Historic preservation project underway by Leetsdale intern

Leetsdale officials hope a historic preservation project by the borough’s summer intern will lead to more grant funding opportunities and accreditations.

Teddy Almeter of Monroeville is spending this summer researching programs and potentially historic areas in the 1.1-square-mile Allegheny County town along the Ohio River.

His project also includes reaching out to related organizations such as the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in an effort to generate a report by the end of August.

Almeter said money often tied to historical preservation includes tax credits for developers and facade restoration grants for homeowners.

“This is very much in the beginning stages of a project,” Almeter said. “The research has been meeting with historical preservation consultants from neighboring communities such as Ambridge and Sewickley. We’ve researched sample ordinances and looked into more grant programs.

“The next steps would be to publish the research and findings in a website report, and hold community meetings for feedback and answer any questions and concerns the public may have.”

Leetsdale has two recognized historic landmarks, the Lark Inn and the Elm Ridge House, and more sites could be recognized based on historical significance.

The Lark Inn, constructed in 1798, sits along Beaver Road. Elm Ridge was built in 1869 and sits at 1 Breck Drive.

Both were named to the list of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation’s historic landmarks.

Both were also listed in the borough’s comprehensive plan, which also suggests the borough create a plan to protect historic assets.

Another goal of the intern’s project is to get Leetsdale Certified Local Government accreditation through the PHMC’s State Historic Preservation Office.

The Certified Local Government program is a National Park Service program enabled by the National Historic Preservation Act.

It gives municipalities the option of strengthening local historic preservation through funding incentives and enhanced technical assistance, according to the PHMC website.

Some of the qualifications to become a Certified Local Government include maintaining a system for the survey and inventory of local historic resources, enforcing appropriate state or local legislation for the designation and protection of historic properties, and establishing a historic preservation commission.

Almeter, 22, was selected as Leetsdale’s intern out of a variety of candidates through the Local Government Academy.

The 2020 Serra Catholic High School grad and current Grove City College student said he is happy with the project’s progress.

“Everyone here’s been very welcoming,” Almeter said. “It’s been very cool. I’ve done a lot of work so far and I hope to accomplish more throughout the summer.”

Council president Maria Napolitano said Almeter’s report may lead to more sites being added to the historic landmark list and a host of other benefits.

“The goal of this is to help homeowners and residents and open up opportunities,” Napolitano said. “Historic preservation is really tied to neighborhood revitalization. It helps bring investment for restoring houses, and it can help homeowners restore houses as well.”

Nearby Sewickley has a historic review commission, which oversees requests of changes to properties within the borough’s historic districts.

It’s a recommending body to Sewickley council, which ultimately makes decisions on such requests and approves certificates of appropriateness.

Napolitano said she was unsure if Leetsdale would form such a commission, and looks forward to what may come from Almeter’s report.

“Having Teddy is great because he is a great writer,” she said. “Very meticulous, really interested in municipal government; has past experience with construction and familiarity with code enforcement issues. It’s a large project he’s working on for us.

“With historic preservation, I don’t know how far we’re going to get. It’s great having him because it means we’re on a regular schedule looking for things, meeting people and accumulating information.”

Council’s next voting meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at the borough office, 373 Beaver St.