Historic Nominations & Designations
The City of Pittsburgh is home to 15 historic districts. These districts are set up to preserve, rehabilitate, and continue to use historic buildings. In areas with a historic designation, the Historic Review Commission oversees any potential demolition, new construction, addition to, or exterior alterations of structures.
If you are interested in nominating a place to the register, contact Historic Preservation staff at historicreview@pittsburghpa.gov. Nominations are reviewed by the Historic Review Commission and approved by City Council.
What does a historic nomination and designation do?
- Protects the exterior character of an individual property or district by requiring review of projects to specific standards.
- Promotes sustainability by preserving buildings and building materials that already exist.
- Positively impacts property values, neighborhood revitalization, tourism, job creation, and tax revenue generation.
- Read the Economic Benefits Report for more information.
What can’t a historic nomination and designation do?
- Force an owner to restore their property.
- Force an owner to fix their property.
- Necessarily prevent a determined owner from demolishing their property.
What are the criteria for historic designation?
- Location as a site of a significant historic or prehistoric event or activity.
- Identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the cultural, historic, architectural, archaeological, or related aspect of the development of the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States.
- Exemplification of an architectural type, style, or design distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship.
- Identification as the work of an architect, designer, engineer, or builder whose individual work is significant in the history or development of the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States.
- Exemplification of important planning and urban design techniques distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design or detail.
- Location as a site of an important archaeological resource.
- Association with significant cultural or social aspects or events in the history of the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States.
- Exemplification of a neighborhood development pattern or settlement significant to the cultural history or traditions of the City, whose components may lack individual distinction.
- Representation of a cultural, historical, architectural, archaeological, or related theme expressed through distinctive areas, properties, sites, structures, or objects that may or may not be contiguous.
- Unique location or distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City of Pittsburgh.
Any area, property, site, structure, or object that meets any one or more of the criteria listed above shall also have sufficient integrity of location, design, materials, and workmanship to make it worthy of preservation or restoration.
How to apply for historic nominations
A property's owner of record or any person presently residing in the City of Pittsburgh who has established residency in the City for at least one year may submit a historic nomination. Please note that a nomination of a religious structure may not be possible and historic district nominations are subject to additional requirements.
To start the historic nomination process:
- Complete and review your draft Historic Nomination form with Historic Preservation staff prior to submitting to OneStopPGH.
- Upon preliminary staff approval, complete a Historic Nomination application at OneStopPGH and pay the applicable fee. Link to City Planning Fee Schedule. Fees are non-refundable. Historic Nominiation applications are under Planning Application -> Historic Nomination Application.
- Once submitted to OneStopPGH, staff will review the nomination for correctness and completeness. Additional information may be required if staff determines the application is incomplete.
- A nomination is accepted once Historic Preservation staff signs the Historic Nomination Form.
- Staff will notify the property owner via mail of the nomination.
- A Development Activities Meeting is required 30 days before the Historic Review Commission (HRC) public meeting.
- At the public HRC meeting, the Commission will consider the nomination. HRC hears testimony from the nominator, City staff, the property owner, and general public. If considered favorably, the Commission provides a recommendation to City Council.
- In addition to Historic Review Commission, nominations are also considered by Planning Commission at a public meeting. If considered favorably, the Planning Commission provides a recommendation to City Council.
- City Council holds a public meeting on the proposed nomination.
- City Council makes the final decision regarding whether a property or district is worthy of historic designation. If approved, the property will be listed on the City register.
Once a nomination application is submitted to OneStopPGH and Historic Preservation staff determines it is a complete application, the process takes roughly nine months for a nomination to move from submission to a City Council decision. Once a historic nomination is approved, all external alterations to an individually listed property or those in a historic district are subject to review and approval by Historic Preservation Staff or the Historic Review Commission, depending on the scope of work. Violations are subject to citation by the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections and are treated the same as any building code violation. See the Historic Preservation Code for more information.
List of City of Pittsburgh Nominations in review
| Name | Type | Neighborhood | Date Submitted | Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Turn Halle | Individual | North Shore | 2023-1999 | Nomination |
| Pittsburgh Stained Glass Sudios | Individual | West End | April 2024 | Nomination |
| St. John Vianney | Individual | Allentown | 2020-0776 | Nomination |
List of City of Pittsburgh Designated Sites and Districts
Search Here
| Name | Type | Neighborhood | Date Listed | Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 412 Boulevard of the Allies | Individual | Downtown | January 4, 2023 | Nomination |
| Aberlie House | Individual | Central Northside | February 6, 2001 | -- |
| Abrams House | Individual | Squirrel Hill | Not approved by City Council | Nomination |
| Allegheny Commons Park | District | Allegheny Center Allegheny West |
-- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Allegheny County Mortuary | Individual | Downtown | September 25, 2002 | -- |
| Allegheny West | District | Allegheny West | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Alpha Terrace | District | East Liberty | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Bayard School | Individual | Lawrenceville | -- | Nomination |
| Beth Abraham Cemetery | Individual | Carrick | May 21, 2024 | Nomination Guidelines |
| The Bradberry | Individual | Central Northside | -- | Nomination |
| B'nai Israel Synagogue | Individual | Garfield | -- | Nomination |
| Card Carriage House | Individual | Point Breeze | -- | Nomination |
| Carnegie Library - Hazelwood Branch | Individual | Hazelwood | July 23, 2004 | -- |
| Carnegie Library - Homewood Branch | Individual | Homewood South | July 23, 2004 | -- |
| Carnegie Library - Lawrenceville Branch | Individual | Central Lawrenceville | July 23, 2004 | -- |
| Carnegie Library - Mount Washington Branch | Individual | Mount Washington | July 23, 2004 | -- |
| Carnegie Library - West End Branch | Individual | West End | July 23, 2004 | -- |
| Carol Peterson House | Individual | Lawrenceville | -- | Nomination |
| Catahecassa | Individual | Schenley Park | -- | Nomination |
| City County Building | Individual | Downtown | March 13, 2020 | Nomination |
| Deutschtown | District | East Allegheny | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| East Carson Street | District | South Side Flats | -- | Map Sign Guidelines Design Guidelines |
| Ella and Emil Keller House | Individual | North Point Breeze | December 16, 2023 | Nomination |
| Engine Company 28 | Individual | Shadyside | -- | Nomination |
| Ewalt House | Individual | Lawrenceville | Not approved by City Council | Nomination |
| Ferris House (formerly George Washington Gale Fer) | Individual | Central Northside | June 22, 2001 | -- |
| Frick Park | Individual | Point Breeze Squirrel Hill Swisshelm Park Regent Park |
March 6, 2024 | Nomination |
| Gallagher Kieffer House | Individual | Oakland | December 1, 2020 | Nomination |
| Hanauer-Rosenberg Residence | Individual | East Allegheny | October 28, 2020 | Nomination |
| Heathside Cottage | Individual | Fineview | -- | Nomination |
| Herron Hill Pump Station | Individual | North Oakland | December 1, 2020 | Nomination |
| Holy Family Church | Individual | Central Lawrenceville | -- | Nomination |
| Howe Springs | Individual | Squirrel Hill North | -- | Nomination |
| Hunt Armory | Individual | Shadyside | -- | Nomination |
| Immanuel Church | Individual | East Allegheny | -- | Nomination |
| J&L Steel Headquarters (Former) John P. Robin Civic Building |
Individual | Downtown | October 28, 2020 | Nomination |
| Lemmon Row | District | Central Northside | -- | Map |
| Manchester | District | Manchester | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Market Square | District | Downtown | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Mellon Arena | Individual | Downtown | Not approved by City Council | -- |
| Mellon Bank (East Liberty) | Individual | East Liberty | Not approved by City Council | Nomination |
| Mellon Park | Individual | Shadyside Point Breeze |
February 24, 2021 | Nomination |
| Mexican War Streets | District | Central Northside | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Mexican War Streets Expansion | District | Central Northside | -- | Map -- |
| Mowry-Addison House | Individual | Lawrenceville | July 9, 2020 | Nomination |
| Murray Hill Avenue | District | Squirrel Hill North | -- | Map Expansion Design Guidelines |
| Naser's Tavern | Individual | Central Lawrenceville | -- | Nomination |
| New Granada Theater | Individual | Middle Hill | October 8, 2004 | -- |
| Oakland Civic Center | District | Central Oakland North Oakland |
-- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Oakland Square | District | Central Oakland | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Oliver Bath House | Individual | South Side | -- | Nomination |
| Panther Hollow Bridge | Individual | Squirrel Hill South Schenley Park |
July 26, 2002 | -- |
| Penn Liberty | District | Downtown | -- | Map Design Guidelines |
| Pennsylvania National Bank | Individual | Lawrenceville | March 13, 2020 | Nomination |
| Rodef Shalom | Individual | Shadyside | -- | Nomination |
| Roslyn Place | District | Shadyside | -- | Map -- |
| Sal's Barber Shop | Individual | Brookline | April 10, 2024 | Nomination |
| Schenley Bridge | Individual | Schenley Park | July 26, 2002 | -- |
| Schenley Farms | District | North Oakland Upper Hill |
-- | Map -- |
| Shrine of the Blessed Mother | Individual | South Oakland | October 13, 2020 | Nomination |
| South Side Presbyterian Church | Individual | South Side Flats | -- | Nomination |
| Spring Hill Elementary School | Individual | Spring Hill | October 28, 2020 | Nomination |
| Tito House | Individual | Crawford-Roberts | June 11, 2022 | Nomination |
| Troy Hill Fire House | Individual | Troy Hill | July 21, 2022 | Nomination |
| Turney House | Individual | Lawrenceville | -- | Nomination |
| Walton House | Individual | Lawrenceville | -- | Nomination |
| Weis US Post Office & Courthouse | Individual | Downtown | March 13, 2020 | Nomination |
| Westinghouse Memorial | Individual | Schenley Park Squirrel Hill South |
-- | Nomination |
| Veteran's Memorial Parklet (Brookline Memorial Cannon) | Individual | Brookline | May 21, 2024 | Nomination |
| Voegtly Spring | Individual | Spring Hill | -- | Nomination |
List of Draft National Register Nominations for Public Comment
The current properties below are among those considered by the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places at their next meeting.
Current nominations
- Belmar School, 710 Heritage Street
- Clayton-Frick Art Museum Historic District, 7200 Penn Avenue
- Gallagher-Kieffer House, 234 N Dithridge Street
- Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg Residence, 417 Lockhart
- Allegheny Second Ward Industrial Historic District
- Loutellus Apartment Hotel, 231-245 Melwood Avenue
- Schenley Farms Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Past nominations
- Mellon Park
- Fairfax Apartments
- International Harvester Company
- Centre Avenue YMCA
- Crawford Grill
- Highland Park
- Henry Koerner House
- Lawrenceville Historic District
- Frick Park
- Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
- Roslyn Place
- Jones & Laughlin Steel Company Building
- Riverview Park
- Hazelwood Brewing Company
