Pittsburgh approves zoning reforms as home sales decline and affordable housing projects advance

Pittsburgh City Council approved a major zoning reform package aimed at increasing housing supply, according to The Business Journals. The changes, also reported by TribLIVE.com, are designed to make it easier to build more affordable housing by relaxing restrictions on density, accessory dwelling units, and mixed-use development. The reforms come as statewide home sales in Pennsylvania fell 10% and prices retreated, MyChesCo reported. The typical home value in Pittsburgh was $228,201 in September 2026, up 0.2% from a year earlier, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Meanwhile, a development team broke ground on a new condo project in the Strip District, The Business Journals reported, signaling continued interest in urban residential growth. In another housing-related development, the long-closed Beltzhoover school is scheduled to reopen as affordable senior apartments, 90.5 WESA reported, reflecting a broader effort to repurpose underused public buildings for residential use.