story by lori humphreys
photos by gene puskar
at home
renting and buying here, a youthful generation is
investing in mt. lebanon and feeling very much…
wave of energetic, attractive, well-educated
and independent-minded people ages 25
to 35 is discovering or rediscovering Mt.

Lebanon. Justin Conrad, Shawn and
Kate Gatto, Rick Lerach, Joe Ravita and
Brett Satterfield are members of this 2000
Census 25 to 44 age group, which com-
prises nearly one-third of the residents of
our town. They agreed to host a virtual
house tour, inviting readers to view where they’ve chosen to live
and to talk about why.

Though they flirted with residing in other states and other
Pittsburgh neighborhoods like Shadyside, Southside and Mt.

Washington, these young people ended up Mt. Lebanon, in the
process casting a positive spotlight on Mt. Lebanon real estate.

Conrad and Satterfield bought houses; The Gattos and Lerach
purchased condominiums and Ravita rents.

Their reasons for choosing Mt. Lebanon are remarkably simi-
lar and a generational twist on the real estate mantra: location,
location, location. They like the proximity to Pittsburgh, but
they also enjoy the urban edge of Uptown Mt. Lebanon without
the urban hassle. Though none has children—yet—they value
the community’s safety and good schools, and the phrases “fam-
ily community” and “neighborhoods” pepper their comments.

“I work in Pittsburgh and can get into town in 11 minutes
from my house on North Meadowcroft Avenue,” says Justin
Conrad, an attorney with White & Williams who grew up in
Upper St. Clair.

These young professionals didn’t ignore the other real estate
reality—cost, cost, cost—either. They are prudent and thought-
ful about how they will allocate their financial resources. “You
know there is a lot of pressure on our generation to get married,
34 mtl • may 2009
get a big house, and get expensive cars. We’re not interested in
that!” says Kate Gatto, reflecting a sentiment that several of the
others expressed.

The house tour begins with a visit to the Gattos’ charm-
ing home in the Rose Court Condominiums, which straddle
Roselawn and Wisteria Avenues in Central Square. The
condominium pairs two complexes of three, three-story brick
buildings built as apartments by W.A. Bode and John Wenger
in 1926. R. Alex Willson designed the red brick buildings with
their colonial style entries. Both sets of buildings surround a
thoughtfully designed and landscaped courtyard. The apart-
ments became condominium in the 1980s.

Shawn Gatto, a member of the Three Rivers Law Firm in
Pittsburgh, was single when he bought the one bedroom unit
five years ago. He was attracted by—you guessed it—the loca-
tion, as well as the excellent maintenance and the spacious unit.

He quickly acknowledges that it is his wife who has created the
appealing space you see today.

“My unit was affectionately known as a dorm room. Kate has
lightened it up, as she has lightened up my life,” Shawn says.

Kate, who works for Robert Morris University, has done more
than brighten the unit; she has designed a space that combines
comfort and elegance. She uncovered the hard wood floors,
painted the generous wood work and crown molding white,
and judiciously chose furniture and appointments that do not
clog the living spaces. Both appreciate the condo’s vintage
details, such as the well designed radiator cover and the built-in
dining room cabinet.

Shawn, a condo board member, says the residents strive to
keep the older architectural details while updating the infra-
structure. From the wrought iron wells in the center of each
courtyard and the unexpectedly delicate newel posts and



Mt. Lebanon’s eclectic
housing stock includes
something for every stage of
life. Brett Satterfield
purchased this cozy
cottage with many upgrades
on Vallevista Avenue.

* www.mtlebanon.org 35