East Liberty Development

What East Liberty Development does

East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) is a 501(c)(3) community development corporation founded in 1979-1980 and headquartered at 211 N. Whitfield Street in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood. The organization operates a PAFI model (Plan, Advocate, Facilitate, Invest) to revitalize East Liberty, Larimer, Garfield, and surrounding East End communities, convening residents, public agencies, funders, and developers around neighborhood stabilization and wealth-building goals. Its operating footprint covers Pittsburgh primarily, with no global presence.

ELDI's core offerings center on affordable housing development, community planning, and small business support. The organization has acquired 200+ distressed properties, co-developed 355 mixed-income units through the Cornerstone Village Apartments (Choice Neighborhoods Initiative), rehabilitated 16 units at Enright Court for homeownership at or below 60% AMI, and delivered 26 homes through a $7 million New Markets Tax Credit project (18 affordable at ≤80% AMI). It operates the Village Collaborative RCO, the Catapult: Start-up to Storefront business incubator, and has spun off Catapult Greater Pittsburgh (wealth-building/financial counseling), Main + Elm Development Company (real estate development), and Rising Tide Partners (land recycling).

ELDI's revenue model is grant- and donation-driven, with capital stack relying on federal programs (Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, NMTC allocation, FHLBank Affordable Housing Program), City of Pittsburgh agencies (URA, HACP), private banks (First Commonwealth, Dollar Bank, U.S. Bank), and intermediaries such as Neighborhood Allies and LISC. Properties are sold to income-qualified buyers at subsidized prices with deed restrictions ensuring permanent affordability. Headcount is 11-50 employees and the organization is governed by an independent board with no parent company.

Name

East Liberty Development

Legal name

East Liberty Development, Inc.

Website

https://eastliberty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) community development corporation that plans, advocates, facilitates, and invests in affordable housing, mixed-income neighborhoods, and small business support across East Liberty, Larimer, and Garfield.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development & Affordable Housing

NAICS

Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF), Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Community development corporation
• Affordable housing development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Mixed-income housing
• Community planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ELDI relies on donations and grants to fund community development activities including planning, advocacy, facilitation, and investment in East Liberty.
2. Federal Home Loan Bank Grants: ELDI receives competitive grant funding from Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh's Affordable Homeownership Program to support affordable housing development.
3. New Markets Tax Credit Program: ELDI participates in the NMTC Program facilitated by Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives, which leverages private investment into low-income communities through federal tax credits, supporting affordable housing development.
4. Real Estate Development and Investment: ELDI directly invests in development deals, purchasing and managing properties, and contributing to the future of East Liberty through real estate transactions and partnerships with developers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ELDI is a 501(c)(3) community development corporation that uses its proprietary PAFI (Plan, Advocate, Facilitate, Invest) model to revitalize Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood. It acquires and rehabilitates distressed properties, develops permanently affordable deed-restricted rental and ownership housing, delivers community plans and stakeholder engagement processes, and supports minority small business through the Catapult: Start-up to Storefront incubator. Housing is offered at subsidized prices for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income.

Product overview

East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) is a 501(c)(3) community development corporation operating in Pittsburgh's East End. Rather than a unified technology product, ELDI offers a portfolio of community development programs anchored by the PAFI Model (Plan, Advocate, Facilitate, Invest)—a four-pillar methodology for neighborhood transformation. Core offerings include an Affordable Housing Program (scattered-site housing, mixed-income apartments, homeownership), Community Planning Services, and the Village Collaborative RCO. ELDI has also spun off several affiliated organizations: Main + Elm Development Company (real estate development non-profit), Catapult Greater Pittsburgh (wealth-building and financial counseling), and Rising Tide Partners (land recycling). Key housing projects include Cornerstone Village Apartments (355 mixed-income units), the Enright Court Revitalization, the NMTC Homeownership Project ($7M, 26 homes), and the Larimer Affordable Homeownership Project ($1.2M FHLBank grant, 8 units). The Catapult: Start-up to Storefront incubator supports minority entrepreneurs through mentorship and the Gallery on Penn retail space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Catapult Greater Pittsburgh: A spin-off program of ELDI that engages in emergency resource distribution, peer-to-peer support, wealth building, trauma-informed financial counseling, and policy advocacy
• Main + Elm Development Company
• PAFI
• Village Collaborative RCO

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Program A core ELDI program developing, preserving, and managing affordable housing units in East Liberty, including scattered-site public housing, mixed-income apartments, and homeownership opportunities for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income. 34% of East Liberty's residential real estate and 40% of its rental units are permanently affordable and protected by deed restrictions as a result of this program.
• Community Planning Services Comprehensive planning services including community plans, design guidelines, traffic studies, and business plans developed through stakeholder consensus-building and resident engagement processes across the East End of Pittsburgh.
• Village Collaborative RCO

Quantifiable outcome

• 34% of East Liberty's residential real estate is permanently affordable housing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GEB InvestmentsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Developer partner building a seven-unit market-rate development on Auburn Street in Larimer, complementing ELDI's affordable housing work. GEB partnered with modular builder Apex and worked with the Larimer Consensus Group on planning.
• Smith NMTC Associates, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2019Smith NMTC Associates developed the NMTC affordable for-sale housing model and facilitated the $7 million NMTC transaction. The consulting firm has deployed over $458 million in NMTCs across 36 closings in 33 states, financing over 4,140 homes.
• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHACP partnered with ELDI on the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, working to redevelop East Liberty Gardens and create mixed-income housing in Larimer and East Liberty. HACP also partnered on scattered site public housing development.
• Catapult Greater PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatapult Greater Pittsburgh is a spin-off of ELDI that focuses on emergency resource distribution, peer-to-peer support, wealth building, trauma-informed financial counseling, and policy advocacy. Catapult provides homebuyer education and counseling for ELDI's homeownership programs and runs the Catapult: Start-up to Storefront business incubator.
• McCormack Baron SalazarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcCormack Baron Salazar is the developer partner for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, developing Cornerstone Village Phases I-IV (355 units), including the Larimer School redevelopment into mixed-income apartments. The developer has been instrumental in implementing the long-term redevelopment vision.
• Larimer Consensus GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization that represents Larimer residents and guides neighborhood development decisions. ELDI partners with the Larimer Consensus Group on community planning, housing development projects, and ensuring community vision is implemented.
• Open Hand MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit that provides pre-purchase counseling, homebuyer education, and supportive programs to help prepare families for homeownership. Partner in ELDI's affordable homeownership initiatives.
• Rising Tide PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA regional land recycling non-profit that spun off from ELDI's community development work. Focuses on transforming vacant and abandoned properties into productive uses across the East End.
• Main + Elm Development CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA real estate development non-profit spin-off of ELDI that helps bring community-aligned housing and Main Street projects to life in East Liberty and beyond. Executive Director Jonathan Huck focuses on addressing the missing middle housing gap.
• Main + Elm Development CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ELDI on presenting the Larimer Affordable Homeownership Project to the Larimer Consensus Group. Real Estate Associate Shashwati Khawale provided detailed project presentations including maps and drawings.
• Hilltop AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization represented on PUI's Advisory Board for NMTC accountability to low-income communities.
• Hazelwood InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization represented on PUI's Advisory Board for NMTC accountability to low-income communities.
• Action HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization represented on PUI's Advisory Board for NMTC accountability to low-income communities.
• Partner4WorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization represented on PUI's Advisory Board for NMTC accountability to low-income communities.
• Neighborhood AlliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization represented on PUI's Advisory Board for NMTC accountability to low-income communities.
• Steel City SquashminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity space in Larimer where the Larimer Consensus Group holds monthly meetings and where ELDI presented the affordable homeownership project.
• Urban Academy of Greater PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarimer-based charter school on Turrett Street that is expanding, contributing to the neighborhood's educational ecosystem and community development.
• Walnut CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for Larimer affordable housing and jobs partnership celebration and mixed-income development projects.
• StreetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment consultants who helped ELDI find the best approach to bring the community vision to life, focusing on building from the neighborhood's strong market edges.
• Celebration Hall of LarimerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransforming the former gym and auditorium of Larimer School into a community events center, creating a new gathering space for the neighborhood.
• Liberty Green ParkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$6.5 million playground and green space on 3.25 acres at the intersection of Larimer and East Liberty, funded through the Choice Neighborhoods grant.
• Berna ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company supervised by Marshall Melnyk (son of ELDI's Director of Operations Ted Melnyk) for rehabilitation projects in Larimer.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Main + Elm Development Company: Real estate development non-profit spin-off of ELDI focused on community-aligned housing and Main Street projects. Overlaps directly with ELDI's affordable housing mission but operates as a separate entity with its own pipeline.
• Catapult Greater Pittsburgh: Spin-off of ELDI focused on emergency resource distribution, wealth building, trauma-informed financial counseling, and policy advocacy. Shares brand and mission but operates as an independent nonprofit on adjacent programming.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and community development support organization that participated in ELDI's $7M NMTC project. Operates a broad portfolio across the U.S. with a similar affordable housing and community development focus.
• Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh's public redevelopment authority that co-funds affordable housing and partners with ELDI on the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative and Enright Court. Operates citywide across all real estate categories rather than as a community-focused nonprofit.
• NeighborWorks America: National network of community development nonprofits, many of which operate the affordable housing and community planning programs similar to ELDI's PAFI model. Provides a national umbrella against which ELDI's methodology can be benchmarked.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that invests in affordable housing and community development across the U.S. Comparable in mission (mixed-income housing, neighborhood revitalization) but operates at far larger scale and across multiple geographies.

Direct peers

• McCormack Baron Salazar: National affordable housing developer that is ELDI's primary developer partner for the Cornerstone Village mixed-income housing development (355 units) under the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. Shares the mixed-income, community-driven development approach.
• Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives: Pittsburgh's Community Development Entity that facilitates New Markets Tax Credit investments and partners directly with ELDI on affordable housing development across Pittsburgh's East End. Operates in the same geography and funding programs.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh: Non-profit focused on affordable homeownership for low-income families, including through NMTC-supported for-sale housing. Smith NMTC Associates has worked with both Habitat for Humanity and ELDI using the same NMTC affordable for-sale housing model.
• Neighborhood Allies: Pittsburgh-based funder and capacity builder for community development, serving as a sponsor and funding partner for ELDI's Catapult: Start-up to Storefront and affordable housing projects. Works in overlapping Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EastLibertyPgh
• Facebookfacebook.com/EastLibertyPgh
• Instagraminstagram.com/eastlibertypgh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-liberty-development-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East Liberty Development