U.S. Rep. Summer lee, D-12th District, on the floor of the U.S. House (Screen Capture).
PITTSBURGH — The Bedford Dwellings Housing Complex in the city’s Hill District neighborhood has received a $50 million neighborhood revitalization grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-12th District, made the announcement Friday along with U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman.
The funds from the Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant will be used to rehabilitate affordable housing at Bedford Dwellings, and make investments into the low-income neighborhood.
“This is a meaningful step towards righting past wrongs of racist urban development decisions, chronic disinvestment, and harmful policies,” Lee said in a statement, adding it was the result of years of work among community groups, the city, Allegheny County and other stakeholders.
The money will be awarded through the city’s housing authority.
Bedford Dwellings is Pittsburgh’s oldest public housing development, and the plans for the grant funding call for it to be torn down and rebuilt into a mixed-income community, with at least 411 affordable units.
“I am thankful to Secretary (Marcia) Fudge and her team at HUD for this award, and look forward to continuing to work with our local leaders and federal partners as we begin the process of rehabbing affordable housing at Bedford Dwellings as well as developing the surrounding area to create a neighborhood that rights the past wrongs of chronic disinvestment in the Hill District, and centers our Black, marginalized, and low income neighbors,” Lee added.
In December, Pittsburgh City Council approved a $31 million investment if the project was selected for the HUD grant.
“Community leaders in the Hill District have been working tirelessly for years to reimagine Bedford Dwellings into a neighborhood anchor where residents can live, work, and play in a vibrant and safe environment and with this funding, they can make that vision a reality,” Casey said in a statement.
“Housing is a human right, and this massive investment will help create more affordable housing in Pittsburgh and improve the conditions of this complex and neighborhood,” Fetterman said in a statement. “As a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, which covers housing issues, I’ll always fight to make sure every Pennsylvanian has access to safe and affordable housing.”
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