‘Cornerstone’ project: Wilkinsburg apartment complex part of a growing trend

Since he founded the Hosanna House community center in Wilkinsburg more than 30 years ago, Leon Haynes has had an office overlooking the blighted corner of Center Street and Penn Avenue, once site of the iconic Penn-Lincoln Hotel that became apartments before the building deteriorated and was torn down for green space.

But in the next few weeks, that will all begin to change with the expected construction of the Penn-Lincoln Apartments, a 41-unit complex that will include retail space on the first floor. U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, delivered a federal check for $1.7 million Monday as the final piece of funding for the project that will be built through a partnership of Hosanna House and Action Housing Inc.

“When the block became grass a few years ago, it was better than having economic depression in your face,” Haynes said after the news conference. “To have the opportunity to see this project come through is pretty humbling and special.”

Haynes told the news conference the federal funding will allow the project to begin after about five years of development. Groundbreaking could be in the next two months, followed by about 18 months of construction.

“All the funding is in place,” Haynes said. “This project is funded, and we’re ready to break ground.”

The building design will pay homage to the original hotel, with red bricks on the surface and the skyline stepping down from five stories fronting on Penn Avenue to three stories. Penn-Lincoln opened in 1927 billed as “Pittsburgh’s Most Modern Suburban Hotel,” a six-story structure with 70,000 square feet.

The 41 apartments will include 20 with one bedroom, 12 with two bedrooms and nine with three bedrooms, with an emphasis on housing for families with children, which Haynes said is a key need in the community.

All units will be affordable housing for people with 20% to 60% of the borough’s median income and will be accessible for people with disabilities.

It also will have 12,000 square feet of commercial space. Although no tenants have been signed yet, Haynes said he hopes to have a food retailer taking part of the space.

Social service agencies also will have space available in the complex.

Deluzio said the apartments are among $15.5 million he secured this year for 15 projects across his district.

“[Housing] is fundamental to the American dream,” he said.

Providing affordable housing is particularly important now because of the growing number of investment companies that are buying nearly 25% of homes and apartments when they go on sale, Deluzio said. He said he would support legislation that failed to pass the last session of Congress that would regulate rent gouging by corporate owners.

“It’s an ongoing fight, and I’m willing to fight it,” he said.

Haynes said he considers the apartment complex “a cornerstone project” in Wilkinsburg, where the train station on Hay Street is being redeveloped and an Aldi grocery is under construction on Penn Avenue. Revitalizing the small borough has been a goal since Hosanna House began.

“Quietly, there has been more movement recently than there has been in the last 30 years,” he said. “We have 2½ square miles to do, and we can do it.”