Facadism on south side of Penn Avenue: (6016 and 6018 Penn Ave)

Stand on the northwest corner of Penn and Sheridan and look across to the south side of Penn Avenue. Take note of the modern, luxury apartments that hover above the restored terracotta facades of early twentieth century structures. Holding your mobile device up to view the same street scene in November 1937, can you pick out which two building facades remain? Facadism is a preservation technique that retains the original street scene without preserving the actual buildings. These historic facades over modern apartments shows the tension between historic preservation and private development in an urban neighborhood.

Sources:

Belko, Mark. “Walnut Capital will preserve two historic East Liberty storefronts.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 4, 2015.

“East Liberty Commercial Historic District: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.” Prepared by Michael Eversmeyer and Angelique Bamberg. National Park Service. November 3, 2010