The Pittsburgh I love is despised (Akron, Manchester: lofts, houses, transfer to)

[alleghenyangel]

The 19th century housing stock, brick rowhouses, old commercial buildings in the Bluff and Uptown, adjacent to downtown, are torn down constantly....

The fascinating old abandoned factories and warehouses in the strip district, as well as the few remaining brick row houses, hold a very uncertain fate...

The historic beauty of neighborhoods like Manchester is barely hanging on as abandoned houses are routinely razed.

I was on a date in the South Side yesterday and I was commenting on all the wonderful historic architecture. He said "all these old buildings need to be torn down."

I have come to the conclusion that the Pittsburgh I love....the historic, the legendary, the architecturally interesting landmarks of our past, are generally held with contempt or indifferance, especially by young people like me. I find this absolutely depressing.

[dugdogmaster]

Tell your date that those buildings on the South Side do not need to be and will not be torn down, they're kept up pretty well. As for the buildings on the bluff and the old warehouses in the strip, it was their time to go, too many years of no upkeep had taken their toll.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

He said "all these old buildings need to be torn down."

I think you need to find a new date. Seriously though, I can see if the buildings were in bad shape, but if they weren't they can be restored.

[BrianTH]

Sometimes buildings get past the point of no return, but I absolutely agree we need to hold onto as much of our architectural legacy as possible. I really feel that in the long run, that is one of our competitive assets as a city.

[soniqV]

We just have so much historic architecture that some of it has to go eventually to new development, can't save everything...

[deathegg88]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

....I absolutely agree we need to hold onto as much of our architectural legacy as possible. I really feel that in the long run, that is one of our competitive assets as a city.

Well said. Out here in SoCal, they don't seem to care much about that. Just in the few years I've been here, I've seen many old but still useful buildings razed, including at least 5 classic california bungalows here in Riverside. What a shame. I remember seeing many older structures in the 'Burgh being refurbished and repurposed, which I love to see.

[alleghenyangel]

There has been a lot of reuse, which I love, too. Take the Heinz lofts, for example. Isn't that grand?

[juliegt]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

I have come to the conclusion that the Pittsburgh I love....the historic, the legendary, the architecturally interesting landmarks of our past, are generally held with contempt or indifferance, especially by young people like me. I find this absolutely depressing.

The old reasonably priced housing stock housing stock is the main reason I'm planning to move to Pittsburgh. I love the old turn of the century homes with their incredible woodwork, stained glass, leaded glass, et. I live in the SF Bay Area and I couldn't touch a similar home here for under $1 million even with the big drop in prices we've had lately.

[CityGrrl77]

The old school buildings and architecture are some of the reasons why I love your city. (I hate cookie-cutter style houses and development)
I think Pittsburgh is great - wish I could move there to enjoy it more - making the 1.5 hour drive from Akron isn't possible all the time.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by juliegt

The old reasonably priced housing stock housing stock is the main reason I'm planning to move to Pittsburgh. I love the old turn of the century homes with their incredible woodwork, stained glass, leaded glass, et. I live in the SF Bay Area and I couldn't touch a similar home here for under $1 million even with the big drop in prices we've had lately.

Once I'm established in my career in the NoVA region I hope to put in for a transfer to move to my firm's Pittsburgh branch office for this very same reason. On a $75,000 salary I COULD buy a semi-run-down old brick row home and rehabilitate it into my own little showplace whereas here in NoVA I could never afford to own a place like that on just one income. Any home like that in Georgetown, Arlington, or Old Town Alexandria would easily fetch $800,000-$1,500,000! This is because unlike in Pittsburgh people in Greater DC are intelligent enough to appreciate historic architecture. To the OP, it sounds to me as if you COULD use a new date (perhaps someone about 5'9", 140 lbs., with a devilish smile and an affinity for verbosity?) To those in Pittsburgh who can't appreciate seeing the value in preserving historic architecture, may I remind you that the old and AFFORDABLE housing stock is what is now luring many young professionals INTO your region?