Penn Lincoln Apartments is a mixed-use and affordable housing project led by developer ACTION-Housing Inc. and Hosanna House, a nonprofit charitable organization focused on providing communities in the Pittsburgh region with free education and health services. The project’s name is an homage to the former Art Deco Penn-Lincoln Hotel, a six-story hotel built in the 1920s. The hotel was abandoned in the mid-1990s, leading to its deterioration, and ultimately its demolition in 2014. The site, located at the intersection of Penn Avenue/Lincoln Highway and Center Street, sits at the center of the Historic Downtown business district of the borough of Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburgh’s city limits. Penn Lincoln Apartments will include 41 affordable housing units, featuring one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts, a community room, and 10,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space. Inspired by the brickwork of the former hotel, a deeply layered, red brick facade will help establish a contemporary building that thoughtfully responds to its neighborhood context.

As part of ACTION-Housing’s mission, the residences will offer families and individuals earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income dignified and secure housing. Each unit features large windows, providing ample daylight and views of downtown Wilkinsburg. Interior bridges on the second and third floors span the multi-story, daylight-filled entry lobby, connecting the east and west sides of the residential building while providing expansive views of the surrounding neighborhood context. Below the second floor, ground-level retail- and restaurant-ready spaces are lined with floor-to-ceiling windows. Secure bicycle storage for tenants will be accessible through the residential lobby. As a nod to the historic Penn-Lincoln Hotel, the building will also feature a large Penn Lincoln sign on the roof and will use materials salvaged from the former hotel throughout the interiors.

The Wilkinsburg neighborhood is one of considerable diversity. Penn Lincoln Apartments’ design and the inclusion of retail and restaurant spaces respond to the ongoing community revitalization efforts. The project is adjacent to Hosanna House’s facilities, providing tenants with the opportunity to engage in educational services, workforce development, and health and wellness programs, further supporting tenant and community needs.