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WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) was founded in 1964 by a group of citizens who passionately believed in historic preservation, rather than demolition, as a tool for renewing communities, building pride among residents and achieving sustainable economic development; and
WHEREAS, chartered to work within a 250 mile radius of Pittsburgh, PHLF, identifies, saves and uses properties 50 years old or more, observing their importance to renewing historic communities, towns, urban structures, landscapes, and notes historic districts, building pride among the people who live there; and
WHEREAS, many of the buildings considered historically significant to PHLF are churches, specific houses, and buildings such as the County Courthouse, Oliver High School, Perry Traditional Academy, the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, and historic districts such as Allegheny West, Deutschtown, Manchester, Market Square, and more; and
WHEREAS, PHLF educates people about Pittsburgh's rich architectural heritage through school tours of buildings, such as the City-County Building, walking tours through Downtown, and the 30 books and pamphlets published by PHFL on local history and architecture; and
WHEREAS, they saved and restored the Old Allegheny Post Office donating the structure, built in 1897, to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, launched a revolving loan fund for the restoration of inner-city neighborhoods and key Main Street buildings, and established the Historic Landmark program resulting in the designation of more than 545 sites in Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, over the years, PHLF awarded over $650,000 in grants for technical support and assistance to help restoration projects of more than 100 historic religious properties; and
WHEREAS, this year, PHLF will spend $8.6 million for housing restoration, establishing the New Granada Theatre on the Hill and to list it in the National Register, funding 14 main street projects in three counties, adding a challenge grant campaign to revitalize historic religious properties and will serve 10,000 students and adults with their educational programs;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh commends the fine work of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, caring enough to help both financially and technically to restore our incredible architecture and for following its mission that historic buildings are gems to be identified, saved and used.