The majority of the buildings in the potential historic district are single-family dwellings, some of which have been converted into multiple-dwellings. The houses are typically vernacular, with little high-style elaboration. Dwellings are mostly 2- or 2 1/2-stories in height and have simple footprints and massing. Both brick and wood frame construction are common, although most of the wood frame houses have been sheathed in aluminum or vinyl siding. Foundations are mostly of stone, and roofs, primarily of asphalt shingles, were originally slate. The houses in the potential historic district, as in other areas of Wilkinsburg, are generally set very close together on small urban lots, with small front yards.

Stylistically, the potential historic district is dominated by Queen Anne and Colonial Revival style buildings, with some Prairie, Craftsman, and other late nineteenth and early twentieth century styles scattered throughout (see summary). Common features of the houses in the area are large front porches, turned porch posts or classical columns, art glass windows, patterned shingles in the gable ends, patterned masonry, and bay windows.

There are a number of sets of row houses or attached houses in the potential historic district. The houses on Elvia Way, Hulem Way, and at 1148-1156 1/2 South Ave., all appear to have been built by the same developer. All are multiple brick units with flat roofs, variously colored bricks, front porches and decorative art glass transoms. Another interesting set of attached houses are located at 1107-1129 Rebecca Ave. This row was built ca. 1910, and although it has been sheathed in insulbrick, still exhibits the characteristic tapered square porch posts and simple massing of the Prairie style.

Although Wilkinsburg was once a thriving and wealthy community, it has suffered for several decades from economic and social decay. Crime and unemployment are major problems. As a result, the housing stock of the area has deteriorated significantly. Many buildings are owned by absentee landlords, who have little invested in the region and do not maintain their properties. A large number of buildings stand vacant, and vacancy results in vandalism, illegal habitation, and accelerated deterioration of the structure. Because the real estate market in Wilkinsburg is so poor, and the area is perceived as dangerous and blighted, very little renovation, restoration or rehabilitation of buildings is taking place, despite the great potential of this historic area.

Insensitive alterations have encouraged the decline of the buildings in the potential historic district. Common alterations include sheathing in insulbrick, aluminum or vinyl siding; removal, replacement, or enclosure of porches; replacement or infilling of doors and windows; conversion of a single family house into a multi-family dwelling; and stylistically inconsistent additions. These changes have resulted in a loss of historic integrity for many buildings in the area. Some have been altered so drastically as to have virtually no historic integrity at all.

Another contributing factor in the decline of the area. is neglect. Benign neglect is common, and is actually something of a benefit for historic preservation, because in the neglect of the building its historic integrity is left intact. Unfortunately, it is easy for a building to slip past benign neglect to irreversible deterioration, especially when it becomes vacant. There are a number of buildings in the area which could be said to have historic integrity, because they have never been significantly altered, but they have been abandoned and neglected for so long that they are no longer salvageable and have become dangerous, and thus are slated for demolition.

Vacant lots are scattered throughout the area, most the result of demolitions within the last decade. There are likely to be many more vacant lots in the neighborhood in the near future, as a number of buildings are at this time slated for demolition. Sometimes a lot is adopted by an abutting neighbor, who uses it as an extension of their yard. Infill housing is rare. It appears that no residential buildings have been built in the potential historic district since the 1950's. Unfortunately, in a densely developed area like this, empty lots break the rhythm of the closely built neighborhood, which is integral to historic feel