Buying Here: Wilkinsburg

Sometimes, buying a home means more than getting a place to live. It means putting down roots and investing in a community.

That opportunity is available to the buyer of 833 Holland Ave., Wilkinsburg. The property is being offered for $127,000 (with an assessed value of $23,400) through Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and is part of a large-scale revitalization project in Hamnett Place, a National Register historic district.

Michael F. Sriprasert, president of Landmarks Community Capital Corp., has worked for more than three years on this project alongside David Farkas, director of Main Street Programs. Both have seen major improvements in the area -- a direct result of many stakeholders coming together.

The group initially got $8.6 million to restore the Crescent Apartments and the Wilson Apartments, which were identified as a cornerstone to the redevelopment. The single-family housing phase started with an investment of $802,000 for four houses, three on Jeanette Street and one on Holland Avenue. Those homes sold for prices ranging from $80,000 to $95,000.

Phase 2 features three houses that are all on the market now -- 517 Jeanette St., and 833 and 845 Holland Ave. All feature four bedrooms, 11/2 baths, central air conditioning and off-street parking.

Mr. Farkas says that the homes are practically maintenance-free.

"Residents are loving living in the homes. The scope of the renovation is so large. We deliver to a buyer a house in wonderful condition with lots of character and architectural elements in place."

The home at 833 Holland Ave. sits on a double lot and features a lovely white spindle-rail porch and a cheery color scheme of tan and soft green. A large tree is at the edge of the property near a two-car parking pad and lots of level space for kids to play or to have a family gathering.

Inside, the entry hall is dominated by a grand staircase whose woodwork has been kept intact. Ornate spindles and panels create interest while light floods the hall through a window and an overhead door transom.

To the left are the living room and dining room, each measuring roughly 12 by 13 feet. The color scheme is neutral, with light tan carpeting that runs throughout the home, cream walls and white trim.

Further down the hall, a quaint powder room has a vinyl floor with a white pedestal sink and matching commode. Another window lights the space.

The kitchen measures 19 by 10 feet and spans the width of the back of the home. It has a smart layout with the cabinets in a U-shape configuration and room for a table and chairs. Dark wood cabinets are contrasted by light solid-surface countertops and white appliances, including a gas stove and a dishwasher. A stainless-steel double-bowl sink rounds out the plan while durable vinyl flooring promises easy upkeep. The room also has an access door to the backyard and another to the basement.

On the second floor, the master bedroom is roughly 13 by 13, large enough to accommodate a queen bed. A little nook could handle a small desk. The second bedroom measures nearly 13 by 12 feet. Both have large closets and make use of a generous bathroom that measures 12 feet wide with a double-bowl vanity top, lots of storage, tile floors and a bathtub/shower combo with more ceramic tile.

The third floor is finished with a small center hallway flanked by a pair of bedrooms. The ceilings are sloped with tons of usable space that's perfect for solitude or rowdy kids.

The basement has a natural stone foundation, is clean and dry and houses the home's mechanicals. A white utility tub sits near a window.

The home down the street at 845 Holland is on the corner. It has a beautiful brick exterior with lots of rich details still intact, including arched window transoms, a double-paneled wood front door, interior pocket doors and decorative exterior brickwork. It sits on a single level lot perfect for someone who wants less yard work. It has 1,972 square feet of living space and is priced at $125,000.

The third home, at 517 Jeanette St., has the largest interior space, at 1,944 square feet. It has all of the amenities of the other homes and features a large pantry wall in the kitchen. It is priced at $125,000.

Mr. Sriprasert explains the special financing available. "Prospective homeowners have a sliding scale of generous maximum income limits. Then, a deferred $20,000 second mortgage is available. It is totally forgiven if the owner stays in the home for 15 years. If they decide to sell, they pay back a prorated portion."

The program has been a success in key Pittsburgh neighborhoods such as Manchester, South Side and Downtown. Mr. Sriprasert said that without both public and private investment, these initiatives would fail. He specifically credited the Allegheny County Economic Development office, county executives Rich Fitzgerald and Dan Onorato, various banks and Richard Mellon Scaife, who has given through both his own foundation and the Allegheny Foundation. He said Mr. Scaife, who has supported PHLF for decades, was also a lead funder on the three earlier city projects.