Sperling Building
Also known as: Sperling Apartments; Mercantile Building
Why it's listed
Built circa 1902 at 1007-1013 Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg, the four-story brick building has three ground-floor storefronts and nine apartments above, each set over a quoined brick pilaster. Its original wood storefronts, arched transom over the residential entrance, pressed metal lobby ceiling and terra cotta detailing have survived largely unaltered. John Sperling, a shoemaker, had the building erected on a lot he bought in 1871, and his shoe store occupied the ground floor until the early 1920s. The building is regarded as a strong example of the brick-front commercial type that replaced frame houses along Penn Avenue as Wilkinsburg grew into a commuter suburb of Pittsburgh. Its Late Victorian design, with a patterned cornice, segmental window arches and regular window bays, is cited as an outstanding example of the type. Few comparable buildings remain on the block, and the lack of later renovation is a central reason for its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a well-preserved example of the brick-front commercial form with decorative features, with original wood storefronts and terra cotta and brick detailing largely intact. It is presented as representative of the turn-of-the-century masonry block that replaced frame homes on Penn Avenue as the borough grew.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000410, listed May 10, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1007-1013 Penn Ave., Wilkinsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | May 10, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000410 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The upper-story apartments are described as recently vacant, and the ground-floor commercial spaces are occupied by neighborhood stores. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.44400, -79.87882 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000410.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7576360
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.