OPDC Awarded PHARE Funds for Community Land Trust

THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES AND TO ADDRESS HISTORIC RACIAL DISPARITIES IN HOMEOWNERSHIP

Last week, Governor Tom Wolf announced the recipients of a new round of funding for housing programs through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund.

OPDC was among the 245 housing and community development initiatives across 67 counties selected by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to share a portion of the total $48.4 million in funding for fiscal year 2021-22.

“This program ensures that communities are able to preserve existing housing and create new housing so all Pennsylvanians have access to affordable, safe housing statewide,” said Gov. Wolf. “This funding will ensure that the money is applied where the need is greatest and can accomplish the most good.”

OPDC will use the $150,000 in PHARE funds to reclaim abandoned vacant land and increase affordable homeownership opportunities in Oakland neighborhoods. Each new home will be permanently affordable through the Oakland Community Land Trust, a nonprofit, community-supporting system of land ownership.

This work will build on 2020 PHARE/RTT support, which allowed us to provide additional funding to BIPOC homebuyers. BIPOC families have been and continue to be displaced from Oakland residential neighborhoods where they have resided for generations, many as long-term renters. The displacement is happening because of gentrification.

According to a 2020 report by City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, the number of residents that identify as Black has been declining in all Oakland neighborhood areas in the past two decades. The same study describes the vulnerability of Black residents to displacement—78% of Black households rent.

By investing in permanently affordable new home construction, we can continue to provide homes for purchase as we address racial disparities in homeownership.   

For more information on equitable development and neighborhood stability in Oakland, visit our Oakland Community Land Trust page.

OPDC Statement on Board Resignations

The following statement was provided to the press by Eric Macadangdang, Secretary, OPDC Board of Directors, in response to outgoing board President Jake Oresick’s letter to Pittsburgh leadership:

“Oakland Planning and Development Corporation is a community-based organization that for over 40 years has invested in Oakland’s residential neighborhoods, supported Oakland’s residents and job seekers with active programming and services, advocated for and promoted affordable housing and equitable development strategies, and coordinated collaborative planning and programming efforts with Oakland’s many stakeholders.

“At a recent board retreat, we took a fresh approach to prioritizing equity and diversity in our programming and centering the needs of Oakland’s most vulnerable residents. At this morning’s board meeting, four board members chose to resign in protest. This was not an outcome any of us desired, but we are invigorated with OPDC’s renewed commitment to building an Oakland that helps all its neighbors thrive.”

Council Bill 2021-1906, “Oakland Crossings,” Meets Opposition at Final Public Hearing

Council Bill 2021-1906 and DCP-MPZC-2021-01666

Council Should set this bill aside in favor of passing the proposed zoning from the Oakland Plan

On May 25, 2022, City Council held a public hearing on Council Bill 2021-1906, formerly known as “Oakland Crossings,” which makes way for high-end, market-rate development in Oakland. 

OPDC joined Oakland residents and community organizations from around Pittsburgh in fierce opposition to the bill, which has been heavily criticized since it was introduced last fall for disregarding inclusionary zoning, affordable housing requirements, and equitable development. 

Residents took issue with the “extreme dimensions” requested by developer Walnut Capital, which are “totally out of scale with adjacent residential areas,” according to community member Elena Zaitsoff. 

Referring to a 3-D model, community member Millie Sass added, “The people are small next to the structures. Developers will always build to what is permitted.” 

Mayor Ed Gainey, who intervened to reduce the footprint of the zoning change, include affordable housing, and remove the most noxious uses, received praise for his efforts. Even so, residents and community organizations urged Council to set the bill aside in favor of passing the proposed zoning from the Oakland Plan. 

“The pressure is on from Walnut Capital,” said Greenfield community member Barb Warwick. “Not only would [the bill] be a slap in the face to residents and community groups who have sacrificed their time and energy to create the [Oakland Plan], it would set a terrible precedent of large-scale developers throwing their weight, money, and power around in order to bully through projects at the expense of local communities.”  

For more, check out Executive Director Wanda Wilson’s full testimony. Check back on the project page for updates on Council committee dates and the date it will be on their agenda for a vote.

Rental Registry in Jeopardy? Judge Stays Ordinance Amid Legal Challenge

In April, we posted about the City Council’s revised rental registration ordinance, which was set to go into effect May 29.

Now, the enforcement of the ordinance by the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) has been stayed by a judge as a lawsuit filed by the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (AAMP) proceeds.

This “commonsense regulation,” as Mayor Ed Gainey’s office put it in a statement, would protect renters by requiring permits from PLI for occupied rental units. Permitting entails:

• An initial inspection of the rental property and payment of a fee. Initial inspections are good for three years; following that, properties earning consistent, acceptable ratings are eligible for five-year terms.

• Collecting contact information for the owners, responsible local agents, and property managers of each rental property. Rental registration and inspection data will be public information, viewable on Civic Central. PLI will also give its data monthly to the Western PA Regional Data Center.

• A lead dust wipe inspection for structures built before 1978. This is required by the city’s new Lead Safety Ordinance.

In addition, the ordinance aims to encourage best practices through Good Landlord Academy, a training program on inspections, government resources, and enforcement. Those who pass the course will be eligible for reduced rental registration fees for the upcoming year.

The lawsuit brought by AAMP aims to challenge the associated fees, which, in our view, are nominal: a $16 application fee, a $5.50 per parcel fee, and a $14 per unit fee to cover travel and inspection costs. AAMP is also demanding exemption from lead inspection.

Speaking to the objections, Mayor Gainey stated, “Our fee is fair and does nothing more than recoup the costs to carry out the program and it is a shame that once again the work to protect renters in our city is being delayed.”

We couldn’t agree more. With widespread problems of safety, cleanliness, and over-occupancy, a rental registry is needed to assure code enforcement and ease of communication with landlords. Unfortunately, AAMP’s lawsuit throws all of that into question.

Oakland Planning and Development Corporation will continue to fight for rental registration and provide information to the community on this developing situation.