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Reports on Winter Shelters and Affordable Housing, Bakery Square Expansion & Police Recruitment - City Council Week of March 31

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Be Heard: Fill out the survey below. We'll share the results in the Public Comment section of the next City Council meeting.

City Council

County Officials Report on Winter Services for Unhoused People and Share Plans for the Rest of the Year.

In 2024, the county and its partners helped house about 1,700 people, including some couch surfing or living in cars. Efforts to address camps along riverfront trails and in the Business District have moved 75 people into shelters. The county expects to hit its goal of 500 affordable units in 500 days this October, the human services director said.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • Director of Human Services, Erin Dalton, reported that the County and its partners helped house approximately 1,700 people in 2024.
  • This number includes the less visible population of people who are couch surfing or living in cars or abandoned buildings.
  • Efforts to mitigate camps along riverfront trails and in the Business District have resulted in 75 people moving into shelters, trending toward 100 by the end of the year (an increase from previous years).
  • Three of the five seasonal overflow shelters closed on March 31; Second Avenue Commons will resume regular operations in mid-April; the Northside Partnership Project winter shelter close date is to be determined.
  • They expect to meet the program’s goal of creating 500 affordable housing units in 500 days this October.
  • As of February 28, there have been 208 housing units created and 309 people moved into housing.

City Council

Council to Approve Funding for Recruitment Video Aimed at Addressing Police Shortages.

Pittsburgh police are short on officers and looking for new ways to recruit. Now, the department has asked to spend $32,000 from a state grant on a recruitment video for social media and YouTube. It'd show officers in units such as K-9, SWAT, and River Patrol. Council was pleased to hear that more people are taking the civil service exam.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • The Police Department is requesting approval to spend $32K from a State grant on a new recruitment video to be developed by Kicker, Inc.
  • Videos are expected to include “exciting and proud images of Pittsburgh Police Officers at work in various positions, including Patrol, K-9 Unit, Investigators, SWAT, Motorcycle Unit, Mounted Patrol, River Patrol, Special Victims Unit, Narcotics/Vice, and Computer Crimes Unit” as well as iconic Pittsburgh imagery.
  • Council noted the need for new recruitment efforts and was pleased to hear that the number of people taking the civil service exam has begun to increase. They hope the videos are as successful as they have been in other cities.
  • The videos will primarily be used across social media platforms and YouTube.

City Council

14 Acre Bakery Square Expansion Moves Forward with Two Key Amendments Ready for Public Hearing.

Bakery Square's planned expansion in Larimer and East Liberty aims for 100 affordable homes for purchase. Under a deal with community groups, Walnut Capital would put in $6 million and commit to raising $19 million more. The Planning Commission got the changes in 2023 and sent back its recommendation this January. A 4 to 2 vote has now sent two bills to a public hearing.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • The expansion will encompass 14 acres west along Penn Avenue in the Larimer and East Liberty neighborhoods.
  • The standout initiative is the Build 100 program, which calls for Walnut Capital to contribute $6 million and commit to raising another $19 million toward creating 100 affordable homes for purchase.
  • This work is the product of a Community Benefits Agreement between the Larimer Consensus Group, the Village Collaborative, and Walnut Capital.
  • Council sent the proposed amendments to the Planning Commission on July 6 and July 12, 2023, and received the Commission’s report and recommendation for both on January 24, 2025.
  • The 4/2 vote allows for two bills—one delineating new block and lot numbers and the other detailing building code and other requirements within the subdistrict—to proceed to a public hearing.

City Council

URA Reports to Council on 61 New and Renovated Affordable Units Created Through the 2023 Housing Bond.

A nearly $31.6 million housing bond from 2023 was meant to address the city's housing crisis. So far, the Urban Redevelopment Authority has used $3.25 million of it. Combined with other funding, that led to 61 preserved or newly affordable units. The council president has called for a follow-up meeting to dig into the report.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • The nearly $31.6 million bond, issued in partnership with the City, was provided to the Urban Redevelopment Authority(URA) in December 2023 to address the city’s housing crisis.
  • Funds became available to developers in June 2024.
  • The URA has used $3.25 million from the bond, with an additional $20.5 million from various sources for related projects, leading to:
  • 7 preserved units for sale
  • 23 preserved units for rent
  • 31 newly affordable units for rent
  • An average cost of roughly $51K per housing unit.
  • Residents must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (or $80,950 for a family of four) to qualify for the program.
  • President Lavelle called for a follow-up meeting to discuss the report in more depth.

Tell The Council What you think

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