Pitt graduates are contributing to efforts to make housing more affordable in Pennsylvania, particularly for seniors in Bucks County. Sean Kelly, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s business program, serves as executive vice president at Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. (LNWA), a development company focused on providing housing solutions for communities facing affordability challenges.
Sellersville, a small town in Bucks County with about 4,500 residents, has seen rising real estate prices. In 2025, the average home price in Bucks County was over $508,000 according to Zillow. This increase has made it difficult for many local residents—including teachers and seniors—to remain in their community.
LNWA responded by opening an affordable housing complex for seniors in Sellersville last year. The building includes elevators, activities, supportive services and is certified Net Zero Ready by the U.S. Department of Energy. The response from the community was strong.
“Demand was off the charts,” Kelly said. “We leased all the apartments in 25 days, and we still have a 200-person waiting list.”
Affordable housing now serves a broader range of people than before. In Bucks County, individuals earning up to about 60% of the median income—roughly $68,850 annually—are eligible for such housing.
LNWA is also working on modernizing another established complex in Chester County using green technologies and new financing models to maintain affordability.
“Affordable housing is the infrastructure for real life. When we treat it that way, we allow people to take their next step,” Kelly said.
The creation of affordable housing requires coordination among various agencies and individuals. Other University of Pittsburgh alumni played roles in making the Sellersville project possible. Jeff Darwak helped complete environmental remediation activities as executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County; Jordan Space assisted with financing while at S&T Bank and now works at Mid Penn Bank; and Jordan Laird at the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) provided financial support.
Laird commented on his involvement: “It’s the icing on the cake, to know that you’re doing something impactful for people in need and not just collecting a paycheck.”
Kelly noted that his commitment to affordable housing was shaped by mentorship from Pitt emeritus trustee J. Roger Glunt and reinforced by seeing its impact firsthand—for example, when a resident expressed gratitude at being able to live near her grandchildren because of the new senior housing complex.
“Affordable housing is the infrastructure for real life,” Kelly reiterated. “When we treat it that way, we allow people to take their next step.”
