Pittsburgh's URA to help fund Oakland housing development for low-income LGBTQ+ seniors

Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is providing a $1.6 million loan to developers who want to build a six-story apartment building in South Oakland that caters to low-income LGBTQ+ seniors.

The Oakland Pride development on Forbes Avenue, approved in September by the Planning Commission, will have 48 apartments, all of them designated as affordable housing for senior citizens.

The URA said six of the apartments will be affordable for people making up to 30% of the area median income, 24 apartments will be affordable for people making no more than half of the area median income and 11 apartments will be affordable for people making up to 60% of the area median income.

The affordability must stay in place for at least 40 years, under the loan agreement.

The area median income ranges from $70,300 for an individual to $132,600 for a household of eight, according to the URA.

Sara Innamorato, who sits on the URA board and was elected Tuesday to become Allegheny County executive, said this “signals we are a welcoming place for all people at all stages of life.”

The future Oakland Pride site is now an empty lot. The location will place residents within walking distance of universities, hospitals, restaurants and parks. It also sits along the planned bus-rapid transit line that will link Oakland to neighborhoods including Shadyside and Downtown.

The nonprofit Presbyterian Senior Care and Boston-based developer Affirmative Investments are partnering on the project. They are leasing the land for $1 for 75 years from UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh.

The project is expected to cost nearly $29 million, according to the URA.

The URA board on Thursday unanimously supported providing the $1.6 million loan from its Rental Gap Program.

A $2.24 million funding gap remains, according to URA officials.

Jim Pieffer, president and CEO of Presbyterian Senior Care, said the partnership is looking for additional sources of funding. He believes it will close the gap quickly.