When renovating the The Embassy, Asbury Heights paid close attention
to detail and, whenever possible, retained and refurbished the original
wood doors and woodwork. Reducing the number of apartments from
61 to 34 gave the new units a more open floor plan. The building fea-
tures 24-hour security and concierge service.

favorite ceiling lamp in the second bedroom and turning a huge
closet into a dressing room.

The Embassy is open to people age 55 and older who pass a
basic health screening. They pay a deposit, which is 100 percent
refundable, however, if they should choose to move to Asbury’s
main campus they are guaranteed a spot. Embassy residents also
can use Asbury’s physicians and other medical services if they need
rehabilitation or other short-term specialized care. Thomas says
she expects residents will stay 10 to 12 years before moving on to
a facility that offers more care.

“I am very happy here at The Embassy,” Ruh says. “My son
and daughter do not have as many concerns for me, knowing I
am being well taken care of and am safe. Really, what is there for
me not to like?”
mt. lebanon's first apartment hotel
sioners of a first class township cannot deny a building permit to
a property owner whose plans and specifications comply with all
existing ordinances simply because the height of the proposed
When Bernath and Regina Herskovits purchased—for the bargain
building would violate the terms of the amending ordinance that
price of $1—a section of the Edward Abbott farm on Beverly
had not been introduced for consideration but the commissioners
Road across from Sieaforth Avenue in 1928, they had no idea
had in mind to adopt at a future date.”
what they were getting themselves into. Since 1924 the area had
fast been moving from farmland to residential neighborhood, so Herskovits won and construction on the apartment building
the Herskovitses had every reason to believe the land was the resumed. Originally dubbed The Regina, after Herskovits’s wife, by
perfect spot for a six-story, 65-unit apartment building. Bernath the May 1931 opening it had been changed to The Embassy.

The Embassy not only came very close to never being built, but its
construction ignited a zoning war.

Herskovits applied for a building permit, which was granted, and
hired a contactor.

Advertised as “Mt. Lebanon’s First Apartment Hotel,” the Embassy
featured an elevator, telephone, maid and mail service as well as a
large lobby, lounge rooms, integral garage and suites with three, four
But then the bottom fell out.

or five rooms. Advertising also touted its roof garden, soundproofing,
With more and more builders seeking to build apartment com-
fireproofing, artistic decorations and proximity to parks, the Dormont
plexes in Mt. Lebanon, residents became concerned that apart-
pool, schools, stores and transportation (the Oriole Bus Line to
ment buildings would start popping up throughout the community.

downtown Pittsburgh stopped in front of the building). Rents ranged
On April 5, 1929, the Mt. Lebanon Civic League was formed with
from $70 to $125 with the month of May rent-free. Of the people
the purpose of pushing an ordinance that would restrict the size
who took advantage of the apartment’s many selling points was
of buildings in residentially zoned neighborhoods. The league
Herskovits and his family. He lived there until his death in 1933.

was successful: in July commissioners passed an ordinance that
restricted the height of buildings in the commercial district to 75 Subsequent applicants for building permits in the Beverly Road
feet and 45 feet from street level in the Beverly Road residential residential area had to adhere to the zoning ordinance amendment
of a three-story height limitation. Thus the Embassy at Asbury
district. Herskovits’ final building permit was denied.

Heights continues to be the tallest apartment building in the
Even when the Board of Adjustment upheld Herskovits’ permit
area—all because of a legal decision that made it the exception
application, Mt. Lebanon balked; the building inspector refused to
to the rule.

carry out the order. Herskovits then embarked on a legal battle that
took the case all the way to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Research by Thomas A. Josephi. To read Josephi’s complete
where on January 13, 1930, his lawyers argued that “the commis- article on the zoning controversy, log on to www.mtlebanon.org.

www.mtlebanon.org 47