Smithfield Lofts is set to transform a 124-year-old office tower on Smithfield Street into new affordable housing, marking a major step in downtown Pittsburgh\u2019s ongoing revitalization.<\/p>\n
The $30 million office-to-residential conversion, led by Woda Cooper Companies with support from the Urban Redevelopment Authority and state partners, will create 46 apartments, 39 of them designated as affordable units. Those income-restricted homes are aimed at residents earning roughly 60 percent or less of the area median income, with some units tied to Allegheny County\u2019s \u201c500 in 500\u201d initiative to move people out of homelessness.<\/p>\n
More: Beloved Oakland bar gives way to Pitt\u2019s growing footprint<\/a><\/p>\n More: Feeling the heat? Pittsburgh electric bills are spiking this summer<\/a><\/p>\n More: Pittsburgh\u2019s biggest new science hall set to reshape Oakland<\/a><\/p>\n Inside the historic building, plans call for a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, along with amenities designed for everyday city living: a children\u2019s playroom, fitness room, bike storage, tenant storage, and a community room with kitchenette and in-unit laundry. The project is one of seven office conversions included in Gov. Josh Shapiro\u2019s 10-year, $600 million strategy to turn downtown into a fuller neighborhood, with more housing, cleaner and safer streets, and stronger public spaces.<\/p>\n At the same time, additional affordable housing is rising nearby in the Cultural District, where a separate $37 million project is adding about 50 income-restricted units in former office buildings. Together, Smithfield Lofts and new Cultural District housing push Pittsburgh toward a future where living in the Golden Triangle is not just for office workers and luxury renters, but for families and workers who need access to transit, jobs, and the city\u2019s cultural core.<\/p>\n This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the\u00a0assistance\u00a0of Artificial Intelligence (AI).\u00a0Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review,\u00a0editing\u00a0and publishing process.\u00a0Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n