Can Zoning Reform Save Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing?

With home sale prices growing faster than anywhere in the country, the Steel City could enact major reforms to boost density and lower housing costs.

1 minute read

September 19, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Bird's eye view of single-family homes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nurcan / Adobe Stock

A raft of proposed city policies in Pittsburgh take aim at housing affordability, reports Deidre Woollard for Benzinga. The proposal, to be presented to city council next year, would legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and incentivize transit-oriented development (TOD), focusing on multifamily housing near transit stops. “In April, Redfin reported that Steel City had the fastest-growing sales price in the country, up 22% year over year.”

The city also plans to change the parking requirements for new housing to create more walkable mixed-use development and pave the way for adaptive reuse. Another zoning change is an update to the minimum lot size per unit, allowing more apartment buildings to be built on smaller lots.

The proposed reforms would require 10 percent affordable units in buildings with 20 units or more. However, “Local housing advocate Davit Vatz of Pro-Housing told CoStar News that inclusionary zoning can work against affordable housing goals if developers build fewer units to skirt the rules.”

Monday, September 16, 2024 in Benzinga

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

2 hours ago - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

3 hours ago - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

4 hours ago - The Sacramento Bee