REFRESHING
Brew House Lofts offer artful living
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The “Prince of Pilsner” is no longer brewed at 711 S. 21st St. on the South Side, but the space is still refreshing, with high ceilings, tall windows and bright, white walls that occupants can decorate however they wish.
After the Duquesne brewery closed in 1972, artists made its halls their work and living spaces. The Brew House Association, a nonprofit organization of artists, was established in 1993. The group eventually purchased the former brewery’s buildings — the stock house, boiler house and its main building, the brew house.
The Brew House’s original artists have moved on, but other creative people have taken their place, in the Brew House Artist Lofts.
Artists are given priority for its 76 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, but non-artists are encouraged to apply (brewhousepgh. On the website, an artist is defined as “a person who has a commitment to and/or participation in the arts beyond that of a hobby.”
“Workforce” apartments, set aside for individuals with incomes between $20,000 and $29,000, range in rent from $668 to $961 and include utilities.
The rent on market-rate apartments is $800-$2,510 depending on size, floor plan and location. Some units come with washers and market-rate tenants are responsible for electric. All units have central airconditioning.
Studio apartments have 480 square feet of living space, one-bedroom, one-bath units have 600-850 square feet and two-bedroom, twobath lofts have 1,200 square feet.
Chelsea Bartel, one of the lofts’ first residents, moved in late last year after seeing an advertisement. Since then, the 25-year-old musical theater actress, singer, dancer, painter and designer has created a living space that suits her style, which she describes as “mid-century modern with a bit of quirkiness.”
She likes vintage items and sleek lines, but she also likes to have fun. Her colorful one-bedroom apartment has accent walls and a variety of items collected from her musical productions.
“I don’t know if you could tell, but I really like color!” Ms. Bartel said, laughing.
The walls feature her artwork and that of friends. She painted the body of a grandfather clock on one wall under a large, round-faced clock. Such alterations are permitted as long as residents return the walls to their original white at the end of their lease.
Ms. Bartel has decorated her living room with mixand-match couches and chairs, playbills from past performances, theater posters and many vintage objects. Still a kid at heart, she has Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network characters scattered around the apartment, including Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, SpongeBob SquarePants and Blossom from The Powerpuff Girls.
Her retro kitchen has stainless-steel appliances and is lined with 1950s items such as Coca-Cola bottles and vintage oven mitts.
Above the kitchen is an upstairs loft where she has a large canvas painting she’s worked on for the past couple years. To her, the loft is an “intimate space” where she goes to focus on not-sobusy weekends.
“I work here, I create here.... I don’t have complaints,” Ms. Bartel said. “I feel so comfortable.”
She and other tenants can use a 24-hour fitness center, community area, rooftop deck, gallery and studio spaces. The Brew House is pet-friendly and there is talk of a dog gym.
The rooftop deck has a grill, outdoor seating and tables. The fourth-floor community area features a pool table, jukebox, television, bar stools, a full kitchen and a dining table built from parts of the old brewery. Other pieces from the building have been repurposed as tables and couches.
The first floor contains a large gallery for changing exhibitions and Iron City Circus Arts, whose conditioning and flexibility classes use hoops, slings and other aerial apparatus. Brew House residents receive discounts for events or classes held in both spaces.
Close to East Carson Street, the building is within walking distance of many bars, restaurants and vintage shops, as well as Southside Works. Ms. Bartel said she is close to everything she needs.
“This is my home,” she said.