by Eric Miller
When most people look at buying a house labeled as historic, they anticipate sacrificing a number of modern conveniences. Clanging pipes, drafty windows and a number of fix-it-yourself projects are expected. The bathroom might be old, the heating system state-of-the art some decades ago, and the outlets might not have enough holes to plug in the iMac.
The new owners of a century-old house at 810 Cedar Avenue in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of East Allegheny won't have to rough it in any way when they move in, though. In fact, this Victorian Lady stands as a model for communities everywhere, demonstrating that old doesn't mean outdated.
Take the state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system. As part of a neighborhood redevelopment effort, twelve wells were dug 400 feet into the ground under a restaurant parking lot. One-inch tubes carry fluid at a constant year-round temperature to heat pumps in 810 Cedar and a renovated carriage house at the rear of the property.
When the new owners go on vacation, they won't have to spend it worrying about whether they left the oven on. All features of the house, including security, lighting, heating, electrical outlets, and appliances, can be turned on and off remotely from a computer or phone. The entire house came wired for cable, phone and computer.
Instead of being a drafty energy-loser, this Victorian is friendly to the environment. Wall studs are made of recycled steel, the kitchen floor is made from recycled tires, and the geothermal system accommodates Smart House environmental controls.
When the East Allegheny Community Council purchased the house in 1997, it was in a state of disrepair. Under most circumstances the house, which had rotted throughout from a long-leaking roof and had tree roots digging into the soft brick walls, would have been demolished. But 810 Cedar was one in a proud row of Victorians facing a park. Losing it would destroy the row.
At a cost far exceeding the $300,000 sales price, the council launched an effort to make the house a triumph of technology and a symbol of what can be done, rather than a sad testimonial of urban decay and neglect.
The Council recently hosted a well-attended open house to show off the jewel of this emerging neighborhood and symbol of a new Pittsburgh. A welcoming holiday tree encouraged neighbors up the stairs and into the front door, where volunteers dressed in Victorian garb made them feel at home. Walking through the halls and up the stairs, visitors, including Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, were clearly impressed with what had transpired.
The house is part of a current $3.4 million, 20-home development in East Allegheny. Since 1978 the East Allegheny Community Council has initiated the renovation and construction of dozens of homes, creating an example of a livable and sustainable pedestrian-oriented environment for Pittsburgh.
