Demolished Buildings in Pittsburgh (Scranton, Beaver: apartment, houses, neighborhoods)

[Goodjules]

Just discovered this video of historic buildings and neighborhoods that were demolished mostly in the 50s and 60s in the name of "progress".


Lost Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh (Demolished) - YouTube

[Goodjules]

Just found an article on America's oldest cities. Pittsburgh is in the top 10. San Francisco is number 11.

America's Oldest Cities | Newgeography.com

[SteelCityRising]

Although that video is depressing I will still say that Pittsburgh has done a much better job in terms of historic preservation than many other peer cities. Minneapolis, for example, while being an amazing city in its own right, has very little "history" left thanks to "urban renewal" while its twin, St. Paul, is just the opposite, with a historic vibe.

I continue to be impressed by the contrast between old and new in Downtown Pittsburgh. One of my favorite blocks is Liberty Avenue right around its intersection with Seventh Avenue. I love getting off Crosstown Boulevard at the Seventh Avenue exit when I'm making my deliveries and just admiring getting closer and closer to that historic row of buildings set amid modern skyscrapers.


Distant view shortly after leaving the offramp.




A little closer.




A little closer.




POW! Right in the kisser!


With that being said I hope a developer will build a new building to fill that "gap-tooth" that currently serves as a narrow parking lot. I also hope to see all of these buildings restored to their former grandeur. Such a great block!

[SteelCityRising]

I think the biggest losses in the city in terms of history were probably during the "redevelopment" of the Lower Hill for the Civic Arena, the "new" East Liberty that proved to be a huge failure, the "ahead of the curve" Allegheny Commons Mall on the North Side, as well as the decimation of the urban fabric of Deutschtown (East Allegheny) for I-279. It's still a pipe dream of mine to build a deck-park over I-279 someday to help re-establish the grid in that neighborhood.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I think the biggest losses in the city in terms of history were probably during the "redevelopment" of the Lower Hill for the Civic Arena, the "new" East Liberty that proved to be a huge failure, the "ahead of the curve" Allegheny Commons Mall on the North Side, as well as the decimation of the urban fabric of Deutschtown (East Allegheny) for I-279. It's still a pipe dream of mine to build a deck-park over I-279 someday to help re-establish the grid in that neighborhood.

There was also the destruction of Beaver Avenue to make 65, along with the near-complete obliteration of Schweitzer Lock.

We did dodge some major bullets though. There were plans to demolish all of the Mexican War Streets and replace them with giant "towers in the park." They also planned to turn East Carson Street into a highway and demolish everything residential/commercial towards the river, to make a giant, uninhabited industrial area ala Chateau.

[FreightTrainRunning]

Here's a blog post on Null Space about the fifties plan to raze the War Streets and put up giant apartment blocks.

[LIRefugee]

Originally Posted by juliegt

Just found an article on America's oldest cities. Pittsburgh is in the top 10. San Francisco is number 11.

America's Oldest Cities | Newgeography.com

Pittsburgh is nowhere close to being the 10th oldest city in the US, but it may very well be the 10th oldest MAJOR city in the US as compared to, for example, Salem, MA, or Saint Augustine, FL. It depends on how you define "major".

I think of Pittsburgh as either being the last colonial city or the first post-colonial city, or both.

And that Mexican War Streets destructo-plan looks atrocious. I'm glad it didn't happen.

[Debbie1125]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Allegheny Commons Mall on the North Side, as well as the decimation of the urban fabric of Deutschtown (East Allegheny) for I-279. It's still a pipe dream of mine to build a deck-park over I-279 someday to help re-establish the grid in that neighborhood.

The total decimation of Deutschtown and Sweitzer (spelling?) Loch to make way for I-279 is an atrocity of the highest order as far as I'm concerned. An entire neighborhood destroyed.

[aw_now_what]

The total decimation of Deutschtown and Sweitzer (spelling?) Loch to make way for I-279 is an atrocity of the highest order as far as I'm concerned. An entire neighborhood destroyed.

There's no disputing that that sucked, but it happened 30+ years ago. The thing that we CAN do something about is the incremental destruction of what's left of Deutschtown, particularly but not limited to East Deutschtown. Some of Pittsburgh's most historic and oldest houses lie on both sides of the highway, but are being demolished due to both blight and development pressures.

[FreightTrainRunning]

Originally Posted by Debbie1125

The total decimation of Deutschtown and Sweitzer (spelling?) Loch to make way for I-279 is an atrocity of the highest order as far as I'm concerned. An entire neighborhood destroyed.

The Beaver Avenue shopping district on the other side of The Lower North Side was totally demolished for Rt 65. Here's some photos of it from Pitt's archive.