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Action Housing seeks rezoning in Homewood West for 38-unit affordable housing project
Summary
Action Housing told Pittsburgh City Council on July 9 that it is seeking to rezone three parcels in Homewood West from R1DL to Urban Industrial to enable a roughly 38-unit affordable multifamily project targeting households at or below 60% of area median income; the Planning Commission recommended approval and there were no public speakers at the hearing.
Pittsburgh — Action Housing presented a proposal on July 9 asking Pittsburgh City Council to rezone three vacant parcels in Homewood West so the nonprofit can build an approximately 38-unit affordable multifamily development.
The clerk read the bill title (Bill 20-26-0513), which would amend the Pittsburgh Code (Title 9, Section 902.03) to rezone parcels 125‑G‑13, 125‑G‑14 and 125‑G‑15 from residential single‑unit detached low density (R1DL) to Urban Industrial (UI). A Department of City Planning representative told council the City Planning Commission gave a positive recommendation on May 5 and noted the bill would require five affirmative votes to enact after the public hearing.
"These have been vacant for over 20 years," James Aish, director of real estate development at Action Housing, said while orienting the council to the four‑parcel site that includes a formerly vacant UPMC building now owned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Aish said all four parcels are URA‑owned and that combining the three R1DL lots with the existing UI lot is necessary to make the multifamily project feasible.
Katie Seftis of Moss Architects described the zoning context: the three lots sit as an isolated pocket of R1DL within a larger UI area, and the UI district "allows a special exception for a multifamily use," she said. The team said the proposal aligns with the Homewood cluster plan and the city's goals to increase affordable housing.
Jody Lincoln, senior development officer at Action Housing, said the developer is aiming for about 38 units targeted to households at or below 60% of area median income, with financing sought through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. "We're anticipating that to be in early 2027," Lincoln said of the LIHTC application cycle, and added that — if funded — construction and lease‑up could take roughly five years.
Project features discussed included ground‑floor amenities with a community room available to neighbors, off‑street parking accessed from Formosa Way, and a unit mix of one‑bed, two‑bed and efficiency apartments. Action Housing said it has engaged the URA, Homewood community groups and adjacent residents since 2022 and intensified outreach over the past six months.
Planning staff noted required outreach steps were completed, including mailed and posted notice to property owners within 150 feet and a development‑activities meeting with the Homewood Community Development Collaborative on March 12, 2026. Staff also referenced a prior 2023 rezoning on the north side of Kelly Street that converted parcels from R1DL to UI.
Councilman Kahari Moseley thanked the team for the engagement and reiterated the need to continue direct outreach with adjacent residents who previously raised concerns about a separate GetGo proposal. Moseley confirmed the unit count and general unit mix during his remarks.
The council opened the public comment period and received no speakers in the gallery. With the presentation concluded and no public testimony, Moseley adjourned the hearing. The project still requires council action on the ordinance, subsequent zoning board variances and successful financing before construction could begin.
