Uptown home is center of battle: Preserve its history or tear down to add apartments and retail – WTAE Pittsburgh

Uptown Partners plans to ask Pittsburgh City Council to designate 1817 Fifth Avenue, Uptown a historical site. The owner of the property claims in court documents that they have a buyer for the property, and they plan to take the home down and add apartments and retail in its place. "It tells the story of Uptown it tells how it was created," said Sabreena Miller, Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh Real Estate and Development Manager. "It tells about those Italian, Black and Jewish families that lived here and still live here."Uptown Partners consulting Historian Dr. David Rotenstein said the most prominent Italian American family lived in this home for 50 years and it should be preserved."Probably best known for a period of time between 1922 and 1972 when the Tito family owned it," Rotenstein said. "The Titos were prominent in bootlegging and in numbers gambling and they became very well known for buying the Latrobe Brewing Company at the end of prohibition."Rotenstein said it is also believed that Rolling Rock Beer was first sold in the beer distributor behind the Titos' home.Uptown Partners will hold an event outside the home Saturday, April 2, from 1-3 p.m. to share the home's history and encourage people to sign the petition to ask city council to designate the home as a historical site.Pittsburgh City Council is expected to hear arguments on the historical designation on April 20.Uptown Partners said they hope to take over the property and turn the home into either a museum or a restaurant and speakeasy.Pittsburgh's Action News 4 reached out to the attorney representing the homes owners, for comment. They have not responded.

Uptown Partners plans to ask Pittsburgh City Council to designate 1817 Fifth Avenue, Uptown a historical site.

The owner of the property claims in court documents that they have a buyer for the property, and they plan to take the home down and add apartments and retail in its place.

"It tells the story of Uptown it tells how it was created," said Sabreena Miller, Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh Real Estate and Development Manager. "It tells about those Italian, Black and Jewish families that lived here and still live here."

Uptown Partners consulting Historian Dr. David Rotenstein said the most prominent Italian American family lived in this home for 50 years and it should be preserved.

"Probably best known for a period of time between 1922 and 1972 when the Tito family owned it," Rotenstein said. "The Titos were prominent in bootlegging and in numbers gambling and they became very well known for buying the Latrobe Brewing Company at the end of prohibition."

Rotenstein said it is also believed that Rolling Rock Beer was first sold in the beer distributor behind the Titos' home.

Uptown Partners will hold an event outside the home Saturday, April 2, from 1-3 p.m. to share the home's history and encourage people to sign the petition to ask city council to designate the home as a historical site.

Pittsburgh City Council is expected to hear arguments on the historical designation on April 20.

Uptown Partners said they hope to take over the property and turn the home into either a museum or a restaurant and speakeasy.

Pittsburgh's Action News 4 reached out to the attorney representing the homes owners, for comment. They have not responded.

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Uptown home is center of battle: Preserve its history or tear down to add apartments and retail - WTAE Pittsburgh