Advisory for Thursday August 3 at 11:30 am: Summer Lee, HACP to Host Ceremony Awarding $50 Million Choice Neighborhoods Grant
Press should RSVP HERE
(Pittsburgh, PA) – After years of community planning efforts and collaboration with our community partners, residents, and elected officials at the City, State and Federal level, Congresswoman Summer Lee, Mayor Ed Gainey, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, and other key partners will officially announce that they’ve secured $50 million through HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Grant for the Bedford Dwellings community. The official announcement is planned for Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at the Bedford Envision Center, 2305 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. This ceremony press conference will recognize the award and the upcoming kickoff of redevelopment activities for Bedford Dwellings and the Middle Hill.
The announcement event will be held in conjunction with our Tenant Council’s Annual Community Health Awareness Day. The HACP will be joined for the announcement by City and State elected officials as well as the representation from the dozens of organizations that have been with us throughout the Choice planning process.
WHAT: Press conference on HUD Choice Neighborhoods Grant Award Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 11:30 AM
WHERE: Bedford Envision Center, 2305 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15219
WHO: Congresswoman Summer Lee, Mayor Ed Gainey, HACP Emcee Michelle Sandidge, Chief community affairs office,Richard Monocchio, PDAS of Public and Indian Housing, Caster Binion, ED HACP, R. Daniel Lavelle, City of Pittsburgh Councilperson (district 6), Gail Felton, Bedford Dwelling Tenant Council President
RSVP: Press should please RSVP HERE.
Lee said, “I am thrilled to announce $50m to revitalize Bedford Dwellings in the Hill District, thanks to a Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant our district just received from HUD. This is a meaningful step towards righting past wrongs of racist urban development decisions, chronic disinvestment, and harmful policies.This was the product of years of hard work and coordination between community groups, the City of Pittsburgh, development partners, local organizations, philanthropy and Allegheny County to put a winning proposal together. I am thankful to Secretary Fudge and her team at HUD for this award, and look forward to continuing to work with our local leaders and federal partners as we begin the process of rehabbing affordable housing at Bedford Dwellings as well as developing the surrounding area to create a neighborhood that rights the past wrongs of chronic disinvestment in the Hill District, and centers our Black, marginalized, and low income neighbors.”
Background: Since taking office, Summer and the team have met with HUD leadership as well as development partners and the City on a regular basis to best position ourselves for this award. We intend to continue these efforts of coordination and support as the grant is implemented and the City continues its investment and work on the Hill, and will look for additional opportunities to leverage federal funding to enhance this initial rehabilitation