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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood will be the new home for a 48-unit affordable housing complex near the corner of Forbes and Craft avenues tailored for LGBTQ+ seniors.
Neighborhood residents and community organizations gathered at Pitt to celebrate the groundbreaking for Mosaic Apartments on May 23 at the future location of the building, followed by a celebratory reception at the University Club on the University of Pittsburgh campus.
Located at the western entrance to Oakland’s business district, Mosaic Apartments will provide residents easy access to the vibrant university neighborhood, museums and world-class medical facilities. Crucial land donations, which were facilitated and finalized through Pitt’s Office of Real Estate, from UPMC, Pitt and Dialysis Clinic Inc. were instrumental in making the project possible.
Pitt has been a long-standing partner, investor and collaborator to housing affordability initiatives in Oakland, said Lina Dostilio, vice chancellor of engagement and community affairs. The neighborhood’s uniqueness, particularly its diverse population of students and non-student, long-term residents, make it an excellent home for the Mosaic Apartments, she said.
“Pitt is so proud that Oakland is our home,” Dostilio said. “Oakland is an incredibly strong community. It is one of the most welcoming and diverse communities in the city of Pittsburgh. We are so glad to be part of this and for making it possible for us to live strongly in our role and mission as an anchor and engaged institution.”
At the event, development partners Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and Affirmative Investments also revealed the name of the facility, Mosaic, which was chosen through a contest that received nearly 140 community suggestions. It was originally named “Oakland Pride.”
Presbyterian SeniorCare Network President and CEO Jim Pieffer said the company is leading the project with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and community support. The complex aims to address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ adults aged 62 and older, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
“Our network has a decades-long history of awareness and support for person-centered care and services for seniors,” said Pieffer. “It will be an honor to serve this special population of older adults who have been deeply discriminated against over the years.”
This initiative, a first for Western Pennsylvania, is scheduled to open in fall 2025 and will feature 42 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments. Rent will be based on income, with current income limits set at $64,800 for 2024. Among the apartments’ amenities are on-site parking, pet-friendly policies, a dog wash station, 24-hour emergency maintenance and a community room.
More than $28 million has been raised for this initiative, supported by nine major funding sources, including $4 million in low-income housing tax credits from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the PA Housing Finance Agency.
As part of the land donation, UPMC and Pitt created no-rent, 75-year land leases. This allowed for development to move forward with institutional support, ensuring the project's long-term affordability. Presbyterian SeniorCare Network has committed to preserving this affordability for 40 years.
Applications for residency will be available in March 2025. Interested individuals can learn more and join the inquiry list by visiting Presbyterian SeniorCare Network’s website.
— Donovan Harrell, photography by Aimee Obidzinski
A community-engaged anchor institution
The Anchor Initiatives are a suite of strategies developed to leverage the University’s role as an economic anchor to Southwestern Pennsylvania. An integral component to the Plan for Pitt, the Anchor Initiatives amplify Pitt’s regional impact in the areas of buying, building and hiring locally; community engagement and partnerships; placemaking; and workforce development. Learn more about Pitt’s Anchor Initiatives.