Saving Froggy's & Pittsburgh Firstside Historic District

They are back trying to get the state (Commonwealth) court to buy into claims that the buildings are in imminent danger of collapse, which is malarkey. The City of Pittsburgh has not and does not send in it's own engineers, but if any unbiased, outside engineer were to assess these buildings in terms of structural viability, I am certain they would dispute Troiani's claims (and claims of his well paid team) that the buildings are a danger. They are not a danger and would stand for decades more if untouched. This is all deception and ruse, creating the illusion of blight and danger with boarded windows and now sections of construction fence all to deceive the public.

This is what the 'Froggy's' building(s) look like in reality. The boarded windows and scary signs are all tactics to scare and annoy the public.
https://mailchi.mp/phlf/appeals-board-rejects-demolition-of-downtown-buildings-again?e=e048072635&fbclid=IwAR2xqbaYrQd0SCbAFy2zxsHW6zBQ31jahckm9UvV99kl8LNTcvt15PZC8-o

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https://mailchi.mp/phlf/appeals-board-rejects-demolition-of-downtown-buildings-again?e=e048072635&fbclid=IwAR2xqbaYrQd0SCbAFy2zxsHW6zBQ31jahckm9UvV99kl8LNTcvt15PZC8-o

Appeals Board Rejects Demolition of Downtown Buildings— Again!

Another Judge throws out the owner's absurd appeals. I'm not sure why the PG would even quote the owner's ridiculous stories about the safety of the buildings. The Pittsburgh Permits, Licenses and Inspections Department (PLI) has determined that the buildings present no danger and are not in any imminent state of emergency. Far from it. The Pittsburgh City Planning Commission also determined that the buildings pose no threat and that they are good candidates for restoration, in whole or in part. I will be posting excerpt videos from the Planning Commission meeting where these arguments and statements are made in July of 2020. Paul Van Osdol WTAE Rick Earle WPXI KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA Pittsburgh Business Times TribLive 90.5 WESA WPXI-TV Pittsburgh WTAE-TV Pittsburgh WPGH

Pittsburgh Business Times - Feb 5, 2021 - Tim Schooly

Judge turns down Troiani's appeal of Pittsburgh Planning Commission's denial to tear down Froggy's

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph James has upheld a ruling by the Pittsburgh Planning Commission rejecting a proposal by the Troiani family to demolish a group of buildings along Market Street downtown to make way for a redevelopment.
The Planning Commission ruling came last July in a near-unanimous vote. At the time, Chair Christine Mondor cited the buildings as contributing to the neighborhood's federal historic district.
In his decision, James largely deferred to the commission and the board of appeals of the city Department of Permits, Licensing and Inspections, which rejected Troiani's emergency appeal to demolish the buildings along Market Street, including the former Froggy's, due to the risk posed to the neighboring six-story 209 First Avenue, also part of Troiani's holdings.
James argued "that the board made a well-reasoned engineering determination" and that the board "properly weighed the evidence before it and made the appropriate determination."
At stake is an ongoing dispute of historic preservationists, led by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, versus a large-scale development plan, with PHLF arguing the remaining collection of 19th century buildings are important to the scale and fabric of the stretch of downtown and a Market Street that extends into Market Square.
The Troiani development team, which includes architecture firm Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, argued the buildings are economically unfeasible to reuse, noting the cost of renovating them and the limited prospects they have of attracting tenants at viable rents.
Instead, the Troiani team has proposed to demolish them and build a 385-foot tower of 200,000 square feet including a mix of offices and apartments. The three buildings are located at 104 and 106 Market Street and 209 First Street.
Michael Troiani, who has been leading his family’s pursuit of redeveloping its collection of properties along Market Street, took strong exception to the judge’s ruling to uphold the decision of the planning commission.
He compared the decision to turn down his demolition proposal to the commission approval of the demolition of a small building of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust located in a local historic district for which the arts nonprofit institution only suggested an interim plan for a park.
"How is the standard of demolition that I've proposed any different?" he said, noting the federally designated historic districts where his properties are located are typically less restrictive than the local historic districts in which the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's property is located.
Troiani has already moved to appeal the decision in Commonwealth Court, expecting the experts and evidence presented will be granted greater authority.
In an email newsletter, PHLF praised the decision and hopes for Troiani to reconsider its plans to incorporate the established buildings into its tower development plans.
"As we have consistently said — and told the Planning Commission — we believe Troiani Properties can achieve construction of its new 30-story office and residential tower with the incorporation of the remaining three buildings in whole or in part," wrote PHLF. "We continue to call upon Troiani Properties to meaningfully engage with us and other stakeholders in considering all the possibilities that could support a new development without destroying these significant buildings and the scale of the historic Market Street."

https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2021/02/04/judge-rejects-troiani-appeal-over-demolition-plan.html?ana=e_ae_prem&j=90549250&t=Afternoon&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWlRjMlkyUXdOalE1WldSaCIsInQiOiJLWFdjQzRHWkVZN0hjM3FlWWtlcDUzV1BtN2ljQnRYbEdtc1BGU1g0ZzZOblhjNWZqTTNVNmdFYldWZEducnFSdUFqT2g1RjdPV0lnVHd1ZTBJYU56c01RM1JzU0Y5ejdrTnZCUXpOMzdPTmR3cXBlZitVVkcreW1wcHdcL0lXVXgifQ%3D%3D

The old Froggy's and its surrounding buildings do not need the boards and the signs on them . This is what they look like under the boards. The boards have been added by the owner to sway public opinion that the buildings are unsightly and should be torn down. The Pittsburgh City Planning Commission denied proposals to demolish the buildings and stressed that, having seen and heard plenty of evidence, the buildings clearly could be reasonably refurbished and are not in dire need of demolition at all. Don't believe the ploy and the manipulation of the boards and signs. KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh WTAE-TV Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Post-Gazette TribLive WPGH WPXI-TV Pittsburgh 90.5 WESA Paul Van Osdol WTAE Rick Earle WPXI Aaron Martin WPXI Andy Sheehan Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

The signs that are posted on 100-110 Market Street and 209 First Ave are not legitimate. They are a ruse, designed to scare the public into believing that these buildings are dangerous and not able to be refurbished. The Pittsburgh City Planning Commission does not buy into this and neither should the general public. These are image stunts designed to mislead. These signs have no basis in reality. KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh Ralph Iannotti KDKA WTAE-TV Pittsburgh Rick Earle WPXI WPGH Andy Sheehan Pittsburgh Post-Gazette TribLive WTAE-TV Pittsburgh WPXI-TV Pittsburgh Paul Van Osdol WTAE Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

The owner of the former Froggy's has allowed the alley behind it and adjacent to 209 First Ave (same owner) to fall into a state of a city dumping ground. This is by design in an attempt to sway public opinion that the buildings need to be demolished. The same goes for the boards on the windows of all of the buildings. The windows were not broken and the Froggy's building looked pretty good before the owner boarded it up and covered it up with placards to intentionally create an eyesore. The City of Pittsburgh Planning Commission weighed in on the condition of the buildings, that include the former 'Froggy's' and decided that these structures were salvageable and were NOT in imminent danger or a threat at all to public safety. This was July 14, 2020. Nothing has changed. We are asking the City of Pittsburgh to disallow this tactic by the owner and force him to clean up his property. You can help by calling the 311 to complain about the debris at 209 First Ave Pittsburgh PA 15222, or do so online here https://pittsburghpa.gov/311/form Select 'Neighborhood Issues' / Dumping - Private Property. Issue is at 209 First Ave Pittsburgh 15222. This should not be allowed or condoned in the city of Pittsburgh. These buildings should not even be boarded up. Thank you for your help. KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh WTAE-TV Pittsburgh WPXI-TV Pittsburgh Wpgh Fox 53 TribLive Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh City Paper NEXTpittsburgh

The buildings are saved again. Why? Because what today's Business Times articles doesn't tell you is that the City has investigated the integrity of the Market Street buildings as well as 209 First Ave, and decided that they are structurally sound enough to rehab and do not, in any way, require emergency demolition.
https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2020/09/15/troiani-seeks-emergency-demolitions-on-market.html?ana=e_ae_prem&j=90528486&t=Afternoon&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTm1GbU1XVmxaVEJpT1dSayIsInQiOiJKaTNrY2N6U2NBOGlaVWVERFQ4Wm9TWVc0RHJkdXFOcVwvcEpva1VKeW5keTBBXC95ZXBlM3hSMEEybVFoMVBoYmtmeExoTzRRM1BGTnFoUlh1SnhmbjZJdDgzYWZlVkFXXC9IUjB2YitaRWI3V0xxSE4wank3VmpScWRcL3FIWlFGZksifQ%3D%3D

Here is an even better vision of what 1st Avenue / Market Street / Blvd of the Allies block could look like. A restored 100-104 Market Street (Formerly Froggy's), and other buildings fitting Historic Firstside Pittsburgh neighborhood in stature and style. Townhouses, Restaurants, Shops, and Offices. This is "visionary" for downtown Pittsburgh and something that would make Historic Firstside a welcoming destination and continue our tradition of melding old and new styles of architecture to create a vital and inviting Golden Triangle.

A rendering of a refurbished and active 100-104 Market Street (formerly Froggy's). The building is quite salvageable and would make a wonderful cornerstone for a revitalized block at Blvd of the Allies / Market Street/First Ave.
here is how you can help -
email to: [email protected]
Please send something similar as:
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I am writing to oppose the demolition the buildings at 100-108 Market Street and 209 First Ave.
and also I oppose any planned future demolition of 100-104 Market Street formerly“Froggy’s”.

Subject line something like: "I Oppose the demolition of the 100-108 Market Street downtown Pittsburgh"

Pittsburgh Firstside. A fresh, classic 2-3 story brick retail / Townhouse / office space is what this National Historic Registered neighborhood should be.