Lawrenceville's Ewalt House may not get historic designation, owners 'cautiously excited'

The owners of a deteriorating, 180-year-old Greek revival house in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood are “cautiously excited” that it appears the property, which had been set to be designated a historic landmark, won’t achieve that designation after all.

City Councilman Bobby Wilson withdrew a bill to make the designation Wednesday, but it isn’t immediately clear if that ends what homeowner Beth Rupert described as “two years of hell.”

“I hope and I pray that this nightmare is over,” Rupert said.

She and her husband Eric inherited what’s called the Ewalt House at 186 Home St. in Lawrenceville. The Ruperts were set to demolish the house last year so it could be sold to a developer when the neighborhood preservation group Lawrenceville Stakeholders sought the historic designation for the house.

They did so against the wishes of the Ruperts, who opposed the designation. Despite their opposition, the designation was recommended this year by the city’s Historic Review Commission and Planning Commission and council last month approved delaying a vote on the designation for three weeks.

The delay came before council’s August recess and it effectively meant the designation was approved.

The ordinance governing historic designations says that if council fails to act, the designation is deemed approved if other city agencies recommend the designation.

Council’s action to withdraw the proposal was made at the advice of the city’s legal team, which warned of the cost of litigating the issue, Councilman Bobby Wilson said.

But it isn’t immediately clear if the designation was deemed to be approved by council’s delay of the vote, Beth Rupert said.

She and her attorney, Gary Kalmayer, were seeking clarification with the city’s law department. City lawyers didn’t respond to requests for comment and Kalmayer didn’t return a message.

Rupert was hesitant to believe the battle to be able to raze the house and sell the property is over, she said.

“I don’t think any family should have to go through what we’ve been through,” she said. “It’s your house and you have no rights.”

If the house achieves the designation, it will make it tough for the Ruperts to sell the property and they can’t afford to repair the home, which is vacant. Although they’re Pittsburgh natives, the Ruperts live in Hampton.

Councilwoman Deb Gross, who represents Lawrenceville, opposed the action to withdraw the bill. She said the city should fight the matter in court.

The Ruperts were set to file a lawsuit against the city alleging their civil rights were violated, Beth Rupert said.

The city struggles with preserving properties as developers and speculators work to build new properties in neighborhoods like Lawrenceville, Gross said.

“The situation is about the city’s land use authority,” Gross said. “Sometimes a fight is worth it.”

Councilman Ricky Burgess disagreed. As a Black man who’s lived through the struggles with gentrification and redevelopment in the city, Burgess said he opposed making such historic designations when the homeowner opposes the action.

“A person who buys a home has every right to use property in their own best pursuit,” Burgess said. “I really believe in property rights.”

Council members agreed the process governing historic designations needs to be clarified.

There are gray areas in the ordinance that need to be corrected, Wilson said.

“I’m going to make it my priority to not be in this situation again,” he said.