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Old 09-26-2010, 05:51 PM
 
Location: Kittanning
4,692 posts, read 9,035,351 times
Reputation: 3668

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Deutschtown is a neighborhood on the North Side of Pittsburgh, located just across the river from the Strip District and downtown. It is one of the closest neighborhoods in proximity to downtown Pittsburgh. Deutschtown was built up largely in the 1850s and thus has some of the oldest surviving housing stock in the city, thus it is a very historic and special place worth preserving. Deutschtown was separated into two sections (west and east), and over 400 historic buildings destroyed, when it was divided by a highway in the 1960s. While West Deutschtown (west of the highway), parts of which are a city historic district, is rapidly gentrifying, and is becoming something of a hotspot for yuppies and renovations of its historic housing stock, East Deutschtown appears to be on the verge of collapse. While enough structures remain that East Deutschtown has the potential to be a viable neighborhood, it is perhaps unlikely that these homes will find enough preservation-minded owners to save the neighborhood. At the rate of demolition the neighborhood is currently experiencing, East Deutschtown may no longer exist, at least as an intact neighborhood, in ten or twenty years. Urban prairie is already rapidly eroding the neighborhood's 1850s cohesiveness.

Most of the following buildings were built prior to 1872, as indicated by a historic map I found of the neighborhood which shows it was very densely packed with houses.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs337.ash2/61694_866705333618_21709059_46563910_3713264_n.jpg (broken link)

"Allegheny Social Hall"

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs339.ash2/61900_866706112058_21709059_46563941_3897049_n.jpg (broken link)

Cobblestone sidewalks

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs339.ash2/61900_866706117048_21709059_46563942_1735200_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs679.snc4/61900_866706122038_21709059_46563943_7123253_n.jpg (broken link)

The historic fabric of the neighborhood is marred by patches of urban prairie, where buildings were demolished.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs699.snc4/61900_866706127028_21709059_46563944_4169955_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs679.snc4/61900_866706132018_21709059_46563945_3280466_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs339.ash2/61900_866706137008_21709059_46563946_938761_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs699.snc4/61900_866706141998_21709059_46563947_2909435_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs699.snc4/61900_866706146988_21709059_46563948_5276895_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs339.ash2/61900_866706151978_21709059_46563949_7509710_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs699.snc4/61900_866706156968_21709059_46563950_815217_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60382_866706596088_21709059_46563962_1437608_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs643.snc4/60382_866706601078_21709059_46563963_5212473_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs643.snc4/60382_866706606068_21709059_46563964_3102091_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60382_866706611058_21709059_46563965_8060908_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60382_866706616048_21709059_46563966_8232296_n.jpg (broken link)

Demolition, the enemy of preservation.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs643.snc4/60382_866706621038_21709059_46563967_4596791_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs643.snc4/60382_866706626028_21709059_46563968_7801101_n.jpg (broken link)


This house is for sale. Calling urban pioneers!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60382_866706631018_21709059_46563969_2281563_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs323.ash2/60382_866706640998_21709059_46563970_4087461_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60382_866706645988_21709059_46563971_4872562_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707344588_21709059_46564002_6057486_n.jpg (broken link)


This is the saddest thing for a preservationist to see!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707359558_21709059_46564004_8143919_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs335.ash2/61489_866707364548_21709059_46564005_5576593_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs335.ash2/61489_866707369538_21709059_46564006_5312906_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707374528_21709059_46564007_8253944_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707379518_21709059_46564008_5386893_n.jpg (broken link)

Love this house!


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707384508_21709059_46564009_793676_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707389498_21709059_46564010_3388765_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs655.snc4/61489_866707394488_21709059_46564011_4931107_n.jpg (broken link)

Somebody please save this poor house on the right.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs675.snc4/61489_866707399478_21709059_46564012_212164_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs338.ash2/61815_866708622028_21709059_46564101_5594556_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs338.ash2/61815_866708632008_21709059_46564102_6537669_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs338.ash2/61815_866708636998_21709059_46564103_2907413_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs678.snc4/61815_866708641988_21709059_46564104_222391_n.jpg (broken link)



http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs658.snc4/61815_866708646978_21709059_46564105_614923_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs338.ash2/61815_866708656958_21709059_46564107_3881599_n.jpg (broken link)

Look at the outline of the roof where a building once stood next to this one.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs678.snc4/61815_866708661948_21709059_46564108_6611397_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs658.snc4/61815_866708666938_21709059_46564109_2081371_n.jpg (broken link)

Slum conditions.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs658.snc4/61815_866708671928_21709059_46564110_1820230_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs323.ash2/60326_866709485298_21709059_46564147_6160737_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60326_866709490288_21709059_46564148_7384026_n.jpg (broken link)

This one really looks like its on its "last legs." It's fascinating to think of the generations of people who have lived here, and the changes it has seen, over the past 160 years, only to be wiped away soon.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60326_866709495278_21709059_46564149_5639274_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs643.snc4/60326_866709500268_21709059_46564150_3457465_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs323.ash2/60326_866709505258_21709059_46564151_8054619_n.jpg (broken link)


Original trolley tracks on Chestnut Street.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs323.ash2/60326_866709510248_21709059_46564152_3538523_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60326_866709515238_21709059_46564153_2183349_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs643.snc4/60326_866709520228_21709059_46564154_2334118_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60326_866709525218_21709059_46564155_6146648_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs663.snc4/60326_866709530208_21709059_46564156_4828608_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs677.snc4/61740_866709929408_21709059_46564165_3098942_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs337.ash2/61740_866709934398_21709059_46564166_2708236_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs337.ash2/61740_866709939388_21709059_46564167_906375_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs677.snc4/61740_866709944378_21709059_46564168_7354115_n.jpg (broken link)

This is one of my favorite houses in Pittsburgh. 841 Suismon Street.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs677.snc4/61740_866709949368_21709059_46564169_239767_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs657.snc4/61740_866709954358_21709059_46564170_4063005_n.jpg (broken link)

When I think of the fact that sprawl suburbia and McMansions are responsible for the destruction of so many beautiful urban homes like this, I want to scream.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs337.ash2/61740_866709959348_21709059_46564171_2542224_n.jpg (broken link)

Sure, it looks like a dump, but I found this little house on an 1872 map. That's pretty cool!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs657.snc4/61740_866709964338_21709059_46564172_3800260_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs677.snc4/61740_866709969328_21709059_46564173_2018300_n.jpg (broken link)

This little row house has been nicely renovated.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs657.snc4/61740_866709974318_21709059_46564174_1568758_n.jpg (broken link)

Faux brick siding over REAL brick? What?!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs350.ash2/63062_866710313638_21709059_46564180_7790065_n.jpg (broken link)

Maybe they imported some of that yellow brick from Stowe? LOL

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs710.snc4/63062_866710318628_21709059_46564181_8143229_n.jpg (broken link)

Who thought it was a good idea to cover real brick with faux brick siding? Only in Pittsburgh! They even added the essential aluminum awning to the mix. Seriously, though, if you ripped all that crap off it would be an awesome house. Look at that brick -- it's OLD!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs690.snc4/63062_866710323618_21709059_46564182_3023519_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs690.snc4/63062_866710328608_21709059_46564183_5148950_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs710.snc4/63062_866710333598_21709059_46564184_3075606_n.jpg (broken link)


The house on the right looks REALLY old, I mean possibly older than the others.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs690.snc4/63062_866710338588_21709059_46564185_8142060_n.jpg (broken link)


Love this little mid 19th century bungalow. I wonder if this was once a more common style in the city.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs350.ash2/63062_866710343578_21709059_46564186_6219892_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs710.snc4/63062_866710348568_21709059_46564187_7922061_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs350.ash2/63062_866710353558_21709059_46564188_7730570_n.jpg (broken link)

This is my dream house. Look at that gorgeous patina.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs710.snc4/63062_866710358548_21709059_46564189_4795651_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs344.ash2/62411_866711032198_21709059_46564203_1619060_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs684.snc4/62411_866711042178_21709059_46564204_5147478_n.jpg (broken link)

Grand Victorian brownstone.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs684.snc4/62411_866711047168_21709059_46564205_3929623_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs704.snc4/62411_866711052158_21709059_46564206_4602008_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs704.snc4/62411_866711057148_21709059_46564207_1228632_n.jpg (broken link)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs704.snc4/62411_866711062138_21709059_46564208_1737124_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs684.snc4/62411_866711067128_21709059_46564209_1878549_n.jpg (broken link)

The house on the left is completely restored. It's for sale, but it's not cheap.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs684.snc4/62411_866711072118_21709059_46564210_4236184_n.jpg (broken link)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs344.ash2/62411_866711077108_21709059_46564211_6603230_n.jpg (broken link)






http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs338.ash2/61815_866708651968_21709059_46564106_791559_n.jpg (broken link)


I hope this is not the future of East Deutschtown (and Manchester, the Bluff, and Esplen).
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Old 09-26-2010, 06:18 PM
 
Location: Just East of the Southern Portion of the Western Part of PA
1,272 posts, read 3,707,644 times
Reputation: 1511
Nice photo collection - there are a lot of really cool houses over there. I love those old neighborhoods that offer a glimpse into the past. If I were rich, I'd fix one up myself.
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Old 09-27-2010, 06:11 AM
 
Location: Mt. Lebanon
76 posts, read 157,274 times
Reputation: 128
This is best of your photo essays. I am glad you showed my favorite house in the whole city, 841 Suismon. The traditional 3 bay, two story row houses that you see were mostly built by speculators and rented out, often to two or more families. In east Deutschtown and Troy Hill you sometimes see miniature, one and a half story rowhouses that represent what working class people of the time could afford to own themselves. That they had the same level of trim detail inside and out is a testament to the quality of builders we had back then. Check out the intact full window enframement on that little gem. I researched that house about a year ago, and it first shows up in the city directories in 1868 as the home of a carpet weaver. Imagine both working and selling your products out of your front room in that house.

Its sad that the Buncher company buys up and demolishes every similar house in the area around south canal street, the old "Schweizer Loch." Those houses are even older than Deutschtown....If you want to see another hidden gem, check out 728 East Lacock....
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Old 09-27-2010, 09:47 AM
 
Location: Pittsburgh-Allegheny West-North Side
44 posts, read 80,658 times
Reputation: 45
I love your Patina Dream House, too! There is a house in the Mexican War Streets that has the same look, but in a lighter color. Thanks for sharing your photos!
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Old 09-27-2010, 11:43 AM
 
1,158 posts, read 1,853,001 times
Reputation: 455
Thanks for sharing! If I were rich I'd buy up those rowhouses by the blockful and restore/renovate.
That area is ultra-convenient to downtown -the strip-North Shore and riverfront trail!
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Old 09-27-2010, 11:48 AM
 
Location: Western PA
3,733 posts, read 5,965,362 times
Reputation: 3189
I lived in East Allegheny (west of I-279) for 11 years and loved the area. It's come a long way since I left, and it was already gentrifying. What I loved were the older people who had lived in the neighborhood all their lives and knew exactly who belonged on the street and who didn't. It was nice having nosy neighbors. It also has a very active neighborhood organization involved in rehabbing houses. The houses over there are built like fortresses - very good bones.
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Old 09-29-2010, 08:03 PM
 
Location: California
6,422 posts, read 7,667,441 times
Reputation: 13965
Thanks for the great photos. I checked out the area on both Zillow and Trulia, those homes are very affordable. Sad to think what will happen to them.
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Old 09-29-2010, 10:37 PM
 
1,084 posts, read 3,869,205 times
Reputation: 348
the bluff cant go downhill, its near the city center and near the hospitals and university, in 5 years it will be 50% gentrified


dtown same thing but maybe 30%
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Old 09-30-2010, 12:09 AM
 
Location: Kittanning
4,692 posts, read 9,035,351 times
Reputation: 3668
Quote:
Originally Posted by somebodymiami View Post
the bluff cant go downhill, its near the city center and near the hospitals and university, in 5 years it will be 50% gentrified


dtown same thing but maybe 30%
While the Bluff is in a great location, I did a thorough walk of the neighborhood recently and there were few if any signs of gentrification. Boarded up houses, abandoned buildings, and acres of urban prairie even worse than East Deutschtown. There are tons of abandoned houses in the Bluff but none of them seem to be for sale, at least at reasonable prices. My opinion is that investors are sitting on the properties as they deteriorate to oblivion, hoping they will turn into a goldmine someday. But the sad fact is more and more of those row-houses (most of which are among the oldest in the city, predating the oldest city map I have seen from 1872) are being demolished by neglect.
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Old 09-30-2010, 08:16 AM
 
20,273 posts, read 33,014,869 times
Reputation: 2911
The URA and the City own a bunch of property in the Bluff. It isn't actively marketed, but it is available for purchase.

That said, I agree a lot of people are "banking" property there. However, I suspect that within 10 years the ball will be rolling enough for a lot of redevelopment to be occurring.
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