About the project

Local historic districts are groups of buildings, sites, or other properties that are recognized as historically or architecturally significant. These districts are designated by local ordinance and are overseen by the Historic Review Commission. The goal of a local historic district is to preserve the area's character while allowing for change. There are 15 locally-designated historic districts in the City of Pittsburgh.

Historic district guidelines are a set of rules that help preserve the historic character of a designated area. They are used to guide decisions about development, construction, and maintenance in historic districts. While some of Pittsburgh's local historic districts have their own guidelines, some do not.

This on-going project will ensure that all locally-designated historic districts are governed by best practice guidelines for the treatment of historic structures within each district, meet Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office's standards, and reflect community input.

The Mexican War Streets expansion area contains some 450 structures that date mostly to the later Victorian period. This district is located in the Central Northside neighborhood and was listed in 2020.

Roslyn Place Historic District is located in the Shadyside neighborhood and contains 10 residential resources. Roslyn Place is an example of early twentieth-century homes on a cul-de-sac that is the only remaining wooden street in the city. Guidelines for maintaining and repairing the wooden street will be included in the project. The district was listed in 2018.

Schenley Farms Historic District contains 195 resources.  This primarily residential district consists of early twentieth-century architecture of large craftsman and eclectic style bungalows facing onto wide tree-lined streets.  

Schenley Farms is adjacent to the University of Pittsburgh campus and is located in the North Oakland and Upper Hill neighborhoods. The district was listed in the 1990's.