Pittsburgh City Council
City to extend tax break for affordable senior housing.
Written by Amy Whipple
The Department of Finance requested to extend three cooperative agreements with NCSC/USA Housing Development Corporation.
The Louisiana-based company owns three affordable high-rise apartment buildings for seniors which are located in Perry South, Brighton Heights and Lawrenceville. The 20-year agreements with the city, school district and county have allowed the NCSC/USA to make set payments in lieu of property taxes. It wants to extend its agreements for another 10 years.
The annual payment for each building ($145-$155) is calculated as if paying taxes on a property assessed between $15,000-16,000. The housing authority has a similar agreement with the city for the properties it owns.
The three buildings are actually assessed by the county at a combined $14.45 million, which would garner the city nearly $140,000 if taxed at the market value.
According to Director of Finance Jen Gula at the Feb. 11 meeting with members of council, not extending the agreements would result in zero income from the property owner since the buildings are operated as nonprofits and exempt from taxes.
Gula said that the city’s solicitor and the school district have agreed to the payment plan. She did not know the county’s stance.
Council Member Deb Gross of Highland Park, who represents Lawrenceville, expressed concern that the request did not include details about the original or extended agreements and that approving the legislation would give the department the ability to negotiate terms without council oversight.
The original contract does not appear to be available through the city’s two public portals.
Council voted to move the legislation forward.
Connections to this story
- Governments:
- Pittsburgh City Council
- Sources:
- Resolution 2026-0074 — authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Finance, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, to enter into…Resolution 2026-0075 — authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Finance, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, to enter into…Resolution 2026-0076 — authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Finance, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, to enter into…
More surveys
Have your say on more of the stories we’re covering.
City of PittsburghPittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh police have quietly used cell phone surveillance software for seven years.
For seven years, Pittsburgh police have contracted with a service that offers continuous surveillance.
Pittsburgh City Council
Short-term rental regulations move forward after mass shooting at Airbnb on New Year's Day.
Short-term rentals are a problem in the city.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
Philips K-5 to pilot 'walking classroom' program where students learn while moving.
Instead of carpet time, notebook doodles and other things associated with sitting through lessons, some Philips K-5 students will learn while walking.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
School board votes 8-0 to reconsider controversial plan to close nine schools after November defeat.
The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Board of Directors was not ready for the Future-Ready Plan, which proposed the closure of nine school buildings, when it was voted down 6-3 in November.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors
City of PittsburghPittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
UPMC donates $10 million for new ambulances, with state adding $1 million grant.
The Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Service (EMS) fleet is getting a $10 million shot in the arm from UPMC and another $1 million grant from the state.
Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh still $1 million short on unpaid water bills from 2025.
Pittsburgh is still up to its knees in water bills.
Pittsburgh City Council
PNC Foundation gives $2 million for snow equipment after 37 plows broke down in one night.
The PNC Foundation wants to help prevent another night of 37 snowplow breakdowns.
City of PittsburghPittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
Council interviews Pittsburgh’s next chief of police.
As national unrest over mass deportations is increasing and Pittsburghers are in the streets expressing their views against them, Pittsburgh City Council took the next step in installing a new chief…
Allegheny County Council
The county executive may be limited to three terms total.
Council would like voters to close a potential loophole in the home rule charter.
Allegheny County Council
County may codify a lack of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
As federal immigration enforcement continues, some members of Allegheny County Council want to help protect vulnerable residents.
Allegheny County Council
Limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and terms for the County Executive.
Note: while the Allegheny County Council held its scheduled meeting on Jan. 27, it did not vote on any items due to the snowstorm. Members also did not discuss the bills, all of which were held or…
Pittsburgh City Council
The North Shore may have a lot of new signs.
If you’re looking for a sign for what to do on the North Shore, you may soon see a plethora of them.
Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh ponders plans to spend $20 million every year on new vehicles.
The continuing problems of broken down trucks and emergency vehicles may come to a slow roll in 2027.
City of PittsburghPittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh City Council
Council calls on state to increase its funding for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape.
City Council has called for the Pennsylvania legislature to increase funding for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) and rape crisis centers across the state in future budget cycles.
Pittsburgh City Council
City may institute a dashboard to keep track of the housing stock.
For all the talk about housing development, no one knows exactly how many units exist or are available in the city.