PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania officials celebrated major progress today on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 10-year plan to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh, highlighting the conversion of a vacant office complex into a 70-unit apartment building at 933 Penn Avenue.
Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary for Housing Kevin Bush visited the site to mark the project’s progress as part of state-backed efforts to expand residential options in the city center.
The $42 million project at 933 Penn Avenue received a $2.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from the Commonwealth. It represents one piece of the Shapiro administration’s 10-year revitalization strategy, which pledges to add or preserve nearly 1,000 residential units in downtown Pittsburgh, with one-third set aside as affordable housing for low- to moderate-income residents.
Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Bush emphasized the role of housing in regional development.
“A thriving city must have strong neighborhoods and that means making sure people have access to quality housing near work and opportunity,” Bush said. “Gov. Shapiro understands that investing in housing is an investment in Pennsylvania’s future. Here in Pittsburgh, projects like 933 Penn Avenue are helping us turn that vision into reality by bringing new residents, businesses and energy to the city. This is exactly the kind of progress we are working to deliver all across the Commonwealth.”
Aaron Stauber, president of Rugby Realty, highlighted the role of state support in commercial property conversions.
“Projects like 933 Penn require extraordinary persistence, public-private partnership and a shared commitment to Downtown Pittsburgh’s future,” Stauber said. “Converting historic buildings into housing is incredibly challenging and without the Commonwealth’s significant financial support, this project simply would not have been possible. But Gov. Shapiro’s leadership goes well beyond this project. His broader vision and investments in housing, public spaces and transformative amenities like the incredible new Arts Landing are helping reimagine Downtown as a destination to live, work and visit.”
The Commonwealth and its partners have begun work on at least 678 new housing units across seven major mixed-use conversion and construction projects. Ongoing conversion efforts include the Smithfield Lofts, The Porter and The Standard on Fifth, while state and local agencies work to restructure the YWCA Building project.
Developers expect to break ground soon on the Gulf Tower conversion project as state and local partners continue work on the broader downtown housing initiatives.
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