Chatham Village
By Leepaxton at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Chatham Village is a historic residential community located in Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood. Built between 1932 and 1936, it was designed by urban planners Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, who were key figures in the Garden City Movement. The development was initiated by the Buhl Foundation with the goal of providing affordable housing for working-class families, serving as a model for urban planning that combined green spaces with residential living.
The community is known for its Georgian Colonial Revival architecture, featuring red-brick townhouses with slate roofs. The homes are arranged in clusters around five central courtyards, fostering a strong sense of community and shared space. Each unit typically includes a basement garage, designed to blend into the landscape and maintain the neighborhood’s aesthetic harmony. The design emphasizes pedestrian pathways and communal green areas, while cars are relegated to peripheral roads, reflecting Garden City ideals of integrating nature with urban life.
In 1956, a three-story apartment building with 19 units was added to accommodate population growth. The entire development spans about 45 acres, with roughly four acres dedicated to playgrounds and communal areas, and 26 acres preserved as untouched woodland, enhancing the community’s natural surroundings.
Originally operated as rental housing by the Buhl Foundation, Chatham Village became a cooperative housing community in 1960, allowing residents to purchase their homes. This shift encouraged a strong sense of ownership and community responsibility. Recognizing its architectural and historical importance, Chatham Village was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A notable feature within the community is Chatham Hall, formerly known as the Bigham House, built in 1849. This Greek Revival mansion was owned by Thomas James Bigham, an abolitionist lawyer and politician. The house is believed to have been a station on the Underground Railroad and now serves as a community clubhouse, preserving the area’s rich historical legacy.
