For May, we asked you to share why you #LoveYourHD. We loved seeing participation from around the Rust Belt and all the great historic districts that protect and preserve our built environment. Instameets were held in Wheeling, Indianapolis, Toledo, and Columbus in local historic districts to celebrate #LoveYourHD during Preservation Month. Hereās a few of our favorite moments from the month of May that celebrate why you #LoveYourHD!
German Village, Columbus, Ohio
In German Village, eighth grade students gave some actual love to the local historic district at a workshop. We love seeing youth involved in hands-on activities in preserving historic places. This asks a good question: For what types of activities could you use student volunteer helpĀ in your local historic district?
One of Indyās finest examples of Art Deco, the former Coca-Cola bottling plant,Ā is about to be redeveloped. Thanks to its local designation, the project will have to obtain approvals from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission before altering this one-of-a-kind terracotta faƧade.
Local designation preserves distinctive places until the right new use and owner comes along. Weāre glad to hear this Wheeling gem will be turned into apartments.
A post shared by WYP (@wheelingyoungpreservationists) on
Cleveland, Ohio
The Cleveland Restoration Society featured Cleveland historic districts along with updates from the Cleveland Landmarks Commission. We know that attending your local commission meeting and being a local advocate is important to show our elected officials and appointed boards that preservation is important in our communities!
Weāre thankful that the use of local historic districts prevented the unnecessary demolition of so many historic resources in our community. To think this beauty could have been lostā¦
Our local historic districts preserve the historic neighborhood fabric so, instead of demolition, our historic resources can wait until someone is able to show them love and invest in their future. This before and after in Fort Wayne shows the potential every historic property has to come back to life.
Local historic districts protect outstanding architecture in our communities. This house could never be built today. Weāre glad to hear itās being restored by a sympathetic new owner.
Thanks to everyone who tagged photos with #LoveYourHD! We encourage you to continue spreading the good work of your local historic districts and built support for their value to your community. Check out the #LoveYourHD tag on Instagram for even more historic district goodness!
If you’ve registered for our Pittsburgh summit, you should have received an email on Thursday outlining all the great tour options available next weekend. We want to recap these options and share with those who are unable to attend what we’ve planned for our first meetup!
Friday, April 8 Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists Launch Party!
The Inn on the Mexican War Streets, photo by Dan SpeicherWith the help of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mexican War Streets Society, the RBCoYP is launching the PGH Summit with a bang at the Inn on the Mexican War Streets Bed & Breakfast! The Inn is housed in the historic Boggs Mansion (1888) in Pittsburgh’s Northside.
We’re starting at 7pm, so join us when you get to town (no rush!) to learn about the mansion’s rich history and meet your newest preservation friends! With 70 people from 6 states attending RBCoYP’s Pittsburgh Summit, this party will be a great time to relax and mingle before a weekend exploring all Pittsburgh has to offer.
AND THAT’S NOT ALL! In honor of the craft breweries and distilleries that are playing a role in the revitalization of cities large and small throughout the Rust Belt, we are holding the first ever #beersavesplaces Rust Belt BYOB Craft Beer Competition!
Learn more about the competition and how you can feature your favorite brew (be it beer, cider, or soda) from your home town!
And if you opted to take care of your own lodging for the weekend and still haven’t booked accommodations, please consider the Inn on the Mexican War Streets! RBC attendees are being offered a special rate of $135/night, which includes breakfast.
Saturday, April 9 A Mexican War Streets Walkabout, 11a – 1pm
Join all the Rust Belt Coalition Summit attendees for a walk around the Mexican War Streets, one of Pittsburgh’s favorite National Historic Districts.
The neighborhood dates back to 1848, around the time of the Mexican War, and many of the streets – Buena Vista, Monterey, Palo Alto, Resaca, Sherman, and Taylor – are named after battles or generals of the war. You’ll see some of the best examples of Pittsburgh row houses, wonderful community gardens, a firehouse that will be converted into a craft brewery, a sanctuary for endangered writers across the world, and a local gem known as Randyland.
Afternoon Breakout Tours!!
We asked, you responded! Thanks to all who took our survey, and here are our winners! If you are joining us in PGH, register today to reserve your spot! Sadly, you can only go on one of these three tours. Unless you’ve invented time travel… in that case, we have many more questions for you!
“Crossroads of the World”: A Hill District Foot Tour / 2:30pm – 5:30pm
From jazz musicians to photographers to playwrights, Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood provided a cultural melting pot where artistic genius was fostered. Today, demolition by neglect and redevelopment threaten many culturally important sites throughout the Hill.
Terri Baltimore, Director of Community Outreach at the Hill House Association, will take us on a walk through the neighborhood highlighting and telling stories about the buildings and (more importantly) the people of āLittle Harlem.ā Space for this tour is limited to 18 people, so register today!
Northside -> Downtown -> Mt Washington Bike Tour / 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Downtown. Central Business District. Golden Triangle. Whatever you want to call it, we’re going to bike it! And when we’re finished, we’ll take a furnicular up to the top of Mount Washington and see the best-known view of the city.
We’re renting bikes so you can leave yours at home, but don’t forget your bike helmet! You can expect to bike about 6 miles on this tour, and don’t worry – we’re staying in one of the few flat areas of Pittsburgh! Space for this tour is limited to 20 people, so register today!
Steppin’ Out: An Urban Hike on the City Steps / 2:30pm – 5:30pm
The system of Pittsburgh City Steps are the city’s most unique form of transportation, and offer some of the most stunning views of the surrounding areas.
You can expect to hike and step about 3 miles on this adventure. We’ll end at Wigle Barrelhouse and Whiskey Garden, where we’ll get a tour of the Barrelhouse and soon-to-open Ciderhouse. Many thanks to Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh for sponsoring the tour!
Sunday, April 10 A Sunday with Carrie / 11am – 1pm
Carrie Furnace, photograph by David DiCelloThe Carrie Blast Furnace is one of the few still-standing furnaces from the days of Big Steel. Part of the Homestead Steel Works (of Homestead Strike Fame), it was one of the largest mills in the United States and one piece of Andrew Carnegieās steel empire.
Join all of the Rust Belt Coalition Summit attendees on a tour of the Furnace, led by Rivers of Steel’s knowledgeable guides. Cost is $15 per person and can be paid at time of registration or at the door. Please register here for this special event.
After the tour, those who can’t get enough of the RBCoYP can join us in Braddock at Brew Gentleman for a little weekend wind-down.
Packing List
A rain jacket, umbrella, or both! Let’s get real here people; it’s April in Pittsburgh.
A 6-pack or growler of your favorite local beer, cider, or soda!
If you want to go on the bike tour, bring your helmet! We’ll have some extra on hand just in case.
Bring fun, because we won’t have any!
That’s about it! We can’t wait to see you next weekend! And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at rbc@youngpreservationists.org
With the fantastic weather this weekend, a couple buddies and I decided to climb up some of the City Steps here on the North SideĀ and take in theĀ viewsĀ of Pittsburgh. We ended up climbing much higher, but I don’t want to use up all my best material this early. You can read more about the Pittsburgh City Steps on YPA PGH’s blog.
There is no doubt that we do things a bit differently. Let’s get together to talk strategies, preservation campaigns, DIY projects and more in Pittsburgh! This PGH weekend meet up will likely be the first but not the last. ā¤ļø
RBCoYP! 