John Bindley was a successful businessman who admired and appreciated good architecture. Which is a good thing, because when he built his wholesale hardware warehouse in Shadyside in 1903, he wanted red brick and arched windows, not concrete and glass block.
His Bindley Hardware Co. prospered until he died in 1921 at age 75. The business is long gone, but the building stands to this day and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The warehouse at 401 Amberson Ave. was reborn as luxury apartments in 1981. In 2016, owner/manager Reinhold Residential renovated the 148 apartments known as Shadyside Commons with Strada as the architect and A. Martini & Co. as the general contractor.
Though the building has “sleek industrial style,” some century-old elements remain. Large windows bring light into apartments with 18-foot-high, beamed ceilings. Some interior walls are exposed brick. Original heavy wood columns are found throughout.
Monthly rents range from $1,805 to $2,800 — and vacancies are rare.
One of the current tenants is Susan Herward, a distant — and proud — descendant of John Bindley. He was “my great-great-grandmother’s brother,” she said. She named her only son Jon Bindley Herward, a singer-songwriter who in 2017 started a band named Bindley Hardware Co.
As front man for the band, his stage name is Jon Bindley. The “Rust Belt Americana band” plays classic country, modern alt country and folk music, according to its website. He also made a documentary about his namesake’s business, “Everything In Hardware,” that debuted on WQED in October 2020.
Herward has researched the family history and has discovered lots about her ancestor. He was chairman of the board of Pittsburgh Steel Co., president of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Duquesne Club and a trustee of Dollar Bank. In 1912 he sold his hardware stock to Kaufmann’s Department Stores.
He and his wife hosted lavish parties at his mansion on “Millionaire’s Row” on Fifth Avenue.
“He appreciated good architecture,” Herward said.
Bindley had a beautiful home in Pittsburgh and a Spanish Revival-style second home in Coconut Grove, Fla. He hired his brother, architect Albion Bindley, to design his hardware warehouse. He is “buried in a beautiful mausoleum in Allegheny Cemetery,” Herward said.
Shadyside Commons’ renovation includes a remodeled lobby, an outdoor courtyard and a new fitness center. Each apartment has a washer and dryer.
The kitchens have stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, a breakfast bar and dark wood cabinets. Bathrooms have subway tile, marble sinks and full wall-to-wall mirrors.
Remote-controlled fans are in all living areas and most bedrooms. All hardware is brushed nickel. Bedrooms have patterned carpets, and other living areas have vinyl plank flooring that looks like wood but is much easier to clean and maintain.
Modern touches include USB charging ports in all kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms and energy-saving LED lighting.
In 2019, Shadyside Commons won an Apartment Excellence Award from the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh.
One-bedroom apartments with 564-683 square feet have rents ranging from $1,805 to $1,935. One-bedroom lofts with 754-908 square feet rent for $2,070-$2,165.
Two-bedroom, two-bath apartments with 971-1,444 square feet have rents ranging from $2,640 to $2,800.
For more information or to schedule a live or virtual tour, go to Shadyside-living.com or call 412-683-9101.
Linda Wilson Fuoco: lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1953.
First Published: June 24, 2021, 9:34 a.m.
Updated: June 24, 2021, 12:31 p.m.
