Kinkead: $2.2 million awarded for local redevelopment projects

RACP grants to fund senior center construction, ADA housing

Rep. Emily Kinkead    October 27, 2022 | 1:34 PM

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 27 – Grants totaling more than $2.2 million have been secured to support three redevelopment projects in the city, state Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, announced today.

“Two of these projects will expand opportunities for local seniors and people with disabilities,” said Kinkead. “I’m very grateful to have played a role in securing funds for all three of these projects, especially those that will directly benefit the more vulnerable members of our community.”

Kinkead said the awarded projects include:

  • $500,000 to Verland CLA to support a Signature Home for individuals with disabilities in the North Side Area of Pittsburgh. The Signature Homes will accommodate residents by providing a living environment built with no steps to climb for ingress, egress, or throughout the living space, and an oversized garage that will accommodate a handicapped accessible van. The homes are fully sprinkled, allowing for safer and longer evacuation times in case of fire.

  • $730,000 to the city to support construction efforts at the Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Center. This project will activate the current three-story building and site, which currently only has the basement being occupied, into a better senior center and community space. Construction will update the existing structure, specifically the second floor, to meet contemporary building codes with new HVAC, plumbing, electric, fire safety and data/security systems.

  • $1 million to the owner of 1501 Penn Ave. to demolish a cold storage building and redevelop the property into a mix-used office building. The existing foundations will be retained and incorporated into the new building, which will include central chilled beam HVAC/supplemental cooling, enhanced indoor air-quality strategies, and water conservation efforts. As part of the project, the owner will create or improve public spaces including new sidewalks along 15th Street and Smallman Street; streetscape improvements along 15th Street, Smallman Street, and Penn Avenue; and a public plaza and colonnade.

The grants are sourced from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are state-funded and cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.

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