MISSION:

TO TRANSITION THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY INTO A TOURISM FACILITY: To block the scheduled demolition and preserve this historically
significant, National Registry Landmark property by converting it into a tourism center.

PERMEANT Plan:

Phase I:

This proposed RV Park could be located within the prison yard walls of the former West Penn site and accommodate 100+ Recreational Vehicle sites, and add enviable, important, inner city hospitality services and benefits to Pittsburgh like the following popular tourist cities currently enjoy:

New York City – Liberty Harbor RV Park, Camp Getaway, + more
San Francisco – Candlestick RV Park, Golden Gate RV Park, + more
Austin, TX – Austin Lone Star RV Resort, Awkward Turtle RV Park, + more
New Orleans – French Quarter RV Park, Pelican RV Park, + more
Nashville – Nashville KOA, Grand Ole RV Resort, Two Rivers Campground, + more
Las Vegas – RV Park at Circus Circus, Red Rock RV Park, Las Vegas KOA, + more
Cleveland, Ohio – Riverview RV Park & Marina, Cleveland KOA
Los Angeles – Hollywood RV Park, Golden Shore RV Resort, + more
Portland, OR – Columbia River RV Park, Jantzen Beach RV Park, + more

The RV Park would be an additional attraction for the film industry by providing actors and key personal motorhome and RV accommodations all at one private and secure location.

Phase II:

The 1878 West Penn Castle’s South Wing and Warden’s House could transform and expand the original cells into hospitality suites overlooking the scenic Ohio River. The Hotel rooms could include comfortable amenities but with historic finishes to maintain the atmosphere of the former facility and give the guests a unique and memorable experience assuming they have previously missed that one in their lives.

Additional space could be converted into individual, private, and secure rooms as overnight berths with their own sinks & commodes as a Hostel with common shower room facilities at budget rates.

Half of the suites could feature River Front Views.

Links to former historic Prisons converted to Hotels:
https://www.theoldmountgambiergaol.com.au/index.aspx
https://hotelandplace.com/hotel/karosta-prison
https://www.simplemost.com/this-historic-jail-was-transformed-into-a-luxury-hotel/
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2009/09/alcatraz-hotel-of-germany-prison-turned.html
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/gallery/pictures-bridewell-now-8836628

This convenient location is 2 – 3 miles to downtown, the stadiums, the casino, and the science center.

The facility could provide hostel hospitality to thousands of cyclists at the very end of the 335 mile Great Allegheny Passage and Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and provide jitney bus transportation to guests going to the transportation terminals or the northside / downtown / Convention Center / Airport areas.

ART MUSEUM, GALLERIES, FILM INDUSTRY SITE, AND MORE:

Phase III:

The North Wing would be converted to a variety of uses:

The newly created Museum of Pittsburgh Art (MOPA) would receive the Rotunda for the museum with an adjacent floor of former cells that would be repurposed as gallery spaces for local artists and other uses. The Art will attract Tourists and the Tourists will be interested in the art.
The history of this institution would be available with a prison library, film room, and gift shop. Places with historic prison museums that draw tourism include Alcatraz (CA), Sing Sing (NY), Frontier Prison (WY), Eastern State (PA), Ohio State Reformatory, West Virginia Penitentiary, etc.
The Film Industry would be welcome to maintain their current investment in the West Penn space for future productions at modest costs.
The remaining space would be available for other local non-profits and biking organizations at this Trail End Location, and other entities yet to be discovered that would add to attracting tourists.

BENEFITS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CITY, COUNTY & COMMONWEALTH:

ADD JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT opportunities to the neighborhood and city through the addition of hospitality, food service, film industry, and additional local businesses. Tourism accounts for One in every Ten jobs.
THREE RIVERS HERITAGE TRAIL – The addition of a Trailhead Park and conservation management of the riverfront will enhance the Waterfront area for all users. Provide local biking and non-profits with pro bono organizational space.

PITTSBURGH AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY

INSTALLATION OF MAJOR LOCAL AND TOURISM ATTRACTIONS: MOPA Museum and Gallery Spaces; Prison Tour, library, Film Room, and Gift Shop; Other Immersive Experiences.
COMPLETE PRESERVATION of the 1878-85 historic prison building, courtyard, and Warden’s House – Landmark tourism attractions on the National Historic Registry.
ECONOMIC TOURIST ACTIVITY – Unique Hospitality Facilities such as Theme Hotels, RV Parks, and Hostels attract NEW tourism and promote increased economic activity for the hospitality businesses and other commercial activities in the area.
ADD TO UNSERVED VISITOR NEEDS – with a Hostel for Great Allegheny Trail Bikers, and an RV Park that would now be able to accommodate thousands of NEW RV Tourists coming to the Convention Center, Sport, Art, Theatre, and Entertainment Events. Plus RV’s for the Film Industry and Other Entertainers, or Guests just visiting friends, family, or on business.
OTHER ECONOMIC BENEFITS – In addition to employment opportunities, a variety of taxes will provide support to city, county, and state via sales taxes, property taxes, employment taxes, and income, business, and hospitality taxes.
KEEPING PARAMOUNT AND THE FILM INDUSTRY IN PITTSBURGH – By maintaining the original historic structures, the Film Industry could keep film sets and other uses on site, not to mention use of the RV Park. Paramount is currently filming “Mayor of Kingstown”, which has injected over $100,000,000 into Pittsburgh.

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

ECONOMIC, FILM, & TOURISM BENEFITS – In addition to supporting previously stated tax revenues, this plan would maximize Pa’s Film Credit attraction and the Pennsylvania Funded Campaign of “Pennsylvania – America’s Great Get Away”.
Through Historic Redevelopment of the Site, the State could SAVE $50,000,000 in Demolition Costs which could be used on so many, much higher priorities.

Latest news:

NEXTPittsburgh.com:

WTAE-TV Pittsburgh: Developer attempting to halt demo of Western Penitentiary, proposes alternative use

Pittsburgh Magazine: Pittsburgh Developer Sees Great Opportunity in Saving Western Penitentiary

Book by Doug MacGregor: Western State Penitentiary / SCI Pittsburgh: A History: MacGregor, Doug: 9798297797246: Amazon.com: Books

Blog by Doug MacGregor: Western State Penitentiary: A Brief History by Doug MacGregor

CURRENT STATUS:

A Pittsburgh Landmark is scheduled for demolition and needs public voices to save it!

Call to action:

FORWARD YOUR SAVE THE CASTLE OPINIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND SENATORS and please copy us at: savethecastlepgh@gmail.com.

GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA
Honorable Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Phone: 717-787-5330
Text: 717-788-8990

Cathy Califano (Deputy Director of Business at Pennsylvania DGS): ccalifano@pa.gov

Mayor Corry O’Conner: mayor@pgh.pa.gov c/o noland.cambridge@pittsburghpa.gov (Special Assistant to the Mayor)

Sen Wayne Fontana: fontana@pasenate.com

HISTORY:

Pittsburgh has a huge, historic castle with 25’ high stone walls and watchtowers surrounding a courtyard that could be a major tourist attraction to accompany the Fort Pitt Block House, Cathedral of Learning, Allegheny Co. Court House, Mon Incline & Station Square, and so many more, but none matching the magnificent grandeur size of the West Penn Castle.

Western State Penitentiary is a former state prison originally constructed between 1878 and 1893 on the east banks of the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. At the time of its completion, it was the most expensive and modern prison in the world. Western State Penitentiary emerged as a leader in penology in Pennsylvania during the late 19th century.¹

This Massillon Sandstone main building was designed by noted architect Edward M. Butz and supervisory architect Frederick C. Sauer in the Romanesque style, and the Warden’s House in front was in a Chateauesque style with Gothic elements.

CURRENT STATUS:

BUT NOW THIS MONUMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR DEMOLITION¹⁰ rather than being saved and repurposed to significantly benefit our city’s employment, tourism, film industry, cultural, and associated businesses, while also enhancing the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

PITTSBURGH CAN SAVE THIS HISTORIC MONUMENT WHILE EMULATING SUCH SUCCESSFUL AND TOURIST ATTRACTIVE CITIES AS NEW YORK, LAS VEGAS, PORTLAND, NEW ORLEANS, SAN FRANCISCO, AUSTIN, AND NASHVILLE!
(THEY ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT PITTSBURGH DOES NOT – see Castle Courtyard RV Park above)