Pittsburgh City Council to explore ways to expand affordable housing options

Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to explore whether accessory dwelling units such as attic, basement and garage apartments or secondary housing structures on existing properties could combat what council sees as an affordable housing crisis in the city.

The legislation, sponsored by Councilwoman Deb Gross, requires Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration to produce a report by late November detailing the city’s number of accessory dwelling units, proposals to develop new ones and regulations and permitting fees applying to the units.

Detached accessory dwelling units used to be common in the city. Some still exist today, though current zoning doesn’t allow for new ones to be built.

The legislation approved Tuesday would not change zoning to permit them, but council members said the report will provide council with more information should it pursue doing so in the future.

Gross and other council members have said they hope that accessory dwelling units could bolster affordable housing options, help older residents to stay in their communities and provide added income streams for people who rent them on their existing properties.

Council members present Tuesday unanimously approved the legislation. Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle and Anthony Coghill were not present.

The vote comes as city officials grapple with what they consider affordable housing and homelessness crises.

City Council recently passed legislation ordering a similar report exploring limited-equity housing cooperatives, a kind of collective home ownership. People invest in a house — though in much smaller cash amounts than a traditional down payment — and become part owners of the house, along with others who have invested in it.

Council expects to receive that report late next month.

City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith also has suggested constructing tiny homes on city-owned property to provide safe shelter for people who are homeless.