GroshLink

Decades haven't dimmed the allure of the Hill District's Sugar Top

Although most black neighborhoods have been demolished for roads or left to decay, it is a blessing to see the strength of Sugar Top and the continuing work of God through Robert Lavelle Sr. who "considers this business to be a part of his ministry, i.e., the requirement to serve the needs of others in the total sense of human's needs…spiritual, educational, and economic... (for more see http://www.dwellinghouse.com/history.html)

Excerpt from site:

With the riots that followed Martin Luther King Jr.'s death the incentive to mount a campaign to become insured had begun. Since we were known to make the high-risk marginal loans in disadvantaged areas, as well as the "safer" loans, many civic groups, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development (the corporate structure of the city), and individuals, formed a committee to get subscribers to save when insured. The Federal Home Loan Bank had 15 insurance requirements, two of which were separate ground floor locations, separate from any other business, (achieved through Lavelle Real Estate buying the building at 2909 Centre Avenue, corner of Herron Avenue and dividing it), and 750 savers with $100,000 in combined assets. On July 31, 1970, with over 900 savers $534,000 in assets, and over $600,000 subscribers to save, Dwelling House Building and Loan Association was insured by the FSLIC now SAIF. First Federal Savings and Loan of Pittsburgh, headed by Harold Tweedy, Chairman, its officers and staff were very helpful to us during this time. First Federal Savings and Loan is now part of Pittsburgh National Bank. At the end of 1970, our assets were $1,528,642. Growth has been slow but steady. On December 31, 2000, our assets were $19,503,238.