Schenley Farms History

SCHENLEY FARMS HISTORIC DISTRICT

Schenley Farms is a remarkable neighborhood which received the designation as an historic district in July 1983

Historic locales and buildings serve as an important link to the history of remarkable people who lived before, and to the heritage of current dwellers.  There are many benefits when an entire neighborhood is recognized as a location worthy of being designated as a National Register Historic District.  Examples of such benefits include the following:

• Helps residents to protect their history, and to share it with the larger Pittsburgh community.
• Reinforces a sense of uniqueness and pride, and keeps a focus on the beauty and creativity of living spaces designed in prior times
• Establishes a set of standards for proposed exterior building changes, which ensures preservation of the historically-relevant designs
• Protects property values and quality of life for residents

This section of the website will document some of the remarkable history of this wonderful and distinctive Pittsburgh neighborhood,  which is so conveniently located in the beautiful Oakland neighborhood in the shadow of ‘the Eds and the Meds’.    Neighbors who live in this area accept the privilege and the responsibility of caring for the homes and nearby historical buildings, with standards based on zoning criteria and compliance requirements of the historical designation.  Support for and enforcement of these standards is part of the ongoing work of the Schenley Farms Civic Association (SFCA), a membership organization started in 1920 which focuses on preservation of historic character of area and general welfare of the neighborhood.   Overarching goals  of the SFCA are to maintain the neighborhood as an upscale, single family community, devoted to preservation of its unique historical attributes while maintaining a safe convivial neighborhood structure.