Pittsburgh streamlines process to convert unused Downtown office space into housing

A zoning change approved this week by Pittsburgh City Council will streamline the process to convert existing Downtown office space into residential units, officials said.

The legislation, unanimously approved Tuesday, will allow proposed residential projects in the Golden Triangle area to move ahead without being reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission, as had previously been required.

The zoning change also nixed 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 office buildings that have sat largely empty since the covid-19 pandemic spurred a shift to remote work. The pilot program will aim to revitalize those empty offices by converting them into housing.

Related:

• Pittsburgh looks to convert unused office space into residential units

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

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

Pittsburgh has committed $2.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the project, with additional funding coming from the county and state.

The zoning legislation approved this week also changes a rule that had required all exterior renovation projects in the Golden Triangle district costing $50,000 or more to get Planning Commission approval. Now the rule will apply only to such projects costing $250,000 or more.

The $50,000 requirement dated back to at least the early 1980s and hadn’t been adjusted for inflation since.

The city’s Planning Commission had recommended the legislation before it was passed on to City Council.