Pittsburgh
Cornerstone Village, Phase I, the first rental phase of the Larimer/East Liberty Choice Neighborhoods Initiative in Pittsburgh, is helping to create a new, broader paradigm for how low-income and mixed-income housing development can change the trajectory of an entire neighborhood.
Developed by McCormack Baron Salazar and Allies and Ross Management & Development Corp., Cornerstone Village serves a broad range of residents. The development will, once build-out of all three phases is complete, provide one-for-one replacement of every unit from the demolished Hamilton-Larimer public housing site and the soon-to-be demolished East Liberty Gardens Sec. 8-subsidized community. In addition to the project-based voucher-subsidized apartments, which are reserved primarily for returning families from these two subsidized projects, there are 28 low-income housing tax credit apartments for residents earning up to 50% and 60% of the area median income and 29 market-rate apartments.
The housing has a high level of architectural quality, variety, and sustainability that reflects the context of the community and bridges the differences between the mixed-use, commercial East Liberty area into the much more low-density, residential Larimer community. The first phase received Enterprise Green Communities and Energy Star Version 3 certifications. Three townhomes in the first phase, built to the exact same standards and using the same methods as the rest of the buildings, achieved LEED for Homes Platinum certification.
Nonprofit Urban Strategies provides services for low-income residents who require assistance to achieve self-sufficiency. Urban Strategies developed a supportive service program to address employment and training for adults, early childhood education, recreation, family support, and community building. The nonprofit is working in partnership with a number of service providers in the neighborhood, including key project partner the Kingsley Association.