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Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the URA, HACP, Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer, and 327 NN LLC.
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WHEREAS, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) plans to allocate federal funding in the form of HUD HOME funds various local and federal funding sources including HUD HOME and HODAG repayment funds, among others, to 327 NN LLC (Project Sponsor) for the adaptive reuse as housing of the former B’nai Israel Synagogue at 327 N. Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (undertaking) pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800 regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) plans to allocate federal funding in the form of HUD Moving to Work funds to the same undertaking pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800 regulations implementing Section 106 of the NHPA, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh (City) is the Responsible Entity for the URA and HACP; and
WHEREAS, the undertaking consists of the alteration and rehabilitation of B’nai Israel Synagogue’s 1950s south and west wings to create 45 units of housing. The interiors of the wings will be demolished, existing stained glass windows will be removed, new floor plans and interior finishes will be constructed, and a two-story addition will be constructed on the roof of each wing; and
WHEREAS, the adaptive reuse of B’nai Israel Synagogue’s original 1923 rotunda at the core of the building is planned for a future phase of the project which has not yet been fully designed or funded; and
WHEREAS, the City has defined the undertaking’s area of potential effects (APE) as 327 North Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15206; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that the undertaking may have an adverse effect on the former B’nai Israel Synagogue at 327 N. Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, which is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, by altering the original interior and exterior design of the south and west wings and increasing their height via vertical additions, and has consulted with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer (PA SHPO) pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800, the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 306108); and
WHEREAS, the City has consulted with the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation; Preservation Pittsburgh; East Liberty Valley Historical Society; East Liberty Development, Inc.; Bloomfield Garfield Corporation; Friendship Community Group; Rauh Jewish Archive of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania; Congregation Rodef Shalom; and Celia Liss, granddaughter of architect Alexander Sharove, regarding the effects of the undertaking on historic properties and have invited them to sign this MOA as concurring parties and, in this role, may choose to endorse the MOA; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with 36 CFR § 800.6(a)(1), the City has notified the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) of its adverse effect determination with specified documentation, and the ACHP has chosen not to participate in the consultation pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.6(a)(1)(iii); and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City and the PA SHPO agree that the undertaking shall be implemented in accordance with the designated stipulations in order to take into account the effect of the undertaking on historic properties.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget , on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, are hereby authorized to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the URA, HACP, the Pennsylvania State Preservation Officer and 327 NN LLCs. The Memorandum of Agreement shall be in a form approved by the City Solicitor.
Section 2. To the extent that the Memorandum of Agreement seeks to include costs that are appropriately found to be the responsibility of the City, further authorization from City Council will be sought.