New era in East Liberty housing

Old high-rise site being reclaimed by new complex

November 3, 2013 10:37 PM
By Diana Nelson Jones / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The only reminder left of East Liberty's high-rise legacy -- a bare space at the neighborhood's
western gateway -- is being reclaimed by the construction of a four-story complex of 52 new
apartments and 11,000 square feet for retail.
The $14.2 million East Liberty Place South, at Penn Avenue and North Beatty Street, will
complete the redevelopment of the former site of the East Mall high-rise, which was razed in
2005.
Work began more than a month ago, but the official groundbreaking ceremony is 10:30 this
morning because the site, which once held a gas station and dry cleaner, had to be capped and
sealed and old foundations stabilized, said Jim Eby, senior project manager for Community
Builders.
The nonprofit also has redeveloped and is managing other former public housing high-rises in
East Liberty. They include Pennley Commons, New Pennley Place, Penn Manor and East Liberty
North.
They are all mixed-income communities. East Liberty North was completed two years ago
directly across Penn Avenue from the current construction site.
"This has been a long time coming," Mr. Eby said.
East Liberty Place South, whose completion is expected by next October, is almost anti-
climactic after the drama of East Liberty Place North's development. When North got underway
in 2009, the parties involved remarked on the arduous effort it took, largely because financing
was extracted at the height of the economic crisis.
"Probably only a thousand people had to work very hard to make this happen," Rob Stephany,
Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette
Construction on East Liberty Place South is expected to be finished next
October.
"Probably only a thousand people had to work very hard to make this happen," Rob Stephany,
who was then executive director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, said at the time.
In 2001, Community Builders bought three East Liberty high-rises -- East Mall, Liberty Park
and Penn Circle Tower -- from a multipartnership group led by Federal American Properties in
a foreclosure arrangement.
East Mall was 17 stories and had 160 units. Liberty Park was 20 stories with 158 units. Along
with their demolition, another 174 distressed townhouses and apartments were razed. The 20-
story Penn Circle Tower was sold for redevelopment as a Target store.
Target's popularity has made it a challenge to get retailers to look west toward the gateway
developments, Mr. Eby said. Because of that, East Liberty Place South was designed for more
flexibility so that larger retailers might expand into adjacent, city-owned lots, he said.
East Liberty Place North has six retail spaces and 54 apartments, 38 of which are for low-
income households. The Community Builders is in lease negotiations with a sandwich shop and a
full service Asian restaurant there, Mr. Eby said.
The less-dense replacement of subsidized high-rises for a mix of incomes has caused a shortage
of housing for the very poor, a condition low-income housing advocates have decried as a crisis
in recent years.
Mr. Eby said Community Builders fulfilled its mission to provide a mix.
"We are a nonprofit, mission-driven company, and a big part of our mission is to provide and
maintain access to low-income housing but in a healthy neighborhood context," he said. "There
had been no market-rate housing in East Liberty for many years."
One-third of the new apartments will be market-rate; the rest are being built with low-income
tax credits and will be rented at percentages of median income, he said.
Former federal properties come with restrictions to ensure that the public interest is protected
because the government does protect the public money that went into them, Mr. Eby said.
Community Builders is legally required to fulfill conditions of a covenant that says that, if it
were to sell, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would get the proceeds,
and if Community Builders does not produce a certain amount of low-income replacement
housing, it would be in violation.
"The percentage of low-income is negotiated," he said. "No one is expecting us to replicate what
was here."
Tom Cummings, director of housing for the URA, agreed that the need for very-low-income
housing is a crisis that needs to be addressed "with stronger policies at the federal level, and we
don't see those resources going in a positive direction." One program, the HOME Investment
Partnership, which provides funding directly to cities and counties solely for low-income
housing, has been slashed by 50 percent over the past three years, he said.
But mixed-income redevelopments have proved to be more sustainable than the old model,
which segregated the poor, he said.
Of East Liberty Place South, he said, "It has been an epic adventure, a long road. This was a
massive undertaking by all involved, including former residents."
The URA and East Liberty Development Inc. took some pains to find replacement housing for
displaced residents, and Community Builders will make final outreach efforts for East Liberty
South, he said.
The URA had been able to keep up with 150 residents and help them relocate in East Liberty.
Others either did not respond to mailings or the mailings were returned, URA officials reported
at the time.
Lee Sims, president of Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty, advocated for low-
income residents during the planning of East Liberty Place North and South. She moved into an
apartment in East Liberty Place North in 2010 and said, "I love it." But completion of the
development across Penn Avenue will not put an end to the issues, she said.
"Not everybody who wanted to move back has moved back. There are not as many affordable
units as there were. And even though there's going to be more housing at the other side of East
Liberty in Bakery Square II, that's all market rate," she said. "If mixed-income housing makes
for a better community, then why aren't they all" mixed-income?
Low-income rents at East Liberty Place South will remain at controlled rates for 30 years --
$530 for a one-bedroom, $620 for a two-bedroom -- but the market rents in Walnut Capital's
redevelopment of the Highland Building, Walnut on Highland, could allow for higher rents in
East Liberty South, he said. Rents at Walnut on Highland range from $1,300 to $1,600.
Community Builders will soon post information for people to begin filling what Mr. Eby called
"an interest list."
Diana Nelson Jones: djones@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1626. Read her blog City Walkabout
at www.post-gazette.com/citywalk.
1
EAST LIBERTY PLACE SOUTH
PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY
Request for Artist Qualifications
Pittsburgh, PA
Postmark Deadline for Applications:
July 1, 2013
Info Session for Applicants:
May 29, 2013 at 6pm
Artist Project Budget: $31,750
The Community Builders, Inc. is working with the Office of Public Art to enhance their new housing and
retail project, East Liberty Place South, by integrating works of art into the project. They wish to
commission an artist or artist team to enhance the experience of the building for residents, neighbors, and
visitors. The commission budget is $31,750
A. Project Overview and Goals
The Community Builders, Inc. is a national non-profit whose mission is to build and sustain strong
communities where people of all incomes can achieve their full potential. They have recently completed
construction on a mixed use residential/commercial building, East Liberty Place North, at 5819 Penn
Avenue. They have begun planning a new housing and retail project, East Liberty Place South, will be
located across the street from the recently completed East Liberty Place North location.
We are seeking an artist to integrate artwork into some of the architectural elements designed for the
building. There have been many sites identified as opportunities for artists. These include but are not
limited to:
Metal grates on the east faade of the building.
Four-story window at the east faade building entry.
Metal grates on the north faade of the building located in the parking area.
The main goal of the collaboration between the artist, Community Builders, Inc., and Strada, LLC is to
create a gateway to the neighborhood and create a welcoming and interesting streetscape and building
faade. The project will enhance the experience for pedestrians, drivers, residents, workers, and visitors.
The goal is for the artwork to be in place when construction in complete in July 2014.
To learn more about The Community Builders, Inc., visit: http://www.tcbinc.org/. To learn more about
Strada, LLC, visit: http://www.stradallc.com/
B. Budget and Contract
2
The artist will receive a design and project management, fabrication, and implementation fee of $31,750.
This total budget includes but is not limited to all design fees; project management; attending meetings;
travel; models or renderings of the project; fabrication; installation; and insurance. The artist will enter
into a contract with The Community Builders, Inc.
C. Selection Process
The Office of Public Art is facilitating the artist selection process for this project. Qualifications submitted
through this RFQ will be reviewed by and artist selection committee and invite a limited number of artists
for an interview and site visit.
During the interview, artists will discuss their past work, their ability to work on the project, and their
interest in this particular project. The artists who are asked to interview for the project will not be asked to
develop a model or proposal at this time. Artists who are being interviewed for the commission will have
travel expenses reimbursed up to $200.
It is the intention of the project for one artist or artist team to be selected to receive the commission.
Should the selection committee determine that none of the artists presented are the right match for the
commission, The Community Builders, Inc. may choose to select an artist via an invitational process.
D. Project Timeline
This timeline is subject to change.
May 2013: Circulation of Artist RFQ
May 29, 2013: Artist Information Meeting (Optional)
July 1, 2013: Postmark Deadline for RFQ Submissions
July 2013: Review of Qualifications by Selection Committee
August 2013: Artist Interviews and Finalist Selected
September 2013: Contract Completed
November 2013: Artist Concept Presented
December 2013: Artist Concept Approved
July 2014: Project Completion
E. Selection Criteria
This RFQ is open to artists who have the vision and skills required to complete an integrated art work.
Artists do not have to be local residents, but are encouraged to use local fabricators or materials when
possible. Artist teams, and teams that include individuals working in multiple fields, are eligible to apply.
Artists currently enrolled in degree programs, such as BFA or MFA, are not eligible to apply.
Artists from southwestern Pennsylvania who qualify are strongly encouraged to apply.
To evaluate the RFQs, the selection committee will take into consideration the quality of an artists past
work, experience working in the public realm, and experience collaborating with architects or other design
professionals.
F. Submission Process and Address
This application requires that artists submit examples of their work in digital format. All document file
types must be delivered in Word .doc or .docx format (you can use Google Documents or free word
processing programs such as Open Office to create a free .docx file) Do not send PDFs. All image types
must be JPG only, and video must be .avi or .mp4.
5
Appendix: Site Images
Project site, East Liberty

6

Conceptual rendering, view from Beatty Street.


Conceptual rendering, view from Penn Avenue looking east. East Liberty Place North is on the left,
East Liberty Place South is shown in concept on the right.


7


Conceptual rendering of East Liberty Place South showing two potential art sites: grate and window.





ABOUT THE PROJECT
East Liberty Place South is a multi-use building similar to East Liberty Place North. Leslie Ansley is
the artist who has been working with the team of architects and residents of East Liberty to design
an artwork for the new building.
The proposed artwork, Convergence, refects her conversations with residents and the community..
YOU ARE INVITED :
ARTIST PRESENTATION
by LESLIE ANSLEY
Community Room
East Liberty Place North
115 North Beatty Street
FREE SNACKS!
Questions?
Call Kate 412-391-2060 x233
See the artwork that has been designed for
East Liberty Place South. Meet the artist
and hear from the residents about what
the work means to them.
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 5:30 - 6:30 PM
What's New
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Builders Newsletter
Related Links
Rental Housing Development
TCB's Corporate Brochure
The Promise of Mixed-Income
Communities
TCB Facts & Figures
Established on June 4, 1964
Mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization
10,000 apartments owned, operated
and managed
Approximately 500 employees across
14 states and the District of Columbia
Featured Project
East Liberty Place North - Pittsburgh
HOME > What's New > Announcements > East Liberty Place North Strikes LEED Gold
East Liberty Place North Strikes LEED Gold
PITTSBURGH, PA - May 10, 2011: East Liberty Place North, a mixed-use apartment and
commercial/retail building at the gateway to the revitalizing East Liberty business quarter, has
achieved LEED for Homes Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The
building, developed by The Community Builders (TCB), is the first multi-family LEED building in
Pittsburgh to be so certified, the only one to involve new construction and the first mixed-use
building to achieve certification. LEED is the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design certification program. The building also achieved the U.S.
Department of Energy ENERGY STAR standard. To date only two other buildings have
achieved LEED for Homes certification in Pittsburgha single-family home, plus the Century
Building, which was certified a few weeks ago.
Attainment of LEED Gold also marks a first for TCB, which has set an internal corporate
standard of striving for silver-certifiable in new construction projects. Tamara Dudukovich,
director of real estate development for TCBs Mid-Atlantic region, explained that pursuing the
formal certification at the gold level was appropriate for East Liberty Place North due to the way
sustainability has been championed by the local neighborhood and civic stakeholders.
Residents of the 54 apartment units have embraced the green features of the building. "We held
a formal training session for our apartment residents in everything from environmentally friendly
cleaning products to how to best run their individual HVAC systems," said James Eby, TCBs
project manager for East Liberty Place. "The initial development of the 11,000 SF of commercial
space was to 'raw space'. How to promote the sustainability, energy efficiency and healthy
buildings character of LEED in the commercial space fit out and operations is what were
working on now. We totally finish the apartments ourselves in advance of occupancy by
residents, but commercial tenants all have their unique requirements for their spaces."
TCB sees a need to focus on education of commercial tenants, just as it has with its residents.
"We plan to deal with each of our commercial tenants in a way that gets them the information
they should have, explains the benefits of focusing on the kinds of things that LEED values, yet
recognizes that we are all busy people," said Mr. Eby.
If commercial tenants want to pursue their own LEED certification under LEED 2009 for
Commercial Interiors, TCB will assist them to get to the right consultants. Whether or not formal
certification is the route, the commercial lease contains provisions to promote the spirit of LEED.
"We include in the lease reasonable steps that we ask our tenants to take which should also
benefit them. These are things that really cost about the same, but produce a healthier indoor
environment and energy efficiency," said Mr. Eby. He added: We ask our tenants to focus on
things like water efficiency, use of Energy-Star rated appliances, recycling of waste in both
construction and operations, buying locally when appropriate, using Energy Star lighting, and
applying finishing products that maintain good indoor air quality, like low VOC paints and
'green' wall and floor coverings.
TCB walks the walk too in the owners fit out items, such as high efficiency, ENERGY STAR-
rated HVAC units, concrete floor decks with recycled ash content, locally purchased gypsum
drywall with recycled product, water-saving appliances in rest rooms and a focus on reducing
construction waste.
East Liberty Place North, 11,000 square feet of commercial space on the street level and 54
apartments above, is Phase 1 of the western gateway site to the East Liberty central business
district. It was completed in May of 2010. A second phase, called East Liberty Place South, is
now in front of funders for financing approval. Proposed is around 13,000 square feet of
commercial space with 60 apartments above. "We have set LEED Gold certification as our
minimum standard for that building," said Mr. Eby.
TCB has completed or preserved over 420,000 square feet of commercial space and 25,000
housing units throughout its Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest regions since 1964. TCB has
been long engaged in East Liberty dating back to the mid-1990s and through its participation in
drafting the 1999 plan, A Vision for East Liberty, and continuing through the redevelopment of
New Pennley Place (136 apartments), Pennley Commons (38 senior citizen apartments), Penn
Manor (55 apartments) and East Liberty Place North. TCB has located its Pittsburgh office
nearby on South Highland Avenue and is considering a move to the new building.
For additional information on LEED:
Clare Rosenberger, Associate, Residential Operations, U.S. Green Building Council
Tel: 202.552.1395 | Fax: 202.828.5110. crosenberger@usgbc.org
For additional information from the design/construction team:
Ernest Sota, President, Sota Construction Services
Tel: 412-766-4630 x 102. esota@sotacontruction.com
Dina Snider, Principal, Strada Architecture LLC
Tel: 412-263-3800 x 4803. dsnider@stradallc.com
Sam Klein, Green Program Manager, Magrann Associates
Tel: 888-624-7266 x 8771. samklein@magrann.com


Northeast Region: 617-695-9595
Midwest Region: 312-577-5555
Mid-Atlantic Region: 202-552-2500


Contact Us | Site Map | Terms & Copyright

What's New
Announcements
Articles
Builders Newsletter
Related Links
Rental Housing Development
TCB's Corporate Brochure
The Promise of Mixed-Income
Communities
TCB Facts & Figures
Established on June 4, 1964
Mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization
10,000 apartments owned, operated
and managed
Approximately 500 employees across
14 states and the District of Columbia
Featured Project
East Liberty Place North - Pittsburgh
HOME > What's New > Announcements > Ground Breaking Ceremony for East Liberty Place North
Ground Breaking Ceremony for East Liberty Place North
PITTSBURGH, PA - April 30, 2009: The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) and the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) celebrated the construction and financial closing
of East Liberty Place North on April 30, 2009. City of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, URA
Executive Director Rob Stephany, and local community leaders marked the occasion with
remarks followed by a Hard Hat Dig.
"5801 Penn Avenue (East Liberty Place North) will transform the gateway into East Liberty, fill a
long vacant parcel, and provide quality housing and retail options for residents. We are ecstatic
that construction has finally been able to start," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.
Left to Right: Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, TCB Mid-Atlantic Director of Development Tamara
Dudukovich, and President Alethea Sims of the Coalition of Organized Residents of East
Liberty
East Liberty Place North is a mixed-use redevelopment project on the north portion of the site of
the former East Mall high-rise at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Penn Circle West. The
project consists of 54 one and two bedroom apartments above 11,000 square feet of street-front
retail space. The apartments include a mix of income and rent-restricted units to serve low- and
moderate-income persons, including former residents of the high-rise, as well as market-rate
units.
Were excited to finally start construction on this signature project that continues East Libertys
residential and commercial revival, said Tamara Dudukovich, The Community Builders Mid-
Atlantic Director of Development. We [TCB] have been working with city and URA leadership,
East Liberty Development Inc. and community residents for more than a decade to realize this
project. During these challenging economic times, we are especially proud to have succeeded
in arranging significant public and private financing to permit us to move forward.
Construction of East Liberty Place North commenced in March after TCB closed on the $12.3
million financing package. Funding sources include private equity provided by Aegon USA
Realty Advisors through the sale of Low Income Housing Tax Credits and an equity bridge loan
and construction and permanent financing from Dollar Bank; deferred debt from the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and US
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and grants from Citizens Bank/Federal Home
Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and The Home Depot Foundation.
The design is the work of Strada Architecture LLC, and Stuart Associates Architects, Inc. and
emerged from a charrette process, informed by advice from former residents, community
organizers, city leaders, and other stakeholders. East Liberty Place North will be the first
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified project for TCB. It is being
built by Sota Construction and will be managed by TCB. The broker for the commercial space is
Gordon Real Estate.
The Community Builders, Inc. continues to plan and work toward the second phase of the
project, the redevelopment of 5800 Penn Avenue (the East Mall site to the South of Penn
Avenue). Current plans contemplate an additional 75 apartments or condominiums and
approximately 24,000 square feet of retail space.


What's New
Announcements
Articles
Builders Newsletter
Related Links
Rental Housing Development
TCB's Corporate Brochure
The Promise of Mixed-Income
Communities
TCB Facts & Figures
Established on June 4, 1964
Mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization
10,000 apartments owned, operated
and managed
Approximately 500 employees across
14 states and the District of Columbia
Featured Project
East Liberty Place North - Pittsburgh
HOME > What's New > Announcements > East Liberty Place North Featured in AHF Special Report
East Liberty Place North Featured in AHF Special Report
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - February 18, 2011: TCB's East Liberty Place North community in the
East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh is featured as a Project of Note in the HOUSING FOR
ALL AMERICANS special report recently published by Affordable Housing Finance. The report
can be accessed online at:
http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/frame.php?i=60594&p=&pn=&ver=flex
Affordable Housing Finance describes the report as "a comprehensive, high-impact report to
the 112th Congress and other key legislators nationwide about the low-income housing tax
credit program. HOUSING FOR ALL AMERICANS comes at a crucial time when Congress is
focused on economic recovery as well as cutting the federal budget."
East Liberty Place North, located on the 5800 block of Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh, is the
redevelopment of the north parcel of the former East Mall Apartments site on Penn Avenue in
the East Liberty neighborhood, a neighborhood that is coming back to life after thirty years of
decline and stagnation. This new, 54-unit mixed-income, mixed use, elevator building features
three floors of environmentally-friendly apartments above an 11,000 s.f. ground-floor
commercial space, management offices, and community activity areas. The residential and
commercial components are structured as separate condominiums.
The community features attractive, spacious, and well-appointed apartments that meet or
exceed local market-rate offerings. Building systems integrate green technologies such as
ENERGY STAR rated appliances and lighting fixtures, high-efficiency heat-pumps, and a focus
on air quality in the decisions on materials and finishes and ventilating where possible. The
building achieved LEED Gold certification and is the region's first LEED for HOMES multifamily
certified project and TCB's first LEED certified project.


Northeast Region: 617-695-9595
Midwest Region: 312-577-5555
Mid-Atlantic Region: 202-552-2500


Contact Us | Site Map | Terms & Copyright