Newly Renovated Home Seeks Buyer

ACTION, city see 1920s bungalow as ‘gateway’ to the library neighborhood

By Stacy Alderman
The Tube City Almanac
November 12, 2025
Posted in: Announcements

This house at 1500 Versailles Ave. is designed to serve as a “gateway” to the library district, says an ACTION-Housing official. (Submitted photo courtesy ACTION-Housing)

A local non-profit is looking for the right owner who wants to call a newly renovated home their own.

ACTION-Housing has rehabilitated a 1920s bungalow-style house on Versailles Avenue, one block from Carnegie Library of McKeesport. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is listed at $180,000, but buyer assistance is available.

“We wanted to invest in the cultural district of McKeesport,” said Joseph Costa, ACTION senior development associate. “So we looked at several homes, some of which were on demo lists, and some where people were just looking to downsize.”

ACTION purchased the home in 2022. The agency, based in Pittsburgh, provides a variety of home repair and weatherization services for low- and moderate-income homeowners and provides related support services to communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Dramatic before and after photos show the transformation of the 1920s-era home.  (Submitted photo courtesy ACTION-Housing)

Over the past 40 years, it has developed more than 4,500 units of housing in Allegheny County.

Costa said ACTION worked closely with one of the organization’s trusted contractors to maintain the integrity of the original 100-year-old architecture while making the home ready for a modern family.

“The contractor went above and beyond,” Costa said. “He preserved some of the original woodwork and unique features and even created lattice work for the front porch.”

Delays in funding drew the project out for several years, he said, but work is now complete. Located on a corner lot, the house is move-in ready for someone looking for a fresh start.

The property includes a two-car garage and a large covered porch. Original features include built-in bookcases, French doors, and a stained-glass window. Costa said ACTION-Housing views the home as a “gateway to the neighborhood” and wanted to demonstrate the potential of the city’s library district.

Before and after photos of the interior. (Submitted photo courtesy ACTION-Housing)

“It sets the bar for other nearby houses,” he said, pointing out that another house is being rehabilitated by a different organization across from Twin Rivers Elementary School. “These homes are within walking distance of the Carnegie Library and the McKeesport Little Theater.”

Costa said ACTION is working with a real-estate agent, community groups and the city itself to drum up interest in the property and overcome any stigma.

“Revitalization, while slow, has started, and this house could be the perfect opportunity for someone looking to make a difference and get involved with a community that could use some positivity,” he said.

An ideal buyer, Costa said, might be someone who works at UPMC McKeesport hospital, McKeesport Area School District or another nearby employer and wants to move from renting to becoming a homeowner.

Since the home is subsidized, Costa said any potential buyers must meet certain requirements before they can be approved for a mortgage. First, there are income restrictions, namely that the buyer’s income cannot be above 100% of the area’s median income. This number is on a type of sliding scale, so it will vary depending on the size of the family, he said.

If the details are intimidating, Costa said, ACTION is ready to help, and he encouraged anyone with questions to reach out for more thorough explanations.

Buyers also must have a minimum credit score of at least 600. “This has been our biggest hurdle,” Costa said. “But there are ways to work on improving that score.”

Lastly, whoever ends up purchasing the home will have to agree to complete an approved homebuyer education course, which helps them prepare themselves for mortgage payments and house maintenance. 

Said Costa: “This is the easiest part.”

The property will be subject to a so-called “soft second mortgage” from Allegheny County, which reduces the amount paid by the buyer for the property and carries no additional payments as long as the buyers agree to reside in the property for a certain amount of time.

The amount of subsidy provided is dependent on the buyer’s household annual income level, Costa said.

Anyone interested in 1500 Versailles Ave. can contact Neighborhood Reality Services at (412) 241-4700 or Joe Costa at (412) 281-2102 ext. 2053 or email JCosta@actionhousing.org

Stacy Alderman is a White Oak-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in Heather Christie's Love Notes, THEMA Literary, inScribe Journal, Minerva Rising, and several others. She is the recipient of the Children of Steel fiction award.

Originally published November 12, 2025.

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