The Beginnings…

In the early 1960’s, large old homes in Sewickley were not popular. Many were demolished and replaced with homes more fitting smaller families and budgets. In a couple of cases, homes were actually divided in two. One of those was a large home that sat on the land where Linden Court is today (directly behind the current Linden Place) property. it was divided and one portion was moved across the street from the other. Both structures were renovated, updated and still exist. That was not the fate of Overbook, which was a large mansion on the present site of Linden Place. It had a long circular drive with an entrance onto Linden Place. The home faced Grant Street, but the address was 72 Linden Place. Records show Edward B. Taylor, a 2d V.P. Financial for the Pennsylvania Railroad lived there. For his convenience the railroad set up a small station stop, called “Rosebud” on the time tables. Stone Steps on the Linden property from Grant Street to the platform still exist today.

A number of years passed

In 1966 there were 11 apartment buildings in Sewickley. We are just counting buildings that were constructed as apartments. The majority of these were small, but affordable units built along Route 65. A large apartment complex was built on Thorn Street. Despite Sewickley’s upscale image, only 2 of those buildings were considered “luxury” apartments. Developer William Marra and his company, Wilmar Properties, had put up apartment communities in other parts of the Pittsburgh area. In the early 1960’s, Marra came to Sewickley and proposed a large luxury apartment complex for the west side of Grove Street; between Beaver Street and Centennial Avenue. Residents along Grove Street put up a furious fight to block the plan. And in fact one resident, Dr. Catherine Clarke; whose house was in the center of the planned development refused to sell out to Marra. He was forced to change his plan resulting in the Brittany and Normandy Apartments. They were Sewickley’s first dedicated luxury apartments. By the time construction was completed every unit in both buildings was rented. Marra knew he had something and started searching for another Sewickley location.

The Woods property at the corner of Grant Street and Linden Place was still available. It was an ideal location, with only one building on the property and it was in disrepair, as Marra told the Sewickley Borough Council in 1966. The community wasn’t happy and at a “packed house” meeting in 1966, Marra unveiled his proposal for the property. Two buildings were proposed connected by a multi story garage topped with a pool. The smaller 3 story building would contain 24 “vertical” apartments. The first floor would be all single bedroom units; the second and third floors would be two bedroom units. Each unit would have two bedrooms and two baths. The larger “high rise” building would contain 88 units (a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units). The entrance to the high rise would be from Route 65 and the smaller building entrance would be from Linden Court. And after meetings, questions and an editorial in the Herald, the plan was rejected. In June of 1966 Marra submitted a revised plan.

The total number of units was reduced to 83 from 104. The larger building was shrunk to 72 units and turned to face Grant Street. The service entrance would be from Route 65, There would be 11 - 3 bedroom units; 45 - 2 bedroom units and 26 single bedroom units. The smaller building was moved further back from Linden providing a very large front “lawn”. The swimming pool was cut from the plan and replaced with a garden courtyard on top of the parking garage.

The plan was approved. The building was ready for move in by the fall of 1967. The East building was ready by September of 1967. The 16 units were quickly rented. It was very popular with single Men and Women and soon dubbed “Peyton Place”. The West building was still under construction when some residents were allowed to move in around February 1968. The Herald noted positive comments by residents around “more elbow room”; indoor parking; wall to wall carpeting and individual heating and A/C.

Ads for Linden Place in the Herald touted “A new significant address in the heart of Sewickley village”. Throughout the 1970’s Linden Place remained a popular rental apartment complex. Housing was changing in Sewickley. Condominiums were constructed in Aleppo Township and Sewickley Heights Manor was becoming a desirable place for people who might have rented at Linden Place. Other condo developments were popping up in Glen Osbourne and Sewickley. And people looking to move into the QV school district wanted to buy versus rent.

The Corporation was formed

In October of 1986 Linden Place Apartments were converted to the Linden Place Corporation. It was now a non-profit co-operative building. Marra provided seed funding to the Corporation’s Capital Reserve Fund for the conversion. Shares were offered for the sale, first to those living in the building followed by sales to the general public.

The Corporation is chartered under Pennsylvania law as a non-profit corporation wherein each member shareholder was entitled to occupy, as their residence, a unit equivalent in size to the number of shares owned. Responsibility for the corporation rests with an elected 5 person Board of Directors. Day to day management contracted to Arnheim and Neely, Inc. of Pittsburgh and now RJR Management.

Today

Linden Place continues to be a non-profit corporation with 89 units between both buildings on the property. The corporation led by the Board(s) have made various improvements including remodeling of the Party room in the West building and the lobbies of both the East and West buildings. Linden Place continues to be one of the best kept secrets of Sewickley.