HILLCREST RESIDENCES
Hillcrest Residences in Pittsburgh, PA has won a 2018 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award in the Senior Housing category.
Hillcrest Residences is a 66-unit affordable housing development that provides new investment in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The community, completed in 2017, puts a long-dormant property to productive use, and combines energy efficiency and affordability for a currently underserved senior population. The mixed-income property includes six units reserved for households at twenty percent of area median income (AMI), 34 units target households at or below fifty percent of AMI, and another 16 units targeted at households earning less than 60 percent of AMI. Ten apartments have no rent restrictions, but all units are restricted to households in which at least one resident is age 62 or older.
Hillcrest Residences meets the city’s demand for more senior housing – as evidenced by a 400-person interest list prior to lease up – but it also serves as a catalyst to spur economic development in the Carrick neighborhood.
Pre-certified by Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) and having passed its performance tests at construction completion, Hillcrest Residences expects to receive formal PHIUS certification soon. Hillcrest Residences is one of the largest Passive House buildings in North America. The certification is a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency, reducing a building’s ecological footprint and resulting in ultra-low operating costs that require little energy for space heating or cooling. Energy savings are significant reducing both costs for tenants and the property owner.
The primary goal of the supportive services at Hillcrest Residences is to allow seniors the opportunity to age in place, in a non-institutional setting with dignity and comfort. Developer, The Community Builders, Inc., has extensive experience in delivering social service programs to the elderly. An onsite coordinator will make necessary referrals to healthcare, mental health care, and substance abuse providers. They will also direct housekeeping services, meal delivery, and other necessary support resources. Partners like Community LIFE, America Health Care Group, and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will provide health and social services focused on nutrition and quality of life.
Over $11 million in Housing Credit equity was provided by Stratford Capital Group. Additionally, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh provided sixteen Section 8 project-based vouchers.
