Schenley Farms Civic Association
PITTSBURGH, PA
Dr. Linda S. Lane, Superintendent Pittsburgh Public Schools 341 S. Bellefield Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Dear Dr. Lane: There is broad consensus among the residents of Schenley Farms that the School District should engage in a national marketing effort to attract a buyer for Schenley High School. The property deserves nothing less than to be brought to the attention of bidders who will offer the highest possible return on the sale of the property, possess experience in the redevelopment of buildings of great architectural and historical significance, and propose reuse that will be make it a complementary asset to its neighbors and all of Oakland. Our preferred use would be residential—especially condominiums, or up‐scale or market‐rate apartments—development that would be compatible with its surrounding single‐family residential use and, importantly, that would return the property to the tax rolls. We believe the best use is one that will not have a detrimental impact on the quality of life in the abutting neighborhoods, both in the long‐term operation of the development and in the short‐term period of its construction. To assure this end, we ask that the Request for Proposal clearly enumerate and require:
1. Operational standards that will ensure that the project will complement adjacent properties and the surrounding historic area; will capitalize on the architectural significance of the building; and will generate tax revenue. There will be no variances from the Pittsburgh Urban Zoning Code, and there will be strict adherence to those Code provisions that serve to protect residential properties from the detrimental effects of increased parking, traffic, noise and other adverse impacts of the redevelopment of the property. There will be a meaningful opportunity for community input. 4040 Bigelow Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1414 Phone: (412) 681-8297