PHOTOS BY ZILLOW SHOWCASE

When Mark Willson bought his penthouse in Angel’s Arms 15 years ago, he didn’t acquire a finished space; instead, he purchased a blank slate and began to dream. 

Working with architect Peter Margittai, who has restored other historical properties, — including the Century Inn in Washington County after a devastating fire — Willson took more than a year to carve his ideal home out of the former St. Michael’s Church on the South Side Slopes. 

Willson says he wanted a venue where he could showcase art and music  — and he accomplished just that. The penthouse’s 18-foot-tall ceilings allowed him to display large-scale artwork that would not fit into most homes, and the church, built in 1861, was actually made for music. 

“The perfect acoustics from what was previously the organ and choir loft made for some memorable concert experiences in the music-focused living area,” Willson says, adding that he and his wife, Christina French, will be leaving their Yamaha-designed baby grand piano behind for the next owner to enjoy. 

Throughout the years, Willson and French hosted many musical guests in their grand living room, among them members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Rusted Root. The couple even hosted a wedding — their own.

“During the pandemic, we hosted our very intimate wedding,” says French. “It was a fun opportunity to have a ‘church’ wedding in our beautiful living room. I love being able to say I was married at St Michael’s, like so many brides over many generations.”

Now listed for $1.75 million, 1 Pius Street Suite A5 is ready for its next special buyer, says agent Lynne Bingham of Howard Hanna. 

“This is for the buyer looking for luxury, out of the ordinary, someone who is keen on artistic design and architecture; definitely more of a niche buyer,” she says.  

With two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, the 2,500-square-foot unit has an unusual layout, with several flexible loft spaces providing a variety of options over three finished floors. While the high-domed ceilings and floating staircases create a cavernous feel, the well-defined spaces also work well for everyday living. 

Above the living area are two more levels of outdoor living space that have a view of Downtown’s skyline, including a sitting area in the former bell tower. 

“My favorite part of this home is waking up, opening the door to our patio right off the master and greeting the city with the most spectacular view I’ve seen in Pittsburgh,” says French. “It felt like being on vacation every morning.”

To make a home out of the historical portion of the church without losing authentic details, the design team had to get creative. As a result, the penthouse features original archways, intricate wood detailing and stainless glass windows alongside modern-day amenities, such as a kitchen with a large island, eat-in seating and professional-grade, stainless-steel appliances. In the unit’s flexible spaces, the couple added a music room and library. 

The condo’s eclectic design includes custom wood flooring done in a herringbone pattern using Vermont walnut inlay and a built-in aquarium the owners have dubbed “The Aqua Wall.” In addition to Margittai Architects, several other local firms contributed to the distinct home. 

“I’ll always fondly remember local artist Tim Pisano finishing the domed ceiling in incredible Parisian plaster with his maze of scaffolding like a Super Mario Michelangelo,” Willson recalls. 

Jeremiah Mehl, a cabin builder from Potter County, also restored the unit’s original church clock tower to perfection. 

While each condo in Angel’s Arms is different from the other, the development shares a newly updated lobby and a pet-friendly, fenced courtyard with a pond. The couple’s unit includes three parking spaces in the property’s garage. 

Beyond the walls of the former St. Michael’s, Willson and French say they enjoyed their time on the South Side.

 “The central location nestled between the flats and the slopes allows immediate access to everything in town,” says Willson. 

Bike trails, including the regional Three Rivers Heritage Trail system, are plentiful and connect the walkable neighborhood to the rest of the city, too.  

“It’s also a few blocks walk to some of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh; Dish, Cafe du Jour, Speckled Egg, Little Tokyo, LaPalapa and many others have become favorites,” Willson adds. 

For French, the neighborhood is the first place where she felt like she belonged, inspiring her to dive into local projects and helping her forge strong neighborly bonds. 

“I’ve lived in many areas of the city and have never found so much true connection to neighbors,” she says. “The residents and business owners create an authentic, friendly connection that feels like a ‘Cheers’ experience just walking down the street with our dogs or dipping into our favorite restaurants.”

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.

About: South Side Slopes
Population: 3,964
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: South Side Slopes residents enjoy easy access to public transportation including buses and the T. Commuting Downtown is a breeze, and highway access to Pittsburgh International Airport is also simple from this location. Residents of community do not need a car, though many do own one.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org).
Neighborhood: Known for winding streets and breathtaking views, the neighborhood was one of the first settled along the Monongahela River by John Ormsby. As river industries moved in, immigrants settled in small houses built on the slopes. Early wooden staircases were built for residents to traverse to and from work. These gave way to the concrete public staircases that Pittsburgh is known for. The primarily residential neighborhood, which rises up a hill towards Allentown and Arlington, also has easy access to the restaurants, bars and other businesses that line the South Side Flats.

Neighborhood data provided by Niche.