Allegheny Center
Allegheny Center was established in 1783 when the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania allocated 3,000 acres of land on the north side of the where the Allegheny and Ohio River meet. While Pittsburgh was named in 1758, it was not established as a borough until 1794. For reference, the revolutionary war ended in 1783. The area of Allegheny City included the present day neighborhoods of Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Cenral Northside, Chateau, East Allegheny, Fineview, Manchester, Marshal-Shadeland, North Shore, Northview Heights, Perry North, Perry South, Spring Garden, Spring Hill – City View Summer Hill and Troy Hill.
John Redrick, created a plan for a 36 block area that would be Allegheny City, which was to be surrounded by a buffer of open space, which can still be seen today in the open park areas. Many of the blocks were sold at auction in Philadelphia or given to revolutionary war veterans as payment. The central blocks were retained for government use as Allegheny City was intended to be the county seat for legislature for Allegheny, and included a market and post office.
Allegheny City itself was eventually annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907.
Nova Place
In 1965 Allegheny Center underwent a massive renovation by Alcoa Properties. Close to 500 buildings were razed to construct a mall over ground level parking and 4 apartment complexes. The mall features major anchor tenants such as Sears, F.W Woolworth Company, and Zayre. The mall was an advantageous under taking at the time, one of the largest in Western, PA and also one of the first of it’s size as a climate controlled mall. As developments began to take hold in the North Hills, such as the Ross Park Mall in 1986, activity at the Allegheny Center Mall began to dwindle. Ross park Mall eventually bought Sears out of their lease, causing activity to further decline.
in 2015, Faros Properties, a NYC based company with offices also in Boston and Atlanta, acquired a controlling interest in Allegheny Center for $100M including the mall and 4 contiguous apartments. The mall, now known as Nova Place was converted into shared office space style working community that caters heavily towards technology companies.
Carnegie Free Library
One of the most notable historical buildings viewed was the Carnegie Free Library. This was the first library commissioned by Andrew Carnegie, and second to open as the construction of the Carnegie library in Braddock was finished first. Andrew Carnegie is well known for his philanthropic endeavors giving much of his fortune away through donations. This Carnegie Free Library featured a music hall, it’s construction is a testament to the building capabilities of it’s time, and a magnificent form of architecture. The library was struck by lightning in the early 2000’s and a new location at different building a few blocks was created to be the new home.
The occupying tenant is now MuseumLab, which is a children’s museum. The operating costs were funded through taxes, unlike the Braddock library 9 miles up the river which has received an endowment from Andrew Carnegie. While it’s often easier said than done to keep something running, it’s sad to see something that was gifted like this, with the words “Free Library” engraved at the top being operated by a commercial tenant.
Federal Galley
Federal Galley is a new wave of style in dining facilities that features multiple micro restaurants that utilize a shared space for service. It is uniquely situated in the center of the complex, and serves as a social focal hub for the residents and businesses that surround the immediate area. It embodies the community aspect attracted by the Nova Place work areas, and surrounding communal areas. It lends itself well to the new hybrid work world, where one can work just as easily outside, at a coffee shop, or in park as they can at their office desk.
The Galley is operated by the Galley Group which manages much of the operation as far as marketing, advertisement, equipment, and upkeep, and is the same operating owner as the Galley at the Bakery Square location in East Liberty.
Allegheny Commons Park
One of the most notable features of Allegheny Commons is the park, which is the oldest park in Pittsburgh. The park is the grazing area, which can be seen from the original master plan that surrounds the commons on 3 sides. It features a peaceful pond area where a view of the Pittsburgh skyline can be seen, a gradient mix of nature and industrialization.
In the park areas surrounding the commons, there are numerous tennis courts and fields that can be used for soccer or football. People can be seen walking their dogs along the path, picnicking under a tree, or reading on a bench. There is something tranquil about the mix of the preserved nature surrounded by the modern day makings of a historic area.
The park is also home to the National Aviary, which is the only indoor, non profit aviary in the united states.
