Observatory Hill

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Summer 2017 Newsletter
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3131 Perrysville Avenue

3131 Perrysville Avenue


Home of Allan Byers & Mick Rizzo

This handsome 1920s stone house on the edge of Riverview Park sat empty for several years before Bill Oberst, an Observatory Hill neighbor, completely renovated it in 2010. Mick and Allen had been researching houses online in preparation for their relocation. They spotted this one, came to Pittsburgh to check it out, and fell in love with it immediately.

The house itself is perfect for the new owners, but they also value its proximity to the city and to the country—along with its convenient access to both public transportation and one of Pittsburgh's largest and most natural parks. It really is country living in the city, and contrasts like this define the house and its décor.

The walkway to the front door is like the walkway to a sophisticated storybook cottage; careful gardening has produced a picture-perfect lead-in to the lovely home beyond. In the living room, original woodwork and antique leaded glass offset the modern sheet-metal sculpture and the pigskin sconce from Spain. The dining room features a beautiful view of the park and the city's western skyline. Here, too, the art is from Spain—don't miss the pottery collection. Barcelona and Pittsburgh come together and blend in a way few outsiders would expect of either city.

The sunroom, back porch, and patio provide spectacular views of Riverview Park, and the five fireplaces make the house a home. Mick and Allen look forward to living in Observatory Hill and participating in its ongoing transformation.