Pittsburgh Terminal Properties
The Pittsburgh Terminal Property buildings are an historic structure on Pittsburgh’s South Side, across the river from Downtown.
The facility was conceived as a central point of connection between road, river, and rail transport. The River and Railroad Terminal Company was incorporated February 8, 1898 to begin the project. Major changes needed to be made to the planned area for the buildings, requiring new city ordinances. Ordinances to change the streets and clear area for building were approved in November 6, 1903.[1] An additional ordinance was required to create the bridge over Cabot Way that holds the road (Terminal Way) which runs between the two major buildings.[2]
Contractual agreements were created with the railroads servicing the area in early 1904. They show the intended use and how interconnection with the railroad lines would work and which parties were responsible for the various costs.[3] Construction of the buildings began on July 1, 1904, and was finally completed on May 31, 1906. The total cost of construction was approximately $1.5 million.[4]
The building was a prominent piece of early 1900's Pittsburgh architecture. It was the subject of different art works and was featured on post cards. One of the new tenants of the building, City Center Self Storage, has a collection of these historical postcards on display in their office.[5]
During World War II, the 6th floor of the building was used to store ammunition and ordinance for the United States Department of War.[6]
The facility was in active use for warehouse and transportation until the mid-1960’s. Marketing brochures from that time promote 868,000 square feet of office and warehouse space available and the availability of a teletype center.[7]
In 1992, the building was renamed River Walk Corporate Centre. Paper Products Company[8] is the largest current tenant of the building occupying lower floors of the West Building. Upper floors of the West Building have largely been converted into modern office space. Tenants include the Green Building Alliance,[9] Venture Outdoors,[10] and G & Co Design.[11] Paper Products Company is also a tenant of the lower floors of the East Building. Other East Building tenants include City Center Self Storage,[12] Harry Giglio Photography,[13] and Alpha Screen Graphics.[14]
On February 5, 2013,[15] Pennsylvania's Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved Pittsburgh Terminal Properties application for historic status in a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
References
- ^ "Pittsburgh Press, November 7th, 1903". Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Pittsburgh Press, January 13th, 1904". Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Corporate History of the Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh, Volume 12. Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "History of the Pittsburgh Terminal Property Buildings". Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Postcard collection showcasing historical Pittsburgh storage building". Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Pittsburgh storage building used to house ammunition during World War II". Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Pittsburgh Terminal Properties brochure pictures from the late 1950's". Retrieved 2012-12-030.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Paper Products Company web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Green Building Alliance web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Venture Outdoors web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "G & Co Design web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "City Center Self Storage web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Harry Giglio Photography web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Alpha Screen Graphics web site". Retrieved 2012-12-016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Pittsburgh Terminal Warehouse and Transfer Company One Step Away from National Register of Historic Places" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-02-025.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)