Housing Trends Are Changing
What’s shaping real estate development in today’s market.
Where housing is built influences how people travel, where they work and how communities grow. That connection between development, transportation and infrastructure was a recurring theme at SMPS Pittsburgh’s September luncheon on Multi-Family Development & Affordable Housing.
Wooster & Associates joined fellow A/E/C professionals on September 16 for a discussion featuring Shawn Fox, President & CEO of Oxford Development Company, and Richard Stephenson, Executive Director of the Allegheny County Housing Authority.
Development Decisions Are Connected
Fox shared his perspective on Pittsburgh’s private development market, including changing demand, higher development costs and the importance of making projects work more efficiently.
One example was Oxford’s 224-unit Station 28 project, where existing nearby parking capacity is being used rather than adding parking within the development — helping reduce project costs.
For Wooster, it was a great example of how transportation, parking, site design and development economics increasingly intersect.
Finding New Solutions to Housing Challenges
Stephenson discussed a different side of the housing equation, including ACHA’s use of scattered-site housing and programs that can create pathways toward homeownership.
His comments reinforced that successful housing is about more than adding units. Access to schools, employment, transportation and everyday services can play an important role in where and how communities develop.
Connecting the Pieces
Housing, transportation, parking, site access and infrastructure aren’t separate conversations. Each can influence whether a project works for its residents, developers and surrounding community.
That’s also where collaboration across the A/E/C and development communities matters — bringing different perspectives together to find practical solutions to increasingly complex development challenges.
Wooster & Associates appreciated the opportunity to join SMPS Pittsburgh for the conversation and looks forward to continuing it.
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