A proposal to complete phase two of Oak Hill was approved by
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) on March 22nd. The $90 million project will bring 450 new housing units to the
Hill District. The first 400 units will include 195 mixed-income rental units and 205 homeownership units. The remaining 50 units will be planned by Oak Hill residents, the HACP, the City, and Boston-based
Beacon/Corcoran Jennison (BCJ), the project developer.
“There will be single family detached homes, as well as condos and townhouses, to have economic integration as much as we can, and appeal to the market," says A. Fulton Meachem Jr., executive director of the HACP. A design phase will include public charettes with architects and developers. Oak Hill will include a variety of two-, three- and four-bedroom units.
“The Mayor brought the full force of the city along with BCJ and the Housing Authority to build a community that residents can benefit from, an investment in the Hill District as a whole,” adds Meachem. “It’s the first time we’ve been able to get everyone to the table.”
The project will issue bids for design and construction work. “Part of the resolution is that they are required, to the best of their abilities, to use local contractors and MWB firms,” says Meachem. “Now the work behind the vision of making this a good community starts." The
University of Pittsburgh is contributing $1 million in supportive services while the city will provide infrastructure support. “It’s a real community effort to make this work,” says Meachem. Construction is expected to begin in late 2008.
Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: A. Fulton Meachem