Buhl Planetarium Nominated by Friends of the Zeiss To Be Historic Landmark:

CLICK HERE
for Nomination Application, in its entirety
(including all six appendices).

CLICK HERE
for the entire historic designation process.

Buhl Planetarium Nominated by
Friends of the Zeiss
To Be Historic Landmark

Walsh, Glenn. "Historic Plaque Erected on Buhl Planetarium." E-Mail List Message.
South Hills Backyard Astronomers 2008 Oct. 11

Public Notice - 2005 June 21 ( Summer "Solstice Day"):
Buhl Planetarium Nominated by Friends of the Zeiss To Be Designated City Historic Landmark
Public Hearing Before Pittsburgh City Council (which will make final designation decision)
Wednesday, July 13, 2005, 1:30 p.m. (EDST)
City Council Chamber, Fifth Floor of City-County Building
Grant Street at Forbes Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh
Pre-registration to speak at hearing is requested; register by calling: 412-255-2138. For those who cannot attend hearing, short letters of support can be sent to:

< landmarknom@planetarium.cc >; all such letters will be submitted to City Council at the public hearing.
Click Here to read official City hearing notice.
Click Here to read News Release.
More Information - Call: 412-561-7876 or E-Mail: < landmarknom@planetarium.cc >

Cover Letter for Nomination Application



    HISTORIC REVIEW COMMISSION OF PITTSBURGH

CITY OF PITTSBURGH

 

 

NOMINATION FORM FOR HISTORIC STRUCTURES, SITES, OBJECTS, AND DISTRICTS

 

 

1.          HISTORICAL NAME OF PROPERTY   The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science                                                             

            (If applicable)

 

2.         CURRENT NAME OF PROPERTY     Buhl Building of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh                  (If applicable)         Note: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh now consists of three adjoining buildings, one of which (Old Allegheny Post Office) was designated as a historic structure on 1972 December 26. Only one of these three buildings is included in this nomination. The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh refers to the subject of this nomination as the “Buhl Building.”

 

3.         LOCATION

                        Street  Allegheny Square

                        City, State  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

                        Zip Code  15212-5363 U.S..A.

 

4.         OWNERSHIP

                        Name   City of Pittsburgh, Department of General Services

                        Street 414 Grant Street, 526 City-County Building

                        City, State, Zip Code  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-2458 U.S.A.

 

5.         CLASSIFICATION

 

                        Category                      Accessibility                            Ownership

 

                        ___X_  structure          ____  private                           ____  private

           

                        ____  district                __X__  private, open              __X__  public

                                                                        to the public                                       

                        ____  site

 

                        ____  object

 

6.         NOMINATED BY

 

            Jon Wilson Smith on behalf of

            Friends of the Zeiss

            P.O. Box 1041

            Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A.

 

Note: Mr. Jon Wilson Smith is a lifelong resident of the City of Pittsburgh who now lives in the Banksville section of the City (20th Ward). His residential address is 2533 Dalemount Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15216-2825 U.S.A.

 

7.         DESCRIPTION

Provide a narrative description of the structure, district, site, or object.  If it has been altered over time, indicate the date(s) and nature of the alteration(s).  (Attach extra pages if necessary.)

 

SEE APPENDIX “A”

 

8.         History

Provide a history of the structure, district, site, or object.  Include a bibliography of sources consulted. (Attach extra pages if necessary.)  Include copies of relevant source materials with the nomination form (see Number 11).

 

SEE APPENDIX “B”

 

9.         SIGNIFICANCE

The Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title 11, Historic Preservation, Chapter 1: Historic Structures, Districts, Sites and Objects lists ten criteria, at least one of which must be met for Historic Designation.  Describe how the structure, district, site, or object meets one or more of these criteria. (Attach extra pages if necessary.)

 

            SEE APPENDIX “C”

 

10.  NOTIFICATION/CONSENT OF PROPERTY OWNER(S)

 

            1.3(a)(2)  Community information process.

            Preceding submission of a nomination form for a District, the Historic Review Commission shall

            conduct at least one (1) public information meeting within or near the boundaries of the proposed

            district, that shall include at least one (1) member of the Department of City Planning and one (1)

            Commission member, to discuss the possible effects of designation. Notice shall be given to the

            owners of property in the proposed district in accordance with Section 1.3(b) below.  The final

            public information meeting shall be held  no  more than six months before the nomination form is

            submitted.

 

            1.3(a)(1)(a) Subsection F. 

            In the case of a nomination as a Historic District, by community-based organizations or by any individual, but in either event the nomination shall be accompanied by a petition signed by the owners of record of twenty-five (25) percent of the properties within the boundaries of the proposed District.

 

Please attach documentation.

 

            SEE APPENDIX “D”

 

11.       NUMBER AND SUBJECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDED WITH THE

NOMINATION FORM

 

            SEE APPENDIX “E”

 

12.       LIST OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED WITH THE NOMINATION

FORM

 

            SEE APPENDIX “F”

 

13.  Please enclose a check payable to Treasurer, City of Pittsburgh in one of the following amounts:

 

Nomination of Structure / Object      $50.00

Nomination of District / Site              $100.00

 

NOMINATION FORM PREPARED BY:

 

Name  Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director, Friends of the Zeiss

 

Address  P.O. Box 1041, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A.

 

Telephone  412-561-7876

 

E-Mail < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >

 

THE HISTORIC REVIEW COMMISSION OF PITTSBURGH

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING OUT THE NOMINATION FORM

 

1.                   Indicate the original name of the property if it is currently known by a different name; e.g. Union              Station.

 

2.          Indicate the current name of the building or district, e.g. The Pennsylvanian.

 

3.                   Indicate the street address for a building.  For districts, attach a separate sheet listing the street        address of each property included in the nomination and a clear street map of the area showing the boundaries of the proposed district.

 

4.                   Indicate the owner of the property and his or her mailing address.  For districts, attach a separate sheet listing the owner of each property and his or her mailing address.

 

5.                   Check the classification as indicated.

 

6.                   Indicate the person(s) responsible for the nomination.

            Please note: According to the Historic Preservation Ordinance:

 

            “Nomination of an area, property, site, or object for consideration and designation as a

            Historic Structure, Historic District, Historic Site, or Historic Object may be submitted

            to the Historic Review Commission by any of the following:

 

A.    The Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh

B.     A Member of the Historic Review Commission

C.     A Member of the City Planning Commission

D.     A Member of the Pittsburgh City Council

E.      The Owner of Record or any person residing in the City of Pittsburgh for at least one year (for the nomination of a Historic Structure, Site or Object)

F.      A signed petition of 25% of the owners of record (for the nomination of a Historic District)

 

7.          Write a physical description of the nominated property or district.  Include the following      information as applicable:

                                                            ·  architectural style(s)

                                                            ·  arrangement of architectural elements

                                                            ·  building materials

                                                            ·  method(s) of construction

                                                            ·  visual character

                                                            ·  street pattern

                                                            ·  density

                                                            ·  type and arrangement of buildings

                                                            ·  topography

·  history of the development of the area

 

Historic Review Commission

Nomination Form Instructions

Page 2

 

 

8.         Provide a narrative history of the structure, district, site, or object.  Include the following

            information when available:

·        History of the development of the area;

·        Circumstances which brought the structure, district, site, or object into being;

·        Biographical information on architects, builders, developers, artisans, planners, or others who created or contributed to the structure, district, site, or object;

·        Contextual background on building type(s) and/or style(s);

·        Importance of the structure, district, site, or object in the larger community over the course of its existence.

 

Include a bibliography of all sources consulted at the end.  Where historical information is uncertain or disputed, reference sources in the text.

 

 

9.         Listed below are the categories and criteria for historic designation as set forth in the Pittsburgh Historic Preservation Ordinance. Describe in detail how the structure, district, site, or object meets one or more of the criteria.

 

a.                   “Historic Structure” means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires directly or indirectly, a permanent location on the land, including walks, fences, signs, steps and sidewalks at which events that made a significant contribution to national, state or local history occurred or which involved a close association with the lives of people of nations, state or local significance; or an outstanding example of a period, style, architectural movement, or method of construction; or one of the last surviving works of a pioneer architect, builder or designer; or one of the last survivors of a particular style or period of construction.

 

b.                  “Historic District” means a defined territorial division of land which shall include more than one (1) contiguous or related parcels of property, specifically identified by separate resolution, at which events occurred that made a significant contribution to national, state, or local history, or which contains more than one historic structure or historic landmarks, or which contains groups, rows or sets of structures or landmarks, or which contains an aggregate example of a period, style, architectural movements or method of construction, providing distinguishing characteristics of the architectural type or architectural period it represents.

 

c.                   “Historic Site” means the location of a significant event, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure whether standing, ruined or vanished, where the location itself maintains historical or archaeological value regardless of the value of any existing structures.

 

Historic Review Commission

Nomination Form Instructions

Page 3

 

 

d.                  “Historic Object” means a material thing of historic significance for functional, aesthetic cultural or scientific reasons that may be, by nature or design, moveable yet related to a specific setting or environment.

 

According to that legislation in Section 1.4 of the Pittsburgh Historic Preservation Ordinance, Criteria for Designation, a building must meet at least one of the following criteria in order to be designated:

 

1.      Its location as a site of a significant historic or prehistoric event or activity;

 

2.      Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the cultural, historic, architectural, archaeological, or related aspects of the development of the City of Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States;

 

3.      Its exemplification of an architectural type, style or design distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship;

 

4.      Its 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;

 

5.      Its exemplification of important planning and urban design techniques distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design or detail;

 

6.      Its location as a site of an important archaeological resource;

 

7.      Its association with important 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;

 

8.      Its exemplification of a pattern of neighborhood development or settlement significant to the cultural history or traditions of the City, whose components may lack individual distinction;

 

9.      Its representation of a cultural, historic, architectural, archaeological, or related theme expressed through distinctive areas, properties, sites, structures, or objects that may or may not be contiguous; or

 

10.  Its unique location and distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City of Pittsburgh.

 

Historic Review Commission

Nomination Form Instructions

Page 4

 

In addition, the ordinance specifies that “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.”

 

10.       The nomination must be accompanied by evidence that the nominator has made a good-faith effort to communicate his or her interest in the historic designation of this landmark or district to the owner(s) of these properties.  Describe how this was done, and attach evidence that the owner(s) of the nominated landmark or of the properties within the nominated district have been informed of the nomination.  This may include a copy of a notification letter with a mailing list, a letter confirming phone calls, or a petition signed by affected property owners.

 

11.    Clear photographs of the individual buildings or districts being nominated should accompany the nomination form.  The photographs shall include all elevations of an individual building and its setting or the front elevation of each building in a district.  In the case of closely spaced buildings or rowhouses, several buildings may be included in one photograph.  Each photograph must be labeled with the street address of the building(s) and the month and year the photograph was taken.

 

12.       Copies of major supporting documents should accompany the nomination form.  Such documents may include, but are not limited to:

·        historic photographs;

·        historic maps;

·        historic or contemporary texts describing the subject property or district;

·        historic or contemporary texts describing people, places, or events that comprise the historic context of the subject property or district.

 

Oversized materials (such as architectural drawings) and materials too fragile to copy may be excepted.

 

13.       Nominations must be accompanied by a check in the amount of $50 for a Historic Structure of

            Object nomination or $100 for a Historic Site of District nomination.  Nominations submitted             without a check will be considered incomplete.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  It is the responsibility of the nominator to provide the Historic Review Commission and its staff with information sufficient to fairly evaluate the nomination.  Incomplete nomination forms will not be accepted.

 

 

 

(HRCFORMS\NOMFORM.DOC)