Pittsburgh City Council considers zoning change to allow more housing near Pitt campus

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council held a public hearing on Wednesday for an amendment that could allow for more housing development around the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus.

Council Bill 2026-0714 would allow any zoning lot in an Urban Center – Employment (UC-E) district that is wholly or partially within 100 feet of an Education Medical Institution (EMI) district to have 50-100% of the gross floor area be multi-suite residential with units that are rented monthly or more.

Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood is the only part of the city that has a UC-E district. The EMI district includes certain portions of the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Presbyterian, and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, mainly focused along the Oakland Fifth Avenue and Forbes Avenue business corridors.

Currently, the Oakland UC-E district only allows residential development if it’s a 100% affordable residential project, or if the residential portion of the project is less than 50% of the gross floor area.

Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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