JAA-Riverview Affiliation Moves Forward

Contact: Tinsy Labrie

(o) 412-586-3290; (m) 412-596-1293

tlabrie@jaapgh.org

JAA-RIVERVIEW AFFILIATION MOVES FORWARD

PROJECT’S LARGE TAX CREDIT APPROVED

PITTSBURGH—April 22, 2019

An old neighbor is moving a little bit closer to the Jewish Association on Aging (JAA). The New Riverview (formerly Riverview Towers) will now fall under the umbrella of the JAA and receive a multi-million dollar tax credit.

According to JAA Chairman Andrew Stewart, “Boards of both Riverview and JAA agree that this new arrangement benefits both our organizations. The affiliation and tax credit from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will increase efficiency and improve the services for residents and constituents.”

 “This now adds affordable senior housing to our continuum of care,” says Jewish Association on Aging’s (JAA) President and CEO, Debbie Winn-Horvitz, who oversees JAA’s skilled nursing, personal care, memory care, physical therapy, and home and community services divisions.

“An affiliation with affordable independent senior housing allows us to service our shared constituents more efficiently. Dining and nutritional services have already been upgraded to the delight of Riverview residents,” says Winn-Horvitz.  “Improving quality of nutritional services for older adults is one small but important change that leads to better health and socialization.  We anticipate being able to improve the quality of life for residents of The New Riverview in many more ways now that the affiliation has occurred.”

The New Riverview has also finalized a deal to get $17 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) that will enable a top-to-bottom renovation of Riverview’s two apartment building residences on Brown’s Hill Road in Squirrel Hill.

Additional funding and support for the renovation project comes from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and its Housing Opportunity Fund. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has played a pivotal role by providing a guarantee for the project without which the project could not have moved forward.

The renovation reduces the number of units from 221 to 191 of which 151 will be affordable for residents whose income is 60% or less than the area median income. The remaining 40 will be lower-cost, market-rate units. A total of 42 units will be fully accessible.  

“We have been anticipating this renovation for quite some time and have our residents and staff primed for the work that is ahead,” according to Hanna Steiner, Executive Director of The New Riverview.  “Support from all our funders assures that The New Riverview will continue to serve this important segment of our community for many years to come and preserves an asset in a neighborhood where real estate and rents are constantly increasing.”

With the start of construction, project architects Rothschild Doyno and contractors Mistick Construction expect the work to take 16 months to complete.

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About the Jewish Association on Aging: JAA is a non-profit, senior healthcare organization that offers a broad spectrum of services to keep older adults in the Pittsburgh region active, safe, independent, and connected to their community. JAA provides these services to seniors of all faiths, backgrounds, and financial means.

About The New Riverview: The New Riverview serves the housing needs of older adults (62-years-of-age and older) in two apartment buildings overlooking the Monongahela River.  Partially subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Riverview accepts residents from all income levels and provides services that support residents’ social, cultural, physical, and psychological well-being, allowing them to remain independent for as long as possible.