Wilkinsburg was the place to be #SEEN on Saturday night, specifically outside of the historic Wilkinsburg train station on Hay Street. The station, which has been closed for more than 40 years, is undergoing a major restoration, symbolizing the desire to move the community forward. “This used to be a thriving community, and it will be thriving again. An event like this lets us celebrate our legacy and bridges us to the future,” said host committee member Leon Haynes. The atmosphere was upbeat, with ragtime music floating through the air, courtesy of Tom Roberts. The event, with a throwback 1920s’ theme, tugged at the memories of the station’s grand opening in 1916. Guests could take tours, led by senior project architect at MCF Architects, John Evans. “Our hope is that this is only the first step for revitalization in this community,” he said. Added executive director of the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation: “This is the first time we’ve done an event like this. We wanted to showcase the central gem of our architecture and get people to look at this business district with fresh eyes.” The hopes for the station is that it will be a mixed-use space, offering up retail as well as possibly a restaurant. “This is a catalyst to move this community forward. I believe in Wilkinsburg and I want to see it come back,” said board member Brenda Wells, with husband Jerome. With the sold-out event of 240 guests raising more than $20,000, this project is well on its way to being #goodallover.
#LetsMakeASEEN: Want to learn more about this project or donate? Visit: http://wilkstation.org/.
#SEEN: State Rep. Ed Gainey, State Sen. Jay Costa, Wilkinsburg Councilwoman Marita Garrett, Patrick Shattuck, Jim Cunningham, Marlee Gallagher, #SEENBestDressed: Rene Cuenca, Bill Schenck, Greg Whitted, Jody Guy, Charles and Cindy Nied.
First Published: October 2, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
