The Pittsburgh City Planning Commission has voted against giving the former Donny's Place, a gay bar with a long history in the LGBTQ+ community and efforts during the HIV/AIDS crisis, a historic landmark designation, putting the structure at risk of demolition for new townhomes. According to CBS News Pittsburgh, despite testimonies on the bar's community importance, the Planning Commission Chairwoman Lashawn Burton-Falk mentioned the possibility of a historical marker as a tribute if the building were to be demolished.

Donny's Place, operational from 1973 until 2022, was owned by Donald Thinnes, a Vietnam veteran, under names like Leather Central, and served as a haven for LGBTQ individuals offering support during the AIDS epidemic. However, according to PublicSource, the lawyer representing the developer, Jonathan Kamin, argued that nothing particularly significant about the bar warranted historic status. This is a viewpoint echoed by Thomas Yargo, executor of Thinnes' estate, who contended that similar outreach was offered across the city's straight and gay bars alike.

Despite being a place of queer history and community events, the bar's condition has deteriorated significantly, especially after a fire in December 2024 gutted its interior, CBS News Pittsburgh noted. Preservation Pittsburgh and others advocated for preservation, arguing that it aligns with the city's intention to preserve community character.

The Planning Commission has voted, and the Pittsburgh City Council will make the final decision within 120 days. They can hold a hearing if the Council disagrees with the advisory boards. A negative vote from the Council could end Donny's Place and allow Laurel Communities' residential project to move forward.