The Oakland neighborhood just got a little more colorful and a lot more welcoming. On Tuesday, local officials, developers, and community members gathered to cut the ribbon on Mosaic Apartments, a newly opened 48-unit affordable housing complex intentionally designed to support LGBTQ+ seniors.
Located on Forbes Avenue near the heart of Pittsburgh’s university corridor, Mosaic marks the first LGBTQ-inclusive senior housing community in Western Pennsylvania and only the second in the state.
The brightly tiled exterior of the five-story building is eye-catching and symbolic. Meant to evoke the fluidity and diversity of queer identities, the mosaic facade, created in collaboration with local artists, mirrors the community spirit within.
“It takes years and years… it takes a mosaic of people,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, noting the decade-long collaboration that brought the $28.5 million project to life. “A commitment to equity. Land donations, tax credits, lending partners, and community voice — all of it matters.”
Mosaic was developed by Presbyterian SeniorCare Network in partnership with Affirmative Investments, Inc. and supported by public and private entities. Funding came from nine major sources, including low-income housing tax credits from the PA Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Huntington National Bank, U.S. Bank, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. Land for the development was donated via 75-year no-rent leases from UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh, and Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
Far from the quiet, isolating stereotype of senior living, Mosaic was co-designed with LGBTQ+ elders through focus groups and listening sessions.
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“This is not a bingo kind of community,” said Jim Pieffer, President and CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, in a tour earlier this year with QBurgh’s Nebby Nick. “We’re creating something contemporary, fun, and community-centered. The goal is to build the kind of place they said they wanted, not just what we thought they needed.”
The project began as a vision shared by longtime Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ advocate Kathi Boyle, who brought the idea of affirming senior housing to Pieffer. Pieffer took the idea and led its development over several years, ultimately bringing Mosaic Apartments to fruition.
New resident Dennis Downey spoke about how excited he is to be moving in. “This move will be a huge win for me,” Mr. Downey said. “The impact this will have on my physical health, mental health and safety are obvious wins. However, the sense of community that I’ve struggled connecting with over the years will be the biggest win for me.”
Each floor of the building includes shared community space to foster connection. A “sky lounge” on the fifth floor offers sweeping views of Oakland and the Monongahela River. The complex is pet-friendly with its own dog-washing station, fully ADA-accessible, and designed to support aging in place, including 24/7 emergency maintenance and future on-site wellness programming tailored to LGBTQ+ health needs.
The building also functions as a living archive. Through an open call, queer artists from Pittsburgh were commissioned to create permanent mural installations, celebrating the city’s LGBTQ+ history across every floor. Daniel Rothschild, a lead architect with Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, said the design process itself was rooted in research around the historical challenges LGBTQ+ seniors have faced, especially in housing.
“Almost half of LGBTQ+ elders surveyed in past decades experienced housing discrimination,” Rothschild said. “We wanted this building to say: You belong here. We see you.”
The community even named the building through a public contest, choosing “Mosaic” to represent both the building’s design and its purpose.
For many of the leaders who spoke at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting, including Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor, the location itself holds powerful symbolism.
“This is a gateway to Oakland,” said O’Connor. “Thousands of people drive by this spot every day. And now, they’ll see that Pittsburgh is a city that welcomes everyone.”
With the building now at full occupancy, the Mosaic Apartments represent a growing movement for affirming, queer-inclusive aging.
Editor’s note: Thank you to Kathi Boyle, Jim Pieffer, and the entire team for bringing the Mosaic Apartments to life.