Sewickley Historic Review Commission denies request for demolition of old mansion by a parish

The Herbst House, a former Catholic school, convent and private residence along Broad Street in Sewickley, will stand a while longer.

The Sewickley Historic Review Commission has recommended denying a demolition request from the Divine Redeemer Parish.

Commissioners unanimously voted on the denial Aug. 1 after hearing from a Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh attorney, a structural engineer, parishioners and the Rev. Brian Noel, who became its pastor in May 2020.

They also heard from 10 speakers who opposed the demolition, including other engineers and architects, as well as residents. Four letters supporting its restoration were read into the record prior to the vote.

“That structure is just so historical to Sewickley,” said former councilwoman Carole Ford. “It is an absolute shame, and you folks should be going to confession praying for forgiveness for what you have allowed to happen. Not all the young people, but the people in the past that you have this endless neglect. We cannot allow that to continue.”

Parish officials want to raze the building, located in the historic district, due to safety concerns.

The Divine Redeemer Parish includes St. James Church in Sewickley and St. Mary’s church in Aleppo.

The house was built in the late 1800s and owned by D.C. Herbst, of the Independent Natural Gas Co. and Standard Oil Co.

The home was sold to the church in the early 1900s for $12,000. It became the first home of St. James School when it was dedicated on Dec. 6, 1913, according to church records.

The three-story mansion has been vacant for about three decades. It has deteriorated primarily due to water penetration from the roof. Vegetation also reclaimed a portion of the property.

Diocese attorney Chris Ponticello said numerous exterior features were either removed or have fallen from the building. They included the bell tower, a porch and chimneys.

Engineer P.J. Patel said he inspected the building in 2008 and 2014 and determined it was unsafe and needed to be torn down.

“Everything is in a collapsible position,” Patel said.

Architect and parishioner Crispin Conklin shared arial images of the St. James campus as well as a photo of a collapsed mansion window from an addition that was put on the building decades ago, and its interior deterioration.

He talked about floors being destroyed by water infiltration and how other parts of the structure are “gone.”

Architect Jeff Murray said he believes the building can be saved.

“To knock this down would be horrendous (and) an absolute crime,” Murray said.

“We call it the first school of St. James, and that is history for us,” Noel said. “It’s just a heartbreak. … The mission and the community is central to our history in the past and going forward. We think it’s best to actually have green space.”

Dan Kerner, parishioner and member of its finance council, said they do not have the money it would take to restore the structure.

“The economic realities of the parish do not allow that to happen,” Kerner said. “Even if we used all $500,000 of our cash on hand, we would still need to finance approximately $2 million.

“We would have to triple our annual revenue just for that dedicated space. We would be rehabbing a building that the parish has no greater use for.”

Kerner acknowleged some parishioners have said they would help raise money for renovation, but no specific plans have been submitted.

Commissioner Kathe Barge pressed Kerner about people who would be willing to join in a restoration effort.

“This community comes together over and over and over again to get behind projects,” Barge said. “Normally, I wouldn’t be writing you a check. I write my checks to a Presbyterian church.

“(But) if there was a campaign to save the Herbst House and we’re going to do this amazing thing, you’d be getting a check from me.”

Ponticello would later reiterate the parish’s financial struggles.

Barge and commission chair Heather Wildman Figley called out the parish’s team for not following borough code with regard to property maintenance and cited demolition by neglect.

“It doesn’t say you have to maintain it if you can afford it,” Barge said. “It says you have to maintain it.”

Figley said a historic district ordinance prohibits demolition in those districts.

Commissioner Teresa Duff said permitting the demolition may jeopardize the borough’s Certified Local Government status, a distinction given to about 48 municipalities in the state.

The CLG program gives towns the option of strengthening local historic preservation activities through exclusive funding incentives and enhanced technical assistance, according to the state Historical & Museum Commission.

Members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and the Sewickley Valley Historical Society lobbied for the mansion’s restoration.

Resident Heather Blane said she has offered to purchase the property for years, but the parish never moved on her offers. She would like it to be restored to a single-family home.

“I know it’s going to be a nightmare,” Blane said, “but it will be the happiest nightmare of my life.”

Ponticello said after the meeting that the decision of the commission was expected.

“We understand that they are going to be leaning toward preservation of the building,” Ponticello said. “We felt we stated a thorough case relative to the condition of this building, and the church’s desire to maintain ownership of its property and protection of its property rights.”

The commission is a recommending body. Council has the ultimate decision on the demolition request. It typically votes in favor of the commission’s recommendation.

The parish team was expected to make its case before council at its Aug. 9 meeting, after the Sewickley Herald’s print deadline for this edition.

The parish could appeal the decision to Allegheny County Court should council deny the demolition.