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By Juliet Martinez, managing editor
While the universities build high-tech facilities on Hazelwood Green, the neighborhood is developing “above the tracks” as well. Here is a brief rundown of what the projects are, who is building them and when they are expected to be finished.
Community land trust homes
The City of Bridges Community Land Trust is a nonprofit that promotes affordable homeownership. When homeowners buy a community land trust home, they own the home but not the land. When they sell the home, they make a profit but certain restrictions apply that keep the home permanently affordable for the next buyer. If the owner doesn’t sell, the home can be passed down to their heirs like any other home.
The nonprofit has been in the process of building two duplexes on Chatsworth Avenue for quite a while, but the homes are close to being complete now. Casandra Armour, the organization’s communications and marketing manager, wrote in a Dec. 17 email that those homes are all on the market now for $150,000 each.
The homes are energy efficient, all-electric and have solar panels. They are built to be affordable to heat, cool and maintain.
“Unfortunately, there have been some issues with burglary at the worksite but we're working hard to replace the stolen items and get these one-of-a-kind homes move-in ready as soon as possible,” Ms. Armour wrote.
City of Bridges Community Land Trust is also building a quadplex on Hazelwood Avenue between Chatsworth and Second avenues. It should be ready this spring. Ms. Armour wrote that these are also brand-new, all-electric homes. She described the two first-floor units as fully accessible for disabled people. She did not specify whether that meant hearing, vision or mobility disabilities and was not available to clarify before press time.
First-time homebuyers interested in these units should visit cityofbridgesclt.org/apply now because they are expected to sell quickly, Ms. Armour said.
In related news, City of Bridges Community Land Trust will be beginning renovations on 225 Winston St., 226 Trowbridge St., 237 Glen Caladh St., and 4821 Monongahela St. in Hazelwood in 2025.
Equity One-Stop Resource Center
The former Church of the Good Shepherd is in the process of becoming the Equity One-Stop Resource Center. This project aims to offer office and training space for neighborhood organizations.
The Hazelwood nonprofit People of Origin Rightfully Loved and Wanted, known by its acronym POORLAW, bought the historic church at the corner of Second and Johnston avenues in 2022 to convert it to a community center with an attached affordable rental unit.
Lutual Love is the cofounder of POORLAW subsidiary Greater Hazelwood Coalition Against Racial and Economic Disparities, known as GH-CARED. He said on a Dec. 6 call that the heating, cooling and ventilation renovations were about half complete and the rental unit is occupied. But the project has hit some speed bumps.
Asbestos was discovered throughout the former church building. It had to be removed, and lead pipes had to be replaced as well. POORLAW received a $55,000 grant from the county for this work, he said.
The sanctuary, kitchen and two bathrooms still need to be brought up to code. Two more bathrooms will have to be added and the whole building made wheelchair accessible. The sanctuary was vandalized and some of the stained-glass windows were broken and had to be replaced. He did not say when the work is expected to be complete.
Gladstone Residences
Hazelwood Initiative Inc bought the former Gladstone School in 2016. The goal was to convert it to mixed-income housing. After overcoming years of roadblocks, it is finally close to completion.
“We are now in the final stages of construction and expect to receive the necessary inspection approvals for occupancy within the next week,” wrote Juan Powell, senior vice president of The Community Builders, a nonprofit housing developer. His Dec. 18 email explained that even with the certificate of occupancy, the building still requires some “finishing touches” before tenants can move in. He expects it to be ready by March.
The leasing process has also seen some challenges, he wrote. These included a shortage of electrical equipment needed to supply power to the building. With the power supply in place and permitting on track, The Community Builders is now resuming leasing activities.
“There has been strong interest in the building, and we expect a smooth and timely leasing process,” he wrote.
For more information on Gladstone Residences leasing, visit gladstoneresidences.com, call 412-200-7966 or email gladstone@tcbinc.org.
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