Court Ruling Brings Old Froggy's Building Closer To Demolition

PITTSBURGH, PA - The owner of the Downtown building that once housed the old Froggy's tavern has won an important court battle that could result in the demolition of that building and two other adjacent structures. The owner plans a new office tower at the site.

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has vacated a common pleas court ruling and a city Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections appeals board decision denying a Troiani Group appeal to demolish the dilapidated buildings.

The 17-page Commonwealth Court ruling ordered the lower court judge to return the appeal to the city board, which must reconsider the evidence Troiani presented that the buildings present a safety risk and have to be razed.

“Despite Troiani’s expert witnesses’ lengthy and detailed testimony supporting the Market Street structures’ demolition, the board denied the demolition plan with no analysis or rationale supporting its adjudication,” the court ruling stated.

For a quarter of a century beginning in 1978, the gravelly voiced Steve "Froggy" Morris held court
in the Market Square bar and restaurant where celebrities flocked when they were in town.
Despite its reputation as one of Downtown's go-to destinations, Morris eventually encountered
financial difficulties and Froggy's closed in 2003.

Morris died five years later.

See the entire Commonwealth Court ruling here.

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