1901 Sarah St · Parcel 0012K00111000000 — EaseScore.AI

Municipality

1901 Sarah St

Parcel ID 0012K00111000000View on the Allegheny County Real Estate portal (opens in a new tab; parcel ID copied for its search) ↗

South Side Flats · Zoning R1A-VH← New search

Illustrative 3D map, not a photo

Site layout · Townhouse row, 24 homes

Few barriersEase Score · Townhouse row

No major site constraints in our data.

New-home prices nearby: Strong7 sales, $304/sq ft

Measures barriers to building, not whether it's a good investment.

Lot size

38,080 sq ft

0.87 acre

Average slope

0% over 25%

Hazards

Combined sewer

in our data

Zoning

R1A-VH

Pittsburgh

Existing building: Owned by board of education (County assessment)

Best option: New single-family · 1 home (allowed by right), can't tell yet: demolition not priced (showing townhouse row)

Review required: lot size records disagree (County 73,442 sq ft vs mapped 38,080 sq ft). Confirm with a survey; the layout uses the mapped outline.

Feasibility study

Decision support only: not legal, financial, zoning or engineering advice.

Pro forma

Build quality

Standard infill (default) · $190/SF (range $165–$210/SF)

Clean modern finishes, efficient plan (default). Cost to build per finished sq ft, builder fee removed; site adders are separate lines. Cross-check: Published retail $200–$250/SF (with builder fee).

Source: Pittsburgh builder published ranges with the builder's fee removed (÷ about 1.20)

Published retail ranges from Pittsburgh builders (Incline Homes 2026; Shannon Staley & Sons 2026; Home Builder Digest). Builder fee (overhead and profit) of about 20% removed per NAHB 2024 (overhead 5.7% + profit 11.0% of price on construction at 64.4%). Assumption, edit me.

Does it pencil? · Townhouse row · to sell

Can't tell yet: demolition not pricedMissing inputsPublic land: price set by the agency

cost-assumptions.v0.2

From a $240K gap to a $3.81M profit, likely a $1.87M profit (before about $1091K of loan interest after completion)

Decision box: what can you pay for the land, and what must it sell for?

Returns & investment criteria (editable)

Target profit, % of cost%Min. contingency, % of hard%Max. loan-to-cost%

Demolition of the existing building is not priced yet (no local cost). Enter a demolition cost to see whether it pencils.

Sale price, land price, loan rate and loan-to-cost: . Budget lines: type your own number below.

Total cost

$7.1M–$9.77Mlikely $8.31M

Profit

−$240K to $3.81Mlikely $1.87M

before about $1091K of loan interest after completion

Margin

−3% to 46%likely 23%

Layout: the QuickFit layout, 24 homes × 1,428 sq ft finished (34,272 sq ft total). Site-fit layout (Townhouse row): 40,320 sq ft gross, 34,272 sq ft finished (livable), 1,428 sq ft per home. Nearby new homes sold: median 2,523 sq ft (7 sales).

Development budget

Hard costs · soft costs · financing

A budget, not an invoice: every line is prefilled from the sources shown, low–likely–high. Type your own number on any line; it is marked “Your number” and everything recomputes.

Badges: Pittsburgh builders (2026) published local source · Public data (dated) dataset · Assumption, edit me our assumption · Your number yours

Land

Land (purchase price) Public land: price set by the agency; agency and private vacant-land sales, 2019-02 to 2026-08Public land: price set by the agency. Likely from agency sales of vacant lots in 27 areas of the same market tier as South Side Flats (204 sales, 2019-04 to 2026-05): median $0.68 per sq ft × 38,080 sq ft = $25,894; the range runs from the 25th percentile of agency sales up to the private market (vacant-land sales in 32 areas of the same market tier as South Side Flats (227 sales, 2019-02 to 2026-08): median $7.53 per sq ft of lot × 38,080 sq ft = $286,742). · Public land: price set by the agency. From agency sales of vacant lots up to the private market

$3K–$287Klikely $26K$

Hard costs

Construction (base, standard foundation) Pittsburgh builders (2026)34,272 finished sq ft × $190/SF (Standard infill) · Standard infill range $165–$210/SF (Pittsburgh builders' published ranges with the builder's fee removed)

Sources compared ($/finished SF)

This estimate$165–$210
Pittsburgh builders (2026)$165–$210
Pittsburgh builders (2026), retail price including builder fee$200–$250
NAHB 2024, national, excludes builder fee$162
Local project benchmark$210–$416

Pittsburgh builders (2026): Published Pittsburgh builder ranges ÷ about 1.20 (builder overhead and profit removed).
Pittsburgh builders (2026), retail price including builder fee: Price to an owner, including the builder's fee: the cross-check.
NAHB 2024, national, excludes builder fee: National production builders, construction only; excludes builder overhead and profit.
Local project benchmark: All-in cost per home (land, soft costs, financing; mostly multifamily and affordable), so it sits above construction cost alone.

$5.66M–$7.2Mlikely $6.51M$

Street occupancy and staging (estimate) Assumption, edit meDebris from demolition has to be hauled away: 5 dumpster hauls for demolition debris × $594 (range $2,400–$3,500) · No documented range: shown as one number

$3K$

Water and sewer laterals (excavation, street opening, restoration) Assumption, edit me24 houses × $10,000 · No documented range: shown as one number

$240K

Soft costs

Architecture and design Assumption, edit me4% of hard cost, at least $8,000 · 2–8% of hard cost (Assumption, edit me)

$118K–$595Klikely $270K$

Contingency

Contingency (flat) Assumption, edit me10.0% of hard cost · 10% of hard cost; moves with the hard-cost range

$590K–$744Klikely $676K$

Financing and holding

Construction loan interest Assumption, edit meloan × average share drawn × annual rate × construction months ÷ 12 · Loan interest moves with the cost range (rate: an assumed construction-loan rate)

$236K–$326Klikely $277K

Closing, selling & carrying costs$250K–$383Klikely $310K

Building permit and fees City of Pittsburgh PLI 2026 fee schedule; Pittsburgh Water permitsCity PLI schedule: building $8,035 + electrical $2,061 + mechanical $2,061 + certificate of occupancy $3,120 + Pittsburgh Water permit and connection $14,640 (per $1,000 of value) · 0.4% of hard cost; moves with the hard-cost range	$26K–$33Klikely $30K$
Structural, civil, survey, insurance and closing Assumption, edit mecivil/grading $8,000 + survey $2,500 + builder's risk and liability 1.5% ($101,325) + title and closing 1.5% of land ($390) · 1.1–2.3% of hard cost (Assumption, edit me)	$65K–$171Klikely $112K$
Lender fees Assumption, edit me1.0% of the loan · Share of the loan; moves with the cost range	$54K–$74Klikely $63K
Property taxes while approving and building County assessment × millage (County Treasurer)monthly holding cost × months from purchase to finished building · Monthly tax × months; one number	$105K
Selling costs at sale (seller's transfer tax)Taken from the sale price, not part of the total below	$261,000

Sales commission: not included (often 5–6% if listed with an agent)Default $0 (cost-to-build basis). A number you enter is taken from the sale price with the selling costs, not part of the total below.

$0$

Total development cost

Sources compared ($ per home, all-in)

This estimate$296K–$407K
Local project benchmark$300K–$594K

Local project benchmark: Mostly new multifamily and affordable; all-in cost per home.

$7.1M–$9.77Mlikely $8.31M

Per home · per finished sq ft

$346,421 · $243

Costs are the cost to build and exclude builder fees, general contractor markup and sales commissions. If you hire a builder, add their fee (often 15–25%). Soft costs, fees and taxes follow published local schedules where available and labeled assumptions elsewhere. Confirm with local bids.

Sale value: Median of 7 new-construction sales within 1 mi (2023-10-06 to 2026-06-04) (Allegheny County sales (valid new-construction comps), 7 sales within 1 mi, 2023-10-06 to 2026-06-04). Land: Public land: price set by the agency; agency and private vacant-land sales, 2019-02 to 2026-08.

Public land: price set by the agency. Likely from agency sales of vacant lots in 27 areas of the same market tier as South Side Flats (204 sales, 2019-04 to 2026-05): median $0.68 per sq ft × 38,080 sq ft = $25,894; the range runs from the 25th percentile of agency sales up to the private market (vacant-land sales in 32 areas of the same market tier as South Side Flats (227 sales, 2019-02 to 2026-08): median $7.53 per sq ft of lot × 38,080 sq ft = $286,742).

Size: Site-fit layout (Townhouse row): 40,320 sq ft gross, 34,272 sq ft finished (livable), 1,428 sq ft per home.

Public land: price set by the agency. Ask the agency (URA, City or Land Bank) for its disposition price; enter it to replace the estimate.

Your numbers stay in your browser: this site does not collect scenarios.

How we got these numbers

Can't tell yet: it costs about $8,310,000, but demolition of the existing building is not priced yet (no local cost). Enter a demolition cost to see whether it pencils.

Ranges come from each input's documented range; the “likely” figure uses the defaults. Rent to the nearest $50, sale price to $5,000 a home, cost lines to $1,000, totals to $10,000 — the math uses the rounded numbers. The profit (or gap), margin and yield ranges combine the cost and value ranges as independent uncertainties: each side moves by the square root of (value change² + cost change²), so a low value is not paired with a high cost.

This layout is small for new construction nearby: 1,428 vs 2,523 sq ft typical per home. The value assumes a home this size sells for the same price per sq ft.

New-construction comps: 7 sales within 1 mi · median $742,500 · $304/SF · 2,523 sq ft · built 2013–2019 · sold 2023-10-06 to 2026-06-04

Search: 4 within 0.25 mi → 5 within 0.5 mi → 7 within 1 mi.

Rule: sales in the same neighborhood (or municipality) when it has 5+; otherwise sales from areas in the same market tier or lower (never a richer market), else the nearest by distance; widen until 8, keep the nearest 12; drop sales beyond 1.5× the middle-half spread of $/SF. Size: too few sales within ±40% of the planned 1,428 sq ft, so all sizes were used. Result: 7 sales from the same South Side Flats area (7 sales there), in South Side Flats; median $304/SF, middle half $270–$311/SF.

Older homes nearby sold for a median $179 per sq ft (59 sales within 0.25 mi). That is a floor, not the value of a new home.

The sales (7 of 7) · sale-revenue confidence Moderate

Comparable new-construction sales, block-level addresses
Block	Sold	Price	Sq ft	$/SF	Mi
1800 block of Wharton St	2026-03-27	$580,000	1,864	$311	0.18
1–99 block of S 19th St	2025-11-09	$850,000	2,796	$304	0.21
1800 block of Merriman Way	2023-10-11	$742,500	3,120	$238	0.22
1–99 block of S 19th St	2026-06-04	$800,000	3,460	$231	0.23
1100 block of Muriel St	2024-07-24	$760,000	2,523	$301	0.48
2600 block of Larkins Way	2024-05-10	$515,000	1,600	$322	0.56
1–99 block of S 27th St	2023-10-06	$472,500	1,520	$311	0.58

The most similar sales are 1800 block of Wharton St, 1–99 block of S 19th St and 1800 block of Merriman Way at $238–$311/SF. Projected pricing of $385,000–$445,000 per home ($270–$311/SF, the middle half of all 7 sales; the study uses the median, $304/SF, × 1,428 sq ft) reflects new construction (every sale was built within 10 years of its sale) and a smaller home than the typical sale (1,428 vs 2,523 sq ft), priced at the same $/SF. Parking is not in the County sale records, so it is not adjusted.

Shown: the 7 most similar of the 7 sales in the value set, attached (townhouse or rowhouse) homes first, then nearest, then most recent sale. The median and middle half below use all 7. Addresses show the block only; the PDF report lists full street addresses.

Cost: land $26,000 + construction $6,512,000 + street occupancy and staging $3,000 + water and sewer laterals $240,000 + design and engineering $270,000 + contingency $676,000 + loan interest $277,000 + closing, permit and carrying costs $310,000 = $8,310,000 total.
Value: $304/SF × 1,428 sq ft = $434,120 per home, rounded to $435,000; × 24 homes = $10,440,000 in sales.
Profit: $10,440,000 sales − $8,310,000 total cost − $261,000 selling costs = $1,869,000 profit (22.5% of cost).

Land: $3K–$287Klikely $26K Public land: price set by the agency; agency and private vacant-land sales, 2019-02 to 2026-08($25,894, rounded to $26,000)
Value: $258–$350/SF (likely $304) Allegheny County sales (valid new-construction comps), 7 sales within 1 mi, 2023-10-06 to 2026-06-04 ±15% (Assumption, edit me: fewer than 8 comps listed for percentiles); $304/SF × 1,428 sq ft = $434,120 per home, rounded to $435,000

Not included yet (cost unknown, so the total is low by these amounts)

Not included: Demolition of the existing building — cost not set yet. A building stands on the lot.

Type a cost on its budget line below, or under “Change the plan”, to include it.

Your estimate: $346,421 per home. Recent Allegheny County projects: $300,000 to $594,000 per home (6 projects, mostly new multifamily and affordable; all-in cost).

Which projects?

Hazelwood apartment rehab (Rising Tide Partners, nonprofit): Gut rehab, small multifamily, 9 homes, $2,700,000 ($300,000 per home). Source: WESA, Feb 2025.
Mosaic Apartments: New 5-story, affordable, 48 homes, $28,500,000 ($594,000 per home). Source: NEXTpittsburgh.
Hill Top Villas, Fairywood (Tryko Partners): New, 1-BR affordable, 48 homes, $22,900,000 ($477,000 per home). Source: PublicSource.
Hazelwood Green 46-unit building: New, affordable, 46 homes, $24,400,000 ($530,000 per home). Source: PublicSource.
Lytle Street, Hazelwood Green (TREK): New, 50 homes, $24,000,000 ($480,000 per home). Source: NEXTpittsburgh.
First & Market (Beacon Communities): Historic office-to-residential, 93 homes, $43,000,000 ($462,000 per home). Source: NEXTpittsburgh / PublicSource.

Subsidy needed per affordable for-sale home (Main + Elm, ELDI partner estimate): $200,000 to $300,000.

National average construction cost: $162/SF (NAHB Cost of Constructing a Home 2024 (national reference, not a Pittsburgh default)).

Every assumption, its range and source

Homes (units)	24	Site-fit scheme (QuickFit)
Finished (livable) floor area	34,272 sq ft (1,428 per home)	Site-fit scheme (QuickFit) — Floor area × the solver's livable share (placeholder)
Land price	$26,000range $3,000–$287,000	Public land: price set by the agency — Public land: price set by the agency. Likely from agency sales of vacant lots in 27 areas of the same market tier as South Side Flats (204 sales, 2019-04 to 2026-05): median $0.68 per sq ft × 38,080 sq ft = $25,894; the range runs from the 25th percentile of agency sales up to the private market (vacant-land sales in 32 areas of the same market tier as South Side Flats (227 sales, 2019-02 to 2026-08): median $7.53 per sq ft of lot × 38,080 sq ft = $286,742).
Build quality	Standard infill — Clean modern finishes, efficient plan (default)	Pittsburgh builder published ranges with the builder's fee removed (÷ about 1.20)
Construction cost per finished sq ft	$190/SFrange $165–$210/SF	Pittsburgh builder published ranges with the builder's fee removed (÷ about 1.20) — Published retail ranges from Pittsburgh builders (Incline Homes 2026; Shannon Staley & Sons 2026; Home Builder Digest). Builder fee (overhead and profit) of about 20% removed per NAHB 2024 (overhead 5.7% + profit 11.0% of price on construction at 64.4%). Assumption, edit me.
Hillside stepping (under the footprint)	2 steps, 2.5 ft drop, 1% slope	1 m lidar under the site-fit footprint — Priced by the slope premium for the slope under the building footprint
Demolition of the existing building	not set	Awaiting local cost data
Dumpsters and DOMI street-occupancy permit (no on-site staging)	$3,000	Awaiting local cost data — DOMI fee schedule applies inside the City of Pittsburgh.
Water and sewer laterals (excavation, street opening, restoration)	$10,000 per houserange $5,000–$15,000	Assumption; confirm with a contractor — COST-MODEL-LOCKED §B. Separate from the utility permit and connection fees.
Architecture and design (sealed plans)	4% of hard cost, at least $8,000range 2%–8%	Assumption, edit me — 4% of hard cost, at least $8,000. Custom architects 6–10% (Thompson Communities); PA sealed plans add $3–12k; NAHB average A&E $6,480 (production).
City of Pittsburgh building permit (PLI 2026 fee schedule)	$6 per $1,000 of value + fees ($29,917)	City of Pittsburgh PLI 2026 fee schedule; Pittsburgh Water permits — Building $6.00 per $1,000 of construction value (min $130, max $8,000) + state training fund $4.50 + record retention $5 + technology fee ($15, or $25 above $10,000); electrical and mechanical permits priced the same way on 5% of value each (assumption); certificate of occupancy $130; Pittsburgh Water residential permit $40 + connection and meter $570 = $610 (no tapping fees since 2022).
Structural engineer	not needed (slope under the building footprint over 15%, or a steep site)range $5,000–$15,000	Assumption, edit me (Thompson Communities) — Slope under the building footprint over 15%, or a steep site
Civil / grading and stormwater plan	$8,000range $5,000–$15,000	Assumption, edit me (Pittsburgh site-plan guide; Thompson Communities) — Disturbed area 5,000 sq ft or more (footprint squared up + 10 ft work zone + 600 sq ft drive and walk, capped at the lot), or a steep site
Boundary and topographic survey	$2,500range $1,500–$5,000	Assumption, edit me (local builder's actual cost; Thompson Communities)
Builder's risk and liability insurance	1.5% of hard costrange 1%–2%	Assumption, edit me
Title, legal and closing on the land purchase	1.5% of the land pricerange 1%–2%	Assumption, edit me
Structural, civil, survey, insurance, title and closing	1.66%	Assumption, edit me — civil/grading $8,000 + survey $2,500 + builder's risk and liability 1.5% ($101,325) + title and closing 1.5% of land ($390)
General contractor fee (only when trade-level costs are entered)	not appliedrange 12%–18%	Assumption — editable — Not applied. The tiers are the cost to build and exclude builder fees and general contractor markup; if you hire a builder, add their fee (often 15–25%).
Contingency (new build)	10%	Incline Homes (10%)
Months to approval	3	Ease Score months to a permit
Months to build	12	Assumption — editable
Property taxes while holding, monthly	$7,023	County assessment × 27.307 mills — 2026 millage: City 9.67 + parks 0.50 + library 0.25 + Pittsburgh Public Schools 10.457 + Allegheny County 6.43
Construction loan rate (interest-only on the drawn balance)	8%range 7.25%–8.75%	Prime 7% (2026-09-21) + 1.0 point (assumption, edit me) — Latest bank prime rate in our data (Federal Reserve, FRED DPRIME) on 2026-09-21, plus 1.0 point for a construction loan (lenders typically charge prime + 0.5–2.0).
Construction loan as a share of cost (LTC)	80%	Assumption — editable
Average share of the loan drawn while building	55%	Assumption — editable — Average balance drawn over the build (COST-MODEL-LOCKED §E).
Lender fees as a share of the loan	1%	Assumption — editable
Sale price per finished sq ft	$304/SF	Allegheny County sales (valid new-construction comps) — Median of 7 new-construction sales within 1 mi (2023-10-06 to 2026-06-04)
Sales commissions (excluded: cost-to-build basis)	0%	Assumption — editable — Sales commissions are excluded; add them if you sell through a broker.
Seller's share of the realty transfer tax	2.5% (half of 5%)	Realty transfer tax: City of Pittsburgh 5% total (1% state + 3% City + 1% school); City in Baldwin-Whitehall SD 4.5%; elsewhere the parcel's municipal rate (2% when not loaded) — Pennsylvania custom splits the transfer tax evenly; the rate comes from our transfer tax data.
Months to sell after completion	3	Assumption — editable
Bedrooms per home (rent)	3	Assumption, edit me — Default mix by option: single-family, duplex and townhouse 3 bedrooms; 3–4 unit building 2; ADU 1
Monthly rent per home	$2,350	HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent FY2026, ZIP 15203 (benchmark, not listings) — 3-bedroom home: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent FY2026, ZIP 15203 (benchmark, not listings)

Decision support. Verify with your lender, accountant, and the permitting office.

Design & engineering

REQUIRED
Accessibility design (Fair Housing Act / code) (Architect; reviewed at permit)
24 new units (Fair Housing Act covers buildings of 4+ units).
Sources: 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(3)(C); PA UCC / ICC A117.1; Project answers
REQUIRED
Architectural drawings (Architect / designer)
Permits need drawings; sealed drawings above certain scope (confirm threshold).
Sources: Project answers
REQUIRED
Energy code compliance (Designer; reviewed at permit)
New conditioned space.
Sources: PA UCC (34 Pa. Code Ch. 403) — IECC as adopted; Project answers
REQUIRED
Fire alarm / sprinkler design and permit (Fire protection engineer; PLI / fire marshal)
24-unit building falls under the commercial building code.
Sources: Project answers
REQUIRED
Geotechnical report (Geotechnical professional (signed, sealed, insured; PE not required in the City); reviewed by City Planning at site plan review and by PLI at permit)
24-unit building falls under the IBC: a geotechnical investigation is required unless the building official waives it (IBC §1803.2).
ⓘ Report must be signed and sealed by a credentialed soil, civil, or geotechnical engineer or professional geologist, with liability insurance; it includes borings, a site plan with overlays and steep-slope contours, a grading plan, and recommendations. City Planning checks it at site plan review; PLI reviews it again at permit.
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §906.04.B.2, §906.05.B.2–3, §915.02.A.1.c; City Planning 'Geotechnical Reports' handout (Dec 2024); IBC §1803.2 / IRC R401.4 (PA UCC); Project answers
LIKELY
Civil site plan (Civil engineer)
24 units.
Sources: Project answers
LIKELY
Structural engineer (Structural engineer)
Multifamily building.
Sources: Project answers
LIKELY
Utility upgrades (electric service, transformer) (Duquesne Light / utility)
24 units: expect a service upgrade; utility timelines can be long.
Sources: Project answers
NOT NEEDED
Mine subsidence investigation & insurance (Engineer; PA Mine Subsidence Insurance)
No mapped mine workings under the lot.
Sources: 52 P.S. §1406.1 et seq. (Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act) — confirm; City of Pittsburgh Undermined Areas
NOT NEEDED
Retaining wall design (Structural/geotechnical engineer)
Lot is fairly flat.
Sources: IRC R404.4 (as adopted in PA UCC) — confirm; USGS 3DEP elevation (10 m)

Zoning

REQUIRED
Parking & loading compliance (Zoning review)
Off-street parking required. R1A-VH minimum: 1 space(s) per unit → 24 for 24 unit(s).
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §914.02.A (Schedule A); §914.04 reductions; Pittsburgh Zoning Code
REQUIRED
Record of zoning approval / zoning application (Zoning (Pittsburgh: OneStopPGH))
Zoned R1A-VH. New buildings, additions, and changes of use need zoning approval.
Sources: City of Pittsburgh Zoning Districts
REQUIRED
Registered Community Organization meeting (City Planning / RCO)
Project needs a hearing and has 24 units: a development activities meeting with South Side Community Council at least 30 days before the first hearing.
Sources: Pittsburgh Code §178E.08(c); City of Pittsburgh Zoning Overlays
NOT NEEDED
Variance (Zoning Board of Adjustment (hearing))
The studied layout (a row of 24 townhouses) meets the district's setbacks, height, lot-size and parking rules.
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §922.09 (variances) — confirm; district standards per zoning_rules citation; QuickFit site-fit check against the zoning rules
POSSIBLE
Contextual setback determination (Zoning Administrator)
R1A-VH lets the front setback follow neighboring buildings (§925.06). Useful when the 5 ft standard doesn't fit; comparing neighbors needs building footprints; confirm with the Zoning Administrator.
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §925.06; Pittsburgh Zoning Code
POSSIBLE
Paper street vacation (DOMI right-of-way vacation)
Unopened-street data isn't loaded yet.
ASK
Lot consolidation / subdivision / lot line adjustment (Planning Commission / municipality)
Will you combine or split lots?
Sources: Project answers
NOT NEEDED
Certificate of Appropriateness (historic) (Historic Review Commission)
Not in a City historic district.
Sources: Pittsburgh Code Ch. 1101 — confirm; City of Pittsburgh Historic Districts
NOT NEEDED
Conditional use approval (City Council (Pittsburgh))
a multi-unit building isn't a conditional use in R1A-VH.
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §911.02 Use Table; §922.06; Pittsburgh Zoning Code
NOT NEEDED
Historic review delays (Historic Review Commission)
Not in a City historic district.
Sources: Pittsburgh Code Ch. 1101 — confirm; City of Pittsburgh Historic Districts
NOT NEEDED
Inclusionary zoning compliance (City Planning)
Not in the Inclusionary Housing Overlay.
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §907.04.A.5–6; City of Pittsburgh Zoning Overlays
NOT NEEDED
Special exception (Zoning Board of Adjustment)
a multi-unit building isn't allowed in R1A-VH at all (see Variance), so a special exception doesn't apply.
Sources: Pittsburgh Zoning Code §911.02 Use Table; §922.07; Pittsburgh Zoning Code

Permits

REQUIRED
Building permit (PLI (Pittsburgh) / municipal building official)
Construction work.
Sources: PA UCC (34 Pa. Code Ch. 403); Project answers
LIKELY
Asbestos survey + Health Dept notification (Certified inspector; Allegheny County Health Dept)
Demolition/renovation notifications apply regardless of age; survey scope depends on age.
Sources: ACHD Article XXI; 40 CFR 61 Subpart M (NESHAP); Allegheny County Property Assessments
LIKELY
Electrical permit (PLI / inspection agency)
New or altered wiring.
Sources: Project answers
LIKELY
Erosion & sediment control plan (Allegheny County Conservation District; PA DEP)
Lot is 38,080 sq ft; new construction commonly disturbs 5,000+ sq ft.
Sources: 25 Pa. Code Ch. 102; Parcel boundary
LIKELY
Mechanical (HVAC) permit (PLI / municipality)
New or replaced heating/cooling.
Sources: Project answers
LIKELY
Plumbing permit (Allegheny County Health Dept)
New or altered plumbing.
Sources: ACHD Article XV (Plumbing) — confirm; Project answers
LIKELY
Sewer/water tap-in & connection fees (Water / sewer authority)
Pittsburgh Water: $40 permit + $570 connection and meter; no tapping fees since 2022.
Sources: Project answers
LIKELY
Stormwater management plan (Water & sewer authority / municipality)
New roof and paving add impervious area. The City requires a stormwater plan when a project disturbs 5,000+ sq ft or adds 500+ sq ft of impervious surface.
Sources: Project answers
POSSIBLE
Grading / earth disturbance permit (PLI / municipality)
Depends on cut/fill volume: a land operations permit is needed at 50 cu yd of grading or a 5 ft cut on a 25% slope (Pittsburgh §1003.03).
POSSIBLE
Sewage planning (new connections/lots) (Municipality / sewer authority; PA DEP)
New units or lots add sewer load; confirm the local planning rule.
Sources: PA Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537), 35 P.S. §750.1 et seq.; Project answers
POSSIBLE
Street opening permit (DOMI)
Only if utility connections cross the street.
ASK
Curb cut / driveway permit (DOMI)
Will you add or change a driveway?
Sources: Project answers
ASK
Demolition permit (PLI / municipality)
There's a building on the lot today. Will it be demolished?
Sources: Project answers
ASK
Utility disconnects (Each utility)
There's a building on the lot today. Will it be demolished? (Utilities must be cut before any demolition.)
Sources: Project answers

Can you build here?

Yes, a townhouse row is allowed by right and fits the lot's size and setback rules (2-4 months to a building permit, review time only).

Does it pencil?

Yes: it costs about $8,310,000 to build and would be worth about $10,179,000, a $1,869,000 profit (23%).

$10,179,000 value minus $8,310,000 cost = $1,869,000 left over.

This layout is small for new construction nearby: 1,428 vs 2,523 sq ft typical per home. The value assumes a home this size sells for the same price per sq ft. Partial estimate. Not included yet: demolition of the existing building.

What's in the way?

The layout is small next to new homes that sold nearby, so the sale value is uncertain.

What next?

Get the variance from Zoning Board of Adjustment (hearing).
Get the lot consolidation / subdivision / lot line adjustment from Planning Commission / municipality.
Get local quotes for the cost items the estimate leaves out.

Time to a permit

2-4 months Estimate

Building-permit review only (plus any zoning hearing this option needs); zoning review, site-plan, geotech, PWSA and DOMI steps are not included.

Building-permit part: the City's review target for one round (City target, not measured). Each revision request adds time.

44 building permits waiting for City review (as of 2026-09-21).

building permit: City target 21 calendar days per review round (City target, not measured)
subdivision: ~2 mo (heuristic)

Planning badge Priority watch · 55 pts

Separate from the Ease Score. default — awaiting planning input.

✓ Publicly owned (city, URA, land bank) (20 pts): Owned by Pittsburgh Public Schools (County owner records, as in the Planner).
✓ Within 400 m of frequent transit (15 pts): Nearest frequent stop 87 m.
? In a planning-designated target area or corridor (20 pts): Awaiting planning input: no target-area layer yet.
✓ Missing-middle (2-4 units, townhouses) by right (15 pts): By right: townhouse row.
? Affordable units proposed (15 pts): Project input: not entered.
✓ In a HUD Qualified Census Tract (10 pts): In a HUD Qualified Census Tract.
– Vacant or blighted and tax-delinquent (5 pts): Not both vacant/blighted and tax-delinquent.
– Project matches the block's pattern (street precedent) (10 pts): 24 units; the block's buildings have at most 2.

What would unlock it

One policy change at a time, rerun through the same lot-fit test.

Contextual front setback applied0 points · +1 unit by right

Scoring config v0.2.

All parcel facts (raw data, for checking)

{
  "site": {
    "sources": "County building footprints & centerlines; City centerlines (paper streets); county landslide inventory; USGS NHD; USFWS NWI; PA DEP Land Recycling; EPA ACRES",
    "building_count": 1,
    "streams_within_100ft": false,
    "wetlands_within_100ft": false
  },
  "mines": {
    "caveat": "Mine maps are incomplete; absence of a mapped mine is not proof that no mine exists.",
    "sources": {
      "mine_map": "PA Mine Map Atlas (PASDA / PA DEP)",
      "mined_out": "PA DEP Digitized Mined Out Areas, Coal Underground (DMO MOA)",
      "coal_bearing": "PA DEP Mine Subsidence Insurance risk map (MSI Risk Confirmed / Possible)",
      "city_undermined": "City of Pittsburgh Undermined Areas (UM-O)"
    },
    "msi_risk": null,
    "in_mined_out": false,
    "mine_map_pdf": "https://www.pasda.psu.edu/minemaps/Map_Repository/DEP_California/Abandoned_Mines/0004_Becks_Run_Walton/PDF_Images/0004_UMM_800_001.pdf",
    "mine_map_url": "https://www.minemaps.psu.edu/?LocalSheetID=0004_UMM_800_001",
    "mine_map_sheet": "0004_UMM_800_001",
    "in_coal_bearing": false,
    "mined_out_share": 0,
    "dist_mined_out_ft": null,
    "in_city_undermined": false,
    "mines_within_500ft": null,
    "seams_within_500ft": null
  },
  "parid": "0012K00111000000",
  "slope": {
    "cells": 39,
    "source": "USGS 3DEP elevation",
    "mean_pct": 2.3,
    "steep_share": 0,
    "resolution_m": 10
  },
  "tract": {
    "name": "1702",
    "geoid": "42003170200",
    "acs_year": 2024,
    "population": 3732,
    "median_rent": 1522,
    "vacancy_rate": 14.65,
    "median_income": 67348,
    "rent_burden_30_pct": 59.86,
    "rent_burden_50_pct": 23.94
  },
  "zoning": {
    "code": "R1A-VH",
    "type": "SINGLE-UNIT ATTACHED RESIDENTIAL VERY HIGH DENSITY",
    "rules": {
      "notes": "No minimum lot size row in the VH table. The current §903.03 table has one minimum lot size and no per-unit lot area row. The 2024 DCP draft struck the per-unit rows, and the section history cites Ord. 10-2025 (eff. 5-7-2025). Side setback shown is the minimum interior side yard; minimum exterior (street) side yard is 5 ft. Interior side setback is zero on a party-wall side for attached units (§903.03.E.2). Single-Unit Attached Residential is P. Ch. 916 Residential Compatibility Standards can add height/setback limits near residential/H districts. Parking minimum is 1 per unit for single-unit detached/two/three/multi-unit (0 for single-unit attached); a maximum also applies. §914.02.A Schedule A. Contextual side (min 3 ft), rear and height are also allowed (§925.06.C, §925.06.I, §925.07.D). The code sets no FAR or lot coverage in residential districts. Ch. 915/906 overlays can add limits.",
      "max_far": null,
      "citation": "§903.03.E.2 site development standards table (current text; history cites Ord. 10-2025); §911.02 Use Table; §914.02.A Parking Schedule A; §925.06.B",
      "two_unit": "N",
      "confidence": "confirmed",
      "multi_unit": "N",
      "three_unit": "N",
      "district_name": "Single-Unit Attached Residential, Very High Density",
      "max_height_ft": 40,
      "parking_per_unit": 1,
      "min_lot_area_sqft": null,
      "max_height_stories": 3,
      "min_rear_setback_ft": 15,
      "min_side_setback_ft": 5,
      "max_lot_coverage_pct": null,
      "min_front_setback_ft": 5,
      "single_unit_detached": "P",
      "contextual_front_setback": true,
      "min_lot_area_per_unit_sqft": null
    },
    "source": "City of Pittsburgh Zoning Districts"
  },
  "context": {
    "sources": "County municipal boundaries; City neighborhoods & street trees; City-owned properties; County tax liens",
    "municipality": "PITTSBURGH",
    "neighborhood": "South Side Flats",
    "public_owner": null,
    "tax_delinquent": false,
    "delinquency_band": null,
    "street_trees_15m": 0
  },
  "hud_fmr": {
    "br0": 1430,
    "br1": 1530,
    "br2": 1850,
    "br3": 2370,
    "br4": 2550,
    "zip": "15203",
    "year": 2026,
    "level": "small area (ZIP)",
    "source": "HUD Fair Market Rents"
  },
  "permits": {
    "recent": [
      {
        "date": "2025-09-16",
        "type": "ELECTRICAL",
        "work": "ADDITION / ALTERATION"
      },
      {
        "date": "2025-08-26",
        "type": "Fire Alarm Permit",
        "work": "ADDITION / ALTERATION"
      },
      {
        "date": "2025-06-23",
        "type": "MECHANICAL",
        "work": "ADDITION / ALTERATION"
      },
      {
        "date": "2025-05-08",
        "type": "Building & Development Application",
        "work": "Existing (alteration/addition)"
      },
      {
        "date": "2024-09-05",
        "type": "ELECTRICAL",
        "work": "ADDITION / ALTERATION"
      }
    ],
    "count_5y": 9
  },
  "schools": {
    "district": "City of Pittsburgh",
    "pps_high": "Brashear",
    "pps_middle": "SOUTH HILLS 6-8",
    "district_match": true,
    "pps_elementary": "Phillips K-5",
    "district_assessment": "Pittsburgh",
    "near_district_line_m": null
  },
  "transit": {
    "source": "Pittsburgh Regional Transit GTFS (weekday 7-9am)",
    "nearest_any_stop_m": 87,
    "frequent_stops_800m": 27,
    "nearest_frequent_stop_m": 87
  },
  "centroid": {
    "lat": 40.427922,
    "lon": -79.97846
  },
  "overlays": [
    {
      "attrs": {
        "in_city": "Y",
        "authority": "PWSA/ALCOSAN",
        "sewershed": "M-16"
      },
      "label": "M-16",
      "layer": "combined_sewer",
      "share": 1
    },
    {
      "attrs": {
        "code": "RCO - South Side Community Council",
        "criteria": "RCO - South Side Community Council"
      },
      "label": "RCO - South Side Community Council",
      "layer": "zoning_overlay_pgh",
      "share": 1
    }
  ],
  "slope_1m": {
    "cells": 3537,
    "source": "USGS 3DEP 1 m lidar DEM (PA_WesternPA_2019)",
    "max_pct": 16.2,
    "p95_pct": 8,
    "mean_pct": 3.8,
    "steep_25": false,
    "resolution_m": 1,
    "share_over_15": 0.001,
    "share_over_25": 0,
    "share_over_40": 0
  },
  "condemned": false,
  "utilities": {
    "sewer": {
      "served": null,
      "source": "No public sewer service-area layer for Allegheny County (searched WPRDC, PASDA, PA DEP, county GIS); sewersheds are drainage basins, not service areas",
      "status": "unknown"
    },
    "water": {
      "pwsid": "5020038",
      "served": true,
      "source": "PA DEP Public Water Supplier Service Areas (eMapPA layer 302)",
      "system": "PITTSBURGH W AND S AUTH",
      "owner_type": "Authority",
      "dist_to_service_area_m": 0
    },
    "caveat": "Service-area maps are approximate and show where a public system serves, not whether this lot has a connection. Confirm with the utility.",
    "computed_at": "2026-09-26T21:31:35.117178+00:00"
  },
  "assessment": {
    "use": "OWNED BY BOARD OF EDUCATION",
    "as_of": "2026-09-01",
    "class": "GOVERNMENT",
    "source": "Allegheny County Property Assessments",
    "address": "1901 SARAH ST",
    "stories": null,
    "fmv_land": 1024700,
    "municode": "117",
    "abatement": false,
    "condition": null,
    "fmv_total": 3086300,
    "homestead": null,
    "owner_type": "CORPORATION",
    "year_built": null,
    "fmv_building": 2061600,
    "municipality": "17th Ward - PITTSBURGH",
    "is_pittsburgh": true,
    "lot_area_sqft": 73442,
    "last_sale_date": "1891-04-17",
    "last_sale_price": 0,
    "living_area_sqft": null
  },
  "muni_rules": {
    "confidence": "confirmed",
    "source_url": "https://www.pgh2o.com/residential-commercial-customers/buying-or-selling-property/dye-testing https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/Business-Development/City-Planning/Zoning/Planning-Applications-and-Processes/Property-Certification https://localwebdesigncompany.com/pennsylvanialandtitles/wp-content/uploads/sites/224/2024/03/Allegheny-County-Dye-Test-Occupancy-Info-Rev.-2024.pdf",
    "pos_details": "no resale occupancy inspection; City Property Certification (zoning/historic/violations paperwork) required at every sale or refinance closing",
    "municipality": "Pittsburgh City",
    "sewer_lateral_at_sale": "Y",
    "sewer_lateral_details": "conditional: PWSA dye test before sale only in separate sanitary sewer areas (Evidence of Compliance application decides); valid 3 yrs; no CCTV",
    "point_of_sale_inspection": "N",
    "occupancy_permit_at_resale": "N"
  },
  "shares_wall": false,
  "property_tax": {
    "year": 2026,
    "parts": [
      {
        "name": "Allegheny County",
        "mills": 6.43,
        "rate_type": "general",
        "jurisdiction_type": "county"
      },
      {
        "name": "City Of Pittsburgh",
        "mills": 9.67,
        "rate_type": "general",
        "jurisdiction_type": "municipality"
      },
      {
        "name": "PITTSBURGH",
        "mills": 10.25,
        "rate_type": "general",
        "jurisdiction_type": "school_district"
      }
    ],
    "source": "Allegheny County Treasurer 2026 millage listings",
    "split_rate": false,
    "general_mills": 26.35
  },
  "transfer_tax": {
    "parts": [
      {
        "rate_pct": 1,
        "confidence": "confirmed",
        "jurisdiction": "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania",
        "jurisdiction_type": "state"
      },
      {
        "rate_pct": 3,
        "confidence": "confirmed",
        "jurisdiction": "Pittsburgh City",
        "jurisdiction_type": "municipality"
      },
      {
        "rate_pct": 1,
        "confidence": "confirmed",
        "jurisdiction": "Pittsburgh School District (in Pittsburgh City)",
        "jurisdiction_type": "school_district"
      }
    ],
    "source": "PA Dept. of Revenue; Allegheny County local realty transfer tax rates",
    "total_pct": 5
  },
  "flood_evidence": {
    "sources": "FEMA NFHL; OpenFEMA NFIP redacted policies & claims (aggregated by tract); Pittsburgh 311; PWSA/3RWW combined sewersheds",
    "sfha_share": 0,
    "x500_share": 0,
    "floodway_share": 0,
    "in_combined_sewer": true,
    "tract_nfip_policies": 343,
    "flooding_311_5y_tract": 118,
    "tract_nfip_claims_10y": 0,
    "tract_nfip_median_premium": 1106
  },
  "street_frontage": "street",
  "flood_1pct_share": 0,
  "lot_area_sqft_gis": 38080,
  "tract_designations": {
    "dda": false,
    "qct": true,
    "oz_source_url": "https://www.cdfifund.gov/opportunity-zones",
    "dda_source_url": "https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/qct.html",
    "qct_source_url": "https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/qct.html",
    "opportunity_zone": false
  },
  "env_sites_within_500ft": 0,
  "building_footprint_sqft": 17515,
  "landslides_within_300ft": 0,
  "red_bed_landslides_300ft": 0,
  "streams_or_wetlands_within_100ft": false
}

1901 Sarah St

Pro forma

Decision box: what can you pay for the land, and what must it sell for?

Development budget

How we got these numbers

Change the plan

The layout in QuickFit 3D

Cost assumptions

Process checklist

Due diligence

Score details

Ease Score factors · Townhouse row

Best options and street precedent

Highest and best use (screening)

Project questions

Design & engineering

Zoning

Permits

Construction

Closeout

Can you build here?

Does it pencil?

What's in the way?

What next?

Time to a permit

Planning badge Priority watch · 55 pts

What would unlock it

Sales comps

Rent evidence

Street precedent

General buildability

Project questions

Design & engineering

Zoning

Permits

Construction

Closeout

Can you build here?

Does it pencil?

What's in the way?

What next?

Time to a permit

Planning badge Priority watch · 55 pts

What would unlock it

Sales comps

Rent evidence

Street precedent