When buildings become abandoned or vacated, and unpaid taxes build up, many properties become deteriorated and are eventually torn down by the city. Some of these buildings are historically significant, and in neighborhoods such as Spring Garden or Esplen, which do not get a lot of attention by preservationists in spite of their historic building stock.
Nothing is being done to market these properties to potential new owners who could fix them up. Also, there is very little understanding about what can be done to acquire abandoned buildings from negligent or deceased owners. It is my intention to take photographs of the historically significant vacant buildings, in hope of calling attention to this problem, and helping buildings find new owners, before our city becomes a large urban prairie.
On this page will be my effort to document, through my photography, historic buildings in the region that are on demolition lists or that are threatened with demolition. I will also keep readers updated on the demolition status of buildings, and document those that have been torn down.
R.I.P. 1870s Homes in the West End
R.I.P. Voskamp Street Historic Homes
R.I.P. Lost Historic Home in Hays
R.I.P. Centre Avenue Houses (North Oakland) - August, 2015
R.I.P. Phineas Street (North Side) - February, 2015
R.I.P 2000 block of Forbes (Uptown) - August, 2013
R.I.P. City Demolition List - August, 2013
R.I.P. City Demolition List (and pictures) - June, 2013
R.I.P. 841 Suismon Street (June 23, 2013)
City of Pittsburgh Demolition Postings - May, 2013
R.I.P. Chateau Street (April 7, 2013)
R.I.P. House in Spring Garden on City of Pittsburgh Demolition List (October, 2012)
Demolitions in Woods Run (September, 2012)
R.I.P. Circa 1850s row-houses in Lawrenceville on Demolition List (May, 2012)
City of Pittsburgh Demolition Postings (as of May, 2012)
Wheeling Demolition Updates (Nov. 21, 2011)
Demolished: 121 University Place, Oakland (October, 2011)
R.I.P. Manchester Demolition List (August, 2011)
Lawrenceville "Log House" Demolished (August 9, 2011)
Update: Bittersweet Victory for Boyle Street (Aug. 7, 2011)
Farewell to the Old Stone Church (July 30, 2011)
Boyle Street (Central North Side) Demolition Update (July 28, 2011)
City of Wheeling: Section of East Wheeling Historic District Soon to be Demolished (July 19, 2011)
City of Pittsburgh: June, 2011 Demolition List
Demolition in the Bluff neighborhood (June 16, 2011)