Eco-Friendly (And Affordable), These Hazelwood Townhouses are Designed for First-Time Homeowners
The three-bedroom homes were constructed the City of Bridges Community Land Trust, a nonprofit focused on offering solutions to common barriers to home ownership.
PHOTOS BY JORDAN GRAY, PREP SOLUTIONS
While Pittsburgh remains the country’s most affordable housing market, that metric is used only to compare our city to other metro areas; home ownership is still difficult to achieve for many residents.
Yes, local realtors have high hopes for 2026, but there’s also a crop of programs out there designed to help get buyers into their first home, and that are aimed at making the market more accessible for a wider range of potential home owners.
In Hazelwood, the City of Bridges Community Land Trust is one such organization focused on offering solutions to the most common barriers to home ownership. The nonprofit creates permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for those who may be otherwise priced out of the market.
“We are a limited equity, pay-it-forward model that sells newly constructed and newly renovated homes to income-qualified households at a lower-than-market price,” says Julie Nigro, director of real estate for the land trust.
The trust constructs or renovates homes while retaining ownership of the land; it utilizes a 99-year ground lease for every homeowner. This ensures that the homes remain affordable, even when they change hands in future sales.
“Homeowners enjoy long-term security and wealth creation, while ensuring some of that wealth stays in the community with the home,” Nigro says.
The trust has constructed two townhomes, located at 4824 and 4826 Chatsworth Ave. in Hazelwood, that are waiting for their first owners.
Priced as $150,000, the two roomy townhomes each contain three bedrooms, a full bathroom and a powder room in 1,500 square feet of living space. Built in 2025, the homes are bright, open — and ready for the first owners to add their personal touches.
The “shotgun-style” layout of the first floor plans open into a long living space with designated living and dining areas, plus a spacious kitchen at the rear of the homes.
A generous kitchen island with a breakfast bar creates a spot for gathering, and front and back porches on each end of the living space are geared towards communal life with neighbors in Hazelwood.
The homes were built not just with affordability in mind, but with sustainability.
“These units are seeking a Living Building Certification from the International Living Future Institute. These would be some of the first affordable, single-family homes in the country to attain this level of certification,” says Nigro.
The program has a set of goals these homes are designed to meet, including a 50% reduction in water usage, 70% reduction in net energy consumption and 80% of construction waste diverted from landfills during construction.
Energy Star appliances, smart insulation choices, rain barrels and eco-friendly materials support this goal, and help homeowners save money while protecting the environment.
“One of my favorite features about these homes is the solar panels that are installed on the roofs,” says Nigro. “These solar panels will help offset the energy bills for these all-electric homes to make sure they are not only affordable to purchase, but also affordable to live in.”
The home’s three bedrooms, which share a full bathroom, are all nicely sized with ample windows to bring in light. The main living area and hallway utilize sustainable vinyl flooring, while the bedrooms feel cozy with new wall-to-wall carpet. A utility room on the second floor provides storage as well as hookups for a washer and dryer.
Realtor Josh Verbantes of Duck Hollow Realty says he’s excited for the chance to market such a unique project, as well as the potential of future projects by the land trust.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for a first-time buyer to feel supported in buying their first home, a safe and newly constructed property right near the city,” says Verbantes. “I’ve seen first-hand how home ownership literally changes people’s lives, and it’s an honor to be part of a project that makes the process accessible and affordable for so many folks.”
Verbantes notes the new builds offer peace of mind, which is less common in a city known for its older housing stock; first-time home buyers won’t have to think about upgrades and unexpected repairs, which can be another common barrier to home ownership.
The state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems in the homes also are designed to reduce allergens and improve interior air quality.
“For me, a life-long Pittsburgher with allergies, I am all about the cutting-edge filtration used in the HVAC systems for these properties,” says Verbantes.
Why buy in Hazelwood? The community has seen significant investment in recent years, including community-driven efforts for programming on Hazelwood Green, as well as other housing projects such as the Hazelwood Initiative and The Community Builders.
Those at City of Bridges Community Land Trust hope these safe, well-built homes will contribute to a revitalized sense of pride in one of Pittsburgh’s traditional riverfront communities.
Nigro says that due to the affordability measures put in place for these homes, there are specific requirements for buyers; she encourages those who are interested to reach out and begin a conversation.
“Similar to a traditional market-rate home, buyers must get a prequalification from one of our bank partners for mortgage financing,” she says.
The first step is to visit the website and check out the qualifications. If the homes don’t meet a buyer’s needs, the Land Trust works across the city to help residents achieve their dream of home ownership.
“In addition to these homes on Chatsworth Avenue, we have multiple other homes around the city, too,” Nigro says.
