The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh partnered with Action-Housing to renovate its historic branch on Centre Avenue in the Hill District where it provides single-room housing for low-income men.
Once a hub for sports, recreation and cultural activities in the Hill District, the branch was the first YMCA in the city established for the black community. Under the new plan, the YMCA-Action Housing partnership has created a new nonprofit, Centre Avenue Housing Inc., that owns and operates the facility.
The renovation, completed in 2021, with a cost of $7 million. ACTION Housing and the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh relied on A. Martini’s expertise with RACP and CITF funding in order to obtain these financial supports for the project. Our team had achieved 27% MWDBE participation.
The YMCA offered room rentals at the facility since it opened in 1923 and in 1988 restructured it for low-income tenants. Renovations to the four-story building included updates to the kitchen, sleeping rooms, bathrooms, lounge, meeting rooms and offices, all done while occupied. The gym has also been renovated, it includes a boxing ring which “back in the day” hosted pro and semi pro matches.
