Our mission
To preserve and strengthen the physical character of the Mexican War Streets and Expansion Districts
We fulfill this mission by:
Ensuring that all buildings comply with the City of Pittsburgh’s historic preservation guidelines for both districts.
Protecting and improving the quality of infrastructure throughout the districts, including public rights-of-way, parks, and landmarks.
Key Contacts & Links
Gary Lilly, Chair of the MWSS Historic Preservation Committee
Current Preservation Guidelines: Mexican War Streets District
City Project Page for Mexican War Streets Expansion District
Know Before You Build
The Mexican War Streets neighborhood contains two out of 16 historic residential districts in the City of Pittsburgh (see map):
The Mexican War Streets Historic District was established in 1972. This district contains the core of the neighborhood between North Ave and Sampsonia.
The MWS Expansion District was officially created in 2020. It goes beyond the core district to include upper Buena Vista and Reddour.
To preserve the historic character of each district, all exterior modifications (i.e. visible from the street or right-of-way) to homes in both districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city.
Our Local Review Committee (LRC) reviews CoA applications and makes recommendations to the city.
Have questions? Visit our FAQ.
About the Local Review Committee (LRC)
The Historic Preservation Committee of the Mexican War Streets Society reviews CoA applications, and recommends acceptance or modifications to the City of Pittsburgh’s Historic Review Commission (HRC).