Mexican War Streets Historic District | |
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| Location | Irregular pattern between Buena Vista to the north and North Ave. to Reddour St. (increase), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 40°27′21.23″N80°0′41.40″W / 40.4558972°N 80.0115000°W /40.4558972; -80.0115000 |
| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) (original) 25.7 acres (10.4 ha) (increase) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Greek Revival, Late Victorian (original) Greek Revival, Italianate, Romanesque, Second Empire (increase) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001612 and 08000845[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1975 (original) September 4, 2008 (increase) |
| Designated CPHD | December 26, 1972[2] |
| Designated PHLF | 1976[3] |
TheMexican War Streets, originally known as the "Buena Vista Tract," is a historic district in theCentral Northside neighborhood ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The district is densely filled with restoredrow houses,community gardens, and tree-lined streets and alleyways. The area dates to around the time of theMexican–American War and a number of streets are named after battles and generals of the war.
During the late nineteenth century,Allegheny, Pennsylvania (later annexed by Pittsburgh), became known for its stately homes that were occupied by some of the area's wealthy families. One such area became known as the Mexican War Streets. It was developed from land owned byWilliam Robinson Jr., an ex-mayor of the city of Allegheny, who subdivided the property into streets and lots in 1847.[4] Surveys for the development were made byAlexander Hays.[5]
A number of the streets are named after battles and generals of theMexican–American War, including Buena Vista Street (named for theBattle of Buena Vista), Monterey Street (for theBattle of Monterrey), Palo Alto Street (for theBattle of Palo Alto), Resaca Place (for theBattle of Resaca de la Palma), Sherman Avenue (forThomas W. Sherman), and Taylor Avenue (forZachary Taylor). Fremont Street (currently Brighton Place) had been named in recognition ofJohn C. Frémont.
The 27-acre (11 ha) district was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1975 with 119 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the district.[1] In 2008, the district's listing was increased to include an additional 288 contributing buildings over a 25.7-acre (10.4 ha) area. It was expanded again in 2018, when the Allegheny County Court ofCommon Pleas overturned the decision of thePittsburgh City Council to deny the district's expansion.[6]
The general boundaries of the Mexican War Streets Historic District are Brighton Road to Federal Street (on the east and west) and North Avenue to Jefferson Street (on the south and north). As part of the designation, all exterior alterations to buildings within the Historic District that are visible from a public street or way must be reviewed and approved by the City of Pittsburgh's Historic Review Commission.[7]
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