.

Or to brew beer where the alter once was...