Smithfield Lofts is set to transform a 124-year-old office tower on Smithfield Street into new affordable housing, marking a major step in downtown Pittsburgh’s ongoing revitalization.
The $30 million office-to-residential conversion, led by Woda Cooper Companies with support from the Urban Redevelopment Authority and state partners, will create 46 apartments, 39 of them designated as affordable units. Those income-restricted homes are aimed at residents earning roughly 60 percent or less of the area median income, with some units tied to Allegheny County’s “500 in 500” initiative to move people out of homelessness.
Inside the historic building, plans call for a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, along with amenities designed for everyday city living: a children’s playroom, fitness room, bike storage, tenant storage, and a community room with kitchenette and in-unit laundry. The project is one of seven office conversions included in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 10-year, $600 million strategy to turn downtown into a fuller neighborhood, with more housing, cleaner and safer streets, and stronger public spaces…