Since this zoning case seems to be of interest to the neighborhood, I thought I would send it in addition to the Highland Park case. 

Please be advised that the Zoning Board of Adjustment will hear a proposal for variances in Downtown Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 28, 2011:

· 310-30 Grant Street – Use of three business ID signs and two logos – High wall business ID signs shall not be mounted or project above the roof line or parapet wall

Please see the attached documents for further details on the variances requested and the hearing times.   

If you have any questions regarding the hearing, please call the Zoning Board of Adjustment at 412-255-2214.

Emily Keebler · Office of Patrick Dowd · Pittsburgh City Council District 7
emily.keebler@city.pittsburgh.pa.us · 412-255-2140

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From: neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com [mailto:neighborhood-bounces@highlandparkpa.com] On Behalf Of Dave Demko
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:37 PM
Subject: [Highland Park] Re: Huntington Bank Shows Commitment to Pittsburghby Defacing Historic Landmark

Hello All again,

  I have it from two sources now that the April 7 Zoning Board of adjustment hearing will be postponed until April 28. I will update you with the correct date as soon as the new date and time is confirmed.

Dave Demko

412-488-7490 x234

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From: Dave Demko
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:48 PM
To: 'miked@scenicpittsburgh.org'
Subject: Huntington Bank Shows Commitment to Pittsburgh by Defacing Historic Landmark

Dear Friends of Scenic Pittsburgh,

Renowned architect Henry Hornbostel (1867–1961) must be turning in his grave. On April 7 at 10;10 AM. The Pittsburgh zoning Board of adjustment will hear a request from Huntington Bank, to place a “High Wall Business Id Sign” on a Pittsburgh landmark, the Grant Building. www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_729620.html. By framing this desecration as “representing (Huntington’s) growth and commitment to Pittsburgh”, Huntington Bank, based in Columbus Ohio, will parasitically attach itself to our city’s architectural heritage and claim our cultural identity as its own.

Henry Hornbostel created the Grant Building in the classic Beaux Arts style to compete with the great high rises of the early twentieth century. Developers spared no expense, cladding the building in Swedish Granite at its base and topping the building with a flamboyant neon tower that spells out P-I-T-T-S-B-U-R-G-H in Morse code. The Grant Building succeeded the First National Bank Building in 1928 as the tallest skyscraper in the city. Henry Hornbostel designed more than 225 buildings, bridges, and monuments in the United States; currently 22 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nearly half of his works (110) were in Pittsburgh, where in 1904 he won the campus design competition for Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Technical Schools (today's Carnegie Mellon University). He also helped to establish Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture that same year. His works include the Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial, Pittsburgh City-County Building, Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts, the Rodef Shalom Temple and the Smithfield United Church.

Huntington Bank is requesting a variance to locate the sign above the roofline of the Grant building, which is currently prohibited by zoning code. It is imperative we communicate to the Zoning Board, our opposition to this variance request. Please plan to attend the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on April 7, 2011, at 10:10 AM, at 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh. Also, please take a moment to write to the Mayor (askpgh@city.pittsburgh.pa.us ), Councilman Lavelle (daniel.lavelle@city.pittsburgh.pa.us ), the Tribune Review (opinion@tribweb.com - 200 words max) or the Post Gazette (letters@post-gazette.com – 250 words max) and tell them how you feel about sacrificing Pittsburgh’s skyline to corporate branding.

Keep up the good fight,

Dave Demko

412-488-7490 x234