(The following story by Daniel Reynolds appeared on the Tribune-Review website on May 27.)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Port Authority of Allegheny County has found the money to renovate a historically significant Edgewood train station designed by noted American architect Frank Furness.
After years of trying, the Port Authority this month landed a $350,000 PennDOT grant to renovate the station, fix up a pedestrian tunnel next to the station that runs underneath the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway extension, and open a pedestrian tunnel in Wilkinsburg that will connect to the busway’s Hamnett Street station in Wilkinsburg.
Built in 1903, the station was declared a landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation in 1998, but has deteriorated in recent years. The last Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train stopped at the station on Nov. 27, 1964.
Now Port Authority buses on the extended east busway are the only thing that carry passengers past the old station.
The station is the last building designed by Furness in Allegheny County that still stands.
Furness is considered the founder of the “Philadelphia” school of architecture. One of Furness’ most prominent students was Louis Henry Sullivan, designer of New York City’s Chrysler Building. Sullivan in turn was the teacher of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
As part of the construction of the 2.3-mile extension of the east busway, the Port Authority plans to buy the train station from Norfolk Southern Railroad, renovate it, and then lease the station to the borough for at least 30 years.
Edgewood’s planning commission this week also got a look at partial design work for the station renovation, done by the Pittsburgh firm DRS Architects Inc.
Mark McNally, the planning commission’s liaison to council, said Wednesday he’s pleased with what he’s seen so far, but more design work needs to be done.
McNally said the borough likely will approve one commercial occupant of the building once it is renovated. The station currently is leased by a real estate office and an antiques store.
Port Authority spokesman Bob Grove said the renovation and work on the pedestrian tunnels should begin in the fall.