City Cast Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Has 20K Vacant Homes…and a Housing Shortage

Listen Later

Pittsburgh's lost more than half its population since our peak in 1950, and our city has more than 20,000 vacant homes. How do we also have a housing crisis? Public Source's Charlie Wolfson joins host Megan Harris to explain why so many houses are sitting empty, what (if anything) the city can do about it, and why our neighbors in Cleveland are doing a much better job turning abandoned houses into affordable homes.

Notes and references from today’s show:

  • How does Pittsburgh have 20,000 vacant homes — and a housing shortage? (Public Source)
  • Where does Cleveland clobber Pittsburgh? Its land bank. (Public Source)
  • 'A really steep lift': Pittsburghers in their 20s and 30s find home ownership less and less attainable (Public Source)

    • Learn more about the sponsors of this January 26th episode:

    Fulton Commons

    The Westmoreland Museum

    The Ascent by Christopher Walker

    Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania

    Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

    Want more Pittsburgh news? 

    • Sign up for our daily morning newsletter.
    • We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh.
    • Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.

      • Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      City Cast PittsburghBy City Cast
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5

      4.5

      117 ratings

      More shows like City Cast Pittsburgh

      View all
      Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

      Pop Culture Happy Hour

      11,578 Listeners

      Up First from NPR by NPR

      Up First from NPR

      56,932 Listeners

      It's Been a Minute by NPR

      It's Been a Minute

      9,108 Listeners

      Keep It! by Keep It!

      Keep It!

      9,774 Listeners

      Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out by Mike Birbiglia

      Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

      4,652 Listeners

      SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

      SmartLess

      58,448 Listeners

      IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson by Higher Ground

      IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

      13,084 Listeners

      City Cast Chicago by City Cast

      City Cast Chicago

      441 Listeners

      City Cast Denver by City Cast

      City Cast Denver

      503 Listeners

      City Cast Salt Lake by City Cast

      City Cast Salt Lake

      271 Listeners

      Vibe Check by Zach Stafford, Saeed Jones

      Vibe Check

      1,786 Listeners

      City Cast DC by City Cast

      City Cast DC

      158 Listeners

      All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN Podcasts

      All There Is with Anderson Cooper

      10,542 Listeners

      City Cast Madison by City Cast

      City Cast Madison

      83 Listeners

      City Cast Portland by City Cast

      City Cast Portland

      209 Listeners

      Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

      Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

      10,952 Listeners

      City Cast Houston by City Cast

      City Cast Houston

      205 Listeners

      Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers by Seth Meyers and Josh Meyers

      Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers

      2,892 Listeners

      City Cast Boise by City Cast

      City Cast Boise

      118 Listeners

      City Cast Las Vegas by City Cast

      City Cast Las Vegas

      136 Listeners

      Wild Card with Rachel Martin by NPR

      Wild Card with Rachel Martin

      1,087 Listeners

      Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) by Team Coco & Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson

      Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)

      3,588 Listeners

      City Cast Philly by City Cast

      City Cast Philly

      79 Listeners

      City Cast Nashville by City Cast

      City Cast Nashville

      61 Listeners

      Flightless Bird by David Farrier

      Flightless Bird

      3,200 Listeners

      City Cast Austin by City Cast

      City Cast Austin

      51 Listeners

      Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

      Good Hang with Amy Poehler

      12,829 Listeners

      City Cast Twin Cities by City Cast

      City Cast Twin Cities

      14 Listeners