URA Board to Vote on Funding for Three Affordable Housing Projects Providing Over 260 Affordable Bedrooms in Fairywood, Hazelwood and the Hill District
Pittsburgh, PA – Today, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) Board of Directors will vote on the proposed investment in three key affordable housing developments across the City of Pittsburgh that will deliver 261 bedrooms for families in 159 housing units, with 149 of the units affordable to households making under the area median income (AMI).
The projects will be supported by the URA’s Rental Gap Program, which provides loans to eliminate funding gaps for affordable housing developments citywide. The three projects – Hill Top Villas in the West End’s Fairywood neighborhood, HG Blair in Hazelwood and Bedford Dwellings Phase III in the Hill District – will deliver housing for households of various sizes, including a total of:
- 86 one-bedroom units, 48 of which are dedicated for seniors
- 44 two-bedroom units
- 29 three-bedroom units
The new Hill Top Villas will expand opportunities for senior housing for the area’s aging population, who make up approximately 20% of the neighborhood’s total population. The project will provide 48 high quality, accessible units of one-bedroom apartments for residents aged 62 years or older, with 40 units affordable to those with incomes at or below 60% of the AMI and eight units at market rate.
The HG Blair project is the next phase of TREK Development’s “HG” series of affordable, multi-family housing in Hazelwood that will create 46 total units, with 44 affordable for those earning at or below 60% of the AMI and two units at market rate. The project will accommodate a variety of households with:
- 29 one-bedroom units
- 10 two-bedroom units
- 7 three-bedroom units
The HG Blair project also includes six fully accessible units and two designed for residents with sensory impairments. There will also be a community space, a children’s room, a fitness room, a reading room and ground-floor commercial space. HG Blair will join the HG Lytle project that started in 2025 and will continue the partnership with Pittsburgh Scholar House to support residents, particularly parents who are pursuing secondary education.
The third project to receive funding is Bedford Dwellings Phase III, part of the seven-phase redevelopment of Bedford Dwellings in the Hill District through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) grant. The third phase will create 65 affordable housing units, including:
- 7 townhomes
- 22 garden walk-in units
- 36 stacked townhomes
All 65 of the newly constructed units will be affordable, with 33 units for those who currently live in Bedford Dwellings. The sizes of the units will help to accommodate individuals and families with:
- 9 one-bedroom units
- 34 two-bedroom units
- 22 three-bedroom units
These developments demonstrate the power of public-private partnerships to deliver high-quality, affordable housing opportunities across diverse city neighborhoods. Each includes partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, who will help support 30 affordable units at Hill Top Villas and 24 affordable units at HG Blair through project based vouchers.
The proposed Rental Gap Program funding for the projects totals at $11 million, with $2 million for the Hill Top Villas, $2 million for HG Blair and $7 million for Bedford Dwellings Phase III. More information about the Rental Gap Program can be found here.
The URA Board will vote on the funding at their regular meeting today (Thursday, May 14, 2026). Details for the meeting and links to attend virtually are available here.
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