On Wednesday, February 6, the Historic Review Commission for the city of Pittsburgh approved the proposal to expand the Mexican War Streets historic district.
The proposal will now move on to city council for its approval.
The application proposed that the current city historic district, which currently encompasses streets between West North Avenue and Sampsonia Way from Drovers Way to Sherman Avenue, expand several blocks deeper into the Central Northside and four blocks west to Reddour Street.
The proposed expansion would allow the city historic district to match the preexisting national historic district.
The application was submitted by former Central Northside resident Kirk Burkley in collaboration with the Central Northside Neighborhood Council and the Mexican War Streets Society.
The CNNC believes that expanding the historic district would be beneficial to the community who would have more leverage in dictating infill housing and demolition projects on those streets because the HRC would review proposed projects in the historic district.
“I think it’s important, especially with the infill, that we have some say in the character and scale of new construction in the neighborhood,” said Randi Marshak, CNNC vice president. “We urge city council to take the final step and expand the Mexican War Streets Historic District city boundaries.”
Marshak noted that studies done by the United States Housing and Urban Development Department show that Historic Districts include a wide variety of housing types and help long term residents to continue living in their homes.
Studies further prove that historic districts promote diversity among their residents.
“City council designating this area as a city historic district will not only preserve a great community asset of historic architecture but also our greatest asset of a diverse community.”
After reviewing the boundaries, the HRC initially excluded several blocks, including Alpine Avenue and blocks of Sampsonia Way and Jacksonia Street, because there were not enough intact historic buildings or the buildings weren’t contiguous enough to be considered a historic district.
However, despite the concerns, the HRC approved the entire district as it was originally proposed.
The proposal will be passed on to City Council for approval in early March.
