PITTSBURGH, PA (February 10, 2021) The Peduto Administration and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh are set to approve 85 affordable housing units in the North Side and Squirrel Hill.
The URA board is set to approve funding for 42 affordable housing units at Cal-Bride Place at California Avenue and Kirkbride Street, with the construction of a 30-unit apartment building and six duplexes.
The units will be affordable to tenants at various income levels: Five will be affordable at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI), 20 at or below 50% AMI, and 17 at or below 60% AMI.
The total project cost is $15.6 million. Proposed URA funding includes a $450,000 Rental Gap Program loan and a $400,000 UDAG Program Income Fund loan.
Developers Northside Properties Residences IV expect to finish construction by the fall of 2022. Urban Strategies, Inc. will act as a service provider to Cal-Bride tenants., with services including orientation sessions for all new residents, specialized case management to build individualized roadmaps for personal goals and family-related aspirations, linked coordination to supportive services, financial literacy workshops, and employment and educational readiness workshops among other activities.
In Squirrel Hill, approvals are expected for a mixed-use affordable housing building with 43 new apartments and 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial retail space at the Flats on Forward, the site of the former Squirrel Hill Theater.
Of the 43 units, 25 percent will have a preference for individuals with disabilities. Five units will be reserved for households at or below 20% AMI, 17 will be available to households at or below 50%, and the remaining 21 units will be available for households at or below 60% AMI.
The URA board is set to increase its approval last year of a Rental Gap Program loan by $750,000 from $1,250,000 to $2,000,000. The proposed loan increase request is due to the site location and costs associated with reinforcing and repairing Maeburn Road.
The board meets virtually tomorrow at 2 p.m.
