Placemakr Expands Into Pittsburgh

The company's first location in this metro will incorporate multifamily residential offerings as well as short-term hospitality stays.

Flexible-use hospitality and multifamily operator Placemakr has launched its first property in Pittsburgh. The 240-unit property will offer both multifamily accommodations as well as short-term hospitality stays.

Set to host residents immediately, the multifamily aspect of the community features studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans. Homes are unfurnished and the property is named The Pennsylvanian.

As for the short-term stays, set to open in the second quarter of this year, the furnished units will be known as Placemakr Downtown Pittsburgh.

“We are excited to be bringing Placemakr to Pittsburgh, a city that is rich with history, culture, and attractions, making it an ideal destination for both residents and travelers alike,” said Jason Fudin, CEO and co-founder of Placemakr, told Multi-Housing News.

Placemakr Downtown Pittsburgh is nearby the Convention Center, The Terminal, Market Square, PPG Paints Arena and the Amtrak station. Retail, dining and entertainment options are within walking distance from the community.

“By blending hospitality and home, we aim to offer Pittsburgh a unique and seamless experience,” Fudin said. “We are excited to be part of this community’s continued growth and operate out of one of Pittsburgh’s storied Union Station.”

In March of last year, Placemakr opened a similar concept in Washington, D.C. Placemakr NoMa is a 62-unit apartment building available for short-term and extended-stay bookings. It offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 386 to 767 square feet.

Chris Kilcullen, senior hotel broker, Avison Young, told MHN that Placemakr is hitting a “sweet spot” in the industry as the distinction between the multifamily and hospitality sectors continues to blur each year for an increasing number of assets.

“With Airbnb taking traditional residential and multifamily assets into the hospitality space and extended-stay hotels offering longer term stays for residential uses, it makes perfect sense to develop a product that appeals to consumer needs,” Kilcullen said. “Many aging hotels could and should be repositioned into products like this that create a welcome atmosphere for the public.”

Eric Goldreyer, CEO and Owner of bnbfinder, told MHN that he anticipates flex-living hospitality and multifamily to remain a trend together, considering shifting traveler preferences.

“Nearly five years after COVID, travelers are increasingly drawn to accommodations that combine the comforts of home—such as kitchens and laundry facilities—with the consistency and reliability of top-tier hotels,” Goldreyer said. “Although the ‘revenge travel’ era that surged during the height of the pandemic may be behind us, the challenges many travelers faced with vacation rentals—misleading listings, unresponsive hosts, cleanliness concerns, and overly restrictive rules—have left a lasting impression.”

The concept of integrating traditional apartments with a hospitality component like hotel rooms or short-term rentals is a rising trend—particularly in areas seeing both population growth and strong tourism, like Orlando, Wayne Dunkelberger, chief creative officer for Baker Barrios Architects, told MHN.

Another example is The Edge, a 34-story office and residential tower under construction in Orlando, designed by Baker Barrios Architects and developed by Lincoln Property Co. The tower will include 240 residences—a mix of market-rate apartments and short-term rentals managed by a third-party hospitality firm, as well as 198,000 square feet of office space across seven floors and a 10-story parking garage.

Dunkelberger noted designing for this type of mixed-use building up front helps with the successful operation once completed.

“There is a fair amount of integrated technology we’ve incorporated into the design of The Edge to ensure seamless separation between the apartments and short-term units,” he said.