A MEETING OF THE MINDS—Addison Terrace developer Keith B. Key listens to Community Empowerment Association Founder Rashad Byrdsong’s thoughts on Black contractor inclusion.
When the Addison Terrace Public Housing Project was dedicated in 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt was there to commemorate it as Pittsburgh’s first public housing community.
Though none of the speakers at the April 22 groundbreaking for the $28-million first phase of the community’s redevelopment were there 73 years ago, many had a history with Addison.
Pittsburgh Housing Authority Chief Community Affairs Officer Michelle Jackson, who served as mistress of ceremonies for the groundbreaking, said her PhD stood for Pittsburgh’s Hill District and told of sneaking over to Addison to visit her boyfriend. Those she introduced conveyed similar remembrances as they praised the project. Keith B. Key, the developer for the joint Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority project, grew up in the Hill.
“I was born and raised over on Summers Drive, and there are probably only about 10 of us left,” he said. “I’m pleased to be a part of this. A lot of good will comes from this.”
City Councilman and housing authority Board Chair Rev. Ricky Burgess called the project visionary and was pleased to see it is being done on a grand scale. The first phase will provide 186 units of market rate and subsidized housing. Another 206 units will go up in phase two, and the third phase comprised of 140 units will go off-site and connect the hilltop community to Centre Avenue. The projected budget for the entire redevelopment is $160 million.
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