A push to turn a former Leetsdale church into a wine bar has led to a change in the borough’s zoning ordinance that could make it easier for future building use changes.

Nate and Valeriya Harsch of Harmony Township plan to open diVino Wine Bar & Retail at 126 Broad St. — the former St. Matthews Lutheran Church, built in 1891 by a German religious group known as the Economites.

The house of worship closed in June 2005. It changed owners a couple of times before being purchased by the Harschs in April 2024 for $228,500, according to Allegheny County property records.

“We were looking for a location for this wine business idea, and we saw this place for sale,” Nate Harsch said. “We just fell in love with the building. I’d say we chose the building, not necessarily the town. Then we got to know some people in Leetsdale and we thought it would be a good investment. The people that we’ve met have all been incredibly nice to us for the most part, and very supportive.”

The wine bar will serve 18 different wines from Southern Italy and some Pennsylvania-made wines and liquors when it opens. As of press time, there is no opening date set.

Nate Harsch said the imports from his international partners would be the first time their products would be available in the United States.

The church interior remained in incredible condition, so much so that the Harschs decided to keep its original wood and windows. They redeveloped its basement into a wine tasting area and retail space. The entire 2,700-square-foot facility seats about 75 people. Renovation investment was about $150,000.

The Harschs said they kept the front door open during most of the renovations, and people would stop by to check out the place.

Valeriya Harsch said that helped bolster community support.

“We received a great amount of support from people,” she said. “Everybody was amazed at how beautiful the building looks. How beautiful we preserved it, just to share its part of history. A lot of people said it would be great to bring new businesses into this neighborhood because this used to be a business-oriented street before.”

However, a zoning issue and residential parking concerns were threatening to derail wine bar plans.

Ordinance compliance

There is a section of Leetsdale’s zoning ordinance that deals with off-street parking for any new use or enlarged use of an existing place.

It requires retail businesses, eating and drinking establishments and personal services to have one off-street parking space for every 100 square feet of floor space.

Nate Harsch said he went before the borough’s zoning hearing board twice seeking a variance to the parking requirement and was unsuccessful.

They first requested the ability to open without designated parking spaces. The second time, they asked to open with off-site parking at the end of the street. Both requests were denied.

Nate Harsch said the church had housed a barbershop and dance classes, with people parking on the street with no issues.

“Our thought process was the building has been here,” he said. “People have parked on the street all the time when they’ve come to the place. We really didn’t see that big of a difference. The second time, we had a more targeted solution with the off-site parking.”

The continued pursuit to have the business led to a proposed ordinance amendment and a public hearing in which a dozen people took to the podium in council chambers to discuss the matter.

The amendment would allow a non-residential property owner in a residential zone to satisfy the parking requirements by securing the required number of spaces through a lease agreement for spaces no more than 2,000 linear feet from the businesses’ property line.

Lease documents would have to be submitted to the borough zoning officer and council before occupancy.

The property owner would also have to post conspicuous signage outside the business stating that patrons are not permitted to park on the street and advise that shared parking spaces are available.

Borough solicitor Dan Conlon said it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for a retail business to satisfy the off-street parking requirement without the amendment.

The public hearing was originally scheduled for June 12. However, it was cancelled due to the borough failing to meet advertising requirements and took place on July 10.

Public hearing and action

Nine out of a dozen speakers were in favor of the amendment, including resident Linda Vaccaro.

“The decision you are about to make will affect the future growth of our community and our community outlook,” Vaccaro said. “Are you being welcoming to an opportunity or blocking new business over the complaints of a few?”

The few included resident John Linko, who advised council to take into consideration the impacts the change may have on residential parking.

He said residents along Broad Street have been negatively impacted ever since Azul Bar Y Cantina opened in 2005, and the new borough building opened a few years later.

“This is not as much about a business or a group of businesses, but achieving balance,” Linko said. “I believe that the development activities that have happened in the time since 2005 have resulted in an imbalance toward venues over residents.”

Resident Theresa Sova also expressed the need for a balance between business and residential parking, and to think of families with young kids who just want to park in front of their house.

“You’re not only blocking them, you’re blocking Leetsdale’s future,” she said.

Resident Barb Herman was among the pro-business crowd and also encouraged council to think toward the future.

“I think it’s time to consider Leetsdale’s ability to grow and support upcoming entrepreneurs and adapt to changing times,” Herman said.

Council transitioned from the public hearing to its regular monthly meeting and unanimously voted to approve the amendment.

The action was met with thunderous applause from the crowd of at least 50 people, including several from the Ambridge area who came in support of the Harschs.

Vaccaro said she felt council listened to everyone’s opinion and made the right call.

“I’m very pleased,” she said. “I’m just sorry it took this long. I happened to be walking by the (wine bar) one day and they invited us in to see it. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

Council president Maria Napolitano, after the meeting, said the amendment was the smallest change they could make, and stressed it only applies to commercial developments changing or extending uses, such as changing a church into a retail and beverage establishment.

“It is a small tweak,” she said. “We in Leetsdale are in a transition of generations. We have many new families moving into the neighborhoods. We are one of the few affordable hamlets in Quaker Valley School District — a top school district. Our town is desirable. The last past couple of years, you could really see demographic and economic shifts to show new people are moving into town and investing.

“This restriction of requiring parking spots makes it hard for the properties that are now vacant and abandoned sometimes to transition for some kind of rejuvenation. … What I would like to create is a slightly better opportunity for them to transition to more friendly allowed uses.”

Council vice president Osman Awad said he is glad the amendment passed and helps remove obstacles for business owners who want to change things in the borough.

“We’re appreciative of council’s actions,” Nate Harsch said. “We think it’s a good step. We think that there could be a solution to parking similar to ours and it’s going to continue to go in a positive direction.”

The proposed wine bar, having 2,700 square feet of usable space, would need at least 27 off-street parking spaces.

Nate Harsch said he plans to offer free valet parking and deny any parking at the facility. He has entered into an agreement with Leetsdale VFW Post 3372 to provide 27 spaces, so the bar could comply with the ordinance.

Post Cmdr. Bill Davis on July 16 confirmed the deal was to use a portion of the VFW property for parking, which would largely be on the lawn, and its marked spaces would remain available to post members and guests.

The ordinance amendment could also impact a proposed boxing gym at a former meat business across the street from the old church.

Other potential impacts

The amendment has the potential to impact another proposed business use change along Broad Street.

Former amateur boxer Jaryd Boyer wants to bring mentorship programs to the borough and create a faith-based boxing gym inside a former meat market.

He made his initial pitch to council in May.

One of the goals is to create a space for youths to receive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual support.

Boyer, a Sewickley resident and founder of the Premier Youth & Community Center, said he just got architectural drawings this month and still has some work to do before presenting official plans to council.

The red brick building is roughly 3,700 square feet, meaning it may need 37 off-street parking spaces.

Boyer said a lot of the storage inside has been cleaned out. However, some of the space is occupied by freezers and storage and he is unsure of how much is actually usable. He plans to work with building and zoning officials to ensure plans comply with all ordinances.

“I’m coming to help the community, not hurt it,” Boyer said on July 16. “If I’m coming in there, taking up parking spots, I’m really not helping the community. The next step is to get with the code people and get a professional in there who can help me classify the space as it needs to be classified for the use that it’s going to be used for (and) keep establishing with the people in the community.”

He said one solution may be to acquire more property and create a parking lot.

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