Community Packs Sewickley Church for 'Pink House' Meeting

Suggestions were proposed during a community meeting Tuesday night at the , which also drew criticism over the handling of a project involving a historic pink mansion on Beaver Street.

“This process tonight should have started a long time ago,” Sewickley resident and  told church leaders, sparking a round of applause from the pews.

About 200 people attended the nearly two-hour meeting that church leaders organized as a way to update the community on its reasons for buying the property at 202 Beaver St., ." 

Those who spoke included representatives from Preservation Pennsylvania and the , with many saying the home was a treasure that needed to be preserved. Vince Delie, CEO of & CEO of FNB Corp., told church leaders he'd be willing to help with fundraising efforts.

Tom Graham, a member of the church’s governing body, said Pittsburgh-based architects Desmone and Associates came up with a renovation plan that would cost $1.559 million, calling it a "significant" price reduction from , which were at least $2 million.

Graham said the plan would allow the church to reuse the first-floor space for classrooms and meeting rooms and the third floor as a potential mixed-use, residential space, possibly for the pastor. He said monthly operating costs would run $3,000 to $4,200 per month.

A vote from the congregation and the help of 20 member families who contributed money as a gift, allowed the church to purchase the property from the Coyle family in March for $825,000. The house was originally built in the mid-1800s and remodeled in 1914 with the help of famed architects Alden and Harlow.

The church originally planned to reuse the home, but based on renovation estimates, the church's governing body agreed the most cost-effective plan was to raze the house and build a new youth fellowship and education center and additional parking. Those plans sparked several petitions and the creation of the grassroots community group  ."

Vicki Bomberger, a church member, said members of pink house group have accosted church members, the pastor, business owners and even the Coyle family, among other acts, leaving a feeling of being "very bullied."

One of the group organizers, Peter Floyd said the community wants to work with the church to "transform this historical asset." Floyd, a Sewickley resident and member of the historical society and Preservation Pittsburgh, said the community has a lot of experienced professionals, architects, engineers and attorneys, who can help the church meet its functional needs. 

"The first step of this community respectful process is to tear up demolition permit #3922," Floyd said, ripping a sheet of paper in half.

Joan Murdoch said the church has a sacred commitment to children and youth and offers several programs for children in fourth grade through high school, not to mention Sunday School and confirmation classes. 

She said there is a “serious lack of space” for programs and the , which is currently used for programming, is “woefully inadequate to meet the needs of children and youth even in the church congregation. 

Bouchard, who lives near the church and refurbished his who renovated his Victorian homelives near the church, said no one questions what the church does for the community and the kids.  But he said the "well-built" pink house represents Sewickley and he believes neighbors will be looking at a field of dirt for years to come if it's torn down.

“The expertise in this building, the amount of money sitting around in the pews can build something spectacular that will be a complement to this church,” Bouchard said.

So far, leaders said, the church has taken out an asbestos permit and completed the removal work at the home, which has also been gutted. Although a demolition permit was issued, to meet with the community.

Graham said the next step is for the 24 session members to "wait, study and review." 

Church leaders provided community organizers with an April 30 deadline to come up with a viable plan of action.