Consensus Group names city, authorities in HUD complaint

At those levels, the complaint charges, “the vast majority of African American city and Hill District residents, unlike White Hill District and city residents, would not be able to occupy a single unit in this development.”
Eighty percent of the area median income is $39,100. That is almost twice the median household income for Blacks in Pittsburgh: $20,946.
Because of that, Consensus Group attorney Don Driscoll notes in the complaint that respondents may have violated three distinct components of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and 1964:
•Denying or making unavailable dwellings on the basis of race;
•Failing to affirmatively further fair housing; and
•excluding participation in a program or activity supported by federal funds on the basis of race.
“It excludes very low income people,” said Driscoll. “It excludes most black families in the city. It excludes all voucher holders.”
Tim McNulty, spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto, said the city has no problem with HUD looking at the development plan.
“We welcome a HUD review of the Lower Hill Development, our commitments to affordable housing, and our efforts toward reversing decades of disinvestment in Hill District neighborhoods,” he said.
“The CCIP resulted from historic collaboration among all stakeholders to establish minimum standards of commitments to affordable housing and neighborhood inclusion within the development, and we have made significant investments in a neighborhood-wide housing study to maximize opportunities for housing in the Hill District. That work will be aided by the efforts of the Affordable Housing Task Force, which will be studying housing offerings in high-opportunity areas citywide.”
Because some HUD monies, Community Development Block Grants, and HOME program funds have already been expended on the project, along with U.S. Department of transportation funding, and because the agency has jurisdiction over housing discrimination.
The department would only confirm the complaint had been received and is under review.
 
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