December 10 Public Meeting
On Tuesday, December 10, Richard Piacentini, President and CEO of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and Ken Doyno, President of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative shared Phipps’ newest sketches for a renovated Garden Center at a meeting hosted by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC).
Summary
Representatives of SHUC, the Point Breeze Organization (PBO), and Friends of Mellon Park (FOMP) were in attendance, as were representatives of the City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and approximately 70 neighbors and community members.
Phipps’ proposed plans show a building that extends very little into the park. The plans show no additional height, with the exception of a second-floor walkway linking the second stories of the Carriage House and the Scaife Garage.
Drawings presented at the meeting are preliminary.
Details about excavation elsewhere in the park to support green building infrastructure were not available.
Many attendees voiced concerns about Phipps’ renovation of the Garden Center, including questions and comments about the extent of underground excavation and infrastructure necessitated by the “Living Building Challenge (LBC),” appropriate design in an historic setting, protection of mature trees, and protection for of the Walled Garden.
Mr. Piacentini assured attendees that Phipps will continue to meet with the community on each step of the process until a consensus is reached. He responded to questions at length, reiterating his commitment to the LBC and showing slides to demonstrate Phipps’ prior experience moving mature trees.
At future meetings, Phipps will present building designs, plans to protect valuable mature trees and the historic landscape, excavation and construction plans, and details of proposed green infrastructure to meet the LBC.
Councilperson Erika Strassburger said that the City of Pittsburgh has put lease negotiations on hold until the public process is complete.
In a show of hands requested by SHUC president Mardi Isler at the end of the discussion, attendees signaled their approval for Phipps to proceed to the next step of making detailed drawings. The non-binding vote did not approve any specific building plans; rather, it indicated approval for the building footprint and height as shown, and a wish to see more detailed plans. These plans will be presented at future public meetings for community response and approval.
Details
1. Revised Footprint:
Phipps’ new plans show a revised footprint with very little expansion into the park, and no additional height except for a walkway connecting the second stories of the Carriage House and the Scaife Garage.
2. Light Pollution:
Mr. Piacentini pledged that the new building would not introduce light pollution into the park, nor shed light on the Walled Garden or its light sculpture.
3. Landscape Architect:
Mr. Piacentini said that Phipps is negotiating with Rhodeside & Harwell, landscape architects, and hopes to have an agreement with them shortly.
4. Mature Trees:
Mr. Piacentini stated that he was committed to the protection of valuable and mature trees in Mellon Park and would, at a future meeting, present Phipps’ plans for protecting these trees.
5. Living Building Challenge:
Mr. Piacentini stated his determination to make the building renovation comply with LBC protocols. These are the most demanding green building standards in the world, with only 23 buildings currently certified as having met the LBC. He also said that changes in LBC standards and procedures may be more protective of the park, its historic landscape, and its mature trees than previous ones.
6. Community Comments and Concerns:
There was general agreement that the Phipps Garden Center building is in serious need of renovation, but several people emphasized that the park and its green space are more important than any new building. They asked Phipps to give precedence to open green space over new construction. Others hoped for a “modest and beautiful building that fits into the historic structures and landscape at the site.” Several voiced concern for important park assets, including the Walled Garden, its light sculpture, and the valuable mature trees in the park. They questioned whether it was possible to protect the park and still achieve LBC certification.
7. Process of Design Approval
Architect Ken Doyno, Councilperson Erika Strassburger, and SHUC President, Martha Isler, described the City of Pittsburgh process for approval of a new building in Mellon Park.
At this time, the Arts Commission is the only body required to hold a public hearing about any new construction at Phipps Garden Center. Buildings in city parks do not go before the Zoning Commission or Planning Commission.
8. A Vote:
In response to a request from Martha Isler for a show of hands, a majority of attendees signaled their approval for Phipps to proceed with creating full designs based on the renderings shared at the meeting. No binding design decisions or approvals were offered by either Phipps or meeting attendees, but the consensus was that the design was moving in the right direction. Mr. Piacentini promised to bring full designs to a future public meeting for community response and approval.
9. Challenge of The Living Building Challenge:
“We have not agreed to excavation or infrastructure beyond the footprint of the building as presented tonight. We have not agreed that Mellon Park is an appropriate site for an LBC project,” one attendee stated. “But we feel that the basic footprint of the building is going in the right direction. We are very happy about that.”
“These living buildings are very difficult to build. That’s why it’s called the Living Building Challenge, and we will try to succeed in meeting the challenge,” Mr. Piacentini replied. “At our next meeting, in addition to more detailed architectural plans for the proposed Garden Center, we will present infrastructure plans for zero net water and zero net energy, and this community will have ample opportunity to respond. The approval of this community is important. We will not move forward with this plan until we can agree about it.”
What Happens Next
Phipps will continue to participate in community forums to share design proposals. No date has been set for the next community meeting.
Phipps has indicated that the design process will take approximately one year, and the construction process will take approximately 18 months after design approval.
Phipps will continue to meet with a small working group of City, SHUC, FOMP, and PBO representatives to discuss plans for the Garden Center.
Phipps will continue to work with the Living Future Institute, home to the LBC, to explore options for receiving certification in an historic landscape. Mr. Piacentini sits on the board of the Living Future Institute.
Phipps’ final design plan will be presented to the City Art Commission. There is no requirement for a design review before the Zoning Board, the Planning Commission, or the Historic Review Commission.
The city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) must also approve the final design plan for the Garden Center renovation. DPW approval is not subject to any formal publication or notice requirements.
Mellon Park is not currently designated as an historic site by the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, or the federal government, but that status would convey varying requirements for community consultation, input, and review.
City Council will be asked to approve a new lease with Mellon Park when a new design has been finalized by the City Solicitor and the DPW. Lease negotiations between Phipps and the City of Pittsburgh are private, but Councilperson Strassburger will notify stakeholders when they resume.
What you Can Do
Communicate (in writing) with your city council member about your interest in this issue and your desire to make sure the process unfolds transparently, with primary concern for protection of the historic park and the public’s access to it.
Please check this website and sign up for updates from FOMP for timely announcements about park developments.