Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority board approved millions for plans across the city that will focus on households earning less than the area median income, including seniors and public housing residents.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) board voted to provide three developers with $11 million to close the gaps on their affordable housing projects in Fairywood, Hazelwood Green and the Hill District.
The affordable housing developments will bring a total of 159 new housing units online, with 149 of the units reserved for tenants earning below the area’s median income. The projects address distinct housing needs in each neighborhood, from housing Fairywood’s aging population to revitalizing the site of Pittsburgh’s oldest public housing in the Hill District.
“There’s such a high demand for all kinds of housing types throughout the city,” board chair Yarone Zober said, citing Cedarwood Homes in Fairywood as an example. “You have people that want to grow old and age in their own communities — there’s no opportunity to do that.”
Excerpt – Hazelwood: 46 housing units
The board also voted to help fund one of three residential buildings collectively called Woodlawn Lofts in Hazelwood Green. The Downtown-based development firm Trek Development already broke ground on its first building, HG Lytle, and expects for residents to move into the 50-unit building by the end of the year, Janelle Kemerer, a project manager at the development company, said at the board meeting.
Similar to the HG Lytle building, the $24.4 million, 46-unit residential building that the board voted to partially fund through a $2 million loan on Thursday will include 44 units set aside for residents making 60% below the area’s median income. The developers will also set aside 24 units for student-parents participating in Pittsburgh Scholar House’s programs. It will also give preference to existing residents of the Hazelwood neighborhood. The residential buildings represent the first housing development in an area that’s now known as grounds for nearby universities’ research and development.
“There’s a lot of great momentum happening at Hazelwood Green,” Kemerer said, in reference to investments by Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.