A New Deal housing project built on the site of the abandoned Andrews mansion in Fineview. Construction began in 1940; the architects were Marks, Fisher & Simboli.1 The first tenants moved in at the end of 1942. The buildings have been updated, and the grounds are neatly kept.
When the complex was nearly ready to open, it was noted in the papers that the manager, Rose Marie Demestitchas, was the first woman ever appointed manager by the Housing Authority.
When the complex opened, America had entered the Second World War, and most spots were reserved for defense workers.
Although preference will be given to war workers, the housing authority officials urge others from sub-standard homes to register in the event there is room for them.…
“Preference will be given to war workers who come here from other districts and are living in temporary or unsatisfactory quarters,” Supervisor [Saul] Weisberg said. “Also first opportunity for the new homes will go to defense workers living an unreasonable commuting distance from their employment—men whose daily round-trip from home to job takes more than two hours or costs more than 40 cents.”2
- Proposals, Press, April 9, 1942, p. 31. “…on file at the office of the Architects, Messrs. Marks, Fisher & Simboli, Room 702 Grogan Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania…” ↩︎
- “PHA Taking Applications for New Units,” Post-Gazette, July 30, 1945, p. 15. ↩︎
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