Friendship House Tour features 7 stops
Betsy Gianakas was cleaning behind the mantel of one of the fireplaces in her home when she found an old report card.
Gianakas told her mom the woman’s name — and it turned out to be a friend of her mother’s who at one time lived in the home. That woman (who got good grades by the way) is planning on coming to the home on Sunday because it’s one of seven stops on the Friendship House Tour.
The tour benefits the Friendship Community Group, volunteers who serve the neighborhood. It begins at Baum Grove, the park owned by FCG.
The woman from the report card will notice some changes to the South Graham Street home, which was built in 1910.
Betsy’s husband, Chuck Gianakas, purchased the home in 1999. At that time, it was broken up into four apartments. He converted it back to a single-family home in 2002 and installed a heated pool.
The couple updated the nearby pavilion with a projector, mahogany ceiling and comfortable seating. It sits above a two-car garage to help maximize space. There is a wood-burning fireplace so it’s able to be utilized in all Pittsburgh weather.
A movie screen drops down from the ceiling on the patio.
“You have to have a love affair with older homes, because you will always be doing something to it,” said Chuck Gianakas as he stood in the pavilion. “It is so quiet and relaxing out here. We are in the city but you would never know it back here.”
All the bricks have been repointed, meaning the old mortar was chipped out and replaced with new. The staircase in the entryway has been redone in a lighter wood.
“We love this neighborhood,” said Betsy Gianakas as she and her husband stood near the kitchen, which opens to a large porch and the pool area. “We’ve made so many friends here.”
They opened up the first floor living space by removing several walls and cut some new windows and door openings into the exterior for additional natural light. There is a large island in the kitchen.
Sara DeLucia, president of the Friendship Community Group, said when she walked inside the Gianakas’ home, she was immediately drawn to the kitchen.
“Their house is incredible, and I love their kitchen,” DeLucia said.
She said she is floored by the details and the architecture of each of the homes and the church on the tour. She said she can’t wait for people to go on the walking tour.
“All of these houses have such character,” she said. “And what is so cool is they are real people living in these homes. They take pride in their homes and they all support our mission. They are all very humble people.”
The Friendship House Tour is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 and available at online here and can be bought at Baum Grove at 400 Roup St. the day of the tour.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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