Hillcrest Residences in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood is providing 66 units of mixed-income housing, community space, and supportive services for seniors.
Developed by The Community Builders (TCB), the development includes six units for senior households earning 20% of the area median income (AMI), 34 units at 50% AMI, 16 units at 60% AMI, and 10 units at unrestricted rents. Ten of the units receive project-based vouchers via the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, and eight units are fully handicapped-accessible to promote aging in place.
Additional amenities include a community room with a library, a community garden, a business center, a fitness room, an outdoor terrace, laundry rooms, and a private room for health services.
TCB has partnered with the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing to provide quarterly health screenings, monthly healthy eating tips and exercise, and fall prevention workshops. Additional social services are being provided through partnerships with the American Health Care Group, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Stroke Institute.
Residents also have access to transit, health care, shopping, libraries, and other services in the south Pittsburgh neighborhood.
In addition, residents will see reduced utility costs through energy-saving features, such as Energy Star appliances, a highly and continuously insulated interior, high-performance doors, and triple-paned windows.
“TCB is thrilled to contribute another chapter to the diverse, expansive, and compelling story of the revitalization of Pittsburgh,” says Rob Fossi, TCB regional vice president of development, Mid-Atlantic. “With the help of our many talented and dedicated partners, seniors of all incomes can now enjoy energy-efficient apartments with ready access to amenities right here in Carrick.”
Designed by RDL Architects and built by Sota Construction Services, Hillcrest Residences has received Passive House certification from the Passive Housing Institute US for its energy-efficiency features, making it one of the largest certified buildings in the United States.
According to the architect, on average, Passive House developments consume 86% less energy or heating and 46% less energy for cooling when compared with code-compliant buildings.
“We are tremendously delighted that Hillcrest received Passive House certification and honored to be a part of the team that brought this to reality,” says Kevin Dreyfuss-Wells, senior project manager and designer for RDL Architects. “Designing to Passive House standards provides long-term benefits for every resident, creating apartments that are quiet, comfortable, and extremely well-ventilated, all with exceedingly low utility costs.”
Funding for the $15.8 million development, which celebrated its grand opening in December, comes from low-income housing tax credits allocated by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, equity from Citizens Bank via a syndication fund managed by Stratford Capital Group, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, TCB’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta through member bank Self-Help Ventures Fund.
The Boston nonprofit developer and owner has had a longtime presence in Pittsburgh, owning and/or managing over 400 units of housing in the Steel City.
