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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP | name =Chatham Village Historic District
{{Infobox NRHP | name =Chatham Village Historic District
| nrhp_type = nhld | nocat = yes
| nrhp_type = nhld | nocat = yes
| image = ChathamVillage1.jpg
| image = Homes in Chatham Village, Pittsburgh.jpg
| caption = Some houses in the Chatham Village Historic District
| caption = Some houses in the Chatham Village Historic District
| location= Roughly bounded by Virginia Ave., Bigham St., Woodruff St., Saw Mill Run Blvd., and Olympia Rd., [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
| location= Roughly bounded by Virginia Ave., Bigham St., Woodruff St., Saw Mill Run Blvd., and Olympia Rd., [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
Line 8: Line 9:
| area ={{convert|46|acre|ha}}
| area ={{convert|46|acre|ha}}
| built =1932 to 1936
| built =1932 to 1936
| architect= Clarence Stein and Henry Wright
| architect= [[Clarence Stein]] and [[Henry Wright (planner)|Henry Wright]]
| architecture= Georgian Colonial Revival, Classical Revival
| architecture= Georgian Colonial Revival, Classical Revival
| designated_nrhp_type= April 5, 2005<ref name=nhlsum>{{Cite web | title = Chatham Village | work = National Historic Landmark Quicklinks | publisher = [[National Park Service]] | url = http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-1404703103&ResourceType=District | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121214142146/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-1404703103&ResourceType=District | dead-url = yes | archive-date = 14 December 2012 | accessdate = 20 March 2012 }}</ref>
| designated_nrhp_type= April 5, 2005<ref name=nhlsum>{{Cite web | title = Chatham Village | work = National Historic Landmark Quicklinks | publisher = [[National Park Service]] | url = http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-1404703103&ResourceType=District | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121214142146/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-1404703103&ResourceType=District | url-status = dead | archive-date = 14 December 2012 | accessdate = 20 March 2012 }}</ref>
| added = November 25, 1998 <ref name=nris/>
| added = November 25, 1998 <ref name=nris/>
| refnum = 98001372<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| refnum = 98001372<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
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}}
}}


'''Chatham Village''' is a community within the larger [[Mount Washington, Pittsburgh (neighborhood)|Mount Washington]] neighborhood of the City of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], and an internationally acclaimed model of community design. It is roughly bounded by Virginia Ave., Bigham St., Woodruff St., Saw Mill Run Blvd., and Olympia Rd. It was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 2005 as a remarkably well-preserved example of [[Garden City Movement]] design. The village is owned and operated as a cooperative by its residents.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite book|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Chatham Village|url={{NHLS url|id=98001372}} |format=pdf|date=December 12, 2003 |author=Edith B. Wallace and Paula S. Reed |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
'''Chatham Village''' is a community within the larger [[Mount Washington, Pittsburgh (neighborhood)|Mount Washington]] neighborhood of the city of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], and an internationally acclaimed model of community design. It is roughly bounded by Virginia Avenue, Bigham Street, Woodruff Street, Saw Mill Run Boulevard, and Olympia Road, and was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 2005 as a remarkably well-preserved example of [[Garden City Movement]] design.
The village is owned and operated as a cooperative by its residents.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite book|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Chatham Village|url={{NHLS url|id=98001372}} |format=pdf|date=December 12, 2003 |author=Edith B. Wallace and Paula S. Reed |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
Chatham Village was built 1932–1936, and was designed by [[Clarence Stein]] and [[Henry Wright (landscape architect)|Henry Wright]] on the principles of the [[Garden city movement|Garden City Movement]] of the early 20th century. It is in the [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] [[Colonial Revival Movement|Colonial Revival]] style. It was built to show that affordable housing for the [[working class]] could be attractive and safe, however it quickly became a middle- and upper-class neighborhood because it was so attractive. The funding was provided by Pittsburgh's [[Buhl Foundation]].
Chatham Village was built 1932–1936, and was designed by [[Clarence Stein]] and [[Henry Wright (landscape architect)|Henry Wright]] on the principles of the [[Garden city movement|Garden City Movement]] of the early 20th century. It was created in the [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] [[Colonial Revival Movement|Colonial Revival]] style, and was built to show that affordable housing for the [[working class]] could be attractive and safe. It quickly became a middle- and upper-class neighborhood, however, because it was so attractive. The funding was provided by Pittsburgh's [[Buhl Foundation]].


== Relevance ==
== Relevance ==
In 2007, Chatham Village was included in the [[American Planning Association]]'s list of Great Neighborhoods as part of its Great Places in America program, which recognized 10 neighborhoods from across the nation for good design, function, sustainability, and community involvement.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Neighborhood in Mt. Washington cited as one of nation's top 10. |journal=Pittsburgh Truibune-Review |year=2007 |issue=October 3 |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_530594.html |accessdate=2008-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105010410/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_530594.html |archive-date=2007-11-05 |dead-url=yes |df= }}</ref>
In 2007, Chatham Village was included in the [[American Planning Association]]'s list of Great Neighborhoods as part of its Great Places in America program, which recognized ten neighborhoods from across the nation for good design, function, sustainability, and community involvement.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Neighborhood in Mt. Washington cited as one of nation's top 10. |journal=Pittsburgh Truibune-Review |year=2007 |issue=October 3 |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_530594.html |accessdate=2008-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105010410/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_530594.html |archive-date=2007-11-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In ''[[The Death and Life of Great American Cities]]'', writer [[Jane Jacobs]] criticizes Chatham Village as an example of how Garden City planning created islands of class homogeneity, thus fostering economic and social distance within Pittsburgh and other cities. Jacobs cites Chatham Village residents' inabilities to cooperate with other parents once their children entered the more economically and socially diverse local junior high school, which drew lower-class and lower-middle-class students from outside of Chatham Village. In Jacobs' view, the success of Chatham Village as an urban community in a park-like setting depended upon the residents' tendencies to trust one another due to the similarities in their professional, economic, and social status. The ideals of city planning expressed in the [[Garden city movement|Garden City Movement]], Jacobs argues, are only suitable for upper-middle-class lifestyles and, thus, fail to engage the endemic economic and social diversity of cities.<ref>Jane Jabobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (New York: Modern Library, 2001 [1961]), 83-85.</ref>
In ''[[The Death and Life of Great American Cities]]'', writer [[Jane Jacobs]] criticizes Chatham Village as an example of how Garden City planning created islands of class homogeneity, thus fostering economic and social distance within Pittsburgh and other cities. Jacobs cites Chatham Village residents' inabilities to cooperate with other parents once their children entered the more economically and socially diverse local junior high school, which drew lower-class and lower-middle-class students from outside of Chatham Village. In Jacobs' view, the success of Chatham Village as an urban community in a park-like setting depended upon the residents' tendencies to trust one another due to the similarities in their professional, economic, and social status. The ideals of city planning expressed in the [[Garden city movement|Garden City Movement]], Jacobs argues, are only suitable for upper-middle-class lifestyles and, thus, fail to engage the endemic economic and social diversity of cities.<ref>Jane Jabobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (New York: Modern Library, 2001 [1961]), 83-85.</ref>


== The homes ==
== The homes ==
[[File:ChathamVillage2.jpg|thumb|left|220px|View of the back of some homes (with deeply recessed garages) fronting on the street]]
[[File:ChathamVillage2.jpg|thumb|right|220px|View of the back of some homes (with deeply recessed garages) fronting on the street]] The homes are red-brick-and-slate-roof townhomes. They are situated in clusters toward interior courtyards with their rears facing the loop roads around the property. The homes do have rear-access integral garages in the basements, but these are recessed several feet to greatly reduce the visual impact.
The homes are red-brick-and-slate-roof townhomes. They are situated in clusters toward interior courtyards with their rears facing the loop roads around the property. The homes do have rear-access integral garages in the basements but these are recessed several feet to greatly reduce the visual impact.


The community is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of the Garden City concept by city planners, architects, and landscape architects. It is also a [[National Historic Landmark]], on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|National Register of Historic Places]], and is on the [[List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks]].
The community is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of the Garden City concept by city planners, architects, and landscape architects. It is also a [[National Historic Landmark]], on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|National Register of Historic Places]], and is on the [[List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks]].


== Chatham Hall ==
== Chatham Hall ==
⚫
The complex includes the [[Bigham House]] (former home of [[Thomas Bigham]]), originally built in 1849, and renovated for use as a community clubhouse, known as Chatham Hall. Thomas James Bigham (1810–1884) was an [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] lawyer, and his house was "purportedly a station on the [[Underground Railroad]]".<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=d0sCwUNIqhwC&dq=%22Bigham+House%22+1844&pg=PA173 African American historic sites survey of Allegheny County]'', Eliza Smith Brown, Daniel Holland, et al., page 173 (1994, [[Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission]], Harrisburg, Pennsylvania {{cite book | isbn=0-89271-064-0| title=African American Historic Sites Survey of Allegheny County| last1=Brown| first1=Eliza Smith| year=1994| publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission}})</ref>
⚫
[[File:BighamHouse.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Bigham House]], built in 1849, now known as Chatham Hall]]
⚫
The complex includes the [[Bigham House]] (former home of [[Thomas Bigham]]), originally built in 1849, and renovated for use as a community clubhouse, known as Chatham Hall. Thomas James Bigham (1810–1884) was an [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] lawyer, and his house was "purportedly a station on the [[Underground Railroad]]".<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=d0sCwUNIqhwC&pg=PA173&dq=%22Bigham+House%22+1844&hl=en&ei=aSibTOiIIMSclgfjq-jfCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Bigham%20House%22%201844&f=false African American historic sites survey of Allegheny County]'', Eliza Smith Brown, Daniel Holland, et al., page 173 (1994, [[Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission]], Harrisburg, Pennsylvania {{cite book | isbn=0-89271-064-0}})</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
⚫
File:BighamHouse.jpg|right|[[Bigham House]], built in 1849, now known as Chatham Hall
File:ChathamVillage3.jpg|The garage side of some townhouses in Chatham Village
File:ChathamVillage3.jpg|The garage side of some townhouses in Chatham Village
File:ChathamVillage4.jpg|View of shared green space in front of some homes
File:ChathamVillage4.jpg|View of shared green space in front of some homes
File:ChathamVillageParkingArea.jpg|A garage area for those whose townhouses don't have built-in garages
File:ChathamVillageParkingArea.jpg|A garage area for those whose townhouses don't have built-in garages
File:ChathamVillageWallAroundParkingArea.jpg|A castle-like wall around a parking area
File:ChathamVillageWallAroundParkingArea.jpg|A castle-like wall around a parking area
File:ChathamVillageGardenBuilding.jpg|A garden building with an overhead trellis around part of it
File:ChathamVillageGardenBuilding.jpg|A garden folly with an overhead trellis around part of it
</gallery>
</gallery>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}



== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Chatham Village}}
{{commons category|Chatham Village}}
* Chatham Village Website [http://www.chathamvillage.coop]
* Chatham Village Website [https://www.chathamvillagehomesinc.com]
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05290/589955.stm 2005 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on the community]
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05290/589955.stm 2005 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on the community]
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}

Latest revision as of 00:00, 26 December 2023

Chatham Village Historic District
Some houses in the Chatham Village Historic District
Chatham Village is located in Pittsburgh
Chatham Village
Chatham Village is located in Pennsylvania
Chatham Village
Chatham Village is located in the United States
Chatham Village
LocationRoughly bounded by Virginia Ave., Bigham St., Woodruff St., Saw Mill Run Blvd., and Olympia Rd., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°25′52″N 80°1′1″W / 40.43111°N 80.01694°W / 40.43111; -80.01694
Area46 acres (19 ha)
Built1932 to 1936
ArchitectClarence Stein and Henry Wright
Architectural styleGeorgian Colonial Revival, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.98001372[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 25, 1998 [1]
Designated NHLDApril 5, 2005[3]
Designated PHLF1990[2]

Chatham Village is a community within the larger Mount Washington neighborhood of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an internationally acclaimed model of community design. It is roughly bounded by Virginia Avenue, Bigham Street, Woodruff Street, Saw Mill Run Boulevard, and Olympia Road, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2005 as a remarkably well-preserved example of Garden City Movement design.

The village is owned and operated as a cooperative by its residents.[3][4]

History

[edit]

Chatham Village was built 1932–1936, and was designed by Clarence Stein and Henry Wright on the principles of the Garden City Movement of the early 20th century. It was created in the Georgian Colonial Revival style, and was built to show that affordable housing for the working class could be attractive and safe. It quickly became a middle- and upper-class neighborhood, however, because it was so attractive. The funding was provided by Pittsburgh's Buhl Foundation.

Relevance

[edit]

In 2007, Chatham Village was included in the American Planning Association's list of Great Neighborhoods as part of its Great Places in America program, which recognized ten neighborhoods from across the nation for good design, function, sustainability, and community involvement.[5]

In The Death and Life of Great American Cities, writer Jane Jacobs criticizes Chatham Village as an example of how Garden City planning created islands of class homogeneity, thus fostering economic and social distance within Pittsburgh and other cities. Jacobs cites Chatham Village residents' inabilities to cooperate with other parents once their children entered the more economically and socially diverse local junior high school, which drew lower-class and lower-middle-class students from outside of Chatham Village. In Jacobs' view, the success of Chatham Village as an urban community in a park-like setting depended upon the residents' tendencies to trust one another due to the similarities in their professional, economic, and social status. The ideals of city planning expressed in the Garden City Movement, Jacobs argues, are only suitable for upper-middle-class lifestyles and, thus, fail to engage the endemic economic and social diversity of cities.[6]

The homes

[edit]
View of the back of some homes (with deeply recessed garages) fronting on the street

The homes are red-brick-and-slate-roof townhomes. They are situated in clusters toward interior courtyards with their rears facing the loop roads around the property. The homes do have rear-access integral garages in the basements, but these are recessed several feet to greatly reduce the visual impact.

The community is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of the Garden City concept by city planners, architects, and landscape architects. It is also a National Historic Landmark, on the National Register of Historic Places, and is on the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks.

Chatham Hall

[edit]

The complex includes the Bigham House (former home of Thomas Bigham), originally built in 1849, and renovated for use as a community clubhouse, known as Chatham Hall. Thomas James Bigham (1810–1884) was an abolitionist lawyer, and his house was "purportedly a station on the Underground Railroad".[7]

[edit]
  • Bigham House, built in 1849, now known as Chatham Hall
    Bigham House, built in 1849, now known as Chatham Hall
  • The garage side of some townhouses in Chatham Village
    The garage side of some townhouses in Chatham Village
  • View of shared green space in front of some homes
    View of shared green space in front of some homes
  • A garage area for those whose townhouses don't have built-in garages
    A garage area for those whose townhouses don't have built-in garages
  • A castle-like wall around a parking area
    A castle-like wall around a parking area
  • A garden folly with an overhead trellis around part of it
    A garden folly with an overhead trellis around part of it

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Chatham Village". National Historic Landmark Quicklinks. National Park Service. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  4. ^ Edith B. Wallace and Paula S. Reed (December 12, 2003). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Chatham Village (pdf). National Park Service.
  5. ^ "Neighborhood in Mt. Washington cited as one of nation's top 10". Pittsburgh Truibune-Review (October 3). 2007. Archived from the original on November 5, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  6. ^ Jane Jabobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (New York: Modern Library, 2001 [1961]), 83-85.
  7. ^ African American historic sites survey of Allegheny County, Eliza Smith Brown, Daniel Holland, et al., page 173 (1994, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Brown, Eliza Smith (1994). African American Historic Sites Survey of Allegheny County. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. ISBN 0-89271-064-0.)
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chatham Village.
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