Federal Street's stylin' (updated)

The new Allegheny branch of the Carnegie Library is open, and boy is it open. There's enough sunlight coming through windows along the front, along one side and way up high to eliminate the need for electric lights most of the day.

Every library is a church of free enlightenment, but this one, at 1230 Federal Street in the Central Northside, is a cathedral. It was designed by the architecture firm of Loysen + Kreuthmeier.

The neighborhood has awaited this building for three-plus years and will celebrate its opening Saturday at a free event open to all from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

Even though a lot of people squawked when the Carnegie's administrators announced they were leaving the beautiful, historic branch in Allegheny Center, this new site is proof that historic building aren't the only beautiful buildings. If ours are made to last -- and allowed to last -- people 150 years from now will laud them.

My favorite feature is the row of clerestory windows along the back wall of the adult reading room. These windows bring lights down from above the roof line. Windows facing Parkhurst Streetallow you to see the Sprout Fund mural, a mosaic of two cardinals.

"It's fantastic to see it done and open," said architect Karen Loysen. As a one story building of two-story height, she said, "it does attempt to fit into its context even though it is a completely different kind of building."

The 19th century Richardsonian library was closed after a lightning strike several springs ago, and it needs a great use; it is a landmark building, a relic from the Allegheny City era. Many expect, or hope, that what's left of the historic streetscape on Federal and North can be saved amid this transformation.

Carlton Stout, the branch manager, said the new branch should be filled by January; "there's still a lot coming over [from the old branch] and a lot of stuff on order," he said. He said the electric lights are designed to accommodate the natural light so that on a sunny day in winter they will come on earlier in the afternoon than they do on a sunny day in August.

The children's section is larger than any other, and it has an enviable space -- an enclosed outdoor patio with slatted wood blinds. The elephant shaped stools and owl bookends make me want to be 5 again.

I ran into two friends today, when I returned to take photos that are refusing to download, and we all marveled at our new branch and the changes that are taking place on Federal Street. 

The Federal Hill townhouse project already has three occupants and a fourth home owner is closing soon. Twenty-three homes should be complete by year's end, and 19 of them are under contract. Andy Haines, a vice-president of S&A Homes, said one of the homes was sold with a soft second mortgage, the other two at market rates, the highest being $235,000. 

On the corner at North Avenue, the hideous little Park View Cafe has turned into a swan. A new Crazy Mocha will open there within a few months, with huge arched windows along the side. They were only vaguely noticeable before, having been bricked over and further obscured by paint. And not to forget the businesses that are sandwiched between the library and the Crazy Mocha, including Big Sam's Memphis BBQ; Steve's and Toula's, both sandwich shops; Pasta Too, and George's Barber Shop.

The tipping point for Federal and North Avenue may be the next venture. And someday, the Garden Theater? It will take many many millons, but the progress we're seeing on Federal expands our hope for North.