'The Reed' Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates the End of Bedford Choice Phase I

Over twenty years of community-based planning has gone into the replacement housing for Bedford Dwellings, and finally, the first buildings are finished and move-in ready. “This is a momentous occasion,” said Quianna Wasler, URA Chief Housing Officer, “and I’m so glad that the URA has played a role in making it possible for Bedford Dwellings residents to move into brand new, safe and comfortable housing.”

Bedford Dwellings Choice Neighborhoods is a $50 million initiative made possible by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and led by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. A total of 411 units are part of the “Build First, Move Once” strategy that will prevent displacement, and another 400 units are brand new, with a mix of affordable and market-rate pricing.

Phase I, called The Reed, is designed as replacement housing for residents of Bedford Dwellings, the city’s oldest housing complex. The Reed contains 123 total residential units, with 24 of those units constructed as townhomes and the remaining units as apartments. 90 units are secured with project-based vouchers, 24 units are market-rate, and 9 units are affordable with income-restrictive covenants. The units secured with project-based vouchers will serve as replacement housing for Bedford Dwellings residents.

“Bedford Dwellings residents are going to be able to stay in their neighborhood. They will stay close to their support networks, their jobs and transportation, and the places where they’ve made their homes,” said Niklas Perrson, URA Lending Analyst.

To fund The Reed, Trek Development received project-based vouchers and gap financing from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Low Income Housing Tax Credits and permanent financing from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and rental gap program loans from the URA.

“Together, we are building stronger a neighborhood,” said Susheela Nemani-Stanger, URA Executive Director. “Phase I is just the beginning. The next phases of Bedford Choice will include homeownership opportunities and infrastructure investments in sidewalks and parks, and by the end, there will be new memories made in new homes and new parks with new neighbors.”

As part of the Bedford Choice Implementation plan, the URA is responsible for neighborhood improvements, like funding for a new park, home repairs for low-income households and vacant property recycling for homeownership opportunities.

“The intersection of Reed and Roberts used to be home for a lot of people,” said Brandon Wilson, project manager for the URA’s Bedford Choice implementation. “We’re building a neighborhood here that has housing and amenities for a lot of people to enjoy and call home again.”

Director Nemani-Stanger said, "The Hill is situated for a revival, a renaissance, but one that includes the history of the neighborhood and prevents displacement. Our neighbors deserve to enjoy the place they have worked so hard for."