Citizens Bank pitched its plan Tuesday to build a new branch in East Liberty after a bid by local preservationists to save another old bank building at the site failed.
In a briefing before the city planning commission, Citizens representatives detailed their plans for the 2,600-square-foot branch at 6112 Penn Ave.
To clear the path for the construction, Citizens intends to demolish a two-story former Mellon Bank branch known for its sawtooth shaped back, one designed to fit the triangular shape of the lot, its soaring windows and green-glazed brick.
Described as a piece of modernist architecture typical of the 1960s and early 1970s, the building was nominated for city historic status earlier this year by Preservation Pittsburgh. Citizens opposed the bid.
While the designation was backed by the city’s historic review commission and recommended by the planning commission, it failed before City Council, with some members expressing skepticism about its historic significance.
Council’s vote against the nomination allowed Citizens to move forward with its plan, one that brought it back before the planning commission Tuesday.
Nonetheless, the old Mellon branch was still on the mind of commissioner Jean Holland Dick, who stated that the building was “fairly unique” regardless of its historical significance and larger than the one replacing it.
“Why not put that money into modernizing the original building and utilizing the excess room for some civic or other purpose and keeping the same building?” she asked.
Amanda Marshall, a Citizens senior project manager, replied that reusing the structure wasn’t feasible.
“The strategy to renovate the existing building was cost prohibitive for the longevity of what we need for a branch in this location. So the final strategy that was approved by our team was creating a smaller branch for this exact area,” she said.
“Just the cost for the investment was too substantial for either us to take on or for the landlord to take on for the property in question.”
The old two-story branch was closed about 1½ years ago. It will be replaced by a one-story brick and glass building with wood grain metal panels as accents.
In conversations with the community and the city’s design review panel, the bank cut the size of the parking, slightly increased the height of the structure, reduced stormwater runoff and made other modifications.
“I believe we spent the time and the effort to create something in keeping with the neighborhood and something that will be appropriate for the bank’s uses as well,” said Bruce Bisbano, principal architect of the Bisbano + Associates architectural firm.
The new branch, he added, is “in line with current needs and with customer requirements.”
Citizens expects the construction to take about five months. According to a previous report, the bank had begun the demolition process before the nomination for a historic designation was filed.
The commission likely will vote on the plans for the demolition and new construction in two weeks.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: September 28, 2021, 9:16 p.m.