Singer Place
Background
The Singer Place Strong Neighborhoods Committee (SNC) has been working together for 8 years, centered around stabilizing and renovating key vacant properties while promoting Wilkinsburg as a safe, supportive community whose residents believe in a better future. Through their initial meetings, residents identified vacancy in Wilkinsburg as a priority issue to address. In the Upper Center, Singer Place, and High School neighborhoods of Wilkinsburg, about 45% of properties are vacant.
Focus Areas:
- Stabilization and occupancy of Singer House
- Preservation of historical structures
- Assisting neighbors with repairs
- Pollinator garden management
- Youth leadership and development through Project Peace
The SNC developed a plan to steward the acquisition and renovation of a total of 45 vacant lots and structures over the course of three years. Disposition of structures will include a mix of quality rentals and sales to owner-occupants. Each vacant lot will be cleared and either internally maintained or conveyed to neighboring residents to be used as side lots. Of the 10 properties acquired and stabilized during the first year, five will be sold to existing residents or owner-occupants. Over the course of three years, 60% of properties will be sold to existing residents or owner-occupants.
Property Restoration
Since 2018, Singer Place residents and stakeholders have invested over $1 million in private funds to stabilize and renovate key vacant properties. These properties have significant architectural and cultural value to Singer Place, and to the greater Wilkinsburg community.
John F. Singer Mansion
The John F. Singer Mansion located at 1318 Singer Place required immediate attention to safeguard the integrity of the property and protect its rare and irreplaceable moldings and millwork. The scope of work focused on addressing urgent issues and stabilizing the property, prior to comprehensive preservation and restoration of the property.
Significant water infiltration was observed in various areas, particularly originating from the mansard roof, box gutters, windows, and foundation. Temporary measures, such as using large garbage cans to collect rainwater, were implemented, but weather caused ongoing damage to the wood, plaster, and concealed areas. The primary objective of the initial project was to promptly address the water infiltration, stabilize the property, and pave the way for future preservation and restoration efforts to evolve this landmark as a community asset.
1314 Singer Place
The project at 1314 Singer Place addressed multiple areas of water damage and structural issues. The roof system, which had been patched and repaired over the past decade, had significantly deteriorated and caused water infiltration. This impacted the bay windows on the second level, the box gutter, and soffits around the perimeter. Additionally, the front porch and steps were unsafe due to rotting wood and concrete failures. Improperly routed downspouts caused water accumulation near the foundation, leading to water permeation in the basement. Safety measures, such as installing a new railing for porch access and repairing the main set of stairs, were also necessary for code compliance.
The Sleeping Octopus
The Sleeping Octopus at 1300 Wood Street, formerly known as the Yingling Mansion, has become a local hub for arts events and music, sustainable gardens, community gatherings, and private events. The Sleeping Octopus Arts Initiative (SOAI) has been fostering a strong creative community in Wilkinsburg by hosting art events, pop-ups, and displaying art from local residents and guest artists.
The SOAI is actively seeking Wilkinsburg artists and creatives interested in making an impact on their community, and can be reached at sleepingoctopusarts@gmail.com
Project Peace
Project Peace is a week-long paid service camp for youth and young adults ages 14 – 22. The camp seeks to inspire youth and to beautify the Wilkinsburg community.
Working alongside local professionals and community partners, Project Peace youth interns learn valuable life skills in areas such as carpentry, gardening, cooking, and art. They also engage in a neighborhood clean-up and interview local residents and business owners, learning about and making positive impacts on their community.
In June 2026, a collaboration between the Hamnett Place Neighborhood Association and the Singer Place Strong Neighborhoods Committee resulted in a clean-up effort at two of the properties under conservatorship in Hamnett Place. Working alongside resident leaders with landscaping and contracting experience, Project Peace youth interns removed trash, mowed and weeded, and further beautified the yards of the two properties. Their valuable contributions helped keep the area cleaner and safer for their neighbors.
Neighborhood Improvements
In addition to renovating historically significant architectural landmarks like the Singer Mansion, the group is also supporting residents interested in acquiring vacant parcels and in the stabilization and care of their current properties.
To help support some of the heavy lifting work on multiple properties, the Singer Place working group rented a lift for two months with funding assistance provided by the WCDC. The lift was heavily used—almost daily, except in pouring rain—to clear hazardous trees and to work on roofs in the neighborhood. It was also utilized to repaint the front entryway and replace wood at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg on Wallace Avenue.
Pollinator Gardens
Working with the Wilkinsburg Pollinator Garden Group, Singer Place residents have also helped with clean up and gardening efforts on eight currently active pollinator garden projects.
About Singer Place
Singer Place is located in the northern portion of Wilkinsburg, with Homewood, a Pittsburgh neighborhood, situated directly to its north. The neighborhood is one of the oldest settled areas in Wilkinsburg, spans 74.79 acres, and has a total of 323 properties owned by 289 individual owners.
The zoning of this community has multiple overlays which allows for single family residential, central business district, mixed use residential, and transit-oriented development, as well as the Penn Ave Historic District Buildings.
For more information, or to get involved, please contact singerplace1@gmail.com