Pittsburgh City Council looks to streamline process of creating new housing in Golden Triangle

Pittsburgh City Council is looking to make it easier to create new housing in the Golden Triangle.

Legislation introduced Tuesday would streamline the process to convert existing space Downtown into residential units. The Planning Commission has recommended the proposed zoning changes.

The zoning code now requires proposed residential units in the Golden Triangle area to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. The zoning changes being considered by City Council would eliminate that requirement.

The measure also would nix the existing minimum lot size requirement per residential unit.

This comes as city officials have partnered with the county and state for a $9 million residential conversion pilot program that aims to revitalize Downtown buildings left largely empty since the covid-19 pandemic as a result of a shift to remote work. The pilot program will convert empty office spaces into housing.

Related:

• Proposed zoning changes would make it easier to convert unused Downtown office space into housing

• Pittsburgh looks to convert unused office space into residential units

• Plan to convert unused Pittsburgh office spaces into housing gets $2.1M

The legislation further looks to change an existing requirement that all exterior renovations in the Golden Triangle district with a price tag of $50,000 or more must receive Planning Commission approval. Under the proposed zoning changes, that figure would jump to $250,000.

The existing requirement dates to the early 1980s.

The measure was introduced to City Council without discussion Tuesday. A public hearing will be held before the legislation can advance for final consideration.